With the arrival of the new year, you have a fresh new opportunity to make the most of your 3PL partnership, improve your shipping and logistics, and experience all the benefits that go along with it. Aligning logistics with your strategic business goals can have immense advantages for your business–and by starting the year off right, you can enjoy those advantages throughout the year. That includes:
- Improved efficiency across your shipping and logistics processes
- Reduced costs for shipping and fulfillment
- A competitive edge because you can deliver on customer expectations
With these practical strategies divided into foundational and forward-thinking categories, you can see your overall efficiency improve this year.
The 3 Non-Negotiables for Fulfillment Success This Year
There are many things you can do to improve overall fulfillment success. However, there are some strategies that are simply non-negotiable if you want to accomplish your goals and see that enhanced performance. These critical, recurring strategies are essential for operational success.
1. Review Past Performance Metrics
If you’re going to make improvements to your fulfillment processes this year, start with a look at your past successes and failures. Take a comprehensive look at your logistics data from the previous year. Consider:
- What worked well for your business?
- Where were there strategic wins in the fulfillment process?
- What did your customers have to say about your fulfillment efforts?
- Where could you have done better?
By reviewing your performance metrics from last year, you can get a better idea of what areas need improvement and where you can address those key issues.
Actionable Tip: Use your analysis to set measurable goals for improvement in the coming year.
2. Align Fulfillment/3PL Operations with Your Strategic Goals
Chances are, your business has already set some big goals and priorities in place for the coming year, from new product launches and market expansions to improving your customer base or expanding into new areas. Make sure your fulfillment and 3PL operations are in alignment with those priorities. For example, if you’re planning to launch a new product this year, your goals might include making sure that your customers get those products in hand within a short period of time, and if you’re planning to try to expand to a new customer base, you may want to shift fulfillment to those key areas.
Actionable Tip: Host a strategy meeting with your 3PL to discuss shared objectives. Take the time to discuss your changing needs and goals for the coming years and how you can work together to accomplish them.
3. Plan for Scalability and Flexibility
Make sure that your fulfillment solutions are prepared with growth or potential unexpected changes in demand at the forefront. In some cases, your business may grow unexpectedly larger than you anticipated, leaving you struggling to figure out how to handle that increased demand. If you’re already prepared for those changes ahead of time, however, you’re much better positioned to accomplish your goals. Partnering with a 3PL makes it much easier to ensure that you are prepared to scale your fulfillment needs in the event of those changes.
Actionable Tip: Test scalability during peak seasons to refine processes. Learn what works well and what doesn’t work for your specific business needs so that you can continue to adapt according to the strategies that work best when your business is experiencing peak interest.
Next-Gen Moves to Future-Proof Your Fulfillment
In addition to your the strategies you need to take on to make the most of every year, make sure you’re ready to future-proof your fulfillment. Take a look at these strategies for staying competitive.
Adopt/Update Real-Time Visibility with IoT
IoT technology makes it easier to keep track of your shipments and maintain real-time awareness. Utilize IoT tools for live tracking of shipments and inventory management. You’ll be able to keep up with where shipments are, and their current status at all times and more easily track your inventory needs.
Actionable Tip: Invest in IoT solutions that integrate with your existing systems. Pay attention to your current technology before you invest in new solutions. Some technology integrates more effectively with your existing solutions than others, and taking a look at your current tech stack can make it easier to determine what solutions will work best for you in the future.
Implement AI for Enhanced Efficiency
As artificial intelligence technology advances, it continues to offer new solutions that can enhance efficiency and lead to improved functionality. Leverage AI for demand forecasting and automating repetitive tasks. Using AI solutions for those tasks, in turn, allows your employees to focus on tasks that require that vital human touch.
Actionable Tip: Start with AI tools focused on improving order accuracy. Inaccurate orders not only lead to increased costs, they can decrease customer satisfaction, which may prevent them from using your business in the future.
Adopt/Update Sustainable Practices
Environmental sustainability has become increasingly important across industries–and your fulfillment processes are a key part of ensuring that vital sustainability for your business. Incorporate eco-friendly packaging and energy-efficient transport to reduce your environmental impact.
Actionable Tip: Partner with suppliers that share your sustainability goals. A 3PL that is already focused on environmental sustainability will likely already have many of those tools on hand, making it easier for you to take advantage of those eco-friendly options.
Wrapping Up Your New Year 3PL Playbook
As you launch into the new year, make sure you are prepared to combine foundational strategies with innovative solutions to allow you to improve shipping and fulfillment efficiency and deliver the high standard your customers expect from you. With these strategies, you can experience enhanced operations, improved customer satisfaction, and long-term growth solutions. Are you ready to see the advantages of the right 3PL partner for your business? Explore Symbia resources or contact us to learn how to optimize your 3PL partnership.
