What Is 3PL And Why Do You Need It For The Holidays?

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3PL

Whether or not you’re familiar with third party logistics, you’re going to want to listen up. Who knows, they might just be your saving grace during the holidays.

3PL is a form of outsourcing that allows you to reduce the number of tasks on your plate. By outsourcing specific logistics to experts, your business can perform efficiently and effectively. When you outsource, you’re able to satisfy customers with the highest quality possible. There’s no excuse to procrastinate any longer! Find yourself a partner that can help you persevere through the holidays with ease, this year and every year to come.

Choose the perfect partner

Without the right partner, mistakes will happen. The unfortunate part? These mistakes are completely avoidable.

You know that merchandise returns cost you more than money. Every item that comes back represents a mistake. It could be that your customer simply changed her mind, but it’s far more likely that your partner screwed up. Wrong item, wrong size, wrong color, something missing — or the items were packed so poorly that something broke, or leaked. Whatever the reason, returns damage your brand as well as sales figures.

You need a different 3PL partner.

Fulfillment problems never fix themselves, and the longer you allow mistakes to continue, the worse your situation will get. Smart managers take decisive action. Grade your logistics partner now, to find out what’s missing from your fulfillment program and what steps you need to take to raise your grade to A+. Then look for a 3PL fulfillment company that can – and will – help you do that.

What should you expect from a top-grade partner? 

• No screw-ups, for starters. That comes from meticulous, unswerving attention to detail.
• Comprehensive service options and a willingness to tailor those services to meet your company’s unique needs.
• Fully secure facilities and systems that protect your inventory as well as company and customer data.
• Warehouse and inventory management protocols that comply with the tightest industry and/or legal requirements. (For example, an FDA certification, so you can properly house and handle dietary supplements, health and beauty products, etc. Few fulfillment companies meet this standard.)

In other words, third party logistics solutions that are as exceptional as the personalized service you give customers during the ordering process. Every step of the process is a critical component of each customer’s experience. A top-grade partner conscientiously takes care of customers by delivering exactly-right orders, on time or sooner than expected, packed with care, and presented so attractively the package is a “wow!” to open.

Especially for the holiday season. Your customers are counting on you!

Still wondering what partner to choose?

Interested in hearing more? Call us today, we’d love to talk.

Learn the ins and outs of 3PL, what you should expect from a fulfillment partner, and how to find a company you can trust to ensure your customers always have a high-quality experience.