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The holiday season is a bustling time of year for e-commerce, with U.S. holiday retail sales surpassing $1.3 trillion in 2023 and online sales reaching $236 billion. For small business owners and e-commerce sellers, this period presents both opportunities and challenges. Managing the holiday shipping rush effectively can not only boost your sales but also enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty.

In this guide, we’ll explore how to successfully handle holiday season fulfillment, ensuring your customers receive their orders on time while keeping your operations running smoothly.

Understanding the Holiday Shipping Rush

The holiday season brings a significant increase in order volumes, putting immense pressure on fulfillment operations. Shipping deadlines tighten, customer expectations rise, and logistical complexities multiply. E-commerce businesses must be prepared to meet these challenges head-on.

During this period, shipping carriers experience peak demand, leading to potential delays. Customers expect faster deliveries, adding to the stress. Effective planning and execution are crucial to ensure timely deliveries and maintain customer trust.

Steps to Manage the Holiday Shipping Rush

Below are some holiday shipping best practices to help you make the most of the season.

Start Early with Planning

Early preparation is key to managing the holiday shipping rush. Begin by forecasting demand and planning your inventory needs. By analyzing historical data and market trends, you can accurately predict the volume of orders you’ll receive.

Statistics reveal that companies that initiate planning early are 30% more likely to meet shipping deadlines successfully. Don’t wait until the last minute; start strategizing well in advance to stay ahead of the curve.

Optimize Inventory Management

Effective inventory management is essential to avoid overstocking or running out of popular items. Utilize real-time inventory tracking and automated management systems to monitor your stock levels continuously.

Studies show that businesses lose an average of $1 trillion annually due to stockouts and overstocks. By optimizing your inventory processes, you can minimize these losses and ensure you have the right products in stock when demand peaks.

Expand and Diversify Carrier Options

Relying on a single carrier can create bottlenecks during the holiday rush. One of the best e-commerce holiday shipping tips is to partner with multiple carriers to ensure flexibility and reduce the risk of delays. Consider using regional carriers and alternative delivery methods, such as local couriers or same-day delivery services.

Diversifying your carrier options can help you meet delivery commitments and keep your customers satisfied.

Implement Shipping Cutoff Dates

Clearly communicate shipping deadlines to your customers. Setting realistic delivery expectations helps prevent disappointments and ensures your customers receive their orders on time.

Transparency in shipping policies during the holiday shipping rush builds trust and encourages repeat business. Don’t leave customers guessing; provide them with clear timelines for order placement and delivery.

Related: What Is Order Promising in E-Commerce?

Leverage Technology for Order and Shipping Management

Automation tools like warehouse management systems (WMS) and transportation management systems (TMS) can streamline your fulfillment processes. Integrating technology into your operations optimizes order routing and tracking, resulting in improved delivery times.

By harnessing the power of technology, you can enhance efficiency and accuracy in your holiday season fulfillment operations, ultimately leading to happier customers.

Consider Outsourcing Fulfillment

Outsourcing to a third-party logistics (3PL) provider during the holiday rush can be a game-changer. 3PLs like APS Fulfillment, Inc. specialize in handling high-volume, time-sensitive orders efficiently.

These providers have the expertise, technology, and carrier partnerships to ensure timely deliveries and smooth operations. By outsourcing fulfillment, you can focus on growing your business while leaving the logistics to the experts.

Offer Multiple Delivery Options

Providing customers with various shipping choices adds convenience and enhances their experience. Offer options such as standard, express, and curbside pickup to cater to different preferences.

Flexible shipping solutions are a valuable asset during the holidays, as they allow customers to choose the delivery method that suits them best.

Prepare for Returns and Reverse Logistics

Anticipate a surge in holiday returns and plan an efficient reverse logistics process. A hassle-free returns policy not only improves customer loyalty but also streamlines your operations.

By setting up a seamless return process, you can handle returns efficiently, minimizing disruptions and maintaining customer satisfaction during the holiday shipping rush.

Ensure Effective Communication

Effective communication is vital during the holiday shipping rush. Keep your customers informed with real-time updates on order status, shipping, and delivery.

Utilize multiple channels, such as chat, email, and SMS, to provide proactive customer support. A responsive and accessible support team builds trust and ensures a positive customer experience.

