As customer expectations and
buying habits continue to evolve, choosing the best 3PL partner for your
business is more important than ever. Since your 3PL plays an important part in
the success of your business, you need to choose carefully. Here are some tips
for choosing the right 3PL partner to fit your business needs.
Measure Performance
Identify measurable key
performance indicators (KPIs) to see how your potential 3PL partner is
performing. Setting up measurable KPIs can help you track the 3PL company’s
efficiency. Make sure that you request access to measuring their on-time
deliveries independently instead of relying on canned information from the 3PL.
Take a Tour of Facility
Before choosing a 3PL company,
you should see how the company operates. Request a tour of their facility to
meet with management and get a feel for how they manage their company and
workers. Don’t forget to ask questions about how they compensate and
incentivize their workers for doing great work and committing to great customer
service.
Look to the Future
What if you suddenly receive a
massive order? Will the 3PL you are considering have the ability to scale their
operations to meet the sudden increase in volume with manpower and space?
Don’t Choose By Price
Over Value
The best price doesn’t always
mean the best value service-wise. You need to consider whether saving money in
the short term is going to have a negative long-term effect on your customer
service and order processing time.
Don’t Be Hasty With
Your Decision
There’s nothing wrong with
trying out a few 3PL companies on for size to see which one is best suited for
your business needs. This gives each one an opportunity to earn your business
by showing you what they can do.
Learn more about AWD’s 3PL capabilities
and how we can help your business grow.
