What is a 3PL?
As a shipper, you are responsible for the smooth movement of goods within your business. You understand the intricacies behind every successful operation. However, there’s a crucial partner that could revolutionize the way you handle your company’s logistics – the 3PL.
In the logistics world, understanding what a 3PL is, or a third-party logistics partner, is pivotal. A 3PL is an organization that oversees all or part of a business’s supply chain to streamline operations, reduce costs, and enhance customer experiences. By entrusting these responsibilities to a 3PL, businesses can focus on their core activities while avoiding distractions caused by the increasing need for product storage or the complexities and costs associated with inbound and outbound freight management.
Key Functions of a 3PL
Shipping services: A 3PL typically helps transport inbound and outbound shipments to your warehouse or their ultimate destination by using the most favorable cost and service type. It is common for a provider to help minimize freight costs, reduce transit times, and offer a wide selection of delivery choices.
Integrated transportation software: 3PLs frequently provide access to a transportation management system that connects to your existing software programs for one combined source of logistics information. This simplifies tracking, tracing, and troubleshooting freight shipments while improving shipping costs and processes.
Get Started With A Free BlueShip TMS Demo!
Knowledgeable Guidance: A 3PL organization has extensive experience and knowledge of all aspects of supply chain management for businesses of various sizes and types. This enables them to offer advice for streamlining your operations and limiting risks while containing costs.
Warehousing: Some 3PLs offer warehousing services such as inventory management and storage plus order fulfillment, receiving, and shipping. In addition to warehousing, some 3PLs handle customer service and order management.
As your business grows, overseeing complicated supply chain operations may become overwhelming. Potentially costly errors may reduce company profits and lead to disappointing customer experiences.
A 3PL, like BlueGrace, works as your partner so you can focus on running your primary business and growing it. We help contain freight costs while managing logistics to boost business growth and customer satisfaction.
BlueGrace 3PL offers:
- Tailored transportation management solutions to help contain your freight spend.
- Our industry-leading TMS, BlueShip, for effortless rate shopping, and freight shipment tracking and tracing.
- A network of more than 250,000 vetted carriers across the country
- 9 offices conveniently located in major transportation hubs across the U.S.
How Can A 3PL Help Your Business?
To sum up, understanding the role of a 3PL is important for businesses looking to streamline their supply chain operations, control expenses, and elevate customer experiences. As a trusted third-party logistics partner, BlueGrace Logistics offers expertise and solutions that allow businesses to offload the complexities of product storage, inbound and outbound freight management, and overall supply chain optimization. By leveraging the services of a reliable 3PL, companies can focus on their core competencies and achieve greater efficiency, cost savings, and ultimately, a competitive edge in the ever-evolving marketplace.
Ready to take your supply chain operations to the next level? Chat with a BlueGrace expert and see our TMS in action!
Related Posts
BlueGrace Logistics Named A 2023 Top 3PL And Cold Storage Provider
BlueGrace Logistics Named A 2023 Top 3PL And Cold Storage Provider
Read News
How 3PLs Are Building More Collaborative Supply Chains
How 3PLs Are Building More Collaborative Supply Chains
Read News
Why a Strong Customer Support Team is Important When Choosing a 3PL
Why a Strong Customer Support Team is Important When Choosing a 3PL
Read The Logistics Blog®
The BlueShip® Platform
