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Finding the Right 3PL Provider: Is Your Growth Journey a Logistics Dream or Nightmare?

May 17, 2018 / by Arlene M. Slivka posted in 3PL, 3PL Outsourcing, 3pl contracts

It was a great day for your business – Costco agreed to carry your product, both in stores and online. Awesome!

Your team worked hard for this deal and, after the celebration, you went home for some much-needed rest before starting to tackle this great new opportunity the next day with your current third party logistics partner (3PL).

That night, a vivid dream transports you to your desk the following morning. You call your 3PL provider to begin discussing a rapid ramp-up process for planned volume increases. But instead of excitement about the new opportunity, your 3PL instead expresses concern and tempers your expectations about what can be done and how fast.

Apr 27, 2018 / by Mimi Ma posted in Vendor Compliance, 3PL Outsourcing

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Whether it’s your first time outsourcing or you’re changing providers, partnering with a new third-party logistics (3PL) provider is an exciting time for your logistics operation. It is a time for your weaknesses to be turned into strengths and for vital elements of your supply chain to be optimized. As part of this, your 3PL will be focused on enhancing your performance in the eyes of your retailer partners, and meeting – and exceeding – your retail compliance requirements. And it all begins during the onboarding process.

Mar 15, 2018 / by Bob Lilja posted in Food Supply Chain, 3PL Outsourcing, Food Logistics

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Handing all or part of your food distribution operation over to a third-party logistics (3PL) provider may seem like a leap of faith. After all, you’re relying on the 3PL’s ability to maintain food quality throughout the distribution cycle and to keep your company compliant with FDA and other requirements. But with the proper due diligence, you can be confident in a provider’s ability to drive superior performance in all areas, from compliance and safety to operational execution and cost control.

Here are a few key questions you should ask as part of your qualification process for food distribution partners.

Jan 26, 2018 / by Arlene M. Slivka posted in 3PL Outsourcing

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In modern baseball, the analysis of player performance has less to do with time-honored traits (e.g., power, speed, agility) and increasingly more to do with metrics. With these metrics, teams define the “best” players as those that perform well in key statistical areas like “on-base percentage” and “slugging percentage” – not necessarily who can hit the ball the farthest.

The same is true in the modern supply chain, where – like baseball analysts – retailers keep score and measure statistics. And that close scrutiny ultimately increases the pressure on you, the retail supplier.

Sep 7, 2017 / by Weber Logistics posted in 3PL Outsourcing, Fulfillment B2C

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For online sellers, Amazon.com is a major double edged sword.

On the plus side, the marketplace gives sellers direct access to 250 million buyers. According to Forbes, 4 of every 10 dollars spent online goes to Amazon. Sellers can’t afford not to list their goods there, and Amazon knows it – which brings us to the other side of that very sharp sword.

Sep 29, 2016 / by Brad Dixon posted in 3PL Outsourcing, eCommerce Fulfillment, Direct to Consumer

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In today’s growing e-commerce world, online businesses are in a position to optimize their operations that will fuel growth, because they are able to focus on a single product-to-consumer distribution channel. Many of the technical aspects of e-commerce business such as social marketing, website design and content management continue to be executed by in-house staff. These functions are crucial and have to be in house as they are the foundation of growing startups and online business. But when it comes to the operational and logistics aspect of the business, adding on an outside partner that has the knowledge and expertise to optimize your supply chain could provide great value.

Tips for Choosing a 3PL for Pharmaceuticals

May 13, 2016 / by Weber Logistics posted in 3PL Outsourcing, Temperature Controlled Warehousing, Pharmaceutical Logistics

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Pharmaceuticals have become a necessary expense for almost all Americans. Nearly 60% of all Americans are taking prescription drugs and 80% are taking over the counter drugs. According to statista.com, the total number of nominal spending on medicines in the US was $425 billion and projected to increase to $574 billion in 2019. As the industry continues to grow pharmaceutical manufacturers must keep up with the increasing demand.

There are high stakes in the supply chain process of pharmaceuticals. Not just anyone can handle the rigorous demands the pharmaceutical industry brings. Challenges include health and safety regulations, close temperature monitoring, product integrity and more. As pharmaceutical manufactures look to 3PLs to outsource logistics services, there are many things to consider besides price.

What to Expect After the 3PL Selection Process

Apr 21, 2016 / by Weber Logistics posted in 3PL Outsourcing, Logistics Customer Service, Onboarding

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As the saga of the 3PL selection process comes to an end and a contract is signed, one must prepare for what comes next. A new journey with your 3PL is now beginning; a journey called the onboarding process.

The onboarding process shows a great deal about the 3PL partner you selected. At this time the truth comes out; maybe you received amazing rates, but now experience a lack of service and attention. Maybe you paid well above market price, but the service is impeccable. Regardless, you want to know what you are getting into, good or bad. A company’s onboarding process will ultimately say a great deal of how it operates in the long run and will set the tone for the relationship.

Mar 4, 2016 / by Weber Logistics posted in Third Party Logistics, 3PL Outsourcing, Logistics Customer Service

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With costs consistently rising, a 3PL partnership should be defined by more than just the cost of storing and shipping a pallet. For example, how much value does this 3PL bring? Do you even have a “relationship” or are they simply another vendor sending another invoice? Well, some of the best results are derived from companies who outsourced 3PL services and developed a relationship with them.

Jun 18, 2014 / by Weber Logistics posted in Third Party Logistics, 3PL, 3PL Outsourcing

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Were brown suits ever in style? Perhaps, but today they are typically not the first choice for fashionistas. For those who don’t follow fashion trends, however, a brown suit might seem like a good option when sifting through the rack of 42 regulars at Men’s Wearhouse.

West Coast and California Logistics Blog

Finding the Right 3PL Provider: Is Your Growth Journey a Logistics Dream or Nightmare?

3PL Onboarding and Retail Compliance Requirements

Food Distribution Logistics: Finding a 3PL Who Has What It Takes

Retail Suppliers: Why Supply Chain Metrics are Critical to Retaining Your Business

FBA Shipping: A Double-Edged Sword for Online Sellers

Why Utilizing a 3PL is Cost Effective

Tips for Choosing a 3PL for Pharmaceuticals

What to Expect After the 3PL Selection Process

Establishing a Relationship with Your 3PL Provider: 5 Points to Communicate

Buying a Brown Suit is Like Choosing a 3PL Provider

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