3PL

Spotlight on 3PL Warehouses

What’s trending in the 3PL warehouse industry? According to the new 3PL Warehouse Benchmark Report from Extensiv, the industry is achieving record fulfillment times and maximizing available capacity despite challenges like tightening cash flow and rising labor costs.

Top Warehouse Technology Trends for 2023

With so many new warehouse automation systems on the market and new vendors spinning up new products, how do you know which technologies will bring the most benefits to your logistics operation? The 3PLs who get ahead of the technology curve and find ways to adopt and implement new technologies have a competitive advantage over those who don’t. This guide from Extensiv offers insight into the emerging technologies that are reshaping the 3PL industry.

Freight is a Crazy World!

Shippers face many challenges in the current market, and there are ways they should—and maybe should not—address some of those hurdles. Discover supply chain best practices by joining Inbound Logistics for a video conversation with Tracy Meetre, Chief Commercial Officer of Sunset Transportation.

3PL Growth Strategies

With new 3PLs emerging, competition in logistics has increased dramatically. What can 3PLs do to attract and retain more ecommerce business?

How 3PL Firms are Helping Distributors Prepare for the Future of Logistics

In today’s increasingly competitive market, companies realize the importance of supply chain management. An efficient and secure supply chain is the foundation for overall success, ensuring optimal product visibility and lowering costs. With advanced technology resources in the industry, suppliers can guarantee full-cycle visibility and flexible distribution operations, leading to a seamless transformation with digital technology.

Warehouse Profitability Checklist: Proven Ways to Improve 3PL Profitability

3PL warehouses seeking to improve profitability must be at the top of their game in every area. The Warehouse Profitability Checklist can help you identify gaps, evaluate new technologies, and position your warehouse for success.

How to Grow Your 3PL and Win Customers for Life

Are you spending hours a day onboarding new clients, chasing down inventory, and wading through hundreds of contracts to find billing answers? See how to redeploy those resources into revenue-generating activities, like services tailored by client and self-serve billing and order tracking. This guide shows how 3PLs have cut the billing cycle by 35%, increased shipping volume by 63%, and boosted labor efficiency up to 60%.

2022 State of the Third-Party Logistics Industry Report

What does 2022 have in store for 3PLs, warehouses, and their partners? From combatting supply chain disruptions and creating new omnichannel fulfillment strategies to benefitting from the evolution of 3PLs, 4PLs, and cutting-edge technology, 2022 could be one of the most important years ever for businesses looking to play a pivotal role in how consumers receive goods.

Wide World of eCommerce Fulfillment for 3PLs

eCommerce fulfillment–everybody is doing it! If you’re a 3PL and not already doing high-volume fulfillment, you likely will be soon. The pandemic has accelerated an already fast-growing segment of the industry. Omni-channel fulfillment is here to stay. This FREE eBook provides an overview of the concepts, terminology, and operational guidelines that 3PL warehouse operators should be considering for a successful fulfillment operation.

Not Your Mama’s 3PL

How do you define a 3PL? There are many definitions as to what a 3PL really is, especially as the capabilities of a 3PL have shifted dramatically throughout the years. But the legal definition of a 3PL was hammered down in 2008, defined as a person who solely receives, holds, or otherwise transports a consumer product.

3PLs Empower Companies of All Sizes

The market for third-party logistics providers continues to grow, driven by the myriad of services they offer that can help companies of all sizes manage increasingly complex and global supply chains. Several 3PL organizations are based in or have significant operations within the state of Florida.

Examination of an Inbound Web Portal

Regardless of the size of a business, everyone is looking to save money and streamline processes. However, often companies overlook the cost of their supply chain, particularly their inbound transportation. Inbound web portals have the ability to bring several companies together in one place to share accurate and necessary information and provide an opportunity for business-to-business growth. Overall, each component of the supply chain—whether it is customers, 3PL providers, carriers or vendors—can reap the rewards of reduced costs, advanced visibility, improved reliability and increased savings.

The Ultimate Guide to Being a Great 3PL Customer

Many shippers commoditize the services of third party logistics providers (3PLs), believing that the best result will come from micro-management and constant price pressure. In fact, the opposite is true. The more you, as the outsourcing company, invest in the relationship – as a partner, not an overseer – the more value is delivered. Here are 12 suggestions on 3PL relationship management that, while they create some work for you, pave the way for breakthrough supply chain performance.

Pool Distribution: Shippers of Temperature-Controlled Freight Collaborate to Save

Shippers of temperature-controlled freight, particularly those that ship smaller orders, continue to rely on national less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers for deliveries across the United States. Instead, they should consider a pool distribution strategy that consolidates freight with like shippers, and delivers it in truckload volumes directly to key markets — no stops — for fi nal-mile service. This paper covers the benefi ts and keys to success in implementing such a strategy.

