For brands that prioritize flexibility, high service levels and a long-term partnership, choosing the right third party logistics provider means looking past surface-level promises and focusing on alignment. These buyer-focused criteria help you evaluate how well each potential partner supports your service expectations, operational needs, and growth plans, not only today, but as your business grows.
If you need a robust order fulfillment partner, take a look at our 3PL checklist of five must-have capabilities to look for when choosing your next 3PL partner.
Last mile home delivery plays an integral role in earning customer loyalty. When do the costs of maintaining in-house last mile delivery become too high?
Shipping costs eat a big share of the budget, and customers expect orders to arrive quickly without sacrificing the brand experience. Relying on a single carrier makes that balance harder. One delay, one surcharge, or one policy change can throw off your entire operation. A multi-carrier approach backed by rate shopping gives brands options. Instead of being locked into one provider, you can choose the best rate, service level, and speed for every order.
When you partner with a third-party logistics (3PL) provider, the contract you sign does more than outline services and pricing. It defines how you’ll work together, what protections are in place, and how the partnership can grow over time. A thoughtful business contract review helps both parties safeguard their interests without slowing down collaboration. Knowing how to review a contract and what to expect in a Master Services Agreement (MSA) ensures that you walk into the relationship with clarity and confidence.
Shipping is one of a brand’s biggest expenses, especially as customer expectations for fast, low-cost delivery continue to rise. Many companies face a familiar challenge: how to reduce shipping costs without compromising the quality of the customer experience. The following strategies show how brands can reduce shipping costs without sacrificing the speed, reliability, or experience that today’s customers demand.
Rising shipping rates can erode the profits of online and omnichannel retailers. If you are seeking strategies to reduce shipping costs, a great starting place is understanding the anatomy of a parcel rate. Here’s a guide to the many factors that affect your costs.
Touring a warehouse or fulfillment center is a critical step in evaluating an order fulfillment and warehousing partner. There’s no substitute for putting your eyes on the facility and process. Seeing the operation in person will help you validate what that company has communicated in the sales process and meet the people who will be serving your customers.
When evaluating a last mile delivery service provider, touring one of their facilities shouldn’t be an afterthought, it’s a crucial part of the decision-making process. A visit provides a firsthand look at how the provider handles your product, manages people, and operates day-to-day. It’s your chance to validate what you’ve heard in meetings or read in proposals.
Efficient and comprehensive onboarding is essential when implementing a last mile delivery solution, especially when partnering with a third-party logistics (3PL) provider. A well-structured onboarding process directly influences the success of your last mile delivery operation by impacting efficiency and cost management, customer experience, and the strength of your 3PL partnership. Understanding the importance and how to improve last mile delivery through a comprehensive onboarding process positions your brand for sustained success.