If you’ve ever looked into how the biggest retailers have secured success, you may have noticed that many of them leveraged logistical improvements to reduce costs and carve out competitive advantages. For a long time, it was hard for smaller companies to compete, especially in regard to logistics. The good news is that third-party logistics networks, in combination with direct selling software and other platforms, can allow merchants big and small to increase efficiency and get products to customers ASAP.
The Basics of 3PL Software
The term 3PL may seem a bit alien, but in practice, it simply means Third Party Logistics, according to TechTarget. These days, many companies focus on providing efficient supply chains that merchants and other companies can leverage to streamline their shipping and other activities. These logistics providers often focus exclusively on logistics, allowing them to develop deep expertise.
In the past, relying on third-party solutions was often a pain because it was hard to integrate them into your existing solutions. These days, you can often integrate third-party services, tools, and solutions directly into your platforms, including direct selling software. This streamlines everything and makes disparate processes easier to manage.
What to Consider When Integrating 3PL Software
When selecting software, you’ll want to find 3PL solutions that offer APIs and other tools that you can use to integrate into your current solutions. For example, if you use direct selling software, you may be able to find 3PL tools that integrate directly into it. This way, you can manage everything from one interconnected platform.
It’s smart to find logistics providers that offer fast and easy communication, tracking, and other things that can make life easier for merchants and direct sellers. The fact is that logistics can be complicated, and there may be times when you’ll need to cut through the noise and communicate with your provider. Keep this in mind when reviewing solutions.
Many logistics providers offer real-time or near-real-time tracking. This can prove highly useful for retailers and customers. If a shipment is delayed, it’s best to figure that out as quickly as possible. Then you can take steps to mitigate potential problems. You might send the customer an email update, for example.
Over time, you’ll want to set up KPIs and other methods to measure performance as well. This way, you can look for ways to improve operations. While integrating 3PL solutions with direct selling software may require some effort, it can pay off in the long run.
Are you in need of quality 3PL software? If so, our team at TavaHatz will be happy to assist you. Contact us today to learn more.
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