Logistics
The Step-by-Step Guide to Switching 3PLs to Increase LTV
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Cathy Carpetta
April 19, 2024
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Cathy Carpetta
April 19, 2024
In today's e-commerce landscape, third-party logistics (3PL) providers play a crucial role in the success of e-commerce and omnichannel brands.
As the e-commerce market continues to evolve and competition intensifies, working with the right 3PL provider can make a difference based on the post-purchase experience.
Why are 3PLs so important? They handle the storage, transportation, delivery of goods and product returns, allowing companies to focus on their core competencies and grow their customer base.
One of the key reasons for switching to 3PLs is to take advantage of new technologies and services that can improve fulfilment and shipping processes.
For example, using a 3PL with advanced tracking and reporting capabilities can help businesses better understand their customers' purchasing behaviour and make more informed decisions about inventory management.
A recent survey found that nearly 80% of customers are willing to pay more for faster delivery. Bigblue clients using Fast Tags (rapid and free delivery badges) in the product pages observed a 26%+ conversion increase.
Source: Retail Touchpoints and Bigblue
Following the steps outlined in this guide, businesses can smoothly transition to a new 3PL and see a significant increase in their e-commerce Lifetime Value (LTV).
This increased revenue can be reinvested into marketing and other growth initiatives, leading to even greater success in e-commerce.
What you will discover in this guide:
The right time to change your fulfilment partner depends on various factors. You can ask yourself these questions:
The right time to change your fulfilment partner is when your current partner is no longer meeting your needs and hindering your business growth. By switching to a new partner, you can improve customer satisfaction, reduce costs, and achieve your business goals.
If you are experiencing any of the following issues, it may be time to consider switching to a new fulfilment partner:
61% of businesses cited the inability to scale as a reason for switching fulfilment partners.
Source: Survey by Practical E-commerce
As your brand grows and expands, your fulfilment partner must be able to keep up with the increased demand. If your current 3PL cannot handle the volume of orders or the pace of growth, it may be time to consider switching.
For example, suppose you are experiencing a surge in sales during a holiday season or due to a successful marketing campaign. Your fulfilment partner should be able to handle the increased volume without any issues. If they can’t do so, it could lead to shipment delays, inaccurate orders, and frustrated customers.
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On the other hand, if you have a fulfilment partner that can scale with you, they can help you efficiently manage the growth of your business. This could include adding warehouse space, hiring more staff, and implementing new technology to streamline operations.
❌ 63% of consumers will unlikely return to a retailer after a negative fulfilment experience.
Source: eMarketer
If your fulfilment partner frequently makes mistakes with orders and consistently fails to meet your service level agreements (SLAs), it can lead to unhappy customers and lost revenue.
Some common performance issues that may indicate a need to switch 3PLs include:
🔁 25% of consumers have returned an online purchase due to receiving the wrong item.
Source: survey by Forrester.
⏰ 90% of consumers expect to receive their orders within 5 days or less.
Source: Invesp
💸 29% of consumers have abandoned an online purchase due to a problem with the delivery process.
Source: eMarketer
According to a survey by Logistics Management, 59% of businesses cited poor performance as a reason for switching to 3PLs. If you are experiencing any of the issues listed above or are simply not satisfied with the performance of your current 3PL, consider a change.
35% of businesses cited the need for a 3PL with local expertise as a reason for switching providers.
Source: survey by eMarketer
If you are launching your brand in a new market, consider partnering with a 3PL familiar with the market's specific requirements and regulations. Here are some examples of how a 3PL with experience in your target market can benefit your business:
Bigblue Tips
At Bigblue, we use Royal Mail and UPS, the UK's two preferred carriers, for orders shipped from our Kûehne+Nagel warehouse in the UK.
If you work with Bigblue, you can also leverage our fulfilment centre across Europe, we have six warehouses in France and one in Spain!
Use Bigblue to quickly start selling in new countries and expand your potential customer base.
👉 Discover Bigblue’s international warehouse network
Companies that use advanced analytics to track and optimise their supply chain operations experience an average of 28% higher profit margins than those that do not.
