If you are a retailer of big ticket merchandise, you understand that the selection of a partner for your third party logistics solutions is an integral decision for the profitability and health of your business.
When considering third party logistics, it’s important to look for support and services that will help you maintain the same high level of satisfaction that you sealed with your customer at the time of purchase.
Here are five key logistics solutions you are wise to consider:
1. Transportation:
When you have valuable merchandise to move, it pays to find a dedicated partner you can trust to transport your merchandise with care and efficiency. Transportation is a vital part of the logistics process. Rather than trying to build and manage your own transportation fleet, or expand an existing fleet, many manufacturers and retailers turn to outsourcing. The right transportation partner can literally transform the speed, cost, and quality of your transportation logistics process – saving you time, money, and headaches.
2. Replenishment Handling and Warehouse Logistics:
It’s rare to find a retailer with a passion for replenishment handling and warehouse logistics. You didn’t get into the retail industry to run a warehouse and even if you’re running your own warehouse logistics, we’d be willing to bet it’s not running as smoothly as it should be. That’s why it’s wise for retailers to consider outsourcing their warehousing and cross-docking management to allow for enhanced inventory management, reduced operating costs, and improved cycle times. The difference between doing it in-house and outsourcing it to a professional can have a dramatic impact on your business.
3. Home Delivery:
Home delivery is often the lasting impression your customer receives from you. For this reason, some retailers assume it’s best to manage home delivery with an in-house team. But when you stop to consider the overhead involved with managing the home delivery process, you begin to see the value of partnering with a third party logistics provider to handle the home delivery component of your business. The trick, of course, is finding a partner who will approach your home deliveries and your customers as you would.
4. Merchandise Installation:
You want a logistics partner who can finish the job. You don’t want your product to sit around in your customer’s house waiting for it to be installed. Whether a simple installation such as a microwave or dryer or more complex work that requires new water or electric lines for an appliance, you want a trained, licensed provider to guarantee a seamless experience for your customers.
5. Aftermarket Support:
Returns, exchanges, removals, surpluses… oh, my! Sometimes it feels like the sale will never be final. Aftermarket support is an often-overlooked logistics solution retailers are smart to consider. Beyond returns and exchanges, your third party logistics provider can offer aftermarket support that includes the removal of old items, warehouse and delivery at the sourcing level, or even removing and transporting surplus merchandise. Imagine the time, money, and burdens you’ll remove from your day to day operations.
By focusing your attention on these five third party logistics solutions, you should be able to procure a total outsourcing solution -- one that supplements your business perfectly and allows you and your team to focus on what you do best.