How to Switch 3PLs

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Although using a professional shipping company can help your business streamline your logistics, not all 3PLs are made equal. Many eCommerce businesses run into the same problems: damaged products, lost merchandise, late deliveries, and mixed up orders. When these things are happening to your business, it’s a good sign it’s time to switch your partner. 

Here’s what you can expect when signing with a new 3PL.

Moving Inventory

Your merchandise will likely be your biggest concern when changing warehouses. As you are moving inventory, you’ll have to simultaneously complete customers’ orders. If you use multiple fulfillment centers, you should consider moving one warehouse at a time. Although this process is slower, it will help eliminate friction with outgoing orders. 

New Distributions Centers

Another thing to consider when planning your big move is where your new warehouses are located in comparison to your previous ones. Although transferring inventory is easiest when your new company is located in the same city as your previous partner, that may not always be the case. It’s crucial to take into consideration shipping or fulfillment delays your customers may experience as you move inventory to a new location. You should also take a look at your overall shipping costs from the customers’ side. If you offer different pricing relative to where your customer is ordering from, you will likely have to recalculate their shipping. 

Related Article: Syncing Your Shopify Fulfillment Service with Outsourced Logistics

Integration

In addition to moving your inventory, you’ll also be integrating new systems into your eCommerce store. This means there may be new processes your manufacturers or suppliers will need to know about. You’ll also have to adapt to a new tracking and warehouse management system within the warehouse. 

Choosing the right 3PL like Rakuten Super Logistics can make all of these changes simple. Our team of eCommerce logistics experts can walk you through the entire process and ensure your business is quickly up in running in our warehouses. We’ll take care of the eCommerce shipping and order fulfillment so you can get back to building your business.

Ready to ditch your 3PL? Contact us today!

Rakuten Super Logistics (RSL) is the leader in eCommerce order fulfillment services and freight brokerage. RSL offers national fulfillment services and a network of 15 US fulfillment centers located in Anaheim (CA), Atlanta (GA), Austin (TX), Chicago (IL), Denver (CO), Houston (TX), Las Vegas (NV), Miami (FL), Olean (NY), Reno (NV), Salt Lake City (UT), and Scranton (PA). Their state-of-the-art technology allows for integration with popular shopping cart platforms and online marketplaces including Amazon, Big Commerce, Channel Advisor, eBay, Magento, ShipStation, Shopify, Volusion, Walmart Marketplace, and WooCommerce.


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Share this post

Although using a professional shipping company can help your business streamline your logistics, not all 3PLs are made equal. Many eCommerce businesses run into the same problems: damaged products, lost merchandise, late deliveries, and mixed up orders. When these things are happening to your business, it’s a good sign it’s time to switch your partner. 

Here’s what you can expect when signing with a new 3PL.

Moving Inventory

Your merchandise will likely be your biggest concern when changing warehouses. As you are moving inventory, you’ll have to simultaneously complete customers’ orders. If you use multiple fulfillment centers, you should consider moving one warehouse at a time. Although this process is slower, it will help eliminate friction with outgoing orders. 

New Distributions Centers

Another thing to consider when planning your big move is where your new warehouses are located in comparison to your previous ones. Although transferring inventory is easiest when your new company is located in the same city as your previous partner, that may not always be the case. It’s crucial to take into consideration shipping or fulfillment delays your customers may experience as you move inventory to a new location. You should also take a look at your overall shipping costs from the customers’ side. If you offer different pricing relative to where your customer is ordering from, you will likely have to recalculate their shipping. 

Related Article: Syncing Your Shopify Fulfillment Service with Outsourced Logistics

Integration

In addition to moving your inventory, you’ll also be integrating new systems into your eCommerce store. This means there may be new processes your manufacturers or suppliers will need to know about. You’ll also have to adapt to a new tracking and warehouse management system within the warehouse. 

Choosing the right 3PL like Rakuten Super Logistics can make all of these changes simple. Our team of eCommerce logistics experts can walk you through the entire process and ensure your business is quickly up in running in our warehouses. We’ll take care of the eCommerce shipping and order fulfillment so you can get back to building your business.

Ready to ditch your 3PL? Contact us today!

Rakuten Super Logistics (RSL) is the leader in eCommerce order fulfillment services and freight brokerage. RSL offers national fulfillment services and a network of 15 US fulfillment centers located in Anaheim (CA), Atlanta (GA), Austin (TX), Chicago (IL), Denver (CO), Houston (TX), Las Vegas (NV), Miami (FL), Olean (NY), Reno (NV), Salt Lake City (UT), and Scranton (PA). Their state-of-the-art technology allows for integration with popular shopping cart platforms and online marketplaces including Amazon, Big Commerce, Channel Advisor, eBay, Magento, ShipStation, Shopify, Volusion, Walmart Marketplace, and WooCommerce.


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