Source: Accenture
Is your 3PL supporting your growth or hindering it? Does their technology help you make strategic decisions to increase savings and turnover?
Bigblue Tips
Bigblue’s TMS provides real-time updates on the status of shipments and proactively communicates in the event of delays or disruptions.
👉 Discover Bigblue’s TMS
Bigblue Tips
Unlock efficient logistics with Bigblue's smart carrier offer. Leveraging AI-powered delivery options, we ensure the best shipping method is chosen to boost conversions and optimise pricing. In 2023, they outperformed standard carriers' on-time delivery by 9%.
👉 Discover Bigblue’s smart carrier offer
In 23% of cases, damaged packaging will hurt customer perception. And to make matters worse, there is a more than 70% chance that the customer will not order from you again.
Source: Raja
Products such as perfumes, food, and fashion need specific storage and shipping processes, as well as compliance with regulations. A knowledgeable 3PL can manage these efficiently.
If your current logistics provider lacks these processes, switching to a new fulfilment centre can bring the following improvements:
According to a DHL survey, 57% of companies outsourcing their logistics functions to a 3PL provider have experienced cost savings.
We have reviewed how working with the wrong partner can hurt your business, but how can you ensure you choose the right one?
✨ Companies that use a 3PL for e-commerce fulfilment experience an average growth rate of 2.5 times higher than those that handle fulfilment in-house. Source: Accenture
A 3PL can accelerate your ability to reach new markets with its extensive international network, ensuring faster delivery times, enhancing customer satisfaction and retention.
They offer various delivery options and secure competitive shipping rates thanks to pre-negotiated rates with carriers, which cut costs and boost profitability.
Additionally, using a 3PL facilitates launching new sales channels, such as different online platforms like marketplaces, and branching into retail or organising events.
3PLs handle complex logistics, from multichannel inventory management to B2B order coordination, freeing you to focus on strategy and customer engagement.
Bigblue Tips
When Détective Box, an exciting home investigation game, appeared on the French version of Dragon’s Den, they received 1,200 orders in just 24 hours.
Thanks to their partnership with Bigblue, they handled this sudden surge effortlessly.
With Bigblue’s support, Détective Box scaled from shipping 10,000 boxes in 2022 to an expected 100,000k per year.
Bigblue's efficient logistics, real-time tracking, and personalised features helped them grow quickly and keep customers happy, turning them into a huge success.
👉 Discover how Bigblue can help you scale your business
Poor reverse logistics lead to retailers throwing away nearly 25% of returned items. Source: CNBC
Leveraging a skilled and expert 3PL provider optimises processes for your industry.
Each category presents unique challenges, from delicate fashion items to temperature-sensitive food products.
Here's a breakdown of key logistics considerations for different industries:
An estimated 4-9% of all textiles in Europe are destroyed before use, totaling 264,000 to 594,000 tonnes annually. Source: European Environment Agency
Unlike traditional stores, e-commerce fashion requires a mix of storage solutions.
3PLs understand this and provide the right infrastructure, such as hanging racks to keep delicate items wrinkle-free, while shelves maximise space for bulkier or sturdier clothing like T-shirts.
Additionally, they provide secure storage with restricted access to protect luxury items.
We also recommend every merchant create a specific SKU (Stock Management Unit) for each colour and size, to make it easier to identify the product.
This avoids mistakes when preparing orders and greatly reduces the risk of returns or exchanges!
Fluctuating fashion trends demand a keen eye on stock levels.
3PLs can help you anticipate seasonal demands and set stock thresholds to prevent overproduction or deadstock.
They can also implement alerts and dashboards to track your stock in real-time, ensuring you never experience stockouts that could cost you sales.
Fashion has one of the highest return rates across all industries – 50% online vs.10% in-store.
A smooth process is essential for customer satisfaction.
3PLs handle returns efficiently, assessing product condition and addressing any defects.
Additionally, they seamlessly integrate returned items into your inventory using advanced WMS or Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems.