How APS Fulfillment, Inc. Can Help Manage the Holiday Shipping Rush

Managing the holiday shipping rush is a critical component of success for e-commerce businesses. By starting early, leveraging technology, and outsourcing fulfillment, you can ensure smooth operations and satisfied customers.

At APS Fulfillment, Inc., our expertise in handling high-volume, time-sensitive orders makes us an ideal partner for managing the holiday shipping rush. With state-of-the-art technology, streamlined processes, and strong carrier partnerships, we ensure your orders are delivered on time, even during peak seasons.

Don’t wait until the holiday rush is upon you—prepare now for a successful season! Book a consultation by calling                (954) 582-7450 or email [email protected] and elevate your business this holiday season.

The last mile of a product’s journey from the supplier to the customer is often seen as the most critical. After all, it’s the final stage in getting the product into the hands of the consumer. That’s why e-commerce businesses need to carefully consider their last mile delivery solutions. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at everything you need to know about last mile delivery, from its challenges to its benefits. By understanding all aspects of this complex process, you can make sure that your business is using the best possible solution for your customers.

What Is Last Mile Delivery?

Last mile delivery is a term used to describe the process of delivering a product directly to its customer’s door. It helps businesses reach their customers quickly and efficiently by delivering exactly what they are looking for in an efficient and secure manner. Last mile delivery is critical in today’s e-commerce world, since it helps minimize long delivery times, unsatisfied customers, and costly returns.

Last mile delivery has become even more important than ever due to the rise of online ordering during the pandemic and increased consumer demand for speedy home delivery. Last mile delivery logistics have become increasingly essential in providing better customer experiences with efficient delivery solutions that can meet the needs of all consumers including those located in rural areas.

What Are Some Challenges with Last-Mile Delivery?

Last-mile delivery is a critical element that faces a number of challenges in order to ensure customer satisfaction. Below are a few of the main challenges with this delivery system.

• Cost: Above all, cost is an issue as the expense of moving goods from distribution centers to their final destination is often highly expensive. As such, finding ways to reduce these expenses without sacrificing efficiency or quality can be difficult for many businesses.
• Efficiency: This is a major factor that retailers have to consider with last-mile delivery. There are only so many packages that can be delivered at any given time and for these services to remain competitive, there needs to be a certain level of consistency in both speed and cost.
• Transparency: The complexity of last mile delivery requires transparency throughout the process—from pick-up to drop-off—so that any issues encountered along the way can be quickly resolved. This transparency helps provide greater visibility into the product’s journey and ensures customers know exactly what to expect from their delivery experience.

How Does Partnering with a 3PL Help with Last Mile Delivery?

Partnering with a third-party logistics provider (3PL) can be an effective solution for businesses looking to optimize their last mile delivery services. Here’s why:

• Distributed Inventory: By entrusting a 3PL provider with distributed inventory, companies will be able to efficiently predict demand to ensure supply and avoid unwanted shortages. Additionally, by integrating the technology of the 3PL provider into their business operations, businesses will gain visibility into their inventory and have more accurate tracking of any order shipped to customers.
• Decreased Overhead Costs: Business owners won’t need to pay extra for leasing warehouses, hiring drivers, purchasing vehicles, or carrying hefty insurance policies when they work with a 3PL provider. These cost savings can add up quickly and be passed along to customers in the form of lower delivery rates and improved delivery times.
• Route Optimization: With sophisticated route optimization software, businesses gain access to strategies that help them to reduce transportation and delivery costs. Route optimization employs complex algorithms to generate automated routes that better utilize resources such as vehicle capacity, labor hours and navigation restrictions.
• Returns Management: A great way to streamline the process of returns and significantly reduce associated headaches is by incorporating a third-party logistics (3PL) provider into the mix. A 3PL can help manage customer support, monitor customer inventory levels and track product returns with exceptional accuracy and timeliness.

Contact APS Fulfilment Inc. for the Best 3PL Solutions

If you need efficient, cost-effective and reliable third-party logistics (3PL) solutions, contact APS Fulfilment Inc. With decades of combined experience providing these services to the industry, we have developed disciplined processes that guarantee an unmatched level of satisfaction to our clients. In addition to a providing wide range of 3PL services that include warehousing and delivery as well as order management and tracking, we also offer technological advantages and quick response times. Get in touch to take advantage of APS Fulfillment’s end-to-end fulfillment services.

