Warehousing & 3PL Services
Buying From Chinese Websites? 6 Benefits of Package Consolidation
It’s estimated that every split suborder adds a shipping cost of 1.9 dollars. Even though that number might seem small, the figures amount to a lot of wasted money.
Plus, the excess packaging leads to environmental waste, which is terrible for the environment. So, what’s the solution?
Package consolidation is a great way to reduce shipping costs while still receiving and sending high-quality products. If you’re not already using order consolidation methods, you will be after reading this article.
This article will briefly summarize package consolidation and how it can benefit you. That way, you can start implementing changes by consolidating packages.
What Is Package Consolidation?
As online shopping continues to rise, there are more and more packages being transported worldwide every day. From a business point of view, this is the dream scenario.
However, it can cause logistical problems in reality, resulting in higher costs and limited resources for other parts of your business. The idea behind package consolidation is that you group multiple items in one place.
This is an excellent solution if you work in clothes retail and have several t-shirts going to one household. You can safely transport goods without having to pack various boxes and packages.
Package consolidation is a low-cost alternative to sending packages internationally and could save you thousands of dollars in the long term because you can optimize the space in each container.
6 Benefits to Package Consolidation
Above all else, having an order arrive in one box with all the items is a guaranteed way to make your customers happy. When someone orders online, they want to receive everything at once.
1. Happy Customers
Customers keep a business thriving for years; without them, you wouldn’t be able to sell your beautiful products. So, it’s a top priority to make your customers satisfied.
When there’s so much competition online, you want to do everything you can to stand out and get noticed. The easiest way to build a better reputation is to send orders that arrive quickly and efficiently.
That means grouping items together into one package. The order is also less likely to experience damage in transport when it’s sent with other products, which will lead to fewer customer complaints.
2. Opportunity for Bundle Packages
Being in charge of manufacturing means you have control over the product assembly, so you can choose to group certain items in your store.
For instance, if you sell sports shorts, you can offer a deal for a pair of shorts, a t-shirt, and socks. You can get customers’ attention and encourage them to buy products together.
This marketing strategy makes it easier for you to transition to package consolidation and cut shipping costs while providing a great customer experience.
Package consolidation works for everyone!
3. Offer a Free Gift for the Extra Weight
In the shipping world, you’ve probably come across dimensional weight (DIM), which refers to the weight of a package and its dimensions.
Sometimes, you can be charged extra if the DIM exceeds the package’s weight. If you’re looking for a way to minimize these frustrating costs, you can use the free space with package consolidation.
For example, you can include a free cycling hat, notebook, or another item suitable for the order. Not only will your customer receive a freebie, but you’ll also reduce shipping costs and use the extra weight!
4. Package Consolidation Costs Less
On average, package consolidation costs less than sending items separately. Sometimes, you have to cover charges for deliveries to remote locations, delays, and other issues that arise during the shipping process.
Thankfully, when you merge orders into one package, you’re already reducing the overall cost of the order. Even though you might still encounter extra charges, it will be much less than if you shipped separately.
So, it won’t solve the problem entirely, but it will make your budget more flexible and allow you to maintain a high standard for your products without sacrificing the shipping time.
5. Better Safety for Workers
The employees in charge of your shipped orders have to handle hundreds of packages daily, which comes with many risks. There are often safety problems as the volume of packages is so high.
During the pandemic, logistic departments suffered from the absence of employees, which is why it’s essential to find practical solutions that take the pressure off these workers.
Package consolidation creates fewer packages for employees and reduces the health risk of transporting items from country to country.
6. A More Eco-friendly Approach
If fewer packages are making their way around the world, there is less waste being produced which pollutes the environment.
So, if you’re concerned about your impact on your planet, package consolidation is a great way to get involved with the movement to more eco-friendly practices.
You can also switch to eco-friendly packaging materials like recycled paper and cardboard that can be reused in other areas of life. It’s a great way to show you care about the environment and are actively managing resources.
