In today’s competitive digital marketplace, eCommerce brands often face challenges such as inability to keep up with the promised delivery dates, unexpected increase in demand, labor shortages, sourcing products and much more. Well, it is possible to overcome these challenges by availing 3PL & ecommerce fulfillment center services from any reliable partner. 3PL & e-commerce fulfillment not only streamline the brand’s operations but also drive the growth in sales and improve customer satisfaction.
So, what is 3PL & e-commerce fulfillment and why does it play an integral role in your e-commerce business? In this blog, you will dive deep into the fundamentals of 3PL & e-commerce fulfillment. Along with this, you will get clear insights into how availing 3PL e-commerce fulfillment can help your eCommerce company grow.
What is a 3PL eCommerce Fulfillment Service?
A 3PL (third-party logistics) service partners with e-commerce brands to address their warehousing, fulfilling, and shipping needs so they can focus on growing their sales stress-free. Running a fulfillment center & logistics are not forte for most eCommerce brands and this is where a 3PL service comes in and helps brands run their operations. Businesses can opt for 3PL & eCommerce fulfillment service to manage few aspects of their supply chain or outsource entire supply chain management to them. There are certain processes involved in 3PL & e-commerce fulfillment which include-
- Freight Forwarding
- Warehousing
- Inventory management.
- Order Fulfillment
- Marketplace Prep Services (e.g., FBA, WFS)
- Reverse logistics (Return
- Cross-Docking
- B2B & Retail Fulfillment
- Shipping
All of the above need a combination of experts and technology which brands can benefit from by working with an eCommerce fulfillment service provider. Some of them are –
Reduced Operational Costs
Partnering with eCommerce fulfillment providers reduces the operational costs for brands through economy of scale where 3PLs come equipped with specialized professionals, equipment, and infrastructure to avail as and when needed vs maintaining them on their own. 3PL service providers are better positioned to get better rates and volume-based discounts from shipping carriers for freight and last-mile deliveries.
Improved Efficiency via Supply Chain Technology
3PL & eCommerce fulfillment services leverage sophisticated systems, technology, and analytics tools to streamline and run their warehousing, inventory management, fulfillment, transportation, and shipping operations at scale. Availing 3PL services allows eCommerce businesses to leverage these advanced systems to support real-time tracking, inventory management, data analysis as well as automated reports on their business performance. This leads to more visibility into how their business is performing, and equips them with better tools to make data-driven decisions on inventory replenishment, product development, promotions, seasonality, and much more. This ultimately allows businesses to achieve greater levels of efficiency and scalability which helps them stay ahead of their competitors.
Market Expansion
If you are an eCommerce business looking to expand beyond your local country and go global, then outsourcing 3PL services is the smart decision. 3PL allows you to access the network of transportation, shipping and fulfillment centers that are otherwise not available to you. This not only expands your customer reach but saves the cost of building infrastructure in each additional marketplace. You can easily reach new geographic locations even without compromising on the service quality for potential customers.
Scaling Flexibility
Opting for an eCommerce fulfillment service makes it quite easier for brands to upscale( or downscale) their operations flexibly to meet the ever-changing demands of their customers. In addition, there is no need for significant commitments, technology and staff, infrastructure, or additional facilities. This means they can deliver reliably and efficiently to their customers in both off-peak and peak times.
Special Needs
E-commerce fulfillment service providers also offer value-added services which include, bulk order processing, kitting & assembly, custom packaging as well and subscription boxes that support the unique needs of e-commerce brands. Partnering with 3PL services not only helps you access those services but you can rest assured that you get specialized support for large, delicate, expensive items as well as hazardous materials.
Productivity Gains
3PL services allow eCommerce businesses to stay focused on managing things that are at the core of their business such as merchandising, marketing, and product development. Some companies, especially manufacturing businesses, are more focused on supply chain management, so they don’t engage their resources in 3PL e-commerce fulfillment. Thus, outsourcing 3PL & e-commerce fulfillment lets them stay focused on their core competence instead of getting distracted from other responsibilities. 3PL service providers offer these businesses optimized supply chain solutions that guarantee fast and cost-effective last mile deliveries.
eCommerce fulfillment services hold great potential to revolutionize your entire business and wow your customers. But you must rely on a trusted partner to automate and streamline your operations including order processing, order accuracy, inventory management, warehousing, transportation and shipping. This will not only save productive time and reduce errors within the business but will enhance customer satisfaction. You can even check the online reviews and ratings on certain platforms to know their average experience in dealing with 3PL eCommerce fulfillment services. This will help you make informed decisions while building a successful relationship.
Ready to level up your e-commerce game? Explore 3PL eCommerce fulfillment services to boost your business. Partner with ShipMaestro for seamless fulfillment, kitting assembly & subscription, custom branding & packaging, return management, , Amazon FBA prep, and much more.
Contact our team today to get started.
Leave a Reply