What don’t we use Google for these days? It is our quick answer to everything. However, Google is seen by many as a provider of only short-term solutions. However, Google can be used to find long term solutions, albeit they are not as black and white as some queries such as “What was the most recent year the Colts won the Super Bowl?”
While Google cannot give you ultimate answer of “Who is the best 3PL for my business?”, it can give you a good start to figure out who may cater to your industry. Once you have a list of these 3PLs and begin to meet with them, it is important to establish you will be working together to achieve the same common goal – meeting SLAs and KPIs. But there is more to a successful 3PL partnership.
Everyday, I speak with brands who are looking to change 3PLs, what are their most common complains?
- No dedicated Customer Service or Account Managers
- Hard to interpret invoices
- Lack of Value Added Services such as return inspection, display builds, or kitting
- “We are just a number” in a shared space facility
- Poor reporting and integration capabilities
So, if I were a brand shopping for a 3PL, I would ask some questions related to these topics. But what are some additional things to ask about?
What to look for when shopping for a Fulfillment Partner?
- How accessible is the executive team?
- Where are they located geographically?
- How easily can a contract be amended as our business grows?
- Is their Engineer & IT department in-house or 3rd party?
- What is the 3PLs financial health, and how long has the executive team worked together?
- Is the transportation department in-house or 3rd party?
Google can be your friend or worst enemy. Finding a trusted 3PL should be a mix of experience, knowledge, and asking the right questions. If you would like to get an assessment of your current business and advice on how to maximize your search results for a 3PL – Please send an inquiry on our website at www.idsfulfillment.com. I will send you a helpful tool that you can use in your search.