Also read: What Is a Mis-Shipment and How Can It Affect Your E-Commerce Business?

When it comes to third-party logistics (3PL), there are a lot of misconceptions floating around. Some people think that third-party logistics is only for large businesses, or that it’s too expensive for small businesses to use. Others may not even know what third-party logistics is or how a 3PL provider could benefit their business.

In this post, we’ll break down everything you need to know about third-party logistics and explain how it works. We’ll also provide information on how to find the best third-party logistics provider for your business needs.

What Exactly Is Third-Party Logistics?

A third-party logistics provider is a company that provides outsourced logistics services to customers. Typically, a 3PL will manage the entire supply chain for a customer, from procurement and manufacturing through to distribution and delivery. 3PL providers can also provide value-added services such as inventory management, order fulfillment, and returns processing.

They have the experience and expertise to develop customized solutions that meet the specific needs of their clients. As a result, businesses that partner with a 3PL provider can focus on their core competencies and leave the logistics to the experts.

In recent years, the rise of e-commerce has led to an increase in demand for 3PL services, as businesses look to outsource their logistics operations to specialist providers. The global 3PL market is expected to continue to grow in the coming years, as more businesses look to improve their supply chain efficiency and meet the needs of their customers.

What Is the Difference between a 3PL, 2PL, 4PL and Freight Forwarder?

As mentioned above, a third-party logistics provider is a company that provides outsourced logistics services to business such as transportation, warehousing, and order fulfilment. This allows businesses to focus on other more important business tasks while leaving the logistical side of the business to the experts.

A freight forwarder, on the other hand, is a company that specializes in the transportation of goods. A freight forwarder does not typically offer other logistical services, such as warehousing or order fulfilment.

A 2PL is a company that provides logistical services but does not own its own fleet of vehicles or warehouses.

Meanwhile a 4PL is a company that provides end-to-end logistics solutions, from transportation to warehousing to order fulfilment. 4PL providers typically manage multiple 3PL providers, allowing them to offer a comprehensive solution to their clients.

What Are the Benefits of a 3PL Provider?

While each company has its own unique needs, there are several key benefits that 3PL providers can provide your business.

Cost Savings

One of the biggest advantages of using a 3PL provider is cost savings. By outsourcing logistics to a third party, companies can avoid the high costs of maintaining their own transportation and warehouse infrastructure. In addition, 3PL providers often have economies of scale that allow them to provide services at a lower cost than companies could achieve on their own.

Expertise

Third-party logistics providers can bring expertise and experience to your company. Many 3PL providers have extensive knowledge of the logistics industry and can offer insights on how to improve your supply chain. They can also help you implement new technologies or processes that will make your operation more efficient.

Flexibility

Another key benefit of 3PL provider is increased flexibility. Companies that use third-party logistics providers can quickly adjust their supply chain in response to changes in demand. This can be crucial in industries with rapidly changing customer needs, such as fashion or consumer electronics. 3PL providers can help companies expand into new markets or add new product lines without needing to make major investments in logistics.

Inventory Management

Inventory management is essential for any business that wants to maintain a healthy bottom line. However, managing inventory can be a time-consuming and complex task. 3PL providers specialize in managing inventory and can provide businesses with the tools and resources they need to streamline their operations. In addition, 3PL providers often have relationships with manufacturers and suppliers, which can help to reduce costs.

Business-to-Business (B2B) Fulfillment

A third-party logistics provider can offer many benefits to a business, but one of the most significant is business-to-business (B2B) fulfillment. B2B fulfillment is the process of handling and shipping orders from one business to another. A 3PL provider can manage this process from start to finish, including warehousing, order processing, and shipping. This can be a valuable service for businesses that do not have the resources or expertise to manage their own fulfillment operations.

Business-to-Consumer (B2C) Fulfillment

Another key benefit of using a 3PL provider is business-to-consumer (B2C) fulfillment. In today’s fast-paced world, consumers expect to receive their orders quickly and efficiently. By partnering with a 3PL provider, businesses can take advantage of their expertise and resources to ensure that orders are fulfilled quickly and accurately. As a result, businesses can provide a better customer experience and build loyalty among their customers.

