Fulfillment and Distribution Pain Points: Improve by Outsourcing

The contract is signed. Your inventory is moving. Systems are being connected. After months of comparing providers and talking through every detail, your new 3PL relationship is finally becoming real. The first 30 days should not be about handing over the keys and hoping everything works. They should be about turning everything discussed during the sales process into something your customers can actually rely on. Scott Wilkins , Vice President of Customer Solutions at Barrett Distribution Centers, has described implementation as an important moment in establishing that relationship. “The implementation itself really sets the stage for that relationship. The more information that you have up front, the better off that relationship is going to get off on the right foot.” So, what should those first few weeks actually look like? Week One: Get Everyone on the Same Page The beginning should involve a lot of communication. Your 3PL needs to understand more than how many orders you ship. This is the time to confirm inventory details, sales channels, packaging requirements, retailer expectations, technology needs, transportation requirements, upcoming promotions, and the small details that make your business different. You should also know the people involved. Who is your main contact? Who is responsible for operations? Who handles systems questions? Who gets involved when something unexpected happens? Scott describes the work behind building a customer solution as a team effort, saying, “It takes a small army to develop and submit a potential proposal.” That collaboration becomes even more important once the proposal turns into a real operation. Weeks Two and Three: Turn the Plan Into an Operation This is where a lot of the behind the scenes work happens.

Signing with a 3PL can feel like the finish line after weeks of conversations, proposals, pricing, and warehouse visits. But the signature is really where the relationship begins. Before your first customer order leaves the building, your 3PL needs to turn everything discussed during the sales process into an operation that works for your brand every day. That transition matters. A good onboarding should make you feel more confident about the decision you just made, not leave you wondering what happens next. First, Your 3PL Gets to Know the Details During the sales process, your 3PL learns the larger story of your business. Once you sign, the questions become much more specific. What does your inventory look like? When are your busiest periods? How are orders received? Do certain products need special handling? Are there retailer requirements to follow? Do orders include branded packaging, inserts, kits, gift messages, or other details? This is where conversations become processes. Your team and your 3PL begin working through the information needed to build an operation around how your business actually functions. Then the Behind the Scenes Work Begins There is a lot happening before the first order ships. Systems need to communicate, inventory needs a home, and the people inside the warehouse need to understand what makes your business different.