3PL Perspectives: Drafting a Blueprint for Growth

Inbound Logistics’ ninth-annual 3PL Perspectives market research report documents how third-party logistics providers are differentiating their value proposition beyond transactional services–creating an outsourcing blueprint for shippers to grow, in spite of economic uncertainties.

Hub Group Keeps You Ahead of the Pack During Peak Season

As you continue to focus on navigating your supply chain through today’s challenges, it’s also time to start thinking about peak season. Capacity shortages and increased demand are projected to continue through the second half of this year—is your business prepared? Find out how Hub Group is already hard at work making sure its customers are ready to meet this season’s peak head on.

As E-Commerce Demand Shifts, Omnichannel Brands Take the Lead

The acceleration of online buying behaviors has altered the face of e-commerce logistics. Brands already optimizing their supply chains before the pandemic were more aligned with their omnichannel consumers and have leapt ahead. With the right approach, you can achieve greater flexibility, personalized support, and enhanced visibility to surpass competitors and create a long-standing competitive advantage. Learn how.

Selecting the Right 3PL Partner

You want a capable, experienced, and safe third-party logistics provider (3PL) managing your supply chain. No two 3PLs are the same, and many factors play into your decision. Think beyond the bottom line. Consider how your company and a 3PL partner might align in culture and shared objectives. Explore four questions you should ask when evaluating 3PL partners to manage your supply chain.

2020 Hurricane Prepardeness Guide: It is Hurricane Season, is Your Supply Chain Ready?

Experts warn that 2020 will be the worst hurricane season in years. Every company has contingency plans for when things don’t go as expected. Whether it’s a backup supplier or a different carrier for when capacity gets tight. When the weather picks up, will your supply chain be ready to weather the storm? Be Prepared.

How to Leverage Technology and Your Team to Achieve the Perfect Order

In today’s market, distributors and 3PLs that are implementing advanced technology and deploying it at a rapid pace are winning loyalty from their customers and becoming market leaders.The Tecsys warehouse management system at Delmar International Inc. forms an integral part of the technology platform that empowers its pickers to make quick and accurate decisions, attain flawless execution and deliver excellent customer service.

6 Reasons Top-performing 3PLs Embrace Technology to Win

Demands for faster, more accurate fulfillment of rapidly changing order mixes requires more resources than people on their own can address. Flexible technology is assisting distributors by moving goods and information with an untiring speed and accuracy that people can’t match. Leading 3PLs attract and retain clients by actively evaluating and implementing multi-client technology as part of reengineered flexible processes.

2020 Ecommerce Fulfillment Trends Report

86% of ecommerce merchants sell through multiple online sales channels according to Saddle Creek’s new survey. Download their new in-depth report exploring network configuration, technology solutions, delivery options, fulfillment outsourcing and more.

How to Drive More Value from Your 3PLs

How you define your 3PL relationships is tied directly to your success. Read Gartner’s Report: Helping Logistics Leaders Define Transactional, Preferred and Strategic 3PL Relationships.

Take Command of Demand with Retail Solutions

Consumer purchases used to be limited to what retailers had on their shelves. E-commerce means everything is in stock, and retailers are shifting gears to chase demand. Learn how retailers can optimize their supply chains by working with providers to craft timely forecasts, identify efficiency improvements and modify plans as needed using diverse services and technologies

The Master List of Accessorials for Shippers

To help cover all your bases, FLS Transportation Services together this Master List of Accessorial Charges. It covers the 28 fees every shipper must address before tendering loads. Avoid unnecessary freight costs and strengthen carrier relationships.

Top 100 3PL Providers

Inbound Logistics’ annual Top1003PL editorial awards…providing details on innovative and reliable supplychain solution providers. Find out who made the cut here:

Not Your Mama’s 3PL

Being a successful 3PL in this day and age means stepping outside of the box, and finding creative solutions for today’s fulfillment needs. How do you find those creative solutions? What will make you stand out in the traditional 3PL environment? Download our whitepaper to help with developing customer solutions in a variety of industries.

3PL Perspectives

Inbound Logistics’ 14th annual 3PL Market Research Report examines challenges, trends, and future expectations that are driving shippers and logistics providers to change the way they manage logistics and supply chain operations.

Not Your Mama’s 3PL

Being a successful 3PL in this day and age means stepping outside of the box, and finding creative solutions for today’s fulfillment needs. How do you find those creative solutions? What will make you stand out in the traditional 3PL environment? Download our whitepaper to help with developing customer solutions in a variety of industries.

Don’t Just Get in the Game, Win it with the Right Shipping Plays

Global e-commerce is driving unprecedented shipping volumes across a number of industries as consumers expect more for less. As a result, third-party logistics companies (3PLs) are taking center stage as businesses seek guidance from experts who can help them navigate the carrier capacity crunch, spend less time and money on shipping, and spend more time focusing on their core business. Download the The 3PL Parcel Shipping Playbook to find the best plays to help shippers from all industries ship better globally from the first mile to the last inch.

