Looking for a 3PL? Ask These 6 Questions to Find The Perfect Partner

(This is a guest post from our friends over at ShipStation, leading web-based shipping solution that helps ecommerce retailers import, organize, and ship orders quickly and easily—wherever you sell, however you ship)

According to ShipStation’s latest Last Touch report, 83% of consumers are less likely to re-purchase from a retailer after a negative delivery or shipping experience. 

With more customers shopping online than ever before, it is even more important to ensure your products are being shipped effectively and in a timely manner. Sometimes that means outsourcing and hiring a 3PL, or Third Party Logistics provider. 3PL’s are a great way to scale your business because they take part or all of your shipping processes in their own warehouse so you can focus on other business operations.  

Finding the right 3PL is extremely important since they are your customer’s last touch with your brand, which can ultimately make or break their satisfaction. There are many things to consider when searching for a 3PL to meet your needs.

Does Your 3PL Provider Have Technology Needed to Grow & Keep Business Running?

(This is a guest post from our friends at ReTrans Freight, provider of integrated transportation technology solutions, focused on simplifying LTL B2B/B2C online commerce.)

When evaluating 3PL providers and logistics companies, technology should arguably be one of the primary attributes to be considered. What sort of tools are available to clients and do these come at an additional cost? How secure is the environment within which your data will be housed? Now that we are deep into the internet age, it’s imperative that merchants question the ways in which their logistics partners automate, integrate and innovate. After all, freight costs are one of the largest line-item expenditures a company manages so it behooves shippers to ensure that their getting their money’s worth.