Switching to a 3PL Partner for eCommerce Fulfillment

Have you thought of switching to 3PL for sustained business scalability?

Should you consider making a switch? It solely depends on your current 3PL’s order fulfillment strategy.

A broken link in the eCommerce logistic operation can negatively impact your company. It will never be the same, as you might end up losing customers.

Your firm must switch to a new 3PL to regain the lost customers.

Switching to a 3PL provider is made easy after reading this article, as you perceive.

This blog post is penned with a special note, covering the key metric of switching to a third-party logistic provider and fulfilling your requirements without creating a void in supply chain management and transition.

Keep an eye on customer expectation

Firstly, let’s debug the significance of how your 3PL can redefine your business transaction.

Successful brands in e-commerce follow the simple starting mantra, ” Customer Satisfaction.” Delivery speed plays a major role.

38% of respondents shared their opinion on making their last purchase with the eCommerce brand when experiencing a negative delivery experience.

73% of online shoppers are interested in purchasing online if the delivery is faster and more affordable.

24% of buyers preferred to cancel the order due to prolonged shipping duration.

So, considering it is very important, not only will it improve eCommerce organic ranking, but it will also influence future customer orders. So we need to ensure the delivery speed on what % it’s improving consistently.

The moment your ecommerce order fulfillment services fail to meet customer expectations, the chances of losing potential buyers rise sharply and your competitors are ready to fill that gap. For SFP sellers specifically, this often surfaces around SFP weekend shipping if your current 3PL can’t reliably execute Saturday pickups, your Prime badge and on-time metrics are both at risk. Henceforth, your competitors make use of the opportunity to acquire your regular shoppers.

Partnering with a 3PL provider who has the competence to meet your customer expectations.

Suggested Read: 3PL vs 4PL: What’s the Logistics Difference in Supply Chain Fulfillment?

Forecasting the right time to switch 3PLs

Outsourcing fulfillment is a result-proven strategic move leading to nurturing goals. Will they be the best 3PL provider that you plan to ship tailored logistical requirements?

Here are some of the red flags that indicate your current 3PL does not make the best partnership.

A few eCommerce brands have identified and resolved it to achieve the common goal.

Your order is screwed up

Your 3PL partner is one of your stakeholders who can directly influence your brand’s reputation to the extreme rise and fall. Your partner is bound to create an uninterrupted supply chain for your success.

The facility of 3PL must have a secured workspace to maintain the inventories. In addition, the infrastructure should facilitate faster and seamless shipment.

It is agreed that errors can not be avoided. They might occur at any phase of the product transit. As a thumb rule, take the necessary steps and strategies with your 3PL partner to deliver the shipment without errors.

They’re not upgrading

eCommerce has seen a robust shift from online shopping behavior to expectations. Are your 3PL partners remodeling their logistical approach? It can be operations, technology, and infrastructure. Have you experienced a difference from the moment you signed up for a partnership to the present? If there is no further improvement, then your logistic partner is skipping out to address customer expectations.

Where do you rate your 3PL, from good to the best, concerning order fulfillment? If the reply is “better,” you must find the missing piece for enhanced supply chain management.

AMZ Prep, a 3PL provider, strives to upgrade the technology to the latest version, assisting partners to advance in meeting their customer requirements.

You cannot continue with your 3PL anymore!

You would have saturated the total warehousing space and resources of your 3PL when your business is moving forward with production scalability.

The storage system and warehouse framework differ from the third-party logistic providers. The storage system and warehouse framework differ across providers offering automotive parts warehousing and logistics services. The number of facilities within their fold has to be taken into consideration. It is highly essential to enhance operations beyond the on-demand solutions. As your business scales up, the inventories have to be stored in their operating warehousing centers located in various locations.

Warehouse space saturation in your 3PL center indicates that they are running out of space to store your inventories, which are to be shipped worldwide.

AMZ Prep is an eCommerce fulfillment company operating globally in more than 12 countries, integrated with state-of-the-art warehousing solutions.

You deserve 24/7 customer assistance

It is vital to stay connected around the clock with your 3PL partner to get information on the inventory levels. Have you been promptly updated on the SKUs?

A 3PL is rated “good” if its offerings inspire you beyond the typical functioning of a logistic firm. Your business relies on its fulfillment services, which include cumulative information on every detail involved in the warehousing operation. Processing and transmitting real-time information assists your eCommerce in maximizing productivity.

They’re not using advanced technology

An integrated software development solution defines how well your current 3PL partner fulfills multi-channel online orders. Your firm misses out on having access to the shipment of every order. The chance of improving customer satisfaction or providing a solution to the customer’s concern would be less.

