Running a business isn’t easy and when part of that business involves a 3PL fulfillment center, you may need to shop around in order to find just the right center in order to fulfill all the right traits. You particularly need to work with the right people when you’re dealing with third-party logistics. What are some of the features that you should be looking out for when it comes to finding the right fulfillment center?

Technological Capabilities

In order to make everything easier for the logistics, your customers, and of course you, any modern fulfillment center (and fulfillment centers today must, indeed, be highly in tune with the times) should be fully equipped with a software just as modern. In today’s logistics, anything less is simply unacceptable. Competition is fiercer by the day and most companies profit margins are frighteningly razor thin.

Credentials and Certifications

In order for the firm with which you are working to deliver your products to your customers and handle those products in an efficient manner, it is absolutely essential that the firm holds all of the necessary credentials, certifications, etc. Having a logistics firm on your hands that is unqualified is going to be one major headache. It can only lead to legal considerations and practical concerns, and nobody needs that.

Satisfied Customers and Good Reviews

Nothing should be purchased or contracted in this day and age without a search for reviews. Particularly at a time when accessing these types of reports on the Internet has been made so incredibly easy. No matter what business provider you are going with, but particularly in the case of a logistics firm, before you commit to any kind of relationship, look online for reviews by happy customers (look at the reports from not so happy customers as well). Additionally, it wouldn’t hurt to ask for referrals. If they are indeed good at what they do, it should not be taxing on them in the least to provide at least a few referrals for you to look over.

Error Resolution

Mistakes happen. And in the field of logistics, they are inevitable. How a firm handles errors, however, can make or break your decision as to whether or not to deal with them. Do they take responsibility? How do they handle shipping errors and mistakes in other areas? Are you going to be left to deal with dissatisfied customers on your own because they simply shrugged off the problem? Will they react quickly to errors? You need a clear, detailed idea of how this type of thing is dealt with.

Shipping Arrangements

The rules as they apply to an order fulfillment center regarding shipping arrangements are anything but hard and fast. Whatever their provisions for transportation are, however, well in advance of any kind of shipping, make sure that you’re both crystal clear on the transportation game plan. The versatility of shipping, cost, and quality will all be impacted by what kind of shipping arrangements they are utilizing.

Find Services That Are a Good Match To Your Business

Not all logistics firms are equipped to deal with every type of product. Inquire ahead of time just exactly what the fulfillment centers capacities are before you work with them. If your products are stored in subpar arrangements and/or are handled in a substandard method, you are wasting your time and money.

Transparency

The key to transparency is honest, prompt, and clear communication. It simply will not do if you ever find yourself wondering with whom you are supposed to be discussing things, discover that your logistics partner hasn’t bothered to explain negotiating procedures, or not understanding excessive fees in which you find yourself buried. Fulfillment centers can offer trucking services, nationwide LTL, warehousing, and so much more. But it might be their willingness to work with you to find the right services and manage those services so that they are cost efficient that ends up making the biggest difference in which fulfillment center you choose. Their primary concern every day should be keeping you on budget while making sure that everything runs on time.