What to expect when working with a third party logistics provider

Why businesses choose third party logistics providers

As order volumes grow and multichannel complexity increases, in-house fulfilment often becomes inefficient and expensive. Third party logistics providers (3PLs) offer a cost-effective, scalable solution.

Whether you’re a D2C brand looking to save time or a B2B seller managing large volumes, a 3PL helps streamline logistics, reduce operational risk, and improve delivery performance. Outsourcing gives you access to warehousing, workforce, carrier relationships, returns handling, and fulfilment technology – without the overhead.

At 3PL, our clients range from startups to established brands who want to focus on growth, not warehouse operations.

What a 3PL actually does

The role of a third party logistics provider extends well beyond packing boxes. Here’s what a good 3PL typically handles:

Warehousing and inventory storage

Products are stored in racked or palletised zones, managed by warehouse management systems (WMS) for accurate stock tracking.

Order fulfilment

When orders come in via your eCommerce store or marketplaces, they are picked, packed, and dispatched to your customers using pre-set rules around packaging and courier options.

Returns handling

3PLs process returns, update your systems, and restock items based on inspection criteria. This reduces manual admin and improves customer satisfaction.

Reporting and analysis

You get data on stock levels, despatch performance, return rates, and order accuracy to make informed decisions.

System integration

3PLs like 3PL integrate with platforms like Shopify, Amazon, TikTok Shop, WooCommerce, and others to keep inventory and orders in sync.

What to expect when you first get started

Onboarding and setup

The onboarding process should include stock intake, integration with your platforms, and test orders. Your 3PL will help map out order workflows, SKU variants, and delivery preferences.

At 3PL, we assign a dedicated onboarding manager who walks each client through:

• System integrations
• Labelling requirements
• Packaging instructions
• Courier rules
• Reporting templates

This ensures everything is in place before you go live.

Service level agreements (SLAs)

Expect your 3PL to define SLAs around:

• Order cut-off times
• Despatch rates
• Order accuracy
• Returns processing

These benchmarks help ensure consistency and can be reviewed in regular performance meetings.

Visibility and control

Working with a 3PL doesn’t mean giving up control. You should have access to dashboards showing:

• Live stock levels
• Order status and tracking
• Returns and refund data
• Courier performance

Fusion, our fulfilment platform, gives clients real-time visibility across every part of the order journey.

What your 3PL should offer beyond operations

Flexibility and scalability

Your fulfilment partner should be able to scale with you. Whether you’re growing 20% YoY or launching into a new region, your 3PL must be ready to:

• Increase warehouse space
• Adjust staffing levels
• Onboard new SKUs quickly
• Add international carriers as needed

At 3PL, we support seasonal surges, influencer drops, and retail expansion for clients through flexible planning and resources.

Proactive support

Look for a 3PL that offers more than customer service. Your account manager should:

• Flag issues before they affect delivery
• Help optimise packaging and courier selection
• Share performance reports and insights
• Be part of your growth planning

Strategic value

The best 3PLs act as partners, not vendors. They understand your growth plans, product mix, and customer base – and adapt fulfilment strategies accordingly.

Our most successful clients treat us as an extension of their team. We attend planning meetings, support new launches, and develop processes that help them scale.

Common concerns when switching to a 3PL – and how to address them

Will I lose control of my brand experience?
No – a good 3PL lets you customise everything from packaging to returns policies. With 3PL Fusion, you retain full control over the unboxing experience.

Will I still be able to monitor orders and performance?
Yes – you’ll gain more visibility than many in-house setups. Real-time dashboards track every part of the fulfilment process.

Is switching disruptive?
With proper onboarding, switching is smooth. Our onboarding process ensures systems are integrated, staff are trained, and test orders are run before you go live.

A real-world example: scaling with confidence

A gifting brand selling via Shopify and Etsy approached 3PL after fulfilment began affecting their review scores. Orders were running late, and inventory was difficult to track.

We:

• Integrated both platforms into Fusion
• Took in 500+ SKUs and mapped custom packaging
• Automated courier selection based on delivery location

Within six weeks:

• Order accuracy hit 99.9%
• Returns processing time halved
• Their Trustpilot rating improved from 4.2 to 4.8

The brand now ships internationally and has launched a subscription service, knowing their fulfilment can keep up.

Choose a fulfilment partner that grows with you

Working with a 3PL is more than outsourcing shipping. It’s about building a scalable operation with the right people, processes and tools.

If you’re ready to take logistics off your plate and partner for growth, talk to 3PL.