But, first, you need to work with a manufacturing company that knows what they are doing. Otherwise, you could end up with broken items, damaged packages, and worthless investments.
Luckily, at Shield Works Precision Manufacturing, we have years of experience handling package consolidation in China. Our services include quality inspection and testing as well as order consolidation.
We can assist you with anything you need.
Choose the Right Option With Package Consolidation
As you can see, package consolidation is the best way to reduce shipping costs and make your customers happy with your products. There are also numerous other benefits like helping the planet and reducing safety risks.
You must work with a suitable manufacturer to ensure your high-quality products and the shipping from Chinese product sites runs smoothly.
Our team is ready to answer any questions you have about changing to package consolidation. So, you can start shipping goods and getting them to their new home as quickly as possible.
Get in contact to learn more about our services and what we can do for you at Shield Works Precision Manufacturing.
Everything You Need to Know About 3PL Warehousing in China
So, you’ve decided that your supply chain needs a little help. Maybe you’ve got too much work for your in-house team to handle, or maybe you’re just looking for someone with more skill than you have.
There are a lot of reasons you might find yourself in this situation, but the solution is always pretty clear: hire an expert. 3PLs (third-party logistics providers) specialize in warehousing and distribution. They have the infrastructure and knowledge to get your products where they need to go – on time and on budget.
For a look at 3PL warehousing and how hiring one can help improve your supply chain, read on.
What Is 3PL Warehousing?
A 3PL can provide warehousing services for your wholesale products, manage all aspects of your inventory system, and even help you develop the processes necessary to ship orders from your store on time.
This means that when someone places an order through your eCommerce website, the 3PL will receive the order and store it in one of their warehouses until it’s ready to be shipped out.
3PL Services vs. Drop Shipping
Drop shipping is a product-based business model that allows merchants to sell their goods without having to store or ship the products themselves. When you drop ship, you place an order with a supplier, who then ships to your customer on your behalf.
3PL services offer more flexibility than drop shipping because they allow you to outsource all aspects of logistics, including warehousing and shipping. Unlike drop-shippers who have limited control over the process, 3PLs provide the additional benefit of greater oversight over storage conditions and quality control during storage and transit.
Why Choose 3PL Warehousing?
3PL warehousing offers several benefits to businesses that want to outsource their storage and fulfillment needs. These include:
Save Time and Money
One of the most important benefits of 3PL warehousing is that it can save you money by reducing your overhead. You’ll no longer have to worry about rent, maintenance costs, and equipment purchases for your warehouse. A 3PL provider can also help you reduce your staffing costs and avoid payroll taxes.
Improve Your Customer Service
With a 3PL partner, you’ll be able to offer more shipping options, shorter lead times, and faster delivery at lower prices than you could if handling shipping on your own. You’ll also be able to offer better customer service by responding more quickly and effectively to customer queries, as well as tracking orders. Your customers will appreciate having access to accurate information about the status of their orders.
Get the Right Products to the Right Customers
With a 3PL partner, you’ll be able to take advantage of their years of experience and relationships with freight forwarders, customs brokers, airlines, trucking companies, and others in the supply chain.
You can also get a leg up on your competitors by taking advantage of their global footprint and selling products in markets that are otherwise inaccessible. Your 3PL might even help you find new products for specific regions and give you the ability to test your ideas before making an enormous investment.
Expertise in Logistics Management
Third parties generally have more experience handling inventory than many small businesses do; therefore offering valuable industry-specific knowledge. They’ll know how to move your product in the most efficient and effective manner possible, whether by rail, air, or sea.
How Does It Benefit Your Business To Use A 3PL Warehousing Company?
You might think to yourself, do I really need to outsource my warehousing and logistics operations? The answer is maybe. It depends on many factors unique to your business, including size, product mix, growth plans, and more.
However, there are some general benefits that usually make working with a third-party logistics provider in China the right choice for most businesses.