What Shippers Need To Know When Tech Alone Isn’t The Answer

Rapidly changing customer demands constantly create new challenges for shippers. Some of the most impactful responses can revolve around the implementation of new technology. However, without the proper knowledge behind the switch, are shippers getting the biggest bang for their buck? Ryan O’Halloran of Trinity Logistics joins us to give his take on how technology alone can’t necessarily run the whole logistics program.

7 Secrets to Fully Monetize 3PL Services

For many 3PLs, managing multiple clients with unique needs, varying contract rates, different contract rules, and last-minute changes means manual processes and Excel spreadsheets can no longer keep up. The time is now for improved organization, efficiency, and transparency in billing.

Enhancing Container Visibility

To increase savings, business leaders must concentrate on the total cost of the supply chain, rather than just transportation prices. The right company acts like a business partner and takes into consideration transportation, operations and inventory costs to help a network operate more efficiently. What is your transportation and logistics provider doing for you? What should they be doing?

The Digital Logistics Provider: Delivering a New Level of Service in the Age of IoT

As supply chains grow ever more complex, Logistics Service Providers (LSPs) are embracing digital supply chain solutions powered by IoT technologies and data analytics. With a digital supply chain, today’s LSPs are able to stay ahead of the game, informing their customers as soon as problems occur and leveraging data-driven insights to optimize from end to end. To learn more about how to stay competitive in the age of IoT, download the white paper.

3 Keys of Direct-to-Consumer Success

What are the three keys to direct-to-consumer success, and why do they matter? Download this whitepaper now to discover: How the three keys work together to help you deliver a great brand experience, from online to on-time delivery; the two most inportant questions you should ask your 3PL about how it manages your online orders; the two essential qualities your 3PL must have to ensure same-day fulfillment of every order; and the single most important tool your 3PL needs to select the most cost-effective shipping method for on-time delivery.

Where Does Privacy Stop and Publicity Begin in the Logistics Industry?

A comprehensive look at the complex privacy problems encountered by 3PL providers in the modern logistics industry. While 3PLs search for ways to stand apart from their competition using content marketing and social media, this can present serious privacy concerns for 3PLs and their customers. As such, 3PLs must maintain customer confidentiality when sharing customer focused content across all marketing platforms.

What Arrives in L.A. Stays in L.A.: DC Bypass Strategies that Leverage the Largest U.S. Gateway

Centralized distribution can be inefficient and costly for West Coast fulfillment. A well-planned DC bypass strategy can reduce transportation and inventory carrying costs, increase speed to market, delay allocations and take pressure off existing customer distribution centers. With the help of a 3PL, retailers and manufacturers can create a customized DC bypass strategy that supports growth and addresses the increasing time-sensitivity of customer deliveries.

Examination of an Inbound Web Portal

Regardless of the size of a business, everyone is looking to save money and streamline processes. However, often companies overlook the cost of their supply chain, particularly their inbound transportation. Inbound web portals have the ability to bring several companies together in one place to share accurate and necessary information and provide an opportunity for business-to-business growth. Overall, each component of the supply chain—whether it is customers, 3PL providers, carriers or vendors—can reap the rewards of reduced costs, advanced visibility, improved reliability and increased savings.

Should Your E-Commerce Website Offer Free Shipping?

As much as people enjoy the convenience of being able to shop online, most don’t want to wait long or spend much to get their goods delivered. Amazon and other big box retailers have created an environment where free, quick shipping is now the norm. Shipping is a factor for any online retailer, and approaching it in the wrong way may end up costing you.

Bridging the Gap: The Role of Retail 3PLs in the Journey to “Shopping Redefined”

Are you omni-channel ready? Learn why retail 3PLs are uniquely positioned to help retailers bridge the gap to an omni-channel shopping environment with their expertise in these key capabilities: inventory visibility; optimized fulfillment; and perfect packing.

The Case for Lowering LTL Limits of Liability 

This publication illustrates why it is in the best interest of third-party logistics providers to work with carriers and reduce limits of liability to $1 per pound in the LTL arena. It also describes the key points that cast 3PLs in a favorable light to ultimately forge stronger, more strategic partnerships with LTL carriers. Delivering an analysis of effective procedures for partnership, this whitepaper outlines specific strategies 3PLs can use to better serve carriers by identifying and working to solve the issues that complicate the existing liability landscape.

Labor Management Strategies in the Warehouse

Kane Is Able recently sponsored research with 252 logistics executives on the strategies they employ for managing labor in the distribution center. The results of that research are summarized in this report. Questions explored a range of issues, including use of technology, strategies to drive productivity, and use of third-party labor providers. The report, filled with charts and other data, allows you to compare your approach with your peers.