Bigblue Tips
Bigblue’s returns portal streamlines the high return rates in fashion by offering seamless exchanges, store credit, and refunds, helping brands retain up to 47% more revenue.
It enables efficient inventory management, ensuring stock availability across B2B and B2C channels.
Bigblue’s reverse logistics process integrates returned items back into inventory quickly, while providing data insights to enhance product offerings and reduce future returns.
👉 Discover Bigblue's return portal
Over 10% of beauty and personal care products are wasted. This includes 4% of stock being discarded due to spoilage, damage, or expiration, and 6.2% being thrown away because of overproduction. Source: Avery Dennison
Beauty and wellness products require special care throughout the logistics journey.
3PLs understand these demanding needs and offer a comprehensive solution by maintaining product quality.
Cosmetics must be stored in their original packaging, away from sunlight, and in dry conditions to maximise shelf life and product efficacy.
3PLs also use the First Expired, First-Out (FEFO) method to ensure fresh products reach your customers.
They also leverage their software to effectively monitor stock levels and prevent loss.
Lot management with consistent SKUs simplifies stock control for beauty brands.
This allows for a quick response during product recalls, protecting your brand reputation and customer safety.
Bigblue Tips
"With Bigblue, we have complete visibility into our product inventory, allowing us to trace and manage stock effectively. If a product issue arises, we can quickly pinpoint its origin and identify potential problems." Joaquín Querol Sastre,
Founder of Endor Technologies
👉 Visit Bigblue's cosmetic warehouses
A 2018 study estimates that up to 10% of annual food waste in the EU is related to date marking. Source: European Commission
Dry food products, while more resilient than fresh produce, still require specialised logistics to ensure they reach consumers in optimal condition.
Dry foods must be stored in moisture-proof and pest-resistant packaging to preserve their quality and extend shelf life.
Packaging should also be designed to protect against physical damage during transit and handling.
3PLs implement robust inventory management systems to handle dry food products efficiently.
They implement FEFO and batch management strategies to ensure that older products are sold first and minimise waste.
Regulatory compliance
Food brands must adhere to strict storage, handling, and labelling requirements. It's essential to partner with logistics providers experienced in food safety and compliance.
Bigblue Tips
Bigblue prioritises freshness with FEFO logistics, ensuring your products are shipped at their peak. Our warehouses are also Ecocert Bio certified, guaranteeing sustainable and high-quality handling of organic goods.
👉 Visit Bigblue's warehouses
Omnichannel retail statistics show that real-time inventory visibility can boost conversion rates by up to 15% by reducing frustration from out-of-stock items. Source: Magenest
Omnichannel brands operate across multiple platforms, including physical stores and online marketplaces.
Therefore, coordinating inventory is essential to prevent overstocking or running out of products.
Omnichannel brands need efficient B2C and B2B order fulfilment processes to meet customer expectations.
3PLs with strategically located warehouses and expertise in working with different retailers can help you streamline your product’s delivery.
Handling returns from different channels can be complex.
Efficient reverse logistics, supported by 3PLs’ ERP or WMS software, ensures a smooth returns process and customer satisfaction.
Bigblue Tips
Bigblue offers omnichannel logistics solutions that help brands efficiently manage stock across multiple sales channels.
Our virtual inventory system enables real-time stock allocation between B2B and B2C, reducing overselling and stockouts.
We automate back-office tasks to streamline operations, ensuring smooth order preparation for both bulk B2B shipments and individual B2C orders.
With our expertise, brands can scale easily, optimising sales across marketplaces, retailers, and direct-to-consumer platforms while maintaining full control over logistics.
👉 Explore how Bigblue can help your brand scale
Reports show that Amazon produced 709 million pounds of plastic packaging in 2021, with around 26 million pounds likely ending up in oceans and waterways. Source: Oceana & Food and Water Watch
Sustainable brands often use recyclable or biodegradable packaging materials. Warehouses can help manage these materials efficiently, minimising waste.
Reducing carbon emissions is key to sustainable logistics.
