Does it make more sense to handle order fulfillment in house or outsource to a 3PL? Ultimately, you’ll need to consider a number of factors when deciding what’s right for you. Here are some factors to consider as you weigh your options.
Spending on ecommerce logistics in the U.S. reached $117.2 billion in 2017, representing 6.9% of all domestic logistics costs, up from 5.2% in 2016, according to a new report from Armstrong & Associates, as online buying continues to experience 14% annual growth.
Order fulfillment is not a case of one-size-fits-all. The needs of your fulfillment operations can vary greatly depending on your business model – from omnichannel to subscription box services to direct selling. Here are key considerations for several popular business models.
The 3PL option is not for everyone, but a growing number of ecommerce companies have found it to be efficient, while delivering quality customer service. Here are 8 factors to consider as you evaluate whether the 3PL route makes sense for your organization.
Another peak holiday season is in the books and ecommerce and operations professionals are evaluating how well their fulfillment processes performed during the most challenging and important time of the year. A key success factor is establishing good project management in advance to mitigate challenges that arise.
There are many innovative ways to reduce freight costs that are rarely explored. Several of them are as simple as conducting freight pickups during off-peak hours or days of the week. Implementing these 6 practices is a smart choice that can reduce your freight costs by as much as 50%.
In a move that would vault its logistics and shipping operations to a new level, Home Depot is reportedly interested in acquiring Greenwich, CT-based XPO Logistics, according to a report in Recode.
A strong-performing fulfillment provider can be a valuable partner, while a subpar provider can seriously impact your operations, taking a real toll on your merchant business and your bottom line. Here are some marks of a poor provider to help you avoid the pitfalls, as well as what to look for in a strong provider.
The Multichannel Merchant Top 3PL listing for 2018, a directory of leading third-party logistics (3PL) providers in ecommerce and direct-to-customer operations, is now available. For the third year in a row, the editorial team at MCM has put together this valuable service for our readers.
Entrusting your customer service or fulfillment to a third-party logistics (3PL) company is a big step. Like using other outside services, it’s important to manage the process to reduce errors and exceptions, providing a high level of service at an affordable cost. These 8 steps will help you get the most from your 3PL partner.