In the world of logistics, 3PLs (Third-Party Logistics) providers stand as the champions. This is because they offer everything businesses and brands need to enhance their entire supply chain from warehousing to order fulfillment. Outsourcing all these services to a 3PL allows companies to focus on increasing their customer base and leveraging their expertise where it is best suited.
Two of the main things 3PL providers are known for are speed and customer satisfaction. They are able to help ensure packages get to customers in a timely and accurate manner, fostering more trust between brands and their audiences. But how exactly do they do it?
Let's dive into the main ways 3PLs boost order fulfillment speed and enhance the customer experience in the logistics industry.
If you were to receive an order at your front door and the products weren't what you paid for, you wouldn't be happy, right? That's the case with almost every customer when they don't receive exactly what they've purchased, even if it's only a small error. When a business provides its consumers with inaccurate orders full of mistakes, they will no doubt feel frustrated and lose trust in the brand. This could ultimately lead to bad reviews and returns that end up costing you more.
3PLs ensure that overall customer satisfaction is high by using a wide range of innovative technologies and robust quality control measures for accurate order processing. Integrating things such as barcode scanning on each product, inventory management systems, and automated picking and packing reduces the chance of human error and provides a more positive customer experience.
They never skimp on quality control. Even after the technology has been utilized, they conduct regular audits and inspections by humans to ensure that everything is running smoothly. This can include checking that the stock is the correct amount, that the packages going out have the right number of items, or that the labeling and packaging are accurate for efficient order fulfillment.
While the whole aim of order accuracy is to focus on improved customer service and fewer returns, sometimes customers simply decide they don't want a product anymore. Many businesses offer free returns within their order fulfillment process, and therefore, they need to ensure that they go as seamlessly as sending orders out in the first place. However, they come with a wide range of challenges.
One of the biggest challenges that brands, especially e-commerce businesses, need to overcome is that they experience higher return rates compared to land-based retail stores. You also need to ensure that you inspect the products carefully and that they are being returned for a valid reason so you don't lose out on money. This often requires human inspection, so you need to hire more people to do this job. Processing the refunds in itself is difficult, too, as customers often want their money back as quickly as possible.
A third-party logistics provider helps streamline the returns process for you, helping you overcome these challenges without you having to worry about them. They have years of expertise in reverse logistics and ecommerce fulfillment, as well as a wide range of processing facilities and innovative technology that ensures all the returns are handled efficiently.
Have you ever ordered a product and wanted to know exactly where it was and when it was getting to you? You most likely put your order number into a system and were able to see where your parcel was and the expected delivery date. This is something known as tracking visibility, and it's something that offers transparency and real-time updates on the status of their orders.
When customers can track their orders, they have better peace of mind about what they've ordered and that it isn't getting lost during delivery. It's a form of effective communication as well, as it gives the customer a delivery time and updates on the order without them having to contact customer support directly. When the tracking updates are completely accurate, it can also help customers develop a stronger sense of trust in your brand and choose you over other businesses with similar products.
You might be thinking about how you can implement real-time supply chain visibility, but with a 3PL provider, you don't have to worry. They do it all for you by leveraging the most advanced technologies and tracking systems. Not only can you provide the tracking number to the customer, but you can follow the orders yourself. They can also set up things like order tracking portals and automated notifications that update customers on the status of their orders.
Not every customer needs their products to arrive the day after ordering them, so the delivery times can vary depending on the needs of the customer. Due to this, 3PL providers offer a wide range of shipping options to keep up with customer demands and ensure everyone is happy. For example, they can opt for standard shipping where the order arrives to them within 3 to 7 business days, or they can opt for expired or next-day shipping for faster delivery.
Not only do 3PLs offer a wide range of shipping options, but they also tailor these options to meet customer preferences. For example, if your brand has the capacity for it, and the provider can find cheap yet efficient alternatives, customers can sometimes opt for free shipping. This is usually when they spend over a certain amount so it makes it worthwhile. The provider will also set the shipping rates on the other options, making them as cost-efficient as possible for you.
It's all well and good when a company offers fast delivery times, but this can't be met when the supply chain efficiency suffers when it comes to processing. As a brand, you need to make every minute count, from the moment a customer places their order to the moment they receive it at their front door. By enhancing the processing time, you'll experience an increase in customer satisfaction, improved operational efficiency, and a competitive advantage over similar brands in your industry.
There are various ways 3PL streamline and reduce the processing time in the entire supply chain. The main things they utilize are automation technologies such as robotic process automation (RPA), barcode scanning, and order management systems. This reduces the chance of manual errors while speeding up the processing times. They also often introduce a more efficient warehouse layout, an advanced warehouse management system, and dynamic order routing to enhance all logistics functions in the supply chain.
3PLs are no doubt becoming the saviors in the logistics industry, especially when it comes to ecommerce companies wanting to offer better services and faster delivery times to their customers. Their whole job is to enhance customer satisfaction and build better relationships between a brand and its audience.
If you are looking to connect with a 3PL provider yourself, then Portless is here to help. We are a third-party logistics provider based in China and can offer all the benefits mentioned above and more. Contact one of our experts today to find out more about how we can help you.
