Blog Posts 3PLs Help Direct-Sellers to Pick Up the Pace for Fulfillment [Ebook]

Key Takeaways

  • When purchasing from direct selling consultants, today’s consumers expect speedy delivery of their orders.
  • A number of variables impact shipping time, including order fulfillment processes, systems and automation, and facility location.
  • Third-party logistics providers (3PLs) can help direct sellers improve their technology capabilities, work with carriers and optimize their network configuration.

Successful direct sellers know their customers don’t like to wait. Fulfilling their orders quickly is a top priority.

It’s important to have the right systems, processes and automation capabilities in place to ensure efficient fill rates without sacrificing quality. The geographic location of distribution center(s) can also impact order delivery times and costs.

If you’re struggling to fulfill orders in a timely matter, it may be a sign that it’s time to consider outsourcing. Saddle Creek’s Direct-Selling Fulfillment Outsourcing Guide explores how third-party logistics providers (3PLs) can help to improve the velocity of shipments and address other common direct-selling issues.

Following is an excerpt…

3 Ways to Speed Up Your Shipping Times

Your 3PL can help you implement the following strategies to improve delivery times:

UPGRADE YOUR TECHNOLOGY

Advanced technology can help to speed fulfillment. An OMS, for example, can help you view and route orders in real time and ensure that each order is filled from the most efficient fulfillment source. Mechanized warehouse solutions also can help to shorten order turnaround times.

EXTEND YOUR SHIPPING WINDOW

Working with carriers to provide later pickup times will enable you to increase your shipping window, allowing more orders to be fulfilled same-day.

MAXIMIZE YOUR DISTRIBUTION NETWORK

Using a multi-site distribution model can help to shorten transit time (and cost) to your customers. With two or more strategically located DCs, it is possible to reach 90 percent of the U.S. in two days or less using ground service.

For other signs that it’s time to outsource direct-selling fulfillment, read the ebook.

With two or more strategically located DCs, it is possible to reach 90 percent of the U.S. in two days or less using ground service.

 

Related to: Customer Experience, Parcel Shipping

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