Your customers will expect seamless and personal experiences when shopping with you, and with lots of competition within the eCommerce world, it is so important to stand out. Most brands are starting to adopt to omnichannel strategies to meet these expectations, and most consumers will shop on a range of different platforms when shopping. This can become complicated for a business, as your supply chain and integration technologies all need to run seamlessly. This is where third-party logistics (3PL) providers come into play, as they can offer the best omnichannel solutions and technologies to retailers to ensure customers are as happy as possible.
In this blog post, we will explore how 3PL can support omnichannel retail strategies and help businesses navigate the complexities of selling on multiple platforms.
What is Omnichannel Fulfilment?
Omnichannel fulfilment is the process of brands being able to sell their products across multiple channels in a streamline and seamless way, by using the right technologies. The order fulfilment process will be the same as usual (process, pick, package and ship orders) but this will be across multiple channels, and these will all be centralised in one place.
This strategy allows a business to remain agile, optimise the amount of orders received and efficiently pick and dispatch orders across multiple channels all under one system. Essentially, omnichannel fulfilment enables you to simplify and speed up order fulfilment activities and make it easy to keep up with all orders whilst selling to as many people as possible. This process can help increase customer satisfaction as they will receive their orders fast and correctly, as well as being able to shop across multiple platforms.
Centralised Inventory Management
One of the biggest challenges of omnichannel fulfilment is managing inventory across multiple sales channels (such as your website), e-commerce platforms (such as Amazon or eBay), and mobile apps. With customers often purchasing from different sources, it’s vital for businesses to have accurate, real-time visibility into stock levels and availability across all locations, minimising over or under stocking items or sending out incorrect items.
A 3PL provider can offer centralised inventory management systems that integrate with various sales channels. This allows eCommerce businesses to track inventory across all channels in real-time, ensuring that stock levels are updated automatically as orders are placed, no matter which platform it is placed on. By utilising these 3PL’s advanced technologies, businesses can optimise their inventory distribution and avoid all issues regarding overstocking, stockouts, or mismanagement.
Efficient Order Fulfilment
Omnichannel fulfilment requires agility and efficiency and a key advantage of working with a 3PL provider is their ability to manage multiple fulfilment methods effectively and therefore keeping your customers as happy as possible. Do not ever worry about order picking accuracy again with 3PL, as most providers offer a 99% accuracy picking rate, meaning your customers will receive their order safely and correctly.
3PL providers will constantly look for the most cost-effective way for your business to sell on platforms and many 3PLs provide access to order routing technology, which can determine the most efficient fulfilment centre or location to ship from based on factors such as customer location, stock levels, and shipping preferences. This means businesses can fulfil orders from the closest available warehouse, reducing shipping costs and delivery times.
Seamless Integration Across Sales Channels
To support a true omnichannel experience, retailers need systems that can seamlessly integrate across all sales channels and operational touchpoints. 3PL providers typically offer advanced integration solutions that link directly to your e-commerce platforms, point-of-sale systems, and will link up to all of your SKU’s.
This integration enables smooth communication between sales channels and backend systems, reducing errors and delays in order processing. For example, when a customer places an order online, the 3PL’s system can automatically update inventory levels, generate pick lists for warehouse staff, tracking references for customers, and trigger the shipping process—often within minutes. This seamless flow of information ensures a consistent and efficient experience for both the business and its customers.
Scalable and Flexible Solutions
Retailers need fulfilment solutions that can grow and scale with their business. During peak shopping seasons or product launches, fulfilment needs can fluctuate significantly. One of the primary benefits of partnering with a 3PL is the ability to scale your fulfilment operations as needed without significant upfront investment.
3PL providers have access to a wide network of warehouses, distribution centres, and transportation options, allowing them to quickly scale up or down based on demand. Whether you need additional storage space, more picking and packing staff, or increased shipping capacity, 3PLs can provide the flexibility required to meet fluctuating demand without compromising customer service.
This scalability is especially important for omnichannel fulfilment, where businesses often need to balance fulfilling orders from multiple online channels.
Cost Savings and Operational Efficiency
Running an omnichannel fulfilment operation in-house can be expensive and resource-intensive, especially when it comes to warehousing, labour, and transportation. By outsourcing fulfilment to a 3PL, retailers can significantly reduce operational costs. If you think about the costs of training staff, learning new eCommerce platforms and purchasing these technologies, it will all add up fast.
3PLs will provide businesses with access to more cost-effective shipping rates, warehouse space, and technology. Additionally, 3PLs will use warehouse management systems and labour optimisation strategies to improve operational efficiency and minimise errors. As a result, retailers can lower their operational expenses while providing a faster, more reliable service to customers.
Faster and More Reliable Shipping
Shipping speed and reliability are critical components of an omnichannel fulfilment strategy. Customers expect fast, low-cost shipping options, and delays can lead to negative experiences and lost sales. In this world of eCommerce, there are so many competitors that you need to stand out from, so it is important that you’re standing out to customers.
A 3PL provider can help retailers meet these expectations by offering multiple shipping options, including same-day, next-day, and two-day delivery. Many 3PLs also partner with major carriers to negotiate better rates, ensuring that retailers can offer competitive shipping prices while maintaining a high level of service. A 3PL provider will also have the infrastructure in place to manage high order volumes, reducing the risk of shipping delays during peak times.
Returns Management
Returns are a natural part of the shopping process and managing them effectively is crucial for customer satisfaction, as well as making sure your stock levels are correct. In an omnichannel environment, returns can come from any sales channel, and they need to be processed efficiently to maintain positive customer experiences. You may have website, Amazon, eBay or whatever platform you sell on returns coming in, and it is key you’re aware of the best ways to manage these, so the right people are being refunded.
3PL providers can streamline the returns process by offering reverse logistics services. This means that when a customer returns a product, the 3PL can handle the logistics, process the return quickly, and update inventory levels in real time. Some 3PLs also offer specialised return processing, such as inspecting returned items, restocking them, or handling refurbishment, making the process more efficient for the retailer.
Data Insights and Analytics
Another significant advantage of working with a 3PL is the access to data-driven insights and analytics. 3PLs often provide detailed reports on inventory levels, order processing times, shipping performance, and other key metrics that can help businesses optimise their operations.
With these insights, retailers can make data-backed decisions about inventory distribution, shipping strategies, and fulfilment centre management. By using analytics to identify trends and inefficiencies, businesses can continually refine their omnichannel strategies to improve customer satisfaction and boost profitability.
Choosing GNOC
If you’re looking for a new 3PL partner, look no further, as GNOC are here to help you with your omnichannel fulfilment. Here at GNOC we work with some of the leading platforms such as Amazon, eBay, TikTok shop, Etsy, and way more (we have the full list here).
If there is a particular platform you sell on and you don’t see it on our list, you can let us know and we can see what we can do.
Once your stock is at our warehouse, your customers will place orders on your chosen sales channels, and we will sort the rest using our highly rated technology systems. We will get these sent out to your customers fast and efficiently, using our trusted couriers. Your inventory will be managed carefully, and you will be able to track your stock levels, sales and returns. We will keep real-time data can help you make decisions for your business and help you grow.
Why not contact us or fill out our enquiry form today to find out more. Let us know as much information as possible about your business and we can start your 3PL journey today.
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Feb 27, 2025 4:53:29 AM