From Delivery to Delight: A Deep Dive into 3PLs Adapting to Elevated Customer Experiences
In a digitally-driven world, customer expectations from eCommerce fulfillment and logistics are high. These expectations drive third-party logistics (3PL) companies to adapt and evolve to meet these demands. Speed, transparency, personalization, and competitive pricing are a few expectations; however, there are some challenges, too. This post focuses on rising customer expectations and how 3PLs are investing in technologies and resources to meet these demands.
As a growth-driven eCommerce organization, we understand that you may have several expectations from your 3PL provider. Are these expectations are met and fulfilled? If you are still reeling from failed expectations, please contact us today. Our experts will work closely with you to offer you tailored solutions that meet your exact requirements and serve beyond your expectations.
Focus on Evolving Customer Demands
Amazon and other omnipresent digital platforms have influenced how customers perceive and demand eCommerce fulfillment. Nowadays, customers not only expect quick deliveries but also control, visibility, and a seamless delivery experience.
Omnichannel Fulfillment: The growth of omnichannel retailing has pressured 3PLs to provide solutions that address different sales channels. Nowadays, eCommerce businesses are striving to deliver exemplary customer experiences across their online marketplace, social media, and physical stores. This has driven 3PL businesses to adjust their services for effective fulfillment across offline and online channels.
Fast Deliveries: Amazon has introduced the concept of same-day and next-day deliveries, which was earlier unknown to 3PL services. This has put tremendous pressure on these services to improve their delivery times.
Enhanced Visibility and Communication: Gone are the days when customers ordered online and waited for days to receive their orders. Today, they expect transparency throughout the delivery process. Thus, 3PLs are challenged to invest in technologies that help customers receive regular updates on their phones from shipping to delivery companies. Customers would appreciate updates on issues or delays. This level of transparency helps eCommerce businesses win their customer’s trust.
Flexibility and Customization: There is no one-size-fits-all approach that works for all B2B customers. Their demands may vary from flexible deliveries to special storage and handling to same-day deliveries to piece picking for some products, and so on. 3PL order fulfillment services must be adaptable and agile to meet these special material handling and delivery requirements. If you are a start-up or a business that handles limited number of orders everyday then it is always better to partner with 3PL order fulfillment services that caters to businesses like you. For instance, you are likely to find piece picking 3PL companies that only cater to businesses dealing with small volume of orders like yours.
Efficient Returns Management: Managing returns is one of the concerns for most eCommerce businesses now. Like delivery, the returns process involves picking the product from a customer’s home and ensuring its safe return to the manufacturer’s or 3PL provider’s warehouse. This process saves cost but also helps retain a customer’s trust in the brand.
Sustainable Deliveries: With the increasing focus on sustainability, it is no longer considered a nice-to-have; rather it has emerged as a must-have. Many eCommerce businesses are keen to partner with 3PLs that practice sustainability while meeting their business demands.
How Are 3PLs Meeting and Surpassing Evolving Customer Demands?
3PLs meet and surpass evolving customer demands by embracing technology and making customer-centric business decisions. Here is an overview of the trends transforming the landscape of 3PLs catering to the evolving customer demands.
Omnichannel Fulfillment: 3PLs help customers to integrate with various eCommerce platforms to ensure a seamless customer experience. In addition to this, they are partnering with different logistics companies locally and internationally to seamlessly ship through the platforms while adhering to their regulations. This helps their clients maintain a consistent presence across sales channels and boosts their customer satisfaction.
Quick Deliveries: 3PLs are investing in efficient warehouse management systems and advanced logistics technologies to meet demands for quick deliveries. In addition to this, they are also investing in strategically placed fulfillment centers that help them improve order processing times and reduce exit times.
Visibility and Communication: 3PLs are investing in sophisticated tracking systems, as well as technologies like Internet of Things (IoT) for real-time data sharing. This helps customers receive regular updates on their delivery status.
Returns Management: 3PLs are investing in returns management solutions that offer customers simple return options and help their clients in reverse logistics. This helps streamline the returns procedure as well as improve customer happiness.
Sustainable Practices: 3PLs are adopting eco-friendly measures such as optimized delivery routes, green packaging, and so on. In addition to this, they are also investing in innovative last-mile options, such as autonomous cars, crowd shipping, drone deliveries, and so on.
Seeking a Seasoned 3PL eCommerce Fulfillment Partner Who Meets Your Unique Business Requirements?
If you're searching for a reliable and seasoned 3PL eCommerce fulfillment partner for your upcoming project, you can contact us at 3PL Business. We provide an extensive array of third-party eCommerce fulfillment services, encompassing kitting and assembly, pick and pack, pick and stick, as well as FBA preparation. Whether you are looking for custom kitting fulfillment services for your large volume orders or exploring the idea of partnering with experienced piece picking 3PL companies that assure competitiveness and improved customer satisfaction, we can serve you both. Our services can be tailored to fulfill your unique business requirements. Contact us today at (732) 983-4801 or email at sales@3plbusiness.com to discuss your eCommerce fulfillment requirements.