Shipping is a crucial part of any business, but it can be challenging to manage everything in-house. This is especially true if your business is growing at a rate that you won’t be able to sustain by yourself. That’s where 3rd party shipping companies come in. These companies offer a variety of services to help businesses of all sizes ship their products safely and efficiently.
If you’re in need of fulfillment, shipping, and warehousing services, there’s a 3PL that can meet your needs. We are Texas Logistics & Fulfillment Services, and today we’d like to talk you through a few of the reasons why your business’ shipping process could benefit from a 3PL service like ours.
What is a 3rd Party Logistics Company (3PL)?
If you’re an online retailer or deal in any way with shipping products to customers, you’ve probably heard the term “3PL”. A 3rd party logistics provider is an outsourced company that provides specialized services to help businesses manage their supply chain and fulfillment operations. Services can range from order management and shipping to warehousing and inventory control. If you’re looking to optimize your shipping process, a 3PL may be the solution for you.
Why do you need 3rd party shipping?
There are many reasons why you might need to enlist the help of a 3PL. Perhaps you’re selling products online and need someone to handle fulfillment. Or maybe you’re a small business that can’t afford to invest in your own shipping infrastructure. Whatever the case may be, here are some ways a 3PL will help with shipping.
Cost-Effectiveness
Hiring a third-party shipping company is often much more cost-effective than investing in your own warehousing and using in-house staff. 3rd party shipping companies benefit from economies of scale. They handle and ship large volumes of packages. As such, can get better rates from carriers like UPS and FedEx. They also have a level of negotiating power with these carriers.
Furthermore, the 3PL of your choice should have the latest shipping software, which can automate many shipping tasks. This leads to greater efficiency and lower costs overall.
Continuous Optimization
A third-party logistics company (3PL) is continuously optimizing its process to provide its clients with the best possible service. They analyze your supply chain and operations while defining gaps and inconsistencies in your workflow. This is helps to streamline your business and increase overall efficiency.
Time savings
3rd party shipping is a great way to save time. By using a 3rd party shipping company, you can avoid the strain of having to ship and warehouse your products yourself. This way, you can focus on the core of your business and get back to what matters. A 3PL will also save you time through automated paperwork, fewer organizational errors, and less time spent arranging orders. You will also see improved delivery times and a lower package return rate, which once again saves you time by minimizing the extra work involved in warehousing errors.
Risk Management
Shipping, along with everything entailed in warehousing logistics, can be a costly and complicated process. When you outsource that responsibility to a 3PL, it can significantly reduce the risk involved as your product moves between your business, the 3PL, and the customer. A 3rd party shipping operation helps minimize all kinds of losses, damages, and other possible setbacks to your company.
Carrier capacity
A 3PLs shipping service can provide you with a large and highly-skilled carrier fleet that will help you ship both cross-country and globally. Their strategic relationships with a vast network of reputable carriers will help you reach more customers, send out more products, and improve overall efficiency.
Visibility
With a 3PL that has a comprehensive order management system (OMS), you can be sure that the shipping and warehousing processes will be made much more accessible. With a combination of warehouse and order management systems, you’ll have fast, hands-on access to whatever details you may need. If a problem arises, you’ll know exactly when and where it occurred and how to prevent it in the future. On the flip side, you’ll also be able to see where you’ve grown and what you are doing well.
Gain a Technological Advantage
As shown by the previous points about optimization, risk management, and visibility, a high-quality 3PL will give you a technological edge above the competition. With access to a wide array of technologies like WMS, OMW, and modern warehouse equipment, you’ll find a ton of new tools at your disposal. With this technological access, you’ll see improvements to your business across the board.
How do you choose a reliable 3PL?
It’s important first to make sure that the company has proven industry experience. If a 3rd party shipping company can not only survive but also thrive in this competitive industry, then there is a good chance they are a trustworthy and reliable 3PL. They should also offer a wide range of services and offer you an expansive carrier network to suit any of your shipping needs.
The most crucial factor is the company’s reputation and values. You want a 3PL to handle your shipping and other business needs with expertise and care. Customer service is just as invaluable as the quality of service in the transportation and logistics industries. Make sure the company you partner with has your best interest in mind and will work to achieve the best possible shipping solutions.
So if you’re looking for a 3PL that meets and exceeds these criteria, look no further than Texas Logistics & Fulfillment Services. Many businesses experience constant packaging and shipping delays that seriously interfere with their business. When you choose us, you’re freeing yourself from those headaches. It’s time you allow yourself to go back to running your business how you want to.
Now that you know a little more about how 3PL shipping services can help you and your business— and that we’re the best 3PL around— it’s time to give us a call at 832-955-5334. If you have any more questions or would like to learn more, please also visit our Contact Us page or email [email protected].
