Hiring a third-party logistics provider (3PL) has become a popular option for ecommerce companies in recent years. But because finding the right one is so vital to the success of your ecommerce business, how should you go about evaluating the right options? Here are a few do’s and don’ts of the 3PL selection process.
Again taking square aim at Amazon Prime, Walmart plans to offer free two-day shipping as part of its $50 a year ShippingPass program. See what else the retail giant has in the works as it looks to gain ground against its online rival.
The U.S. Postal Service reported operating revenue of $17.7 billion in Q2, up $788 million or 4.7% from 2015. The increase was primarily due to an 11.4% gain in shipping and package volume and pricing changes. While the USPS keeps posting double-digit parcel gains, it continues to drown in pension-driven red ink, with a $2 billion quarterly net loss, up from $1.5 billion a year ago.
Following on the heels of FedEx’s move earlier this year, UPS plans to update its fee structure for larger parcels, decreasing the size of items that incur an extra $10.50 handling charge. Under the new rule, packages with a long side of 48″ or more will be subject to the charge as of June 6. The previous threshold was 60″.
Continuing its relentless push into logistics to shore up carrier network capacity issues, Amazon has struck a deal with major air transport firm Atlas Air of Purchase, NY, leasing 20 of its Boeing 767-300 jets and taking up to a 30% stake in the company. Atlas is also a supplier of transport planes to UPS.
Looking to differentiate from competitors on fulfillment speed, Shopify is offering its small-to-medium-sized merchant customers same-day delivery services – often within an hour – through an integration partnership with Postmates
A final hurdle to FedEx’s proposed $4.8 billion acquisition of Dutch carrier TNT Express NV has been cleared via an unconditional approval from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce. The deal has already been blessed by authorities in the EU and Brazil, after an initial challenge last fall by the former. The deal will bring FedEx close to parity with UPS in Europe, or possibly launch it into second place behind EU market leader DHL.
There is a real need for retailers to find shipping solutions that can help evolve them and manage costs as they deploy new stores and warehouses. Here are three strategies that retailers can take to better manage their complexities.
UPS reported 10% growth in Q1 net income, as the company touted its ability to drive efficiency in its ecommerce operations and strong B2C volume gains. See what executives said about UPS’s investment in Deliv and logistics moves by major customer Amazon.
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.