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3PL or 4PL What’s the Difference?

Young Businesswoman Under the Stress of Organizing Business Logistics

 

So how much difference does a single digit make? In the case of 3PL and 4PL, the answer can have a significant impact on your choice of fulfillment company. Here’s a look at what this means for your business.

What is a 3PL?

A third-party logistics provider, also referred to as 3PL, is a valuable solution for many eComm businesses. A 3PL handles some or all of your company’s shipping needs, such as transportation and information technology (IT).

Benefits of a 3PL

  • As an entrepreneur, you understand the business side. 3PLs have extensive experience with supply chain logistics, which frees you up to focus on the main goal of growing sales.
  • Supply chain functions are costly in terms of time, space and labor. When you partner with a fulfillment company, they provide these elements for a fraction of the price you would pay if you did everything on your own.
  • The needs of an eComm business can vary from year to year, and even from season to season. A 3PL can scale their services to accommodate seasonal spikes, market fluctuations and company growth.

Do you need a 4PL?

A 4PL, or fourth-party logistics provider, adds another layer to the operations of a 3PL. While a 3PL executes supply chain activities, a 4PL goes a step further by taking charge of overall supply chain management.

If you want to take a complete hands-off position with your supply chain operation, a 4PL can be a great option. The 4PL will work with your 3PL, including fulfillment warehouse and carriers, creating a centralized contact that enables strong communication and smooth procedures from start to finish.

Fulfillment Company Services for Any Applications

Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics brings years of industry experience to provide solutions for all your eComm needs. Contact us today to learn more.

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Five eCommerce Trends Emerging in 2023

eCommerce Trends

When you run an eCommerce business, staying aware of the latest trends is essential. Knowing what these trends are can help you adjust your approach to running your business in order to help it thrive. From using a fulfillment warehouse to relying on chatbots for customer support, these are some of the top eCommerce trends in the new year.

Chatbots as Customer Support

Did you know that using chatbots for customer support can lead to higher revenue for your eCommerce business? While you might think customers prefer interacting with a live person, many find it easier to use a chatbot for support.

Increased Competition

The number of eCommerce stores continues to grow as new businesses open up and brick-and-mortar stores launch online services. This increased competition makes it more important than ever to focus on customer satisfaction and marketing.

More Online Customers

Although the number of online shops is increasing, so is the number of customers who shop online. This can give you a better chance of attracting more customers and rising above the competition. Figuring out your target audience and finding ways to market your products to them is the key to success for your eCommerce business.

Live Video Shopping

A newer trend involves the use of live streaming for online shopping. How does this work? Businesses show the products they have available and sell them in a live video.

Third-Party Logistics

Third-party logistics (3PL) services can take a number of tasks off your hands. You can depend on these services to fulfill orders for you in a timely manner and handle other tasks that help your business thrive.

If you’re looking for a dependable fulfillment warehouse, please contact Medallion Fulfillment and Logistics. Our services can help your business run smoothly and boost customer satisfaction.

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4 Reasons to Trust Medallion Fulfilment For Your Small Business

Fulfillment Warehouse Worker Preparing an Order

Have you been burned by a fulfillment company that gave all their attention to the bigger clients? No matter what size your business, you don’t deserve to be treated like an afterthought. Here are four significant reasons why Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics is the right partner for your eCommerce business.

1. We provide full service from start to finish.

What’s the point of teaming up with a fulfillment company if they handle only part of your needs? Farming different functions out to different companies is costly and counterproductive. Medallion Fulfillment offers a comprehensive assortment of services, from warehousing and order processing to shipping and customer care.

2. Our services are customized and scalable.

Many fulfillment warehouses have a take-it-or-leave-it attitude, offering a fixed package of services with no deviations. Medallion Fulfillment lets you tailor your package to your specific needs and budget, and as your business grows, we scale along with you.