Reduce Risk
By outsourcing some of your operations to third-party logistics companies, you’ll be able to reduce the amount of risk involved in doing business overseas without sacrificing any of the benefits associated with having a Chinese presence(accessibility, increased market share, etc.). This is because these providers have the experience, infrastructure, and local knowledge needed to help you navigate China’s unique business environment.
Improved Efficiency
When a single company handles all logistical processes for error. This allows your business to run more smoothly, freeing up time and resources that can be better spent elsewhere. And with most third-party logistics companies, you’ll also have access to state-of-the-art equipment, which will allow them to handle all of the heavy lifting so you don’t have to.
Increased Productivity
When outsourcing logistics services, companies can focus on what they do best while leaving order fulfillment to another team. This means that your company will be able to get more done with fewer people – which increases overall productivity for everyone involved.
How 3PLs Handle Order Fulfillment
Once the order is received and processed by your 3PL, they will then assign it to a warehouse closest to your customer. From here, a picking team will gather the items from their respective racks and put them into totes or carts for the next step: packing.
Afterward, another team will ensure that everything was picked correctly before boxing it up for shipping. At this stage of fulfillment, your provider will add any extra packaging materials, like bubble wrap or peanuts, to guarantee safe transport. After being packed up, all orders are ready for delivery!
In some cases, orders may need to be returned before they can be shipped out again. This is usually because of damage caused during transit. Your provider will inspect the package first before sending it back.
When Do You Need a 3PL Warehouse in China?
If your company ships at least 100 orders overseas each month, it’s probably time to consider working with a third-party logistics provider in China. But 100 is not the hard and fast rule, as many factors can affect this number.
There is no magic number at which time a company should start working with a 3PL. When you find your business growing so much that the volume of orders being placed has become too high for your small team to manage in-house, then it’s time to hire a 3PL.
There are some other signs that can help you determine whether you need a 3PL. If any of the following apply to your business, it’s time to look for a 3PL warehouse in China:
You’ve Run Out of Storage Space
Perhaps you started your business in a small office space with enough room to store inventory on-site. But as orders start rolling in, that space quickly becomes crammed. If you can’t store products, how can you possibly fulfill orders?
Working with a 3PL will give you access to more storage space so you can keep meeting customer demand.
You’re Spending Too Much Time Shipping Orders
If it’s taking up too much of your time and energy managing shipments, then it might be time for some help. A quality 3PL will have the resources and technology needed to get products out the door in a few hours.
Your Employees are Stretched Thin
As your business grows, chances are good that your team is being pulled in different directions, trying to handle everything at once. This can lead to mistakes, frustration, and even burnout. Adding a 3PL to your team can take some of the pressure off by lightening the workload.
10 Tips to Find the Best 3PL Services Company for Your Ecommerce Business
Just like with any other decision, you want to make sure that the 3PL provider you choose will help optimize your business and not hinder it. However, this is easier said than done.
With so many 3PL service providers out there, how can you ensure that the one you choose will be right for your business? Here are some tips:
1. Start with Reliability and Speed
As an e-commerce company, it’s important to make sure that your products go to consumers fast and get delivered without any kind of damage. Ask your potential provider about their average shipping times and any procedures they have in place to prevent or address damages during transit.
A provider with same-day shipping can be especially useful if you offer expedited shipping services.
2. Consider Their Ability to Handle Returns
Ecommerce businesses typically have a higher return rate than brick-and-mortar stores, so it’s important that your 3PL provider can handle returns efficiently. Find out what kind of system they have in place for managing returns and ask about how they communicate with customers regarding status updates on refunds or replacements.
3. Pricing Matters, But Don’t Sacrifice Quality
Of course, you want to save money wherever possible, but with your 3PL services provider, quality should be more important than price. Make sure you compare apples to apples when getting quotes.
4. Experience Working In Your Industry
Ensure they have the right equipment and technology to handle your products. But more importantly, they should have experience working in your industry so they understand the unique challenges that come with it.
For example, if you’re in the fashion industry, you’ll need a 3PL that can handle delicate and high-end items. If you’re in the food industry, they should have processes in place to prevent cross-contamination.