By optimising delivery routes and collaborating with eco-friendly carriers using electric vehicles or bikes, brands can lower their carbon footprint.
Sustainable brands focus on cutting waste.
A 3PL can help you optimise your shipping packaging, avoiding oversized boxes for small items, and reducing both waste and shipping emissions.
Bigblue Tips
We are committed to helping brands transition to more sustainable logistics.
Our initiatives focus on reducing environmental impact through innovative solutions like plastic-free packaging and carrier route optimisation for reduced emissions.
We also offer a packaging optimisation algorithm that minimises packaging volume, cutting shipping costs and emissions by up to 22%. Partner with Bigblue to showcase your brand's environmental commitment and embrace greener e-commerce logistics.
👉 Explore Bigblue’s green logistics initiative
85% of online shoppers won't order again if the delivery experience is poor. Source: Ipsos
78% of shoppers buy more for free shipping, and 48% abandon carts over shipping costs. Source: Shopify
Providing free shipping has become a norm in e-commerce.
According to the Digital Commerce 360 Top 1000 Database, 74.4% of retailers offer free shipping: 20.4% always, 45.1% with minimum spending, and 14.5% for loyalty members.
We recommend setting the minimum threshold 15-30% higher than your Average Order Value (AOV) for free shipping to boost cart additions.
Consider incorporating a gamified checkout to enhance the fun factor for your customers on the add-to-cart page.
If free shipping isn't possible, consider including the shipping cost in the product price for a “free shipping” feel. Or, transparently explain why it isn't available to your customers.
3PLs excel at strategically placing your inventory in warehouses closer to your customer base. It reduces shipping distances, translating to lower overall shipping costs.
Also, many 3PLs have established relationships with major carriers, giving you access to discounted shipping rates.
These savings can be a game-changer, allowing you to offer free shipping and compete more effectively!
Wunderman Thompson's 2023 Report shows that 48% of global consumers prefer speedy delivery to affordability, surpassing the 43% who prioritise cost.
Fast delivery is now a key part of the e-commerce journey. Customers now only want to wait 48 hours to receive their orders.
Express shipping assures clients of timely delivery, which is especially crucial during busy periods like Black Friday, Cyber Monday (BFCM), and the holidays.
Introducing express delivery can make your e-commerce business stand out and enhance the shopping experience.
By providing this choice, you not only increase buyer satisfaction but also enhance customer LTV through repeat purchases.
One extra advantage of the combination of strategically placed warehouses and established courier partnerships with 3PLs leads to faster order fulfilment.
Furthermore, 3PLs streamline picking and packing processes and leverage cutting-edge technology to accelerate order processing significantly.
Adding pickup points as a shipping option can boost conversions by 3-5%, translating to over 1% in new business sales. Source: Hubbox
Pickup points address common delivery concerns, such as missed deliveries and delivery anxiety, leading to higher first-time delivery rates and reduced operational costs for retailers.
Additionally, offering this option enhances the shopping experience for high-value customers, decreasing cart abandonment rates.
From a sustainability perspective, using pickup points helps lower the carbon footprint by consolidating deliveries and minimising the need for multiple delivery attempts.
Bigblue Tips
As a Shopify store owner, you can boost checkout conversions with Bigblue's Pickup Point Selector app.
One of the key reasons for this is that it eliminates the frustration customers often feel when they can't choose a convenient pickup location before completing their purchase.
By integrating with carriers like Mondial Relay, DHL Express, and DPD Pickup, the app allows customers to select their preferred pickup point via an interactive map at checkout, reducing cart abandonment and enhancing the overall shopping experience.
👉 Discover Maple ‑ Pickup Points Selector loved by Les Secrets de Loly and Musc Intime
Sustainability is a top concern for online shoppers in 2023, with around 80% worldwide considering eco-friendly delivery options. In France, 87% prioritise more sustainable deliveries, followed by Italy (83%), Spain (82%), Germany (81%), and the UK (79%). Source: Statista
The e-commerce landscape is shifting, driven by a growing consumer focus on sustainability.