Value-Added Services

Value-added services can include things like inventory management, order fulfillment, and even returns processing. By partnering with a 3PL provider, businesses can offload some of the responsibility for these tasks, freeing up their time and resources to focus on other areas of their business. In today’s competitive marketplace, the ability to focus on your core competencies is more important than ever before. As such, the value-added services offered by 3PL providers are a key benefit that businesses should consider when making their shipping and logistics decisions.

Why Choose APS Fulfillment, Inc. for Your Third-Party Logistics Needs?

Overall, there are many benefits that third-party logistics providers can offer.

At APS Fulfillment, Inc., we offer full-service e-commerce fulfillment out of Miami that includes state-of-the-art warehouse management software (WMS). We make inventory management and goods tracking easy and simple, even during these complicated times and supply chain shortages. We’ll also support your business and automate the warehousing, prepping, shipping, picking, and packing of your orders!

Get in touch with us today and one of our consultants will tailor a fulfillment plan that will help grow your business. To book a consultation, call (954) 582-7450 or email [email protected].

Also Read: What is the Difference Between 3PL and 4PL Service Providers?

Teaming up with a third-party logistics (3PL) e-commerce fulfillment company can provide you with unlimited potential by helping you accommodate growth and ensure an optimal customer experience. If you’re trying to make your business more seamless, cost-effective, and scalable, an experienced 3PL partner can be a very valuable resource. The role of logistics in e-commerce is more vital to a business’s success than ever before, so if you’re wondering how to scale your e-commerce business, here’s how a 3PL partner can help you.

Ways to Scale Your e-Commerce Business with 3PL

Flexibility and Scalability (Accommodate Growth)

The growth of e-commerce sales can be unpredictable and explosive. You may need to respond quickly as you notice order volume increases, changing customer demands, seasonal promotions, and fluctuations in your business. You will need to have the right amount of warehouse space and personnel to deal with peak demand. Unfortunately, if you are managing your operations on your own, you may be paying more than you need to and wasting space when volume slows down. You may not be as large as Amazon, but if your business is growing you need to be able to scale your business to accommodate new customers and more orders. If you need to start small, it’s a good idea to set up your logistics division with a third-party logistics provider.

Kitting and Assembly

The demand for products can change depending on the season, promotions, partnerships, and more. Working with a 3PL partner can provide you with on-demand, agile kitting and assembly services that meet your distribution needs. Your 3PL partner’s customized kitting and assembly services may include banding, shrink-wrapping, gift boxing, custom cartons, barcoding, refurbishment, and more.

Warehousing

When you start warehousing, you should make room for the growth of your business. If your inventory grows, you will have the space you need to accommodate more products in variety and quantity. If you are a small business or startup, it can be too costly to rent your own warehouse space, and inefficient to work out of your home. That’s why hiring a 3PL provider is a wise plan. They can manage your inventory and track every item that goes in and out of the warehouse, so you always know what’s happening.

Cost-Effective Shipping

Today’s e-commerce customers demand fast and free shipping, so minimizing transportation costs will be vital to your cost savings. It is a good idea to provide competitive service using economy shipping options whenever possible. A 3PL provider can offer convenient locations to help you manage shipping costs. They also have established carrier networks, which can provide you with the flexibility to choose the optimal level of service for each shipment at the right price.

Provide Access to New Markets with 3PL

Expanding into new national and global markets is one of the biggest challenges faced by distribution companies. Access to forwarders, depots and a network of supply chains are assets that 3PL companies can provide. This team of specialists can help you pick and dispatch your products to your customers all around the world.

Consolidation Service

By consolidating all your small goods into one shipment, you can reduce shipping charges. Working with a service provider that sends several small packages as one large package is known as a consolidation service. This is one of the many services provided by a third-party logistics provider.

Improves Customer Service

When it comes to your business a customer service policy is something you cannot forget and is vital to keeping your customers and your business happy. A 3PL provider can help you focus on your customer service so you can take care of every matter, keep your customer informed during the process, and use the negative feedback to improve your business.

Faster Delivery

Order volume increases as your business grows, which can include new orders and returns. Although this is your main goal as a business, you can run the risk of inadvertently stepping into a situation that you cannot control, as you find yourself constantly trying to keep up. This situation can quickly create order backlogs, supply chain delays, and an inefficient system. A 3PL company allows you to access the latest technology in storage, packing, and distribution that can scale your business so you don’t need to stress when order volumes increase or inventory slows down.