The Alibaba Effect: What Today’s 3PLs Need to Know

Alibaba has burst on to the global scene and is poised to make a huge impact on today’s marketplace. This new player, coupled with increasing customer expectations, means that today’s third-party logistics (3PL) providers need new omni-channel strategies and solutions. Download this new whitepaper to learn how marketplaces such as Alibaba are developing new opportunities for retailers and consumer product companies, and the best ways that 3PLs can provide smart supply chain solutions to support them.

Add Resilience to Supply Chains

Natural disasters and other events can disrupt connections between you, suppliers, and customers. You can circumvent disruptions or minimize their impact on the supply chain. This whitepaper explores which companies face the greatest risk for disruption, what supply chain mapping can reveal about risk, and how you can build resilience into your supply chain.

Disruptive Logistics: The New Frontier for e-Commerce

E-commerce continues to push delivery logistics in new directions. E-tailers of all sizes are looking to “disruptive logistics” – a combination of delivery speed and innovation – as a way to add value, separate themselves from the pack, and keep the customer under their banner throughout the entire shopping process. As a result of these moves, formerly well-defined borders between e-tailing and logistics are dissolving, shifting the entire e-commerce ecosystem in new ways that will impact all businesses in the space. This whitepaper analyzes recent trends in e-commerce logistics and presents strategies for e-tail giants, small and mid-sized companies, and third-party logistics providers.

Choosing a 3PL for Food Product Distribution: 5 Critical Areas to Evaluate

You know the perils of food logistics. Let your guard down, and a truckload of perishables turns into an unsellable mess. Or you get stuck with racks full of canned goods nearing their sell-by date. The right third-party logistics provider can help you avoid those pitfalls, while cutting costs and keeping you compliant with relevant government regulations. How do you know which 3PL to trust with your food shipments? Download this free whitepaper to discover the five essential questions every food shipper should ask.

Building Environmentally Responsible Supply Chains

A company’s environmental and sustainability policies strongly influence consumer perception. Environmentally responsible supply chains not only have the potential to sway brand loyalty, but to simultaneously reduce carbon footprint and bottom-line costs through improved efficiency. Download NFI’s whitepaper to learn how sustainable technological improvements and management best practices can help you in transportation and freight management; warehousing and distribution; and property design and construction.

Understanding Commercial Warehouse Pricing

Ever wonder how third-party logistics providers (3PLs) calculate the warehouse prices they charge? This new guide explains it all in plain language. By getting smarter about the 3PL pricing process, you are in a much better position to impact how product is stored and handled – and reduce your warehousing costs.

Building Environmentally Responsible Supply Chains

Sixty-one percent of consumers said their perception of a company is strongly influenced by the company’s environmental and sustainability policies. Environmentally responsible supply chains not only have the potential to sway brand loyalty, but to simultaneously reduce the carbon footprint and bottom line costs through improved efficiency. Download NFI’s White Paper to learn how sustainable technological improvements and management best practices can help you in: Transportation and Freight Management Warehousing and Distribution Property Design and Construction

The Next Generation of the Supply Chain Elite – 4PL Providers

This whitepaper discovers how the next generation of supply chain executors will enable 3PL providers and shippers to strengthen their partnerships. Topics discussed in this whitepaper include:

• How a 3PL becomes a 4PL
• The 4PL model
• Key responsibilities and associated benefits of 4PLs
• Best-of-breed technology for 4PLs
• Supply chain planning and execution terminology
• Five keys to forging a successful 4PL partnership

Choosing a 3PL for Food Product Distribution: 5 Critical Areas to Evaluate

You know the perils of food logistics. Let your guard down, and a truckload of perishables turns into an unsellable mess. Or you get stuck with racks full of canned goods nearing their sell-by date. The right 3PL can help you avoid those pitfalls, while cutting your costs and keeping you compliant with relevant government regulations. How do you know which 3PL to trust with your food shipments? Here are five essential questions every food shipper should ask.

Gaining a Competitive Advantage: The Need for Global Management of Mission-Critical Service Parts

As corporate budgets shrink, spending on high-tech equipment decreases, challenging high-tech manufacturers and service providers with greater demands on repair and maintenance. A reliable supply chain is essential for parts availability to meet aggressive service level agreements (SLAs), especially for mission-critical systems. Learn why organizations are enlisting outside experts to establish a comprehensive service parts logistics strategy, encompassing a global IT platform, real-time visibility and flexible scalability.

Adopting a Values-Driven Corporate Culture to Create Resiliency

The present economy has served as a reminder that there are no guarantees in business. Many companies are finding themselves struggling to stay afloat, and many are sinking. In better economic days, a company could survive with a moderate profit margin achieved through dedicated attention to its bottom line. Focusing on values increases performance levels, improves service, reduces employee variability, and supports sustainability.