What are 3PL services?
The entire process of shipment and delivery of goods is very dynamic and ever changing for the betterment of everyone. A 3PL (or third-party logistics) company is contracted in order to provide logistics services to partner companies. If you are a shipping company and need help to manage the movement of your products, you can partner with a 3PL service. Under 3PL you will be offered the following:
– Warehousing solutions
– Transportation and Freight Services
– Shipping/Distribution management
There are different types of 3PL services:
- Standard 3PL Providers: These are availed mostly by e-commerce businesses. They need the very basics of logistic solutions. They offer services like storage and transportation of goods. It is a very low cost option.
- 3PL Service Developers: Under this service clients receive standard storage and service provisions and additionally IT infrastructure and management. Value-added services like security, shipment tracking, and compliance management are provided. Certain added features like package selection and cross docking are provided for.
- 3PL Customer Adapters: All the logistic activities of a client are handled under this service. The shipping process is managed from the beginning to the end. Access to technology like transportation management system is provided. This allows for customization of shipments as and when needed in the process of warehouse storage and distribution in India.
- 3PL Customer Developers: Big companies in the market opt for top 3PL service providers pan India. 3PL developers take over the company’s logistics activities upon the request from the client. They form an augmented department of the client’s logistic activities. All the services are managed by this 3PL customer developer. It turns out to be a bit costly but is necessary for the operations due to the large nature of such companies.
The various types of services offered by 3PLs are as follows:
- Customized mass-volume fulfillment
- On-demand product capabilities
- Proprietary fulfillment software
- Global shipping
- Complete order transparency
- White and private label manufacturing
- Dynamic integration with shopping carts
- Lighting fast scalability
- Fulfillment marketing