Order Accuracy

Continued focus on process and quality is essential to handle an increase in volume without negatively impacting order accuracy. A 3PL provider with fulfillment automation solutions can improve order accuracy for you. Their experience in continuous improvement methodologies can customize the process, incorporate proven best practices, and leverage advanced fulfillment automation.

Order Tracking and Reporting

Providing tracking for your customers’ deliveries adds great value to your e-commerce business. You can provide customers with real-time information about the status of their shipments, and communication goes a long way. Keeping customers informed of any unforeseen problems that may delay their order can improve your customer service strategy. A 3PL provider can provide these metrics for you so you never have to run out of stock and can always meet demand.

Outsource to Our Experienced e-Commerce 3PL Services

E-commerce order fulfillment services provide incredible opportunities for businesses to improve their customer experience and loyalty. With the right 3PL partner, you can provide customers with convenience and an enjoyable online shopping experience. Managing your operations may be a difficult task on your own, especially as your business grows through your marketing efforts. Instead of trying to juggle all these moving parts, you can let a 3PL provider help you.

APS Fulfillment, Inc. prides itself on being one of the best e-commerce 3PL providers by offering the most dependable, effective e-commerce fulfillment services possible, every day. If you need help managing your e-commerce processes or believe it’s time for an upgrade, we can help. We are an experienced e-commerce order fulfillment company that can provide advice on shipping processes and we offer our clients a variety of hands-on services including product fulfillment, direct mail marketing, fulfillment solutions, and fulfillment markets. We also use the best quality software systems to manage your warehouse, so if you’re looking for the right company, look no further than APS Fulfillment, Inc. You can contact us by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at (954) 582-7450.

Photo Credit: iStock.com/metamorworks

If you want to improve your supply chain processes, you should consider working with a third-party logistics company. These companies work as an all-in-one solution for every aspect of the chain, from assembly to picking and packing, to warehousing, to distribution, and to shipping. Their services will bring you many benefits and advantages so you can maximize profitability. Here are some of the services available that will help you achieve the success you desire.

Domestic and International Logistics

By working with a flexible 3PL provider, you will be able to better manage all kinds of logistics regardless of size, weight, distance, or speed. Your 3PL provider will handle domestic or international logistics, so you can focus more on building and growing your business, and communicating with your customers. While you manage these important areas of your business, they will ship freight to every major market across the nation. This means your reach is almost limitless.

Product Shipping

If you need help managing your product shipping, and want to benefit from saved time, money, and work, you should consider working with a 3PL logistics company. You will benefit from volume discounts on shipping, as well as shared warehousing facilities. They can move more products in a safer, more efficient way, to reduce damage and recovery time. Many 3PL providers also implement the latest software so they can track, monitor, report, and secure the movement of your products.

Warehousing

Owning a warehouse of your own means your management strategy needs to be resourceful and highly organized. Since the fulfillment process also includes picking, packing, kitting, and assembly, it may be too much to handle on your own. Instead of using your own space and bringing in products to prepare for shipments, you can work with a 3PL provider. These companies have all the resources and personnel necessary to manage every aspect of the fulfillment process, plus, working with them saves you from managing the costs of your own warehouse. They can handle the storage and logistics using their connections and resources.

Shipping Strategy and Planning

Working with a 3PL logistics company allows you to have your logistics strategy implemented by professionals, and make sure that your shipping strategy and planning are properly handled. Reputable 3PL providers can help you boost your shipping strategy so that you can better serve your customers, save money in the long run, and make sure your shipping process works safer, faster, and more efficiently.

Providing Systems Support and Optimization

Your 3PL partner has the resources and latest technology necessary to adjust and improve each link in the supply chain. They will meet your needs, using the fastest, most efficient, and most cost-effective methods. They are able to restructure the supply chain using their resources, as well as use technology to make sure your goods are moving in and out of your warehouse when needed. They can analyze and monitor practices to eliminate inefficiencies early enough to prevent delays and problems. They can also streamline the supply chain so your warehouse operations flow smoothly.

Outsource Your Logistics to APS Fulfillment, Inc.

