Third Party Logistics (3PL) Warehouse Solutions
Scaleable Warehousing, Logistics & Inventory Management
Secure warehousing and storage, order fulfilment, picking ‘n’ packing and freight forwarding all managed by our bespoke online portal WaiveNet.
Our purposely built complex provides a safe and secure environment for multi-tiered storage of pallets, cartons and single items to suit your individual requirements.
We offer comprehensive Third Party Logistics (3PL) storage, packing and distribution services.
Our approach is to find new and innovative ways to gain more value, improved logistics movements and reduced costs across your distribution supply chain. The objective of our first class warehouse facility is to effectively manage the storage, packing and distribution of your produce.
We understand the importance of accuracy and real time information. With real-time inventory management systems we make planning so much easier. We can help ensure your delivery is shipped precisely and efficiently, saving you time and money.
Vigorous inspections maintain quality control means everything can be managed under one roof.
Single products through to large containers, same day dispatch or multi-location delivery points, our fulfilment and delivery options are broad and scalable.
Our in-house logistics department is expert in managing all necessary supply chain requirements to ensure the most suitable and cost-effective service on an order-by-order basis. On time, On budget. And in one piece.
What Is Third-Party Logistics?
Engaging with a 3PL company involves the act of handing off order fulfilment processes to a third-party. This usually happens when a business is spending too much time focusing on packing and shipping orders rather than focusing on other areas of their business and strategy, as well as potentially running out of storage space for inventory.
Often working with multiple merchants and managing many fulfilment centres, 3PL logistics companies have the capacity, resources and expertise to assist many businesses with their entire order fulfilment process.
Some tasks that are taken care of by a 3PL’s team include: receiving, picking, packing and labelling as well as processing returns, quality control and other specialised projects.
How Does a Third-Party Logistics Model Work?
Here’s a simplified way to look at the full 3PL process in some easy steps:
- Your products are manufactured or purchased before being shipped to your chosen 3PL warehouse. These third party warehouses will then store your stock until it is sold.
- Once an order is placed, your 3PL will carefully pick, pack and ship the order to its destination. If needed, they can also take care of other services such as customisation or assembly of products before packing them for shipping. Your 3PL provider can also manage returns on your behalf
- Your store’s inventory (hosted on platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce and BigCommerce) is synced with your fulfilment partner’s inventory.
- Your customer selects their items before placing their order.
- Once they have received the order, your fulfilment partner picks, packs and ships your order directly to the consumer.
Pros and Cons of Third-Party Fulfilment
As with everything, there are pros and cons to using the third-party fulfilment model. Making the right choice will be determined by a number of factors, including the specific needs of your business. Here are some pros and cons that you should consider:
Advantages
- Shipping discounts are often higher because 3PL companies can negotiate good rates and deals as a result of the sheer volume of shipments they handle every day.
- Your business doesn’t need to worry about real estate or paying for a third-party warehouse space.
- This also then impacts stock levels as you don’t need to stress about having too much inventory. It means you can purchase items in bulk in order to improve profit margins.
- You get the opportunity to work with professionals that are reliable and trusted whilst streamlining the order fulfilment process.
- Greater efficiency and savings on cost are substantial.
Disadvantages
- It might take you some time to find a third-party warehousing and distribution company that you trust.
- Your business ends up losing skills and infrastructure that you may want to develop in the future because you are outsourcing it.
- You need to be aware of the reputational and financial risks associated with outsourcing – especially if you don’t choose an experienced 3PL company.
- Choosing an unsuitable company could lead to a lack of control over the quality, accuracy and timeliness of services.
- The quality of your products can be compromised. This could have a knock-on effect that impacts the customer and might change how they view your product or brand.
It is important for businesses to consider both the advantages and disadvantages before deciding whether or not third party warehousing and distribution is the right option for them. Understanding the implications of outsourcing can help to ensure that businesses make an informed decision and can benefit from improved efficiency and cost savings in the long run.
What Industries Benefit Most From Warehouse Logistics Management?
