E-commerce Logistics: 5 things Start-ups Should Know
For every e-commerce start-up, logistics is the key to success. Once your start-up has developed from an idea into an operational business with real customers and substantial revenue, you have defied all the odds.
However, spending too much on logistics and shipping can spell the downfall of your start-up business. Regardless of your products, your business must work hard to outgrow your current logistics crises.
As a start-up, you can incorporate the best practices from the start and streamline your logistics processes sooner rather than later. Whether it’s the inventory or transportation, each aspect of the logistics management must be handled carefully.
This blog will highlight some of the most important things start-ups should know about e-commerce logistics.
Planning is Crucial to Success
If you were a traditional company, you would manage your inventory planning by looking at past data and records. But as a start-up, you have no such data available. So, you should examine the website traffic and social media sharing.
All your marketing efforts on social media may prompt a spike in demand for your products. Also, you must monitor seasonal trends and changes that can shift demand. All you need to do is anticipate demands and plan your inventory accordingly.
Strive to Enhance Visibility
With the evolving needs of your growing e-commerce businesses, it may become difficult to see things holistically. This may lead to miscommunication and performance disruption.
You should be in sync with your logistics to ensure operational discipline and develop better systems.
Free Shipping is a Must
Free shipping plays an integral role in shaping customer buying decisions. Free and fast shipping is one of the most requested features online shoppers want from e-commerce retailers.
Businesses must ensure that the shipping is disciplined, fast, and costs as low as possible. Moreover, marketing strategies like minimum order sizes or other promotional offers may attract customers looking for free shipping options.
Last Mile
The last mile service takes up almost 28 percent of all shipping costs. Last-mile refers to the final delivery step to the customers.
Customers may evaluate your entire logistics process based on this last step. So, the last-mile service provider must ensure customer satisfaction.
Handling Returns
Return policies are as important as delivery terms and conditions. They help customers shop with confidence and enhance the customer experience.
However, it’s important to keep your returns, and new inventory separate as assigned employees take care of the returns.
Let Us Help You on Your Start-Up Journey
If you’re a start-up wondering where to find the right third-party logistics provider, let us at 3PLWOW help you out.
We’re the perfect e-commerce fulfilment provider with extensive knowledge, experience, and tools to provide you and your business with highly accessible, reliable, and top-notch third-party logistics at all times.
By choosing us as your order fulfilment company, you can benefit from a wide range of services, including warehousing, shipping, pick and pack solutions, third-party logistics, and more. Check out our services here, or contact us to request a quote today!
- Published in e-commerce
Tips for Managing Your Logistics More Efficiently
Efficient logistics management is crucial for business success and continuity. The smooth movement of products and effective communication throughout the process is essential to deal with unexpected challenges.
As an e-commerce business owner, you must focus on error-free logistics management as it’s an integral part of your business operations. A well-organized logistics process will ensure reliability throughout the entire supply chain.
Here are some effective tips for managing your logistics more efficiently.
Make a Proper Plan
The primary step of developing an efficient logistics management system is proper planning. From sourcing goods and delivery management to product storage, each step requires proper planning and effective management.
All planning should be focused on completing tasks in a limited time within a budget, ensuring maximum revenue. Moreover, it’s also essential to have a backup plan in place in the event of any mishap or unforeseen situation. Therefore, it’s important to plan and consider all aspects while planning.
Introduce Automation in Business Processes
Advanced automation is crucial for logistics like all the other business segments. Automation will ensure reliable results and streamline the supply chain processes. Automation can assist in managing inventory, placing orders, scheduling deliveries, tracking orders, etc.
With automation, your customers will trust your brand and services like never before. They’ll be able to track the accurate status of their order, which will reduce queries and enhance customer satisfaction.
Train Employees to Enhance Efficiency
Each employee equally contributes to making your business successful, ensuring long-term growth. From the people in the warehouse to the driver and delivery people, all employees should be in complete sync with one another.
For this, it’s essential to provide employees with regular training opportunities and workshops to polish their skills and help them grow. Moreover, the behaviour and attitude of your employees reflect company culture and impacts customer relationships.
It’s essential to have clear communication between employees and the customers to ensure everything goes smoothly.
Ensure Effective Transportation
When it comes to logistics, transportation plays an important role. It should be fast, reliable, and reasonable for your products. Businesses should strive to streamline their transportation process. This will help you save time, money and promote efficient operations.
Moreover, your packaging must ensure product safety and should be cost-effective and eco-friendly.
Effective Warehouse Management
An efficient logistics process is incomplete without proper warehouse management. During warehouse management, you must acknowledge the different types of goods stored and should know to manage each product properly.
For instance, perishable goods like dairy products or other food items must be stored separately in a cold room. Grains like rice and flour should be stored in a dry place. Moreover, you should strive to maximize the storage capacity of the warehouse. Accurate placement is crucial to avoid delays.
Choose the Best with 3PLWow
We are the best logistics service provider in the UK. At 3PLWow, we work across a plethora of various niches and industries. Large and small companies are hiring specialized 3PL fulfilment service providers like us at 3PLWOW.
Contact us or get a free quote right here.
- Published in e-commerce, logistics
How to Choose a Logistics Service Provider in 2022?