Managing the operations of your business may be too great of a task to handle alone, so outsourcing to a reputable and successful team will save you trouble so you can focus on other important areas of your business. If you want to benefit from maximized profits, reduced wait times, and top-notch customer service, consider working with APS Fulfillment, Inc. Our professionals provide our clients with a variety of solutions to meet their warehouse organization needs. Our 3PL services include e-commerce fulfillment, product fulfillment, direct mail marketing, fulfillment solutions, and fulfillment markets. We also use the best quality systems to manage your warehouse. So, if you’re looking for the right company, look no further than APS Fulfillment, Inc. You can contact us by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at (954) 582-7450.

Photo Credit: iStock.com/Wavebreakmedia

Choosing a third-party logistics (3PL) company can help you manage your operations and save you time as you focus on other important areas of your business. Managing inventory, shipping, receiving, picking, packing, and other areas of the warehousing process can be time-consuming and stressful for small- to medium-sized businesses. Outsourcing this process provides brands with many benefits but there are some key things to consider about how to choose a 3PL provider. Here are some of the most important do’s and don’ts when choosing a 3PL partner.

Do’s

Consider Location

The location of your third-party logistics partner should suit your overall distribution plan and be closer to your high-consumption area. The closer you are to these target areas the easier it will be for you to reach out to them and create value for your customers. It also will improve how fast you can ship your products to your customers.

Define Measurable KPIs

Develop a set of key performance indicators (KPIs). They should include exact times, quantities, and other numerical measurements to keep everyone in the process on the same page. This will help everyone understand what is required to achieve acceptable on-time, accurate, and affordable performance levels. This can be set up through logs, timestamps, or barcode scanning.

Do Check the 3PL’s Ability to Scale

Consider your future when choosing a 3PL provider. If you expect your business to grow you should work with a team that can handle it. If you predict massive order volume increases, can your 3PL partner handle it? Do they have the warehouse space and manpower necessary? Do they have online systems in place to keep orders organized and get things out the door as efficiently as possible?

Do Check 3PL’s Financial Stability

Your warehouse partner should not fall short of financial stability and be unable to support your business. Financial stability is extremely important when choosing a third-party logistics provider, and you can find this out by checking their track record with other customers.

Consider IT Capabilities

Does your prospective 3PL partner have a good warehouse management system? Is their material handling automated? Do they have the technology necessary to handle accurate warehousing processes? Does their system provide accurate inventory reports? Can they provide live inventory checks? It is important to work with a 3PL partner that uses the latest technology and equipment. This will make them more beneficial to you as a business partner.

Meet Your 3PL Partner

By meeting your 3PL partner you will get a feel for how the company manages itself and its workers. Tour the facilities, talk to management about how employees are incentivized and get a feel for their level of honesty, trustworthiness, and sincerity. Are they passionate about the business? Is customer service a priority? Ask these questions to get a better insight into how your business and products will be handled.

Check the Safety Policies and Procedures of the 3PL Provider

Be sure to check the hiring and training policies of your warehouse and provider, and take a look at their safety policies and procedures. This will help you understand how your goods will be handled in the warehouse. The safety policies should be applied to employees, managers, warehouse staff, and consignments. Take a tour around the warehouse and look for fire safety provisions, warning signs, and labels, and observe how staff are obeying those safety procedures.

Don’ts

Don’t Overanalyze

Limit your search to a maximum of three 3PL partners. If you consider too many options you may miss out on the little details that you need to check and focus on before making a final decision. Keeping a short list can help you deeply evaluate each prospective partner.

Don’t Fall into the Price Trap

Be careful not to choose a 3PL provider solely because of their competitive prices. Although this is an important 3PL selection criterion to consider, you should not compromise quality. If the 3PL provider does not have successful and quality processes in place, your business will suffer in the end.

Don’t Fall into a Long-Term Contract

If the service levels waiver at all during your time with the 3PL provider you should be able to leave. This is why it is important not to fall into the long-term contract trap. If you are stuck with a company that can’t accommodate your growth, you will be sent back. More and more e-commerce fulfillment companies are moving to month-to-month contracts which may work better for you.

Don’t Make a Decision Without Comparing Options

Before settling on the first good 3PL partner you come across, consider comparing performance reports for all of your potential 3PL partners based on the same metrics. You can show these to the 3PL provider you want to move forward with, as an incentive for them to improve what they’re doing or keep up the good work.