The efficiency of manual intervention in updating the data about the delivery or consignment will not be as precise as integrated software. Typically, the process is too slow. Your 3PL partner can downgrade your organic ranking due to incapable order fulfillment notified by the eCommerce marketplace to reimburse the required SKUs. A simple error can affect the entire supply chain operations.

To an extent, the warehouse setup of your current 3PL can create a constraint to limit order shipment to very few channels. In other terms, you’re less likely to acquire customers from other multi-channels due to interrupted supply chain management.

Your 3PL partner should deploy the software with the automation which will work across all the marketplaces in sending tracking details. It helps you and your end customer stay updated on the shipment details and activities.

You’re overpaid for an inefficient premium subscription

Your premium fulfillment charges for the 3PL services should help you in generating higher ROI. The plan should include highly efficient logistical technology, warehousing operations, 24/7 customer assistance, tailored logistics, and cross-border shipment.

There is a chance you will miss out on recognizing the hidden costs quoted for the fundamental operations.

You should know the costs you’re paying to get things done for a little fraction of inbound and outbound logistics.

Try to be clean and well-defined for the premium 3PL services about order fulfillment and pricing.

Your current 3PL is found to be a good fit if its logistical services add value to your business. A complimentary shipping contract signed up with the provider to ship highly valued and estimated orders assists your firm in maximizing the AOV.

Your customers are unhappy and dissatisfied

In today’s world, customers seek ” same-day delivery.” Your 3PL provider should have warehousing expertise to ensure speedy shipment and delivery and create a positive opinion about your brand. 

When you’re partnered with the wrong 3PL, it creates a bad experience due to prolonged shipment. It makes your end customer post the lowest rating, negative comments, and critical views published on the public forum. It is going to demotivate them to do repetitive purchases from your brand. It will affect your LTV.

“3 WHY” defines your potential 3PL

Are you planning to make a switch? The following templated questions will help you evaluate the potential 3PL that fulfills your logistical requirements.

1. Why should we partner with you over our current 3PL?

• The potential 3PL should satisfy your eCommerce fulfillment in the forthcoming years to align with the planned scalable solution.
• The provider should optimize the supply chain by connecting various warehouses and distribution centers under their fold.
• All information relating to warehousing has to be shared with you. 
• These initiations help you to plan the inventory and operation management.

2. Why does your technology make a difference?

• The technology is the ultimate source of fostering a real-time connection between your online store, warehouse, and 3PL’s supply logistic center.
• The integrated software solution should enable a synergy within the workforce to achieve the common goal.
• The 3PL functioning based on the technology primarily focuses on managing the inventories with tailored eCommerce fulfillment strategies.

3. Why are your fulfillment centers located in various locations?

• Potential 3PLs with strategically positioned warehouses in various locations help you cut extra costs in shipments.
• In addition, they assist you in delivering the product within 48 hours.
• It is a cost-efficient logistical solution compared to the 3PLs functioning with a single warehouse location.

Things to consider when switching to a 3PL

Review your supply chain

• Find a new 3PL partner in the same city or nearby location, which is crucial to streamline the supply chain operation. Before evaluating potential partners, calculate your warehouse storage space calculator requirements to ensure they have adequate capacity for your current inventory plus growth projections. The shipment has to be planned to cover the distance between the fulfillment center and the firm.
• The shipment has to be planned to cover the distance between the fulfillment center and the firm.
• It helps to store and reimburse the SKUs to deliver the purchase order within the time frame.
• It is vital to gather and share information about the mailing route to send and receive the consignment from the right location.
• In addition, accredit their expertise in prepping the package abiding the guideline of multiple eCommerce guidelines.

Beyond prep expertise, evaluate their middle mile logistics for Amazon sellers capabilities. Ask about their warehouse locations relative to Amazon FCs, their carrier partnerships and freight rates, their ability to consolidate shipments to avoid placement fees, and their average delivery time to Amazon fulfillment centers. Superior middle mile operations can reduce your total inbound costs by 30-40% while improving inventory availability.

Clear the SKUs from the old fulfillment center

• Before ending your partnership with your current 3PL, ensure the contract is matured. 
• If you’re left with many months to switch, you might be too early to switch over. 
• Figuring out a new logistical technique can identify and resolve the ongoing inefficient activities.
• Swiping out the inventories completely from the old fulfillment center is never a good move until the new center is stocked with the inventories for sale. 
• A few days of “out of stock” display would be a downfall to your firm as the potential gets diverted to other vendors.
• Keeping the sale active with a minimal level of order acceptance would be beneficial.
• Most importantly, once the fulfillment center is completely switched, the details of the warehousing and mailing address are to be modified.
• This helps to redirect the placed orders from the old to the new 3PL center.

