On-Demand Warehouse Provider FLEXE Raises $43M in New Funding

| Mike O'Brien

On-demand warehousing and fulfillment firm FLEXE has raised $43 million in Series B funding, led by Activate Capital and Tiger Global Management, with participation from Madrona Venture Group and follow-on investments from Redpoint Ventures, Prologis Ventures and others. Clients include Walmart, Staples and Toms.

Port Logistics Group Acquires Whiplash Merchandising

| Mike O'Brien

Third-party logistics provider Port Logistics Group has acquired Whiplash Merchandising, a provider of ecommerce fulfillment software, a year after it took a stake in the company. Whiplash brings shopping cart integration, warehouse management system (WMS) and order management system (OMS) capabilities.

Powering Ecommerce Growth for Brands

| Mike O'Brien

From fast and free shipping to offering delivery choices, ecommerce companies need to be responsive and even proactive in anticipating needs, and outside partners often have the scale and expertise to make it happen. Learn how FedEx Fulfillment helped Revtown and BAWLS overcome operational challenges and grow their business.

20 Critical Implementation Tasks When Moving to a 3PL

| Brian Barry

Some ecommerce companies have gained tremendous benefits from third-party fulfillment partners. But once you contract with a 3PL you must develop a well thought out plan, coordinating with your departments and the partner as well as merchandise vendors, carriers and IT. Here are 20 critical tasks to ensure a smooth transition.

Retooling Your Fulfillment Network to Stay Competitive

| MCM Staff

To succeed, retailers and ecommerce companies need to meet heightened customer experience demands. That means offering fast shipping, free returns and same-day delivery, if possible. Learn insights from industry experts on ways to optimize your fulfillment network and focus your technology investments to compete and win.

How to Determine Your 3PL System Requirements

| Brian Barry

Critical systems functionality and efficient fulfillment are at the heart of a multichannel strategy, and merchants must meet compliance standards of marketplaces and big-box stores. Many 3PLs can bring this functionality and cost effectiveness to ecommerce sellers, manufacturers and brands. Here’s how to make it work for you.

Top 3PL List for 2019 Published by Multichannel Merchant

| Mike O'Brien

Multichannel Merchant has published its fourth annual MCM Top 3PL listing for 2019, a searchable directory of leading third-party logistics (3PL) providers in ecommerce and direct-to-customer operations. This key resource lists the capabilities and experience of over 50 top 3PL providers, helping you select the right one for your needs.

warehouse interior blur feature

Warehouse-as-a-Service Providers Address Ecommerce Fulfillment Niche

| Mike O'Brien

The growth in online sales, the scarcity of ecommerce fulfillment space and increasing customer demands have all merged to drive interest in a particular kind of offering: Warehouse-as-a-Service (WaaS). Find out what’s behind the trend and what some startups and traditional 3PLs are doing to meet the need.

warehouse with forklift

What You Need to Know When Changing 3PL Providers

| Jeff Jones

The decision to change your third-party logistics provider should not be taken lightly, but sometimes it can be the most effective way to move your business forward. Thinking about making a change? The following guidelines may be helpful in considering why, when and how to switch your 3PL provider.

Determining KPIs for Your Ecommerce Fulfillment Operations

| Harry Drajpuch

As fulfillment operations become the true competitive battleground, few ecommerce companies have a robust program for measuring fulfillment performance – particularly when the function is outsourced to a 3PL. These tips will help you identify and measure your KPIs for ecommerce fulfillment.