Business might seem just another profession or a way of living, but starting one is a DREAM for many people. When a business finally starts, especially on online platforms, the entrepreneurs have a truckload of tasks to handle, from inventory, listing, warehouse, and product development to consumer service and product development. Amidst all this, delivery and fulfillment should be the top priority of the entrepreneur since this leads to better reviews and more customers, among other reasons. Also, most customers prefer quick and efficient delivery these days. Delay in this section may lead to cancellation or return as the product might not hold relevance after a certain point in time.
For successful and consistent fulfillment systems, you should opt for 3PL (Third Party Logistics). While it may look like an additional cost for the business, it is a great investment that will save costs and add to the efficiency of the business. The following 6 minutes of reading will explain how 3PL is a MUST-HAVE for your business to grow. First of all, what is 3PL or Third Party Logistics?
3PL means outsourcing delivery and fulfillment services. Third-party logistics companies take responsibility for supply chain operations along with related aspects. They take care of the delivery of products. Breaking it down in simpler terms, they work to receive, pack, pick, and also store your products safely. They provide specialization in the most critical tasks of e-commerce business. So, the chances of miss, failure, and delays can be lowered to none.
After knowing the meaning of 3PL, you might be wondering about the significance of the same for your business, which, as of now, is just a budding e-commerce deal. Here is all you have to consider:
It is a popular opinion that 3PL adds to the cost of the company, which must not be incurred in the very beginning. On the contrary, it saves the cost. While beginners in the e-commerce field want hands-on experience in every area of work, they have to focus on other tasks that need their time and energy, like marketing, advertising, and product development. Above all, you would need to manage the business and understand the needs of the business.
Let’s be real! Amidst all this, you don't want to handle logistics failure and cancellation due to delayed delivery. You can cut costs with shipping discounts, which you get from your 3PL company. Also, you don’t need to rent or build those expensive warehouses. Apart from this, you get to save on labour charges and their inefficiencies. You get an expert handling your orders like a pro. So, this is all a Win-Win condition. Also, the expertise offered by 3PL will lead to growth and more orders for your business.
Inventory management is another crucial task of your business management, which needs a lot of vigilance. Also, real-time tracking of inventory is a must to prevent your products from getting lost or misplaced. Stock updates are another thing that needs constant attention as you don't wish to oversell or go out of stock. For this, you might need a different Inventory Management System (IMS). But 3PL provides you with the same with minimal errors and smart data updates on inventory. Now, one more task is ticked off the list.
Customers require constant stock updates on their orders. They are willing to track it in real-time. Answering endless calls and messages regarding shipment details can be tiring. Also, among other ongoing tasks, there are chances of mistakes. With 3PL, your customers will get all-time resolutions to their queries that are quick and accurate, given the specialization held by the 3PL companies. Hence, you will be able to have a better rapport with your customers.
Every business wants to scale, grow, and become BIG. Achieving the same is only possible if your consumer base grows and they are loyal to you. To build the same, you need to have an efficient fulfillment system and customer service. Also, you would require extra time to put your brains into the business. All this is possible only with 3PL, which gives you the surety of delivery and stress-free time for scaling your business. In the end, it is going to be your biggest support to grow bigger and better.
A well-informed decision based on data and metrics plays a pivotal role in not just growth but facing challenges that appear on the way to success. Now, you require accurate and precise data for these well-informed decisions. 3PL would provide you with precise data and stats about your business without any mistakes, so you don't have to dig it out on your own. Also, it improves your performance as a decision-maker.
As humans, entrepreneurs only have a limited view of the market; they cannot know every marketplace and possible consumer base. 3PL gives you a chance to tap into the markets that might not originally be part of the plan. This can add to the growth and scalability of your business. There are services in 3PL that help you widen your area of delivery. Sitting in one corner of the nation, you can fulfill orders in other parts of the world. You can actually reach the global stage with 3PL. The possibilities are endless.
Now, all you have to do is look for an application that can be your 3PL integration partner. It must be:
MapMyChannel by WebBee is the right choice for your startup as it comes with 19 years of experience in the field. It will not just take care of one platform for your e-commerce child; it is capable of integrating different online selling websites on one dashboard so that you can monitor all of them from a single platform. Hence, handling orders and fulfillment becomes easy. In addition to all that is mentioned above, it gives you automation in product listing, inventory management, delivery updates, stock updates, etc. So, your entire attention goes to the growth of your business.
Finally, it comes out that 3PL will play a massive role in the actual growth Startups and scaling of your business with minimal cost. You will not have to keep on tracking products, update the customers, take care of delivery and returns, etc. Also, productivity will soar for business to go seamlessly. It will not just make your fulfillment effortless but also make your inventory management easy. Now, the choice is yours if you actually want to scale your business with minimal cost incurred or if you just want to keep your business on the same level with no help from experts.