Keep your customers informed about switching to 3PL

• Eliminating shipping constraints when switching to a 3PL partner is inevitable.
• However, the time contracted for processing the order might be longer.
• In the bigger picture, this could result in a bad customer experience.
• Keeping customers posted about switching 3PL partners would help the customer understand and feel respectful in online purchases.
• It is highly effective when the information is displayed on a banner, content, a pop-up, and a social media handle.
• Eventually, customers will keep their threshold and feel good about continuing further purchases.

Switching 3PL companies like AMZ Prep, ShipBob, and FedEx can earn you good results, as we deploy proven logistical techniques. Their tailored working style helps you outplay your competitors with their value-added services. 

AMZ Prep is one such 3PL provider that you can rely on to achieve your intended eCommerce order fulfillment. A good 3PL partner helps you explore beyond shipment and delivery.

Key competence in partnering with AMZ Prep

We tailor strategies that align and work well with your company’s goal in meeting eCommerce fulfillment requirements.

Here are the key benefits that you avail of from your services.

Knowledge Transfer: The Thumb Rule of AMZ Prep

We work on our unique logistical operation style in different phases of eCommerce order fulfillment. A dedicated expert is exclusively assigned to educate partners on pre-, during, and post-shipment processes. It significantly helps to achieve the common goal with a win-win 3PL partnership with customers.

For the first few shipments, the experts from AMZ Prep work collaboratively with partners to help them have an end-to-end process understanding.

A holistic training session is provided to the partner on how to use our integrated software solution for tracking real-time shipment details.

You’re one of Us: We have got your back

Experts from different departments in AMZ Prep engage with partners to support them in the preparation, shipment, and delivery horizons. 

From day one, we have worked with our partner to meet their strategic requirements in eCommerce fulfillment to provide solutions for escalated tickets in a prompt manner.

We derive tailored fulfillment plans based on the partner’s strength to meet the market demand, enabling them to boost their scalability.

The excellence in 3PL services

AMZ Prep is incorporated with the finest talent workforce and modern infrastructure to execute high-productive 3PL operations. We have catered to diverse segments in the eCommerce industry and fulfilled online orders with a success rate of 99%. We have added partners from SMEs to large enterprises.

Software application: Simple and reliable

AMZ Prep has developed, launched, and incorporated its software application, featuring API integration. It is crafted in such a way that it fulfills the 3PL requirements of our partner.

The dashboard shares high-value insights about the current status of the eCommerce order fulfillment.

The moment an order is received, within a few seconds, the automation feature makes an update for seamless 3PL operation.

The centralized data can be viewed by responsible persons from different departments to ensure the product fulfillment is under process and executed.

Power-packed infographic

Our partner can,

• Get real-time data on fast-selling SKUs specific to eCommerce platforms(Amazon, Walmart, and so on).
• Know the buffer date for reimbursing SKUs to maintain the minimum inventory level.
• Know their customer’s geographic location
• Compare and select the best cost-effective shipping method and channel.
• Track and maintain the inventory level in the AMZ Prep order fulfillment centers.

Switch to AMZ Prep

Switching to a new 3PL partner would benefit your firm in many ways. 

Retaining a customer with an increased satisfaction index is a bit challenging. Your eCommerce brand should emphasize maximizing customer and delivery experiences. To convert challenges into achievement, you should prefer partnering with the best 3PL companies like AMZ Prep and ShipBob, which have created a roadmap for customer retention through supply chain management, inventory management, competitiveness, teamwork, data-driven logistic strategies, and technology.

So, you do not need to worry much about the end outcome of partnering with a third-party logistic service provider such as AMZ Prep.

We hope this blog post has enriched you with useful insights. You have to make a switch call if you feel that your current 3PL is non-beneficial to your logistics operation.

Additional read:

Contract Logistics Vs 3pl

Blair Forrest

Blair Forrest is the Founder of AMZ Prep, one of North America’s fastest-growing third-party logistics and fulfillment networks, built entirely without outside capital since 2016. Under his leadership, AMZ Prep has scaled to 50+ fulfillment centers across 6 countries, processing over 8 million units monthly and powering $2 billion+ in annual GMV for more than 5,000 brands worldwide including 437, Silverts, Saltyface, Unilever, Duracell, and JBL. A recognized authority in eCommerce logistics, Amazon FBA strategy, and supply chain optimization, Blair has helped thousands of sellers and brands master their fulfillment operations from first shipment to enterprise scale. He regularly consults on FBA prep, multi-channel fulfillment, last mile delivery, international expansion, and cost reduction strategies that save brands 20–40% compared to traditional 3PL providers. Blair’s insights on Amazon logistics, 3PL operations, and eCommerce growth are widely cited across the industry. Through AMZ Prep’s content, guides, and resources, he continues to share battle-tested strategies drawn from managing one of the largest independently owned fulfillment networks in North America.