5 Steps to a Better Third-Party Logistics Relationship

| Curt Barry

Outsourcing fulfillment and customer care operations is not for everyone, and many merchant companies feel they can keep costs low by maintaining control. But for those who do use a 3PL, here are 5 ways to get the most out of the relationship, helping them deliver value while improving your results.

5 Reasons Why an RFP is Crucial to Your System Selection

| Curt Barry

Without an RFP and demos it’s hard to go through the system selection process and know if what you’re looking at is materially better than the existing one. Here are five compelling reasons to go through an RFP process to vet systems and vendors and make sure you choose the right one for your business needs.

same-day delivery

Need for Delivery Speed Driving Ecommerce Distribution Investments

| MCM Staff

The need for speed in ecommerce distribution, driven largely by Amazon Prime’s two-day promise, is behind increased investments in distribution center technology as well as a trend toward more smaller, forward-based facilities closer to the customer, according to a new report. Find out what other topline results came from the survey of 1,400 IT and warehouse professionals around the globe.

distribution center

Use of a 3PL A Small But Growing Option for Merchant Shippers

| Mike O'Brien

While there are many clear advantages to using a third-party fulfillment (3PL) partner for outsourcing some or all of your operations, the majority of merchant companies still opt for keeping these functions in house and firmly within their control. According to respondents to the MCM Outlook Survey, 26.5% of respondents said they use a 3PL in 2016, up from 21.2% in 2015, while the rest said they handle fulfillment internally. Of those who said no, only 2.9% said they are considering use of a 3PL, down from 6.2% in 2015.