Warehousing and Distribution for Resellers: A Brief Guide
Customers today want products faster and in bigger quantities than ever before. Business owners can find themselves scrambling to meet these increasing demands. No worries! There is a solution.
When you’re a warehouse and distribution company, third-party warehousing can provide inventory storage and manage business distribution. Using a third-party warehouse helps companies save money and provide better service.
Third-party warehousing offers a variety of resources for businesses. Finding a warehouse to store products is easy. Finding the right warehouse to meet the exact needs of your business is hard. From warehousing to distribution, some companies fit every need, focusing on something the industry refers to as 3PL or third-party logistics.
Save Time and Money
A third-party warehousing company saves money and time for business owners today. They track inventory, package, and ship goods. Then, they must deal with customer concerns about package tracking or delivery. These tasks are time-consuming.
A 3PL can reduce or eliminate tasks unrelated to product development and customer service. 3PLs manage warehousing and distribution and allows management’s focus to be on production and marketing.
Many companies use drop shipping services. Usage of drop services means loss of valuable time. Employees must package products and deliver them to a drop-off center.
Then there is the inevitable wait for the package to be processed. You must then manage concerns about shipping speed or failed delivery. Drop shipping takes away time from more productive and profitable business activities.
3PLs as a Solution
Third-party warehousing offers comprehensive warehousing services. Services include inventory processing and management, packing, shipping, and high-speed delivery. Unlike drop shipping, 3PL distribution focus on fast delivery.
These outside warehouses streamline efficient product management. They offer a network of specialized warehouses, including cold storage facilities, trained personnel, and integrated technology. The focus is on getting your product to your customers in the fastest possible manner.
3PLs serve more than a single business. As a result, they can provide more services. Services include resources like simplified international shipping or product-specific needs like temperature-controlled storage. Efficiency is the goal of 3PLs.
Efficient management of products before they reach the customer means better customer service. Nothing matters more to companies that are growing and evolving.
Scalability is a concern for any business. Fluctuations in the economy mean changes in demand. Third-party warehousing companies scale according to changing needs.
Warehousing services vary from pallet-level to full warehouse size. Shipping requirements may change from month to month with product fulfillment needs. Flexibility related to scale is another benefit of 3PLs.
Make the Right 3PL Choice for Your Business
How do you find the right 3PL warehouse for your specific needs? Consider this example: A shoe company has different requirements than one that distributes live orchids. The two companies would require distinctly individual warehouse characteristics.
The first step for your company is to determine your individual needs. Do you need warehousing, fulfillment, and distribution? Do you need just one or two of those elements?
The next step is to find a reputable company that caters to your needs. However, there are lots of choices out there. Do your research. Ask questions about services offered, costs, and growth possibilities.
Third-party warehouses specialize in meeting specific needs. The right 3PL will provide the right resources for your business’s growth stage.
