How to Choose the Best Shipping for a Small Business | Sherpack

Choosing a 3PL with the Best Shipping for a Small Business

4 min read
employee fulfilling orders for small business

As a small business owner, managing your supply chain can be a daunting task. From storing inventory to picking, packing, and shipping orders, it can be challenging to manage everything in-house as your business grows. Fortunately, third-party logistics providers can help streamline your operations. If you’re looking to outsource the fulfillment process, keep reading to learn about what to consider when looking for a provider with the best shipping for a small business.

Finding Small Business Shipping Solutions: 6 Things to Consider

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to improve your current fulfillment strategy, here are six things to consider when looking for a 3PL to help with your small business shipping solutions.

1. Speed

Modern customers expect items to be delivered with the click of a button, making fast and reliable shipping essential for your small business if you want to remain competitive. When searching for a fulfillment provider, you’ll want to take note of their delivery times and accuracy rates so you can choose one that can deliver your products within the expected timeframes.

2. Trust

Shipping is more than putting your products in boxes. It’s important to find a 3PL who recognizes your business’s value and all the time and effort you’ve put into it. An authentic partnership will give you peace of mind knowing that your needs are being met and that you have a support system that truly wants to see your business grow and succeed.

3. Location

Does the fulfillment company you’re considering have easy access to your customer base? Choosing a fulfillment center that’s strategically located can help ensure timely delivery, lower shipping costs, and happy customers. If you sell products globally, you’ll want to make sure the company offers international shipping.

4. Tracking and Visibility

Real-time inventory tracking will ensure you aren’t left in the dark about the status of your products. That way, you’ll know where they’re at in the shipping process and be able to make better inventory management decisions. Real-time tracking also allows you to provide more accurate information to customers and get on top of any unexpected delays.

5. Return Management

A smooth and hassle-free return process is critical to maintaining customer satisfaction. Putting the right system in place will help keep your customers happy despite having to make a return.

6. The Human Element

Technology is a great helping hand, but too much of it can overshadow the most essential part of a partnership: human connection! Face-to-face communication allows you to make personal connections with your provider and really drive home your business’s goals so that you can work together to find the best solutions.

Why is Sherpack Right for Your Business?

In an industry that has become dominated by tech, it can be hard to speak with a fulfillment professional that is on-site and physically working with your product, but that’s not the case with Sherpack. Our team will meet with you face-to-face, communicate with you through every step of the fulfillment process, and treat your products like our own. Here are some things you can look forward to when you trust Sherpack with your small business shipping:

  • Easy access to customers with a convenient Midwest location
  • Worldwide shipping
  • Fulfillment Trail Guides that walk you through the process
  • Optimized storage
  • Return management
  • Customized packaging
  • Affordability
  • Respect
  • Genuine care for your business and more!

Located in Grand Rapids, MI, business owners across the world trust us to manage shipping and fulfillment on behalf of their brands. With the agility and flexibility to meet your unique demands, we always go above and beyond to get the job done right. Are you ready to find a solution that fits with a team that cares? Contact us today to get started!