Engaging with a third-party logistics provider for your ecommerce business should be done with proper consideration. After it’s clear that a 3PL is the next step for your business, carefully considering what 3PL company is best suited for your company is very essential.
There are a lot of great 3PL companies however picking the one that meets the specific demands of your company is key. Before you embark on choosing a Third-party logistics provider, your needs should be clearly outlined. This would help simplify the shortlisting process of potential 3PLs. Read on to discover some important factors to consider when choosing a third-party logistics provider for your business.
Financial Stability
Top 3PL providers should be able to provide you with an honest picture of their financial situation. You don’t want to get distressed by the inability of a logistic provider fulfilling an order. Therefore, it’s important to have a proper insight into their financial situation. Having the company close down suddenly or unable to carry out fulfilment processes ultimately backfires on your ecommerce store. Therefore finding a partner with a solid payment history and financial stability is very an important factor to look out for.
Experience and Reputation
Furthermore, it’s better to work with a provider that has been in the industry long enough than one just starting. This is very important because they would be well equipped to handle the challenges better. While experience is great, looking out for their reputation is just as important if not more.
Check out their ratings and reviews properly. Look at the customers they have serviced and how many of them are long-term clients. The 3PL provider you settle upon would be the face of your business depending on how much you engage them. Considering they would be handling a substantial portion of your ecommerce business, you must choose a reputable one with good reviews.
Technology and IT Services
Today, technology is the order of the day, especially in logistics. The kind of IT services and level of advanced technological solutions they provide is an important factor to consider when choosing a logistics partner. Logistics sophistication is dependent on the right technology backing it up. Make sure the logistics provider you are considering has the latest technology and a great support IT team.
Capabilities
In addition, the type of services they offer must align with your ecommerce store requirements. Lookup a third-party logistics company that provides the specific needs of your ecommerce store. You should carefully note down your needs and evaluate which 3PL provider would work best for you. How rapid they respond to orders should be taken into consideration as well. Responsiveness, when an issue arises, is also another aspect to look out for. They must be able to provide prompt solutions in such situations.
Scalability
The potential 3PL provider should be able to scale service up or down depending on your ecommerce business needs and order volume. Businesses are established to grow, how well your potential 3PL partner can accommodate both your current order volume and anticipated order volume is essential. 3PLs tend to be long time partners, so this factor ensures your choice of Third-party logistics provider is a perfect fit for your projected order volumes as well as your current one.
Some 3PL already have their minimum order volumes set when working with ecommerce stores. Therefore, make this a priority when choosing your logistics company to avoid searching for a new partner when your store expands. Always look for a provider that can still satisfy your business when demands skyrockets.
Customer Service
This is probably the most important tool used to hold on to customers and even get new customers in the ecommerce world. You should go for a third-party logistics company with great a customer service platform, as the company would be the face of your business. Look into how effective their customer service is, as well as how they handle situations such as returns. Returns processing is a very crucial part of the fulfilment order. Hence, it’s of great importance to be sure of how the company represents its clients in such situations.
Safety and Security
Finally, how well a 3PL company deals with the safety of its operations in terms of transportation and protection of goods and materials as well as their personnel gives an insight into their integrity and how the organization conducts itself. Make sure they comply with the ever-changing safety regulations in the industry. It’s crucial to have your data and financial information protected. This is also an important consideration to factorize.
Conclusion
There you have it. The complications involved in choosing the right 3PL partner would be considerable reduced by following the factors stated above. Above all, try to be proactive and pay attention to these details to make your ecommerce store bloom with the perfect third-party logistics provider for your business.
Do you need help with your ecommerce or dropshipping business? Contact us today at Fulfillman. We are leading service provider of Dropshipping, Third Party Logistics, China sourcing, Warehouse fulfillment, and many more. Our dedicated team will be available to speak with you and discuss your needs. With our state-of-the-art technology, we can help you achieve your short and long-term business goals. An amazing experience awaits you.
