What You Should Know About Third-Party Logistics Services

The internet has shaken up retail, and more companies than ever are selling products online. The growth of e-commerce means that there is also an increased demand for warehouses and fulfillment centers that are responsible for accepting, sorting, and shipping these orders. If you run a warehouse of any type and need to make sure that your customers are getting their orders quickly and with great customer service, it makes sense to partner with a company that offers third-party logistics services. The tips in this article will teach you more about partnering with businesses that you can outsource the work to.

#1: Consider the size of your business and your logistics needs

Every company can benefit from outsourcing its logistics to a third party, but you will do it more effectively when you consider the type of company you have. Think in terms of the number and volume of orders that you process and what kinds of resources go into it. You should also consider whether you need any industry-specific services that require a certain type of logistics provider. As a best-case scenario, you will be partnering with these companies for several years, so get as much clarity as you can into your needs.

#2: Speak to some companies that offer third-party logistics solutions

Make sure to choose third-party logistics services professionals that are on the cutting edge of the biggest changes affecting the industry. Ask them how they can help you improve your picking, barcode inventory, cloud-based solutions, customer service, and other factors. Learn which third-party logistics solutions companies are the most proven and what fields they specialize in. From there, you can start getting a price quote for doing contract work with them.

#3: Make widespread changes and constantly track your improvements

It's not enough to just hire a company that provides third-party logistics. Make sure that you are also resolving to learn from it as much as possible. Improve your business and adopt processes that you learn from these companies so that your business is better for it. Be sure that you are consistently tracking and reinforcing decisions that help your company stay in compliance with the Occupation Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) so that you don't lose workdays due to injuries, liabilities, and penalties. Use the information that you glean to help you with your hiring decisions and how you approach your orders each quarter.

Start with the three tips in this article and contact some providers of third-party logistics solutions that can help you.