Don’t Underestimate the Power of Positive Reinforcement

Did you know that many of the country’s most successful businesses use measurement data from their 3PL providers to decide the winners of annual awards? This gives inspiration and motivation to the third-party logistics providers who win the awards. Positive reinforcement goes a long way so take a look at some providers who have received awards for their successful businesses.

Outsource Your Logistics to APS Fulfillment, Inc.

Taking the previous dos and don’ts into consideration before choosing your 3PL provider will help you make the best decision to improve your business processes. Managing the operations of your business may be too great of a task to handle alone, so outsourcing to a reputable and successful team will free you to work on other important areas of your business. At APS Fulfillment, Inc. our professionals provide our client’s solutions to meet their warehouse organization needs. Our services include e-commerce fulfillment, product fulfillment, direct mail marketing, fulfillment solutions, and fulfillment markets. We also use the best quality software systems to manage your warehouse, so if you’re looking for the right company, look no further than APS Fulfillment, Inc. You can contact us by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at (954) 582-7450.

Costs are tight in fulfillment, meaning you have to save money wherever you can. If it’s difficult to pinpoint where to cut costs, consider outsourcing your warehousing and distribution as a catch-all solution to save money. Here are some reasons why outsourcing can be the cost-efficient answer.

1. Reduced Capital Investment

You might have the desire to do your own warehousing or own your own warehouse/storage unit, but with the fees for warehouse and fleet management, security, temperature controls, and other related costs, you may want to think twice. Having a third party handle it for you can save you money on all these charges.

Small and new fulfillment companies often struggle when trying to establish their logistics strategies. Shipping can be a challenge, with a lot of potential issues that can cause confusion and possible damage to your company.

These days, any information that can help small businesses to improve their logistics and shipping services is useful. Here are a few common suggestions to help you out:

It’s great, and sometimes even odd when you discover a talent. Ex-007 Roger Moore is noted to have impressed a crew on one of his later James Bond films with his truck-driving skills, something he learned as a struggling actor. Crime writer Raymond Chandler, originally an executive and now considered one of history’s best writers, managed to find talent for writing when forced to during the Great Depression. Music producer Berry Gordy failed at both marriage and record store operations but used the production tactics he learned from the Ford Plant to create the famous Motown Records. When you find that thing that makes you something special, it defines you.

In fact, we all have traits that define us as people. Narcissism aside, we all have one or two skills that we can do better than most—skills we often want to utilize and make something of ourselves with.

This is all fine, but while there are things we can do well, there’s a lot more we can’t. And while we want to improve in these areas, we often never do.

In the end, there’s no shame in this; admitting you can’t do certain things is only human. However, if you’re a product fulfillment pro, you have to understand that you’ll need help for those jobs you can’t do. Again, there’s no shame in it, just be aware of where to find the right assistance.

Specialty Pros

There’s no question that product fulfillment pros need good third-party fulfillment associates, as there are simply too many jobs to cover for one person to do everything.

It’s the bigger jobs that often need third-party fulfillment assistance. You might have access to some good places to store your products, but huge-sized warehousing and storage facilities might not be something you have at hand. Similarly, you might be good at shipping smaller products through the mail, but huge products or large quantities need improved logistics solutions—the law often requires it. If you have to seek out help for these or other heavy-duty third-party fulfillment services, do a little searching; reputable assistance that can offer different packages for different product solutions is your best bet.

And don’t just look locally; a lot of product fulfillment pros go to where the real specialty pros that service the product fulfillment industry is. This often leads them to certain pockets of industry, such as in the Southern U.S. For third-party fulfillment, various Miami printing companies or good direct marketing services in Florida can offer the most skilled services, no matter where you’re located.

Network of Quality

The nature of third-party fulfillment isn’t flash-in-the-pan business assistance; it’s something bigger. You want to build up a network of quality for product fulfillment success that benefits both you and your associates. This can be great in the long run in so many ways; for example, having good relations with your Miami printing companies or working over the long term with a trusted product supply company can score you great colleagues and good deals that you couldn’t previously access.

Working with others is never a sign of weakness; if anything, it’s a sign of professionalism needed to run your business better. Once you bring in great outside resources to your product fulfillment business, you strengthen it above and beyond.

Need solutions to your product fulfillment problems? APS Fulfillment, Inc has the knowledge and services to make your direct mail and product fulfillment ventures more successful. Contact APS Fulfillment, Inc by e-mail at [email protected] or phone at (954) 582-7450.