Any business with warehousing needs benefits from the increased efficiency and monitoring of warehouse logistics management. Some of the sectors that stand to benefit most include:
- Hospitality
- Automotive
- Manufacturing
- Retail
These sectors rely heavily on warehousing. Automotive and manufacturing companies use warehouses to store parts for their assembly lines. Retail companies rely on warehouses to store goods and supplies. However, any business with inventory and warehouse storage benefits from improving the way that they distribute items between locations.
When Do You Need Third-Party Fulfilment Services?
Third party fulfilment services can be helpful for a wide range of applications. Here are some scenarios where they can be especially useful:
– You are a rapidly growing business and need help managing your orders.
– You have an eCommerce store that needs professional warehousing and distribution services.
– You offer dropshipping services from multiple suppliers and need efficient order processing.
– You operate multiple online stores and need to streamline fulfilment between them.
– You are a seasonal business and need on-demand warehousing and pick & pack services to manage the influx of orders during peak periods.
No matter what your needs, warehouse storage solutions for 3PLs can be tailored to your specific needs, helping you save time and money and with the right 3PL storage solution, you can also minimize back-end costs associated with storing and shipping products.
Types of Third-Party Logistics Services
There are many types of third-party logistics services available for businesses. Some of these include:
Warehousing and Transportation
Warehousing and transportation services involve moving goods from one location to another. This includes both warehousing of finished products or merchandise as well as transport services that move those items around the country, continent or world and with the help of a professional fulfilment company, you can improve the efficiency of your 3PL warehouse management system.
Inventory Management
Inventory management services help businesses keep track of their inventory levels so they can ensure their customers are always receiving the right product. This service can help streamline the ordering process, reduce stock wastage and improve customer satisfaction.
Order Fulfilment
Order fulfilment services offer businesses a way to efficiently fulfil orders from customers. They manage the entire process, including packing, shipping, tracking deliveries and returns. This service helps businesses increase efficiency and accuracy in order processing.
Packaging Solutions
Packaging solutions help businesses to ship products safely and securely. They provide customised packaging material, ensuring that products are properly sealed and protected during transit. This service helps increase customer satisfaction by reducing the chances of product damage.
Returns Management
Returns management services help businesses handle any returns that may occur with customers’ orders. They help to process any returns and refunds quickly and efficiently, making sure that the customer experience is positive. This service helps businesses maintain a good reputation with their customers, ensuring that they keep coming back for more.
Logistics Solutions
Logistics solutions provide businesses with the ability to manage deliveries. They offer tracking services so that companies can easily monitor where shipments are in transit, as well as ensuring that products arrive on time. Logistics solutions also help to optimize routes and reduce delivery costs, helping businesses save money and improve efficiency.
Fleet services
Fleet services provide businesses with the ability to manage their vehicles and drivers. This includes vehicle maintenance, tracking of driver routes and hours, and the management of fuel costs. Fleet services also help companies keep track of allocating resources efficiently, giving them more control over their operations.
By outsourcing fulfilment, you can free up valuable time to concentrate on other crucial areas of your business.
Benefits of Using Third-Party Logistics Services
3PL services can provide numerous benefits for businesses, including:
- Reduced overhead costs – 3PL providers often offer lower prices than if you handled the logistics yourself. These savings in overhead costs leaves more money to invest in other areas of your business.
- Improved scalability – As your business grows and changes, so does its logistical needs. A third-party logistics provider can provide the scalability needed to keep up with your changing needs without added overhead.
- Increased efficiency – Third-party logistics companies specialize in managing and planning all aspects of supply chain management, which can lead to fewer mistakes and improved efficiencies.
- Better customer service – By trusting a third-party logistics provider to take care of your supply chain, you can focus on serving customers better. A 3PL can help you meet customer expectations faster and reliably.
- Risk management – Using a third-party logistics provider can also help manage risk associated with transport, storage of goods, and potential disruptions. This reduces the chances of unexpected costs due to unforeseen events.
- Improved visibility – With a third-party logistics provider, you can gain real-time visibility into your supply chain processes. This allows you to better track inventory and plan for potential disruptions in the supply chain.
3PL services are a great way to streamline your supply chain and improve the efficiency of your operations. By having a reliable partner in place, you can ensure that goods are delivered on time and according to the customer’s expectations.