Choosing the right logistics service provider can be a daunting task for most businesses, especially in 2022, when the global pandemic has disrupted supply chains and business activities. The success and image of your business are heavily dependent upon the reliability and quality of your logistics partner’s services.
This is why a third-party logistics provider is a crucial part of a business’s supply chain. A mishap in selecting a logistics services provider can spell disaster for your business. Here are some tips for business owners to remember when choosing a logistics service provider.
Must Have Holistic Logistic Capabilities
A potential logistics partner must have competent skills in the areas your business requires. Just because a service provider is great at one thing doesn’t mean they operate the same way in every aspect.
They should possess a set of holistic capabilities that match your present, and future business needs perfectly.
Must Value Customer Satisfaction
Look for a logistics service provider that prioritizes customer satisfaction and responds fluidly to customer queries. They must possess communication and effective problem-solving skills.
Generally, all logistics companies claim to have excellent customer service, but how would one know? It’s simple; just ask their past customers. Seek references and look for consistent reviews in industries similar to yours.
Another aspect of excellent customer service is safety. Safety and customer satisfaction go hand in hand. You can conclude that a safe logistics provider also ensures customer satisfaction.
Must Be Tech Savvy
They must possess technology that fits your requirements and makes your work easier. The 3PL service provider’s technology should streamline business operations and automate tiresome tasks.
For instance, how well their technology connects to your online store or how does there software leverage your data.
In addition, their technology must also include a cloud-based management system to help with the automation of order placement, processing, inventory management, and tracking orders. To sum it all up, they must-have technology that supports and promotes your business’ growth.
Must Adhere to Safety Regulations
Due to the evolving safety landscape, businesses must choose a logistics service provider that promises safety. Check their past safety records and only choose them if their record shows a positive history.
Must-Have a Good Reputation
Before you regret your decision, it’s wise to investigate the service provider’s company reputation. Whatever your queries are, they must respond with honesty and integrity. Here are some areas you can start with:
- The way they treat their employees and vendors
- How much support they offer to the community and the environment
- Online reviews and customer feedback
- The number of years they have been in the business
Get Started With the Best Logistics Service Provider!
If you’re looking for a reliable logistics service provider, 3PLWow is your best bet. We are an order fulfilment company for e-commerce companies in the UK and worldwide.
We diligently work around the clock, ensuring you and your customers get the quality you’re looking for, making us one of the best 3rd party logistics companies in the industry.
Get in touch with us right here, or visit our website for more information.
- Published in e-commerce, Order fulfillment
Eco-Friendly Packaging Materials to Help Your Business Go Green
Nowadays, almost every e-commerce business is talking about adopting sustainable practices and going green. Businesses and clients are equally placing more emphasis on green initiatives. As an online retailer, one of the biggest areas to adopt green alternatives is the packaging.
The boom in the online shopping industry – due to the pandemic – has increased e-commerce packaging and waste in landfills. By 2050, global waste is expected to increase to 3.4 billion tons. These alarming statistics are all the more reasons for businesses to adopt eco–friendly practices.
Most businesses are now striving to improvise their products and designing tactics to reduce their carbon footprint. Packaging is one of the biggest culprits when it comes to industrial waste. From the producer to the retailer and then finally to the consumers, various types of materials are used.
This blog will shed light on some eco-friendly packaging materials to help your business go green.
Biodegradable Packaging Peanuts
Styrofoam is a widely used material for takeaway cartons and loose-fill packaging. However, it’s neither biodegradable nor recyclable. The closest alternative to this conventional packaging material is biodegradable packaging peanuts.
They work just like Styrofoam and don’t dawdle in the environment for eternity. Plus, they are also a more economical option.
Corrugated Bubble Wrap
A kids’ favourite, bubble wrap packaging is used to protect fragile items through shipping. Sadly, it’s not the most environmentally-friendly material as it’s made of plastic. But there are various greener alternatives in the works.
For instance, a bubble wrap made out of corrugated cardboard. Instead of disposing or recycling cardboard waste after consumer use, it can be reused as a cushioning material. Small cuts are made in the cardboard to create a concertina effect that safeguards against shocks like a bubble wrap.
Air Pillows
Inflatable air pillows are another excellent alternative to Styrofoam and bubble wrap. They are available in various sizes and efficiently fill voids in boxes while providing cushioning.
Air pillows are simply small bags that can be inflated when needed. Therefore, they serve as a greener alternative as they are filled with air. This reduces the amount of plastic used in their production.
What’s more, air pillows can be easily recycled and are biodegradable.
Corn-starch Packaging
Primarily an organic material, corn-starch has made its way into the sustainable packaging industry. Thanks to its plastic-like qualities, it can be used in various places where additional plastic is used. For example, bottles, moulded forms, and loose-fill packaging.
Mushroom Packaging
Another inexpensive and eco-friendly packaging material is mushroom packaging. These are made from mushrooms and can be used for supporting smaller items.
The Best Eco-friendly Packaging Company
An order fulfilment company, 3PLWow is a holistic logistics service provider. Our services include storage, picking your orders and packing them to send to your customers, and finally shipping your orders worldwide.
We work tirelessly to ensure customer satisfaction. Get in touch with us right here, or visit our website for more information.
- Published in e-commerce