5. Client Support
Ideally, your 3PL is easy to reach when you need them and quick to respond. Good communication is key in any relationship, so make sure the lines of communication are open between you and your fulfillment partner. Of course, China’s time zone difference can present some challenges, but a good 3PL will have someone available during your business hours.
6. Flexible Pricing Options
While price is always a concern, you don’t want to be locked into a per-unit charge that doesn’t reflect your monthly storage and processing needs. Look for a 3PL that offers options like minimum commitment pricing or value-based pricing, rather than charging you by the unit.
Some providers charge per square meter of warehouse space used; others offer discounts based on the number of units shipped per month. Whatever the case, make sure you understand your 3PL’s pricing structure before signing a contract.
7. Technology Integration Capabilities
Perhaps the most important criterion on this list is integration capability. Do their systems seamlessly connect with yours? Can they automatically track and update inventory levels in real-time so that you always know exactly what’s in stock and where it is?
If not, keep looking. The best providers offer comprehensive tracking capabilities and a simple customer portal.
8. Order Consolidation
When your customers are ordering products that come from several vendors, a 3PL that can merge those orders into a single shipment can be a huge time—and money—saver. When evaluating providers, inquire about their order consolidation capabilities.
9. Customization
Some of your customers may have specific requests; they need a custom-sized box or a gift-wrapped item, for example. If you can find a provider that can customize orders to meet the needs of your unique clients, you’ll be able to streamline and improve customer experiences.
Also, it helps if your provider can offer custom branding on the shipping boxes. This is a small but powerful way to reinforce your brand and keep it fresh in your customers’ minds.
10. Reputation
Last but not least, don’t forget to ask for customer references. Talk to others who have used the 3PL you’re considering and get their honest opinion.
Expand Your Business Reach
3PL warehousing can help you expand your business reach by allowing you to enter new markets and create new distribution channels. Not only will you be able to offer faster delivery at lower shipping costs, but you can also take advantage of their experience in international shipping.
Whether you are looking for short- or long-term storage warehousing solutions, Shield Works has the experience and expertise to provide you with cost-effective storage and shipping solutions. Reach out to us for warehousing processes that help you succeed.
3PL Service Can Help Boost Your Amazon Business
3PL service can be a valuable tool to help your Amazon business grow and get where you want it to be. But why use 3PL service? What are the benefits of working with 3PLs? How can they help with your Amazon business? Those are all excellent questions, so let’s take some time to go over them in detail.
What is a 3PL Service?
You may be familiar with 3PL services already. A third-party logistics (3PL) company is a business or other entity that handles storage, transportation, sorting and delivery of goods on behalf of a retailer. The U.S. has more than 6,000 3PLs, according to American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA). Amazon itself is often cited as one example of a company that uses 3PL service for its ecommerce sales via Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA). In fact, many online retailers use 3PL services because they’re so convenient: They can offload some or all shipping responsibilities from their own staffs to experienced professionals who have access to resources like trucks, warehouses and sophisticated software. That leaves your small business free to focus on what it does best—selling products—while you outsource what you don’t need in order to grow faster.
With more and more businesses outsourcing their manufacturing overseas, 3PL service in other countries are also in high demand, especially in China. These companies can help your business save money by providing a single point of contact for all your global logistics needs. Many of these firms have experience dealing with multiple languages and cultures, so they can communicate directly with suppliers in foreign countries to ensure that your products arrive on time and as expected. This is particularly helpful if you’re new to importing or exporting goods from overseas: You can leave most of the work to them while you focus on growing your company’s sales revenue.
Why Do I Need it as an Amazon Seller?
More importantly, what are your options for managing third-party fulfillment? One option is to do it all in-house, but that can be difficult if you’re trying to run a business. In addition, it might make more sense from a brand management perspective to use outside vendors with established reputations. For example, Shield Works offers 3PL (third-party logistics) services that allow Amazon sellers to leverage its warehousing infrastructure and expertise on their behalf. This allows Amazon sellers like you to focus on brand development instead of worrying about operational details.