Traditional delivery models, while reliable, may not be enough in the face of evolving customer preferences.
Today's consumers are increasingly environmentally conscious and actively seek brands that share their values.
Offering eco-friendly delivery options demonstrates your commitment to sustainability, fostering customer loyalty and attracting this influential demographic.
With the help of your 3PL, you can partner with carriers using electric vehicles, use eco-friendly packaging, and optimise delivery routes to reduce your carbon footprint.
Also, consider your 3PL's sustainability efforts to ensure alignment with your goals like:
Bigblue Tips
Reduce your carbon footprint and grow your business with Bigblue's eco-friendly logistics solutions. Represent your brand’s value and match with the growing eco-conscious consumers.
👉 Learn more about our greener logistics initiatives
82% of online shoppers abandon their carts due to unsatisfactory delivery choices.
Providing flexible and convenient delivery options can greatly reduce cart abandonment rates.
Customers want choices—whether it’s picking up from a nearby store, selecting a specific delivery time, or opting for home delivery.
According to MetaPack, 63% are more likely to become repeat customers if they trust the delivery methods offered.
Additionally, transparency in the delivery process is crucial.
In today’s market, where services like Amazon Prime set high expectations, customers are accustomed to clear and reliable delivery times.
Displaying ETAs directly on product pages and during checkout can significantly boost conversion rates.
It helps customers plan their purchases and avoid surprises, especially during special occasions like Christmas or gift shopping.
Bigblue Tips
Uncertain delivery times can make customers hesitant to buy, but Bigblue's Fast Tags solves this by allowing customers to enter their postal code for a precise delivery estimate.
This transparency builds trust and reduces cart abandonment, leading to a 26% increase on average in sales for stores using Fast Tags.
After Smartworkout implemented our dynamic ETAs on their product page, they saw a boost of their conversion rate by 22%.
👉 Discover Bigblue's Fast Tags
69% of shoppers are influenced by social media for their next purchase. Source: Bazaarvoice's Shopper Experience Index 2022
This is where the unboxing trend comes in. With billions of views on hashtags like #unboxing on TikTok, it's a powerful way to generate buzz.
Also, most people trust recommendations from peers and content creators. More than 87% of online shoppers agree that YouTubers can be trusted!
As a brand, you need to transform your packaging from a simple delivery box into a memorable unboxing experience.
This can create lasting customer loyalty and positive reviews.
Here's how:
By creating a share-worthy unboxing moment, you're not just delivering a product, you're building brand advocates who spread the word for you.
Bigblue Tips
Use your unboxing experience to get more UGC!
Cabaia's special unboxing, made easy by Bigblue, went viral on TikTok.
👉 Check out your great potential for unboxing experiences with Bigblue
Positive reviews make 68% of consumers more likely to use your products or services. Source: Brightlocal
UGC, such as reviews and testimonials, play a big role in shaping the delivery experience and can impact their conversion decisions.
Positive feedback about delivery speed, packaging, unboxing experience, and overall satisfaction influences buying decisions.
Encouraging customers to share their experiences fosters trust and increases conversions.
Having a dedicated section on your website for UGC can increase web conversion rates by 29%, leading to more sales!
You could gather videos or images featuring customers demonstrating your products or sharing their favourites like Lashilé.
Bigblue Tips
Bigblue offers more than fast shipping! Track satisfaction and get free UGC with our new delivery feedback system in emails. Happy customers (thanks to Bigblue's service!) leave 60% fewer negative reviews. Our satisfaction is 96% vs the industry's 77%.
👉 Start collecting valuable feedback and skyrocket your sales
Acquiring a new customer is considerably more expensive than retaining an existing one. Increasing customer retention rates by just 5% can lead to a substantial rise in profits, ranging from 25% to 95%. Source: Harvard Business Review
A positive delivery experience isn't just about getting a product to a customer's doorstep; it's a cornerstone of building strong customer relationships that translate into higher LTV.
When a delivery goes smoothly, customers are happier, