How a business can improve operations with a 3PL

December 23 2013

The shipping industry is far more complicated than just packing boxes and moving packages from "Point A" to "Point B." While that is the very basic description, there are many small facets to being successful. This is especially true for businesses that rely heavily on shipping as a centralized part of business.

Having a complete logistics and warehousing solution takes resources and planning, which can be a struggle for many companies. That is why many organizations have been turning toward third party logistics (3PL) firms to help handle each part of the operation.

There is more than meets the eye, however, when it comes to partnering with a 3PL service. A recent blog post from ChemLogix examined the best ways for companies to ensure success and a strong return on their investment.

"So, you've made the decision to contract a 3PL to optimize your logistic operations," the article reads. "While the resources and market intelligence offered by the 3PL promise to address your transportation challenges and help you better maintain a competitive edge, companies – and their staff – must be prepared to work with the 3PL and commit to the program."

The article goes on to lay out several things that businesses need to do if they want this partnership to be fruitful. First off, there must be buy-in from employees at all levels. For example, if the higher-ups do not see the importance of having a strong shipping solution, there is little hope that it will be effective.

Strong communication is critical across the business as these solutions could bring with them new ways of operating to make sure they are handled properly. If employees are unaware of how a process has changed, they are unable to be as effective as possible. This also slows down the process and makes it more difficult for warehousing, shipping or order processing to fully take hold if workers view them differently.

A quality 3PL firm is not just an outsourced service that is rarely thought about. Rather, it becomes a part of the businesses logistics team and a central piece of the company's success. Aside from just moving product from one place to another, a reliable resource will also be productive when it comes to understanding the industry and how to optimize it. Instead of waiting for a company to experience a problem, a solution provider will present cost management ideas and provide periodic reviews of the supply chain processes, ensuring everything is functioning properly.