How To Get Started with 3PL Warehousing Provider?
Here are a few things you should know before getting started with 3PL warehousing.
First, you’ll want to consider your 3PL options. You’ll want to consider factors such as location, cost, and services offered. Next, you’ll need to provide some basic information about your business and inventory.
This will determine how much space you’ll need and what services you’ll need. Finally, you’ll need to develop a plan for shipping your inventory to the 3PL warehouse. Once everything is in place, you’re ready to get started!
Third Party Logistics – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are fulfilment services?
Fulfilment services are third-party logistics providers that offer warehousing, storage, shipping, fulfilment, and other 3PL solutions, especially for eCommerce businesses.
3PL warehouses allow businesses to outsource their fulfilment needs so they can focus on other aspects of their business, such as marketing and product development.
Finding the right 3PL warehousing and distribution partner for your business is essential. You want to ensure that the third-party provider you choose has a solid infrastructure in place, and can effectively provide the services you need.
Fulfilment services can provide a number of different fulfilment options, such as pick and pack fulfilment, which is when the fulfilment service picks, packs, and ships orders on behalf of the business.
Another popular fulfilment option is 3PL inventory management, which is when the fulfilment service manages the inventory for the business. This can include managing stock levels, reordering inventory, and providing reports on inventory levels.
What are (3PL) third-party logistics services?
A third-party logistics warehousing service is a type of fulfilment service that manages the transportation and storage of goods. Third-party logistics warehousing services often help manage the various components of the supply chain process, from receiving orders to delivering goods to customers. They usually have warehouses located in different parts of the country or even around the world, which makes them an ideal option for businesses that need to ship their products quickly and efficiently. Additionally, third-party logistics warehousing services can help manage inventory levels and optimise the flow of goods from production to delivery.
The benefits of using a third-party logistics service go beyond shipping efficiency. By taking on the responsibility of managing your supply chain process, these services can help reduce costs and eliminate the need to hire additional staff. Furthermore, they can provide up-to-date information about inventory levels and shipping times, allowing you to make informed decisions about your supply chain process.
What Is Warehouse Logistics Management?
The logistics of warehousing operations involve moving goods in and out of a warehouse and ensuring that a business has enough inventory to maintain business operations. The procedures used to carry out these processes directly impacts the productivity and profitability of an organisation.
Warehouse logistics management is aimed at helping businesses better manage their warehouses. A consulting firm that specialises in warehouse logistics may start by assessing your current operations. Some of the areas that require exploring include:
- Inventory tracking
- Picking and packing
- Receiving and stowing goods
- Shipping and order tracking
- Reporting
After an assessment of these areas, you may receive a series of recommendations for achieving specific goals, such as reducing inventory waste or increasing production.
How to choose a fulfilment company?
To choose the right fulfilment company for your business, consider what 3pl services the fulfilment company offers, their fulfilment process, do they offer same-day fulfilment, and what their pricing is. Choosing the right 3PL service is essential for your business because it is the key to improving customer satisfaction and ensuring that orders are fulfilled accurately. Additionally, working with an experienced 3PL can provide you with a competitive edge in the market by helping you stay ahead of trends, optimize inventory management, reduce shipping costs, and create more efficient processes.
What fulfilment solution does my business need?
The type of fulfilment services your business needs will depend on your products, your business model, and your shipping volume. Most businesses need warehousing and logistics services, such as inventory management and order processing. Some businesses may also require same-day or next-day fulfilment services, while others may need special packaging services that are tailored to their unique product requirements. To determine which 3PL is best suited to your business needs, it’s important to evaluate the different services they offer and compare prices.
We will drive continuous
improvement and introduce
seamless workflow processes
Our Measurement of Success will be our deliverables in:
.01
Inventory management
Optimised inventory management
.02
Pick n pack
Qualified staff access and package items
.03
Storage
Safe, secure and structured storage facilities
.04
Inwards goods management
Records, receipts and tracking systems in place
.05
Outwards goods management
Data focused despatch system and reporting
.06
Quality management systems
High level management systems for product tracking