Ask any small company if it’s spending too much time fulfilling orders, and the answer is probably “yes.” If your answer is “yes” as well, it’s time to consider whether you should outsource logistics to a third-party logistics firm. An excellent 3PL firm isn’t just another vendor; it’s a partner — a partner who happens …
Technology has changed (and vastly improved) virtually every facet of everyday life and business, and this trend doesn’t appear to be slowing down any time soon. This is especially true in business areas with many moving parts, including logistics and supply chain management. Supply chain management (commonly referred to as SCM), which includes both hardware and …
For many new e-commerce players, there comes the point when choosing a third-party logistics (3PL) partner is the most practical way to manage growth. Instead of grappling with staffing and warehousing issues, using a 3PL to handle fulfillment frees you to do what you do best: managing and marketing your product line. Not all fulfillment …
Consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies continue to fight for market share and retail shelf space — whether they have a brick-and-mortar store or function online. Price points are always the key weapon, and manufacturers rely on lean logistics operations to provide a cost advantage and help them be more profitable. We’ve compiled three fundamental strategies …
E-commerce order fulfillment is one of the most-effective means of scaling a business. Still, many owners aren’t sure what role, if any, e-commerce fulfillment services play in their business. It’s surprising that many e-commerce companies still think they need to provide the physical space for fulfillment and warehousing. “What does a distribution company do?” Whatever …
If your company is trying to come to grips with the “when, why, and how” of partnering with a logistics company, take a look at the past year—particularly if your company has a peak season. Historical data is essential, as it allows you to determine exactly when your peak season is, giving you ample time to …
Amazon fulfillment is one of the most popular fulfillment methods in the world today. Nearly all Amazon sellers use it — 96 percent according to JungleScout’s 2020 State of the Amazon Seller report, with only 29 percent using both. However, is the dominance of Amazon making retailers ignore third-party logistics solutions that might be better? How Do …
An important metric in the e-commerce space is calculating cost per order (also known as CPO). The CPO is not simply the labor involved in the shipment of the product. Still, it is a sum of items, including the costs associated with accepting the shipment of the product at your facility (receiving, storage, and inventory …
Maybe you’re a small business. It all starts with an online business idea — you have a product, do some marketing, the wheels of commerce start turning, and now you find there are people out there buying what you are selling. Now you’re at a tipping point: the orders are coming in fast and furious, …
Whether you’re manufacturing computer chips or chocolate chips, you rely on a group of suppliers to create your business products. Then you sell those products to specific customers. In this respect, your company, your suppliers, your customers (and their customers) form the different “links” of a supply chain. Moreover, the better you can integrate these …