Choosing the right third-party logistics (3PL) provider means finding a partner that can support your brand. More customers blame merchants rather than shippers for late or delayed packages, which can affect customer trust in your brand.
What Should You Look for in a 3PL Partner?
Your checklist for 3PL partners includes:
- Experience: Look for a 3PL partner who has years of experience working with brands in your industry.
- Facilities and services: Consider whether a provider’s facility, services and location match your delivery needs. For example, Best Way Distribution operates a 630,000-square-foot FDA-certified Kansas City warehouse with ambient temperature control. We also offer a range of services, from kitting and assembly to fulfillment and shipping support.
- Technology: Your 3PL partner should connect with your existing systems without creating extra work for your IT team. Compatible systems reduce siloed data and give you clearer reporting.
- Data visibility: A 3PL partner should provide you with real-time access to data. At Best Way, our warehouse management system (WMS) automates order processing and provides real-time insights. Our internal team integrates and customizes the system for you, so you spend less time on tech and more time on your brand.
- Scalability: A good provider can support seasonal volume changes, new products and multiple sales channels without sacrificing order accuracy. From the Kansas City metro area, near major rail lines and highways, Best Way’s central location helps support efficient shipping across the continental U.S. Our 99.99% order and inventory accuracy across one million shipped orders makes us a reliable partner as you grow.
- Responsive communication: If you have a question or issue, your 3PL should reply quickly with real answers. Look for providers like Best Way that you can reach directly, rather than relying on ticket systems.
- Simplified fee structure: Pricing should be transparent and free of hidden fees. With 90% of customers saying they will abandon an online purchase if shipping costs are too high, working with your 3PL partner to manage costs is essential to maintaining customer satisfaction.
Your 3PL partner checklist is just the start. You will also want to review customer testimonials to see how a provider supports businesses like yours.
Contact Us to Find a 3PL Partner Built Around Your Fulfillment Needs
The stakes are high — late, expensive or poorly communicated deliveries can affect repeat purchases and customer trust. Best Way Distribution helps you check off everything on your 3PL checklist with nationwide efficiency, high-touch service and custom fulfillment.
We offer start-to-finish handling and custom fulfillment that scales with you. Contact our team today to discuss fulfillment solutions that can work for your operation.