The holidays are coming yet again. For e-commerce companies who want to ship and fulfill orders successfully, it’s time to prepare for the busy season ahead. The holidays are a stressful time for businesses, but it’s crucial to offer a seamless shipping experience for online customers. We have already discussed the significance of Q4 and what businesses should do to make the most of the holiday season in our previous blog. One key takeaway from that list was the importance of defining your fulfillment strategy as inventory management will get much more strenuous during the holiday season.
It might be difficult to fulfill and deliver orders to your customers on your own over the holidays. Increased consumer demand during the holiday season can cause severe storage issues, jeopardizing your ability to succeed during this busy selling season. This is where a third-party logistics (3PL) partner can help you. Having a partner will relieve you of a significant amount of labor by handling the time-consuming process of managing your inventory, shipping, and delivery.
Here’s why working with a 3PL service this holiday season can help grow your brand:
Saves Warehousing Space
Working with a 3PL partner can be a significant space saver, especially if your inventory requires a lot of storage space. You’ll want to make sure you have enough inventory for the increasing demand before peak season in December. If you have a high number of SKUs or large product dimensions, storing them all at home or your workplace may not be feasible or orderly. A 3PL provider can store and manage these products for you, as well as ship and deliver orders in record time.
Reduced Shipping Costs
By handling high volumes of shipments daily, 3PL companies are frequently able to negotiate delivery prices for their customers. These unique shipping prices can benefit their clients, resulting in significant savings for your business. Access to lower shipping costs can create room in your budget for marketing and sales activities. You can pay it forward by providing free delivery. If you want to increase consumer interest before the holidays, offering free delivery is a great way to attract customers.
Saves Time
Another reason to consider working with a 3PL provider during the holiday season is that they may save you a significant amount of time. They can assist you in preparing for big sales events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday and end of the year sales. Instead of overwhelming yourself with fulfilling orders on time, a 3PL partner will give you back time to focus on other important parts of your business, like your shop’s sales and customer service. Your customers will appreciate having a smooth and positive shopping experience, while your orders are safe in the hands of a trusted 3PL.
3PLs Can Handle Order Fluctuations
3PL providers have proven plans and processes in place to store, manage, and transport goods during peak season. 3PLs provide companies with the guarantee that their inventory will be ready for the incoming flow and that preparations are in place to keep up with the increased order volume. A successful 3PL will have the necessary equipment and staff to transport the extra goods, as well as utilizing automated technology and software for seamless store integration.
Faster Order Fulfillment Times
If you believe you can handle an increase in customer orders on your own this holiday season, think about how a 3PL supplier can help you with order fulfillment timeframes. 3PL companies use Order Management Systems (OMS) that allow them to track and control every step in the fulfillment process. 3PLs use OMS to streamline order management, provide centralized customer care, and offer omnichannel store fulfillment. Allowing a 3PL to handle your orders gives you access to guaranteed delivery times your customers will appreciate.
Promote Your Company’s Brand
The majority of 3PL suppliers will not add their own branding to your shipments by using standard boxes and poly mailers. They may, however, provide you with the option of personalizing each order with custom boxes and inserts to promote your business and improve your customer’s unboxing experience.
At Fulfyld, we provide dedicated account management and 48 hour standard receiving times, which will help your business make the most of this holiday season. Contact us today for more information!
