{"id":6434,"date":"2019-03-29T13:27:27","date_gmt":"2019-03-29T20:27:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hollingsworthllc.com\/?p=6434"},"modified":"2019-06-14T13:56:23","modified_gmt":"2019-06-14T20:56:23","slug":"e-commerce-checklist-for-a-successful-3pl-partnership","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hollingsworthllc.com\/e-commerce-checklist-for-a-successful-3pl-partnership\/","title":{"rendered":"E-Commerce Checklist for a Successful 3PL Partnership"},"content":{"rendered":"

For many e-commerce companies, outsourcing parts of the fulfillment process and using third-party logistics (3PL)<\/a> is a no-brainer. 3PL partners cut shipping costs and let e-commerce companies spend more time on other areas.<\/p>\n

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After all, time and money are important to competitive businesses and are the reason why the 3PL market is expected to eclipse $1 trillion by 2024<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, 3PL partnerships don’t always work out. An e-commerce business you’ve heard of, or possibly even your own e-commerce business, may have had trouble with outsourcing logistics in the past. When this happens, finding the accountable party is difficult, and the bad taste left could deter e-commerce companies from finding new 3PL partners.<\/p>\n

Here’s the good news: Every e-commerce business can take steps to make sure they have a successful 3PL partnership.<\/p>\n

To ensure that you’re getting the most out of your current or future 3PL relationship, here’s a checklist of steps you should follow.<\/p>\n

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Know Why You’re Outsourcing Logistics<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

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This might seem obvious. You’re outsourcing logistics to save time and money, right?<\/p>\n

But what are your goals for your business and how does 3PL fit into them?<\/p>\n

You need to ask yourself why you’re choosing 3PL over alternatives, such as drop shipping<\/a> or running the process in-house. If you choose to outsource your logistics but don’t have the size or scale to justify it, you’re bound to have a poor relationship with your 3PL partner.<\/p>\n

3PL businesses also have connections with suppliers and are experts in their field. They can negotiate for lower costs<\/a>, settle any compliance issues, and take care of your reverse logistics<\/a>. Of course, all of this is at a cost to your business.<\/p>\n

Be certain that outsourcing logistics is the most logical option.<\/p>\n

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Outline Your 3PL Expectations<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

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Prior to searching for a 3PL partner, you should generate a list of the services you’re looking for and the expectations you have. Yes, every e-commerce business would prefer that their 3PL partner work overtime and hire additional staff around Black Friday. But is the associated cost<\/a> worth it for your business?<\/p>\n

Here are some expectations to consider:<\/p>\n