As your organization navigates the complexities of today’s business world, it can be incredibly overwhelming to handle all your logistical needs. From strategizing on ways to reduce shipping costs to identifying solutions for storing inventory and packing orders, self-fulfillment can quickly deplete your time and resources. What’s more, handling your own logistics in-house can take valuable time away from executing core business initiatives, such as penetrating new markets, expanding product lines, and building a loyal customer base.
Outsourcing warehousing services to a 3PL logistics provider can be game-changing for your business. We’re talking about a better customer experience, improving operational efficiency, gaining access to cutting-edge technology, and even enjoying cost-saving benefits. Here are four reasons your e-commerce business should consider outsourcing your warehousing services.
One major logistical challenge – and an integral piece of your supply chain – is inventory management. It requires you to consistently forecast demand and have a firm grasp on your storage space needs, factoring in things like seasonality to satisfy fluctuations in sales. What’s more, you need to facilitate an effective picking/packing strategy, ensure workflow is designed to optimize efficiency, and strategically distribute inventory across warehousing facilities, housing it in key markets to mitigate shipping costs
Outsourcing these warehousing services to a reputable 3PL can help your business overcome these challenges. Why? Because they’re equipped with the manpower, resources, and technological infrastructure needed to streamline the complexities of your logistics, which can drive operational efficiency and improve the customer experience.
A 3PL logistics provider will possess a warehouse management system (WMS), providing real-time visibility into the various stages of a product’s lifecycle – from storage to packing to shipping – effectively decreasing costly errors. The right WMS will incorporate data and automation, allowing you to expertly balance supply and demand while strengthening inventory management: farewell stock-outs and missing products.
Ah, shipping costs. The bane of every business owner’s existence. And to really pile on the pressure, consumer demand for quick, accurate, and cheap shipping only continues to rise. Businesses need to find a way to protect their margins while accommodating today’s customers. Otherwise, you risk losing both customers and a competitive edge.
With over 70% of online shoppers determining their shipping preference before checkout, and nearly 60% of consumers electing to shop for products based on their preferred shipping method, businesses simply can’t afford to drop the ball when it comes to this piece of their logistics picture. The reality is, creating a strong customer experience hinges on the efficacy of your entire fulfillment process. Because while quick shipping is important, so is order accuracy. And so is providing customers with order tracking and visibility.
As an e-commerce business owner, offering quick, and potentially free, shipping is virtually impossible to achieve independently. This is especially true if you aren’t leveraging multiple warehousing facilities to ensure products are closer to your end customers.
But with a 3PL logistics provider on your side, you can tap into their carrier network and access more affordable shipping rates. This is because 3PL providers can negotiate special rates due to the high volume of goods they move. Moreover, a 3PL logistics partner with a nationwide footprint will allow you greater flexibility in how you store and distribute inventory, reducing last-mile delivery times and shipping costs.
Suppose you’re constantly caught up in the day-to-day minutia of the logistics workflow. In that case, you won’t have time to focus on core business objectives, like boosting sales revenue or increasing brand awareness. The result? Stagnation. Your business struggling to acquire new customers. Without the support of a 3PL logistics provider, your e-commerce business can’t capitalize on growth opportunities or scale effectively.
From order fulfillment errors to pesky delivery delays, there are a myriad of elements that can negatively impact the customer experience. The customer experience is everything. It can drive customer loyalty and repeat business or it could destroy your brand’s reputation. Today’s shoppers want to feel valued. Like they’re part of a community. Like they have a voice.
Working with a 3PL for warehousing services can help you deliver a unique and unparalleled brand experience for customers. They can help you weave personalization and branding into the fulfillment process via warehousing services like kitting or custom packaging.
The e-commerce world is hypercompetitive, requiring your business to deliver a positive, error-free customer experience to succeed. Your logistics strategy and warehousing operations are at the epicenter of your ability to deliver on that experience. By partnering with a 3PL logistics provider like Smart Warehousing, you’ll be able to improve operational efficiency, scale your business, and improve your bottom line – all because your needs will be handled by industry experts. Not only will our team do the heavy lifting for you, but we have the technology and resources needed to drive your business to new heights.
To learn more about our warehousing services for e-commerce businesses, contact the Smart Warehousing team today.