As an e-commerce business owner, you know that the task of fulfilling, completing, and shipping orders on your own can be a challenge. It can be a daunting task to managing orders all by yourself. This is especially true for those who are new to e-commerce or are just starting a business.
The fulfillment process can become all-consuming. If you are working out of your home, it will begin to encroach upon your personal space and life. Even if you have a few friends or family members to help you with your order fulfillment process, that is simply not enough man-power for a growing business.
If you find yourself running into these issues, it might be time to consider a third-party logistics company to help you. To determine whether or not a third-party logistics company is right for you, here are a few things to consider.
3PL Providers Offer Faster Shipping
Logistics providers are perfectly poised to help you bring faster shipping to your customers. Your business does not specialize in shipping; it specializes in selling shoes to athletes or teaching stay-at-home moms dancercise or whatever it is that you do. And that’s okay because shipping is not what your business is about. Shipping is what a 3PL provider’s business is about!
Shipping is what 3PL providers specialize in, so we have the capabilities to give you faster shipping speeds than you could ever find for yourself.
How?
Because 3PLs such as Smart Parcel 24/7 have warehouses situated across the United States, so we can fulfill your orders nearer to their final destinations, resulting in less time in transit.
Smart Parcel 24/7 also has a network of the best carriers, so we can ship at a speed and price tailor-made for you. Rather than shipping with just one courier, SP24/7 hand-picks the right carrier for every leg of your parcel’s journey—right to your customers’ doorsteps.
3PL Fulfillment Services Keep Up with Demand
Another reason to allow a 3PL to take care of your order fulfillment process and shipping needs is that 3PLs allow you to easily keep up with demand. As your business takes off, and you find yourself in the midst of an influx of orders, a 3PL will be perfectly situated to keep up with the demand.
3PL providers have trained professionals and state-of-the-art machinery that are always ready to label, print, pick, and pack your orders. A job that would be too much for your own in-house employees is simple for a 3PL.
Like most e-commerce businesses, your company likely experiences peak times in the year, such as around certain holidays or seasons. 3PL providers are perfectly situated to handle it these periods. If your business specializes in selling miniature American flags, we will have your influx of 4th of July orders packed and shipped as fast as if it were any other week.
3PLs Can Help You Scale Your Business
It can be difficult if you are relying either on yourself or on your company to keep track of fulfillment and shipping. A 3PL fulfillment service can help because we will not only store, fulfill, and ship your products, but we will also keep track of what needs to be done in order for your company to grow. We can help you from designing custom packaging to evaluating strategies.
Is Self-Fulfillment Ever a Better Option?
Self-fulfillment can be a drain on your company. It can be a challenge to maintain the manpower needed for fulfilling, labelling, and shipping your products. You will have to hire an extensive team dedicated to this area, your smaller team will be required to spend extensive periods of time on these menial tasks. This could be detrimental to your business.
There are a few cases, however, when self-fulfillment is a better option, and that has to do with the monetary value of the products you sell.
Expensive products need a lot of care. Oftentimes these products include technology, fragile pottery and China, or high-end leather goods. All of these items need to be handled more carefully than the average t-shirt or candle. Oftentimes, they even need to be stored in certain conditions, such as a climate-controlled room.
While it still might be worth talking to a 3PL, oftentimes these types of products are better fulfilled in-house. This is because when a product is so valuable and fragile, there is a lot more insurance and potential liability involved. Many 3PLs prefer to avoid processing such products, and you and your specialized team will be more equipped to handle your inventory in this case.
Why Should You Choose Smart Parcel 24/7?
Smart Parcel 24/7 offers unique 3PL fulfillment service solutions thanks to our vast network of carriers and vendors. Every leg of the journey your product takes, from the first mile to the last, will be optimized based on your specific needs.
Smart Parcel 24/7 is also perfectly willing and able to store, fulfill, and ship your orders. From customized fulfillment to speedy shipping, SP24/7 has your back.