3. We have facilities on both coasts.

Medallion Fulfillment has warehouses in Boston, MA and the greater Los Angeles, CA area, putting us in the center of two of the country’s biggest transportation hubs. Both facilities are monitored by 24-hour surveillance cameras and armed-guard alarm response services.

4. We can match your business with the right shipping solutions.

No matter how well your products sell, it means nothing if you can’t deliver them to the customers. Medallion’s facilities are compatible with UPS, FedEx and other major shippers, and we can accommodate LTL (less-than-truckload) shipments as well. We’re experts at finding cost-effective shipping methods to fit any requirements.

The Only Fulfillment Company You Need

Keep your focus on growing your sales and let us take care of your fulfillment and logistics needs. Contact Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics today to learn more about our Amazon replenishment warehousing service and other unique programs.

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Five Essential Benefits of a 3PL Warehouse for Your Small Business

3PL - Third Party Logistics Diagram

When you’re trying to grow your small business, handling all of the tasks involved in your supply chain can be challenging and time-consuming. The use of third-party logistics (3PL), such as a fulfillment warehouse, can take these tasks off your hands, so you can focus on other aspects of your business. Using 3PL warehouse solutions offers the following benefits for small businesses.

Better Customer Satisfaction

Using a 3PL warehouse means your customers can receive their packages on time. This helps your business build a reputation for being reliable. Timely package shipping and deliveries result in customers who are more satisfied with your business.

Reduced Costs

A 3PL warehouse solution can help your small business save on operating costs and other expenses. Using this type of service means you won’t have to spend money on renting a warehouse, transporting goods, and handling other logistics tasks on your own.

Expanded Markets

Using a 3PL warehouse can make it easier and more cost-effective for your business to expand into new markets. You’ll have greater access to other markets, while saving money on the cost of managing inventory in these markets.

Increased Scalability

When you use 3PL solutions, you’ll have the adjust the use of supply chain resources based on how busy your business currently is. This scalability helps reduce waste when business is slow or quickly meet customer needs when business picks up.

Knowledge and Expertise

Relying on a 3PL warehouse to handle your fulfillment needs means you can depend on their expertise and guidance. They can help you expand into new markets, including overseas markets, while ensuring compliance with international regulations.

If you need a dependable fulfillment warehouse to help your business grow, please contact Medallion Fulfillment and Logistics to learn more about our services.

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ECommerce Growth Projections for 2023 to 2026 – What’s in Store

Image of a graph trending up sitting on a hand.

As you adjust your business goals for the new year, knowing what to expect can help. The Global eCommerce Sales Growth Report through 2026 shows promising trends for online businesses. Keep the following news in mind when writing your goals for 2023.

Increased Online Sales

Experts are expecting online sales to increase every year from now until 2026. For 2023, global eCommerce sales are projected to hit $6.3 trillion. Sales are expected to increase to $6.9 trillion in 2024, $7.5 trillion in 2025, and $8.1 trillion in 2026.

The increase of nearly $2 trillion over the next few years is a result of more and more people turning to online stores rather than brick-and-mortar businesses.

Traditional Retail Sales vs. eCommerce Retail Sales

Online retail sales are continuing to take up a larger share of all retail sales on a global scale. As of 2022, online sales accounted for 19.7 percent of retail sales. This is expected to increase to 24 percent by 2026.

With online sales making up nearly a quarter of all sales within a few years, it’s important for eCommerce business owners to make sure they’re prepared.

Boosting Your Online Business

The latest projections for global eCommerce sales mean that it’s time to make adjustments to your own business. This can help you take advantage of the increase in online purchases in order to help your company grow.

With more consumers being comfortable shopping on mobile devices, make sure your online store has processes in place to provide secure transactions. Partnering with a fulfillment warehouse might also be a smart move to make, since this ensures that customers are able to get their orders on time.

Get With Our Fulfillment Experts Today

If you’re looking for a dependable fulfillment warehouse to partner with your business, contact Medallion Fulfillment and Logistics.