Running a global business comes with its own challenges. Among the numerous problems is the challenge of choosing a 3PL provider that caters to your needs. Not only that, businesses need to bank upon the provider for a significant part of their operations and shipping, and in the end, that makes all the difference.
About 98% of 3PLs have good relationships with their customers. Businesses must have a strong partnership with logistics providers to ensure smooth operations.
Qualities Of Top 3PL Providers
When businesses outsource their logistics, they choose a 3PL provider that offers them curated services at a cost-effective rate. Every business wants to make an intelligent choice; hence, 3PL providers are a to-go decision for almost 73% of them.
Choosing a 3rd party logistics provider is tricky. Here are a few factors and qualities to consider when selecting a 3PL provider.
Proper Experience
Businesses need to find a 3PL provider with competent experience. You do not want to start with one company and then change midway. Choosing an experienced provider with good reviews is essential. Selecting a logistics aggregator or a well-established 3PL provider with experience to back their services and reputation is the key to success for global businesses.
Extended Reach
If you are a global ecommerce business, you need a 3PL provider with multiple locations around India to help you scale your business. Many providers have warehouses in different cities for businesses to reach their customers faster & further. Companies should not have to shell out more on the shipping because their 3PL provider’s network is too small.
Data & Analytics
In an era where data rules, global businesses need to make smart decisions and rely on analytics to follow the path ahead. This applies to 3PL providers as well. Companies need to choose a provider that anticipates the needs of their customers, manages rush orders smoothly, and optimises routes using data analytics to save costs and more.
Carrier Selection
Cost cutting is essential, but not at the expense of your business’s reputation. Companies need to choose 3PL providers that have reputed carrier partners with them. Having trusted, reliable carriers to work with ensures that your customers get their orders on time, every time.
Top 3PL Providers For Global Businesses
Blue Dart
Serving over 35000 locations in India, Blue Dart is one of the prominent players in the ecommerce delivery and logistics industry. It uses air transportation as the primary method of delivery. Blue Dart is one of the largest 3PL networks in the world. It has experience and expertise in regulatory and customs operations and has an operational service accuracy of 99.96%.
Delhivery
Since its inception, this 3PL provider has fulfilled over 1.4 billion orders across India. Delhivery has a presence in over 175 cities and serves 18000 pin codes across India. It has around 21 automated sorting centres, 96 gateways, 93 fulfillment centers, and 2948 direct delivery centres to manage operations.
Ekart Logistics
Commencing operations in 2009 as Flipkart’s in-house supply chain subsidiary, Ekart elevates the customer experience and is known for punctual delivery and efficient management processes. They offer complete end-to-end fulfillment services. Businesses prefer Ekart because of its low rates and express delivery options.
Xpressbees
It is one of India’s fastest-growing express logistics service providers, catering to end-to-end supply chain solutions. It has 3000+ offices and service centres, 100+ hubs, 1 Million sq ft of warehouse capacity and handles three million daily shipments in over 2500+ network cities across India.
Shiprocket Fulfillment
As one of the top logistics platforms, Shiprocket Fulfillment offers services to over 250K brands in India. It has over 45+ warehouses, and businesses can send their orders across 29000+ pin codes across the country. It offers low-cost shipping, end-to-end fulfillment services and a superior customer experience.
How Global Businesses Are Addressing The Demands Of Indian Consumers
Product Availability
Over the decades, the shrinking attention span of humans, in general, has influenced customers’ purchasing decisions. Gone are the days when customers would order a product and have to wait weeks to receive them. Customers want their product to be available ‘now’ and delivered ‘today’. Businesses have adapted to this change and are looking for ways to comply with it. Answering this call, 3PL providers have adequate orders in the inventory to avoid stockouts or backorders. They also provide expedited delivery options. This ensures that customers are guaranteed their orders at the earliest.
Product Packaging
Packaging plays a vital role for eCommerce businesses. A well-packaged product not only prevents damage and secures it from breakage, it also says a lot about the brand. Good packaging help consumers create and retain the brand’s personality & value. A lot of 3rd party logistics providers offer custom packaging solutions to businesses. They also take responsibility for product packaging for their clients so that businesses can fulfill orders without any hassles.
Live Order Tracking
Customers should never have to go to the ‘where is my order?’ section of the business’s website/ app. They should always be informed of their product journey. Having a clear timeline helps manage customers’ expectations and ensures transparency. Reputed 3PLs provide real-time order tracking notifications to buyers at every stage of the order process. This keeps the customers informed and improves conversions in the last-mile delivery.
Exchanges & Returns
Customers can exchange or return the product if it is damaged or does not serve the purpose or for various other reasons. Businesses prefer a 3PL provider that specialises in product exchanges, reverse pick-ups, auto restocking of inventory & end-to-end returns management. With 3PL providers managing reverse pickups and returns, businesses have one less thing to worry about.
Summary
There are several 3PL providers for global businesses in India. They all provide more or less similar services. It is the extra effort by the fulfillment experts that help businesses go the extra mile. With the right 3PL provider, one can scale their global business in new arenas without having to worry about cost reduction, order fulfillment, inventory management, last-mile delivery and returns management.
