With the rise of eCommerce and the growth of online retail, it’s no wonder many businesses are shifting their focus to selling through their websites. However, it can be hard to manage all the logistics involved with shipping products to customers. The right 3PL warehouse service provider can make life easier for you by handling many tasks that would otherwise take up your time and resources. Here are some ways working with a freight forwarder can benefit your online business:
Shipment tracking
It’s easy to lose track of your shipments when you’re handling a lot of orders at once, especially if you have multiple warehouses or locations.
A freight forwarder offers several benefits that can help you keep track of all your packages:
- They have access to more information than you do about where each shipment is in transit and its estimated delivery time frame.
- They will help resolve any issues with customs clearance or delivery, which means less time spent on the phone with customs officials trying to figure out what went wrong with an order (and more time spent focusing on growing your business).
Makes your life easier by handling many tasks for you
A 3PL warehouse service provider can ensure that the right items are being shipped to the right customers, allowing you to focus on selling products and fulfilling orders while they handle everything else. Talking about their roles in the business, a leading Sydney logistics company G&S Logistics says that their duties include reviewing each order before it’s shipped and ensuring that all of the necessary information is included in each shipment, such as product descriptions and prices.
In addition to handling inventory management and fulfilment activities like receiving inventory into their facility or packing orders for shipment, they also provide other services such as returns processing (including refunds) and shipping notifications via email or text message when an order has been placed on hold due to insufficient funds at checkout time.
Customer service
Customer service is an important part of your brand, and it can make or break your business in the long run.
When you’re trying to build up a new customer base, it’s easy to focus on sales and marketing instead of service–but this is where many businesses go wrong! Your customers are more likely to become loyal if they feel like they’re being taken care of by someone who cares about them as individuals (and not just another number). You can also use customer feedback as valuable data when making future product decisions or refining existing ones.
Finally, remember that people shop online because they want convenience–so if something goes wrong with their order or delivery process, chances are good that they’ll go somewhere else next time around instead of giving you another chance at redemption (or refund).
Helps your eCommerce business grow
A freight forwarder can help you handle more orders, as they have access to global networks and have streamlined processes that allow them to move goods quickly and efficiently.
By working with a reputable 3PL provider who has experience in moving eCommerce shipments, you can be confident that your products will arrive safely at their destination no matter where it is located around the world.
Many companies choose not only domestic but also international shipping routes when sending their products abroad because they want their customers overseas (especially those who may be purchasing from another country) to receive their items quickly without incurring extra customs fees along the way–something that’s easily possible when working with an experienced company such as ours!
Access to global networks
Freight forwarders are an established part of the international freight industry, which means they have connections with other freight forwarders around the world. For those who want an even easier solution, using an online fulfilment service such as TMS Online is a smart idea to handle the shipping needs. With their connections, you can get better rates and access new markets, which helps you save money on shipping costs and reach customers in other countries.
Reduced risk of loss or damage to goods
When you’re shipping goods across the world, it’s important to know that your cargo is in good hands. A freight forwarder has the resources and experience to ensure that your goods arrive safely at their destination.
A freight forwarder provides valuable services such as:
- Insurance coverage for loss or damage during transit.
- Customs clearance at both ends of a shipment, including documentation requirements and duties payable (if any).
- Transportation by ocean container or airfreight carrier(s).
Increased capacity
Freight forwarders are able to handle large volumes, seasonal peaks and complex products. For example, if you’re selling electronics from China and there’s a rush on one particular product (say, iPhones), your freight forwarder will be able to manage the increased demand without fail.
Reduced risk of loss or damage during transit. As an importer/exporter using a freight forwarder instead of shipping directly with a carrier like UPS or FedEx, you can rest assured that your goods are being handled by professionals who know how to move cargo safely through airports or across oceans with minimal risk of damage or loss along the way.
Streamlined processes
Streamlined processes can help you increase efficiency and save time. A 3PL provider can take on some of your responsibilities, allowing you to focus on other areas of the business. This will allow you to scale faster, which is especially important if your eCommerce company wants to expand into new markets or launch a new product line.
Cost-effective shipping and warehousing options
When it comes to shipping and warehousing, there are many factors that can affect the cost of your business. It is important to understand how each one affects your bottom line so you can make informed decisions about how much money you’re spending on these services.
Here are some things you should consider when looking at freight forwarders:
- Make sure you know your shipping costs before signing up with them. Some companies charge based on weight or size while others may have different rates for ground vs air shipments or even ocean vs air transportation methods (see more about ocean shipping here).
- Ensure that the carrier they use is reliable and trustworthy so that if anything goes wrong during the transit time, there will be someone who can help solve problems quickly and effectively as well as offer compensation if necessary!
- Choose wisely when selecting which warehouse facility will store inventory for eCommerce businesses like yours–you want somewhere secure where workers won’t steal any products but also accessible enough so employees don’t waste valuable time travelling between warehouses when picking up/delivering orders instead of doing actual work tasks such as fulfilling customer orders faster than ever before
Frees up your time and resources by taking some of the weight off the responsibilities
According to leading agency SEO Advantage, the eCommerce industry continues to see growth year after year, with an estimated $5 trillion in sales in a year alone. While this is great for your business, it also means that there’s more pressure than ever before on you as an eCommerce owner to ensure that your customers are happy and satisfied with their purchases.
That’s where working with a freight forwarder can come in handy! A 3PL provider will not only handle all of the details related to shipping outbound goods from your warehouse or distribution centre, but they’ll also help streamline customer service efforts by taking some of the weight off your shoulders–and freeing up resources that would otherwise be spent on tasks like tracking shipments or dealing directly with carriers such as FedEx or UPS (which may not always be available).
