What Services do Third-Party Logistics Providers Offer

Warehousing and shipping is not an easy process. Figuring out and implementing a smooth logistics operation takes a lot of time, effort and money. Third-Party Logistics, or simply 3PL, is a process by which a business outsources the job of storage and shipment to a company that specialises in it. Many businesses, big and small, partner with 3PL companies to simplify the fulfilment process. 

 

If you are in the eCommerce business, it is absolutely essential to have a flawless logistics operation. Even a little bit of snag can become a big disaster. So it’s always recommended that you have a trustworthy fulfilment partner.

 

If you have any doubts about 3PLs, we have put tiger this list of what Third Party Logistics partners can provide for you:

 

3PL over the years:

 

Before we get into what they can provide, we believe it’s best if we explain the background of third-part logistics:

Logistics companies are not a new thing; they have been around for decades; however, with the growth of the eCommerce industry, the demand for third-party logistics has increased exponentially. An estimated 86% of Fortune 500 companies employ the services of 3PLs.

Over the years, with higher demand and improving technology, 3PLs have also taken leaps and bounds to provide their clients with the newest processes and fulfilment solutions.

 

So what do they offer?

 

Warehousing, Distribution, and fulfilment: The basic service of every 3PL is storage and distribution. The company will store the products in their warehouses and will pick, pack and ship them as required. 

 

Receiving and replenishing goods and products: A fulfilment partner will keep track of your inventory and will replenish goods as required. This removes the worry of products being out of stock or your customer receiving an old product.

 

Transportation: A 3PL usually also identifies which shipping partner to use, manages the relationship with the shipping company and creates an optimised strategy for shipping products.

 

Packing: Before the product is shipped, it needs to be packed and packed properly. 3PLs take care of the packing as well. 3PLs take the responsibility of packing, so the goods and products do not get damaged during the shipping process.

 

Return and reverse logistics: In case the customer is unhappy with what they received, they would want to return or replace the product. Your 3PL partner will take care of that process in accordance with the return policies of your company. 

 

Consolidation: If many small packages are shipped to the same address, a 3PL typically will consolidate all the different goods into one shipment. This reduces the shipping cost for all parties involved. This process is also known as freight consolidation.

 

What else can I expect from my Third-Party Logistics partner?

As we mentioned before, with new technologies and innovations, 3PLs now provide many facilities that make the fulfilment process very easy and provide you with complete peace of mind.

You can and should expect these facilities from your Third-Party Logistics partner:

The facility to talk to an e-commerce expert to have the best warehouse and shipping experience tailored to your needs.

 

The ability to find the best-suited fulfilment location, which will optimise delivery time and cost.

 

A team which handles client onboarding to complete all regulatory compliances for the businesses and integrate marketplaces, shopping carts, and courier partners.

 

The option for the supplier to ship inventory directly to the fulfilment centres at discounted freight rates.

 

The facility to start shipping as soon as an order is received

 

The guarantee is that all goods and products will be safely packaged, shipped, and handed over to the optimal courier partner.

 

A faultless tracking system to monitor all shipments, ensure that customers are contacted in case of non-delivery and immediately start a delivery reattempt.

 

A robust Returns Management System ensures all goods and products are back in the inventory and available for further circulation within 48 hours.

To sum up,

When you want to streamline your supply chain management, we strongly recommend going with a trustworthy Third-Party Logistics partner. This will ensure that your entire supply chain and logistics are taken care of, significantly reducing costs. Outsourcing the process will also empower you to focus on what’s important - your core business.

If you are looking for a Third-Party Logistics company in India, it’s not difficult. There are quite a few; however, we recommend you go with one that has established itself in the industry and works with big, well-known brands and businesses. Emiza is an excellent choice for SMBs and well-established brands, and it provides all the modern logistic solutions at the most reasonable prices. It has a network of 17 warehouses across 18 cities in India. Emiza provides omnichannel and multichannel logistics services to over 100 Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) and Business-to-Business (B2B) brands and handles a wide variety of products such as electronics, cosmetics, fashion, food and nutrition etc. It also provides clients with innovative facilities and processes at competitive prices.