The Comprehensive Guide to Picking a Third-Party Logistics (3PL) Partner for Your Business

Logistics Capabilities

Not all logistics providers are created equal. They may specialize in different industries, service areas, or competencies, making some a better choice for your business. If a particular provider excels in one area, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the right fit for your business’s needs or that they can excel in the areas that matter most to you.

It’s also important to consider providers that offer capabilities for both your short-term and long-term needs. Some capabilities aren’t necessary for your business right now, but you may expect to benefit from them in the next year or two. Your logistics partner is a long-term relationship, so choosing the right fit – one you can grow into – will save you hassle in the future as your business needs change.

Focus on Customer Service

Customer service impacts your business in two ways: the service you provide to customers and the service you receive from your logistics provider as one of their customers.

Your logistics provider is handling certain aspects of your business on your behalf, so it’s critical that they represent your business positively and fulfill the promise you offer to your customers. If your customer service is excellent overall, poor service from a logistics provider can negatively impact your business.

Also, you are a customer of your logistics provider. They have a responsibility to serve your needs. If you have a problem, you want a provider who is responsive, solves problems, and keeps the lines of communication fluid and open.

This is easier said than done, however. All companies claim to have excellent customer service, but those are merely words. You have to dive deeper to see if their actions fulfill this promise.

Ask for references from current or previous customers, preferably from companies in similar industries or who offer similar services to yours. Exceptional customer service is built into the processes and company culture, so if the provider is truly keeping the promise to customers, it will be reflected in positive references from its previous clientele.

Another way to determine if a provider with good customer service is that safety typically goes along with that. It’s unlikely you’ll come across a logistics provider with a track record of excellence in customer service who also has a poor record for safety, and vice versa. If the logistics provider has a solid reputation for safety, it’s likely they also serve their customers well.

Technological Innovation and Advancement

Technology and innovation are making their way into the supply chain industry to manage the ongoing disruptions. When you’re considering third-party logistics partners, consider the technology and innovation they offer to streamline your processes, simplify your workflow, and automate your repetitive and time-consuming tasks.

Your provider should have scalable technology that includes electronic data interchange (EDI) capabilities, a cloud-based warehouse management system, and other leading technologies to improve order processing and tracking, returns management, inventory management, and more.

When you choose a provider with a commitment to staying on the edge of advancement, you can rely on their technology investment and implementation to help your business succeed.

Adaptability

Businesses have different needs, and it’s important to choose a third-party logistics provider who has the appropriate services and capabilities. While a provider may offer a full range of different services, they’re not necessarily services you need right now, in the near future, or ever.

The right provider will understand that businesses have unique needs and requirements, and they’ll be willing to create a tailored plan that’s suited to your business model. Then, when you scale, you can rely on your provider to help you develop a new plan to accommodate your changing needs.

Safety Record

As mentioned, safety typically goes along with exceptional customer service. A strong safety record is important overall, but it’s more valuable amid the constantly evolving landscape of safety regulations.

Be sure to choose a third-party logistics partner with a good track record for safety, as well as policies and a company culture around safety and responsibility. You should be able to review safety ratings and statistics from external sources.

Company Stability

Regardless of the size or complexity of your business, it’s vital to choose a logistics provider with stability. A logistics provider with consistency helps to maintain your business’s service and quality, so avoid providers who are undergoing constant change and upheaval.

Consider this: if one high-risk event occurs and your provider doesn’t have the systems in place to weather it, the liability may shift to your business. While this is always a risk, you can have more confidence in a provider with a strong name and reputation that’s lasted through years – or decades – of economic swings, market turbulence, and monumental shifts in the environment.

Brand Reputation

No business partnership is without its occasional conflict. No matter how well you evaluate your possible logistics providers, there will come a time when the business relationship will be tested.

The concern isn’t whether a problem may come up (it will), but how the situation is handled. When the relationship is challenged, that’s when the logistics provider’s character and commitment will show.

Only time will tell, but you can get an idea of how the provider handles issues and conflict through their past customers.

Ask around. How do they treat their employees and business partners? Are they active in bringing positive change to the community?

What is the general sentiment of the reviews? What sense do you have of the company culture? How long have they been in business?

The answers to these questions won’t dictate how your first conflict will unfold, but it can help you determine the provider’s integrity and customer dedication.

Inventory Management

Well-managed inventory has a significant role in the success and future growth of your business. An innovative logistics provider will offer an integrated warehouse management system (WMS) that can display real-time inventory for your products, sync with your ecommerce store, and reorder inventory as needed.

Other technologies that may help include quality load tracking and inventory tracking software, which can impact your efficiency. You can receive instant alerts and notifications about pickup and delivery, ensuring that your entire process is clear and transparent.

Product Fulfillment

With such a competitive market and supply chain disruptions, a third-party logistics provider that backs its fulfillment with reliability and results is paramount. A provider can help with many aspects of the fulfillment process, including product call-offs, warehouse handling and storage, and the delivery of semi-finished and finished products to a distribution warehouse.

Better yet, look for a third-party logistics provider that offers value-added services like localization, etching, testing and quality assurance, labeling and sorting, and bundling. Combined, these services can lower your distribution costs, reduce your inventory and cash-to-cash cycle time, and assert more control over your cut-off times with your customers.

Location

If your business operates in one region and you’d like to expand, a third-party logistics partner can be an incredible asset. Some logistics providers offer an expansive network of fulfillment centers to serve numerous locations.

When you have a vast network like this, you can tap into local fulfillment centers and warehouses to reduce the cost of shipping and lower the transit time for orders.

Choosing the Best 3PL Logistics Service Provider

Choosing the right third-party logistics partner is no small task. It’s important to thoroughly research your options and consider what’s on the offer, not just for your business needs now, but what you may need in the future.