What’s more, it provides peace of mind by helping ensure inventory doesn’t sit idle or get lost. There are many ways to approach your online sales efforts—and no one way is better than another—but shipping and fulfillment may be one area where working with an expert makes sense.
What Should You Look For In A 3PL Service Provider?
The following are some things you should consider when evaluating a 3PL service:
Global reach
Choose a provider with locations around the world so you can reach customers in multiple time zones. Comprehensive set of transportation options. You’ll want access to air, ocean, trucking and rail services so you can choose whichever mode is most cost-effective for each shipment.
Transparent rates and fees
Look for providers that charge per package or weight based on total volume rather than as a percentage of total value. This will allow you to price your products competitively without surprises at checkout from additional fees. Recurring transport scheduling/management capabilities.
Real-Time Tracking
Want to know where your shipments are at all times? 3PLs that offer real-time tracking can help ensure you’re meeting customer service standards. Check out the system they use and do some research on how it works and it’ll give you an idea how your goods will be handled.
Automated import/export services
For example, if you need assistance calculating how much duty you will owe on a shipment to Europe, a provider with an automated system can save you valuable time and eliminate errors.
Customized shipping solutions
A provider that offers these services will help you ship products directly from China or other overseas locations to your customers in North America and Europe at competitive rates. This is particularly helpful when importing large volumes of goods from China as it allows you to take advantage of bulk discounts on shipping charges by consolidating multiple packages into one larger shipment that arrives at its destination faster than individual shipments would have arrived.
Multiple package-shipping options (e.g., small, medium or large boxes).
A 3PL service provider should offer multiple box sizes so that you can choose which size best fits your product’s needs and reduce packaging costs accordingly.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring A 3PL Logistics Company
Choosing a 3PL service to transport your inventory can seem daunting. The Amazon marketplace is full of shipping companies claiming to offer inexpensive, efficient and reliable shipping services for sellers. As with any decision you make regarding your business, it’s important to take time before selecting a company that will handle your shipments. If you’re thinking about hiring a 3PL logistics company, ask yourself these questions first:
- How do they communicate?
- Is their response time reasonable?
- Does anyone actually pick up their phone when you call?
- What is their process for handling shipments?
- How can I access information about my shipment?
- How are customs forms handled?
- What happens if my shipment gets seized by customs or delayed by weather or other factors outside of my shipper’s control?
As we wrap up, there are two things you should remember: first, 3PL’s can be a great asset to your Amazon business. By working with a reliable and trustworthy service provider, you can save time and resources on everything from picking and packaging to shipping and order fulfillment. The second thing is just as important: choose a provider that meets all of your specific needs. The best 3PL will have industry expertise (especially in terms of handling products), but will also make it easy for you to monitor shipments and control inventory without missing out on profit potential. Whether you’re just starting out or expanding an existing operation, pay attention to each of these tips when selecting a new supplier partner!
Shield Works is one of your ideal options with our western background and 17-year industry experience. We have helped so many launch their Amazon business with our logistics service in both the US and China. Reach out to us and learn more about how we can help!
Why Do You Need A 3PL Company To Grow Your Online Business?
What is a 3PL Company?
3PL stands for Third Party Logistics. A 3PL provider, such as C2W, offer outsourced logistics services. Essentially this means that we will help provide management over one (or more) procurement and fulfilment activities.
Fulfilment activities refer to the process of distribution and shipping.
Procurement activities simply involve acquiring or selecting goods, services and work required for your specific job. Such roles can include: the process of selecting vendors, strategic vetting or actually purchasing the goods.
Therefore, 3PL providers deal with the physical movement of your goods from point A to B, as well as providing other services involved in the journey (such as warehousing, terminal handling, packaging etc.).
What are the benefits of using a 3PL Company?
Cost
The number one benefit of using a 3PL Company is monetary savings! By using a 3PL Company, this removes the financial pressure on your company for having to fund warehouse storage and staff who monitor supply chain processes. By asking us to do this for you, it means you only pay for the service package itself and can pick and choose when you use these services. Ultimately, by using 3PL providers you aren’t paying for warehouse and maintenance all year round. I mean what online business DOESN’T love saving?
Customer Satisfaction
In this era, good online service is largely linked to access to quick and efficient shipment and delivery. Online shopping is becoming increasingly popularity as the high street slowly dies meaning that your online company’s efficiency in shipment and delivery will undoubtedly be a commonly used metric for measuring customer satisfaction.
Using a 3PL provider means your e-commerce business can gain significant customer loyalty and satisfaction by letting the professionals deal with fulfilment services. This process will be made even easier with our western owned and managed company because we believe in western standards of communication and service.
Our expertise
Another important benefit to consider when deciding on your 3PL Company is performance.
Due to our expertise and experience in 3PL services here at C2W, efforts in e-commerce procurement and fulfilment activities will be more time and cost-effective than less mature manufacturing companies. We have a verified history of successfully meeting demand and are able to scale operations consistently and smoothly.
Here at C2W, we remove the stress of such demands so that you can focus on the things that matter, improving and growing your online business.
Supply Chain Management
By hiring C2W as your 3PL Company, we can also analyse the supply chain and define any cracks, enabling us to provide efficient solutions and improvement to e-commerce efficiency of your business.
Direct Business
Hiring a 3PL company cuts out the middle man, meaning you can do business more directly and have one point of contact when dealing with your goods or services. We handle a broad spectrum of services meaning that you don’t have to hire a freight forwarder in the process (who don’t actually deal with shipment or fulfilment themselves). And as all businessmen know, direct business is straight talking business!
Accountability
When acting as your 3PL provider, C2W takes direct responsibility for your goods or services. You can be assured to receive reliable services and be sure that C2W will take accountability for business. Unlike a freight forwarder, who acts as an intermediary player in the chain, we are held directly accountable for your shipment processes. With C2W 3PL, you can put your mind at ease.
Some of the 3PL services we offer:
The following list is just a minor sample of the wide range of 3PL Services we offer here at C2W. For a more detailed, please visit our 3PL services offered in China and the US under our ‘Services’ page.
- Receive and inventory all incoming products
- Manage full inventory in the US using our professional WMS (Warehouse Management System; SkuVault)
- Drop-shipments for all orders (pick and pack)
- Fulfilment of FBM (Fulfilled By Merchant) Amazon Orders
- Restock Amazon warehouses for products shipped FBA (Fulfilled by Amazon)
- Quality control
- Consolidation
- Repackaging
Contact us for an accurate quote based on your project. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with any questions you may have!
The Benefits of 3PL and Warehousing in China
Retailers are always looking for ways to improve efficiency, save money, and do whatever they can to ensure their company runs smoothly. Doing one thing that can meet all three things can be difficult, but 3PL services and warehousing in China can give you what you need.
Are you familiar with the term 3PL? Have you thought about the benefits of managing warehousing services overseas? Let us teach you what you need to know about both.
Keep reading to learn more about 3PL and how warehousing in China can benefit your business.
What Is 3PL?
Have you ever thought about what it takes to for a product to get from a warehouse to the retailer’s store?
Ecommerce logistics, inventory management, warehousing, packaging, freight forwarding, and fulfillment all have to work together in order to bring customers and sellers their much-needed products. Managing all of that on your own can get costly and time-consuming.
3PL is an abbreviation of the term third-party logistics, and utilizing 3PL services allows savvy business owners to outsource the important tasks we just mentioned.
3PL allows you to outsource operational logistics. This can include warehousing, production, delivery, and more. Overall, it allows you to focus on other parts of your business.
Many people associate 3PL with e-commerce retailers, but the truth is that plenty of companies have been outsourcing the manufacturing and shipping of their products for decades.
5 Major Benefits of Warehousing in China
If the idea of using 3PL services excites you, it’s worth considering warehousing in China.
Warehousing is a big part of 3PL services, and it’s important to note that warehousing goes far beyond just storing items in one place. Comprehensive services can cover order fulfillment, inventory control, contract warehousing, cross-docking, transport, and transloading.
Warehousing in China comes with its own unique set of benefits. Curious about why so many companies are deciding to go with warehousing companies in China? After you learn how they can benefit your company, you’ll wonder why you haven’t started using their services sooner.
1. Work Efficiently
As we’ve mentioned, warehousing requires many different services: Managing inventory, fulfillment, transportation, and other essential things. It’s a lot of different and equally important services to manage, and doing it on your own can be difficult.
When you outsource your warehousing services, you’re able to have one company manage everything. Instead of having to juggle a lot of different services, you’ll be able to have one company manage everything.
This doesn’t just make your workday easier. It can also help make things more efficient. Having all of your warehousing work handled by one provider means that one provider is also managing your paperwork, orders, and other important documentation.
2. Save Money
We just talked about how much time it takes to effectively manage warehousing services for businesses. The time cost is something important to account for, but the actual monetary cost can even more expensive.
Paying for warehousing services in the US can be very expensive. On top of thinking about the base cost of their services, you also have to think about how many people you’ll need on your own staff to help manage who you’re outsourcing to.
The strong Chinese economy is built around manufacturing and shipping. Services in China are generally much less expensive than services in America, and that’s especially true when it comes to shipping and warehousing. You simply can’t beat the costs.
3. Scale Effectively
One of the most difficult things about effectively growing a business is scalability. You want to make the right decisions around growth, but there’s a lot of risks around costs when you’re a retailer.
Growing your business when you’re a retailer will require buying and selling more products. Having a glut of leftover products can take up space in your store and could cost you a lot of money.
When you outsource warehousing, you’ll have a partner that can help you with inventory control. They can help ensure that you scale effectively and efficiently and make it less expensive for you to produce more products.
4. Tap Into Company Connections
Are you thinking about using a different manufacturer to produce your products? Do you want to use a new shipping company? Are you thinking about selling your products in China or in other markets?
Finding the right companies to work with can be difficult. However, the right warehousing provider can get you in touch with the right people.
Warehousing companies work with a lot of different businesses. If you want to break into new markets or try new services, your warehousing company could help get you the connections you’re looking for.
Instead of having to go off of anonymous reviews, you’ll be able to work with companies your warehousing provider trusts. This can be especially helpful if you’re thinking about working with other Chinese providers. They’ll understand the local markets better than you and can give you invaluable insight into the inner workings of some businesses.
5. Benefit From Their Expertise
If you’re focused on growing your company, you can’t spend your time worrying about logistics around warehousing. Instead of having to focus on menial tasks, let a true expert handle your warehousing needs.
Chinese warehousing services have helped small retailers and global conglomerates grow their businesses effectively. They can focus on the important warehousing work, and you can spend your time and energy on other matters.
Start Warehousing the Right Way
Warehousing in China can benefit business owners of any size. If you want to scale your business efficiently, save time and money, and make new business connections, it’s time to find the right company to work with.
Regardless of what 3PL services you need, we’re ready to help. Be sure to contact us today so we can start thinking about the best ways to help your business grow.
The Pros and Cons of Order Consolidation
In placing orders, shipping works best when orders come in bulk. Though with orders that come smaller or lesser than the expected amount, it hurts the shipping companies due to the costs involved. In such circumstances, you would encounter the option for freight consolidation. This method works by putting smaller packages together into one cohesive shipment. This helps in reducing both shipment costs and environmental impact.
Using order consolidation has its upsides and downsides. Today, we will look at these details and see how to make this work for you.
Reduced Shipping Costs
To start, we will look at the advantages you gain from order consolidation. One of the more noticeable advantages of this arrangement is that it costs less on shipping.
When you have shipment loads that are Less than Load (LTL), the shipping fee would depend on the size of the item. The rates would also vary between shipping companies. Though this changes when it fills up only 1/6 of the full load.
In such situations, it would end up with you paying for the rate equivalent to a full shipment size. This will have you shoulder the other underlying fees.
This changes when you go for order consolidation. By putting more LTL packages in a single shipment, you can reduce the costs of shipping.
This works well for cooperative setups. Here, you have one shipment to cover multiple packages from different sources.
You get to divide the costs with others, letting you pay your side of the container or truck. This also applies to warehousing, especially with orders that go through international shipping.
There is also an arrangement where you have a warehouse for packages from multiple shops. For such an arrangement, you need order consolidation to answer that. This allows you to send the packages to your area in a single shipment.
Streamlined Transportation with Faster Delivery Times
With this setup, you can get shorter times for transit and lead times. Due to how freights go in the same direction, the shipping becomes streamlined with its speed. This helps with timeframes due to how the majority of freights shipped using freight consolidation follow the same routes.
With this in mind, not only does it shorten the timeframe for the package to arrive, but it also comes without any interruptions. This means the order gets to the receiver without any stops.
Reduced Item Damage Risk
A single package on its own when placed for international shipping has a high chance of damage. It could end up getting jostled around and tossed from one corner to another without any means to secure it. This can prove detrimental as it damages the ordered item.
When you have it alongside other packages in a single shipment, it secures the item in place. This means it has less space for it to get tossed around. You can achieve this through simpler shipping schedules.
Needing Lower Levels of Inventory
Opting for order consolidation allows you to use a consolidation warehouse to make this work. On this aspect, you need low inventory levels when fulfilling customer orders. On the business side, this helps you open up more space for other merchandise and products to sell.
Store owners would note this as an advantage. It allows them to sell products with a higher variety. It also helps with organizing products and reduces inventory carrying costs.
Reduced Emissions and Environmental Impact
One of the things that affect the environment is fuel emissions. What makes order consolidation attractive is its approach towards efficiency.
Not only does it apply efficiency in storage space for the shipment. It also puts it into practice with fuel emissions and costs.
Instead of splitting up different shipments in separate runs, you end up having packages shipped by batch. This reduces the number of trucks and other transportation vehicles involved in the delivery.
Helps Avoid Overcrowded Docks
For brick-and-mortar shops, overcrowded docks can impede in handling shipments. With this method, you can avoid overcrowded docks by reducing the number of trucks present. With more space on the dockside, you have an easier time handling the products.
This opens up towards increased efficiency. It helps avoid late shipments and unintended detention times.
Improving Customer Satisfaction
With order consolidation, customer satisfaction improves. Not only does it provide the products with better quality, but it also charges less on shipping. With improved customer satisfaction, they would want more.
Logistics Scheduling Becomes Complicated
For this approach, scheduling becomes one of the trickier aspects. The process of scheduling the shipments may end up being the long and heavy portion of the whole arrangement. It involves a lot of aspects of organization and execution.
If you choose to play this setup by ear, you would end up in a disorganized mess. You would end up with frequent reschedules and service calls.
Consider going for a defined system for order consolidation. With an organized system in place, you have a simpler time dealing with such issues.
Fulfillment Inaccuracies and Shipping Delays
Another notable problem is in the shipping in itself. Though this pertains to the other aspect, the warehouse. Order consolidation opens up a lot of complications in the scheduling. Making any wrong calls on this would cause delays in fulfillment.
The other issue that would come up would be inaccuracies. Without proper supervision, the packages may end up at the wrong address.
What you need to pull this off is a reliable logistics service provider. They can assist with situations involving warehousing and inventory.
Order Consolidation for Efficient Order Fulfillment
Using order consolidation provides a good number of advantages. It provides an efficient means for fulfilling products for orders that have smaller packages. While complicated, a reliable logistics company can help you ease out these situations.
Order consolidation is one of the solutions we offer. We can help you get started with your fulfillment needs, such as warehousing. Contact us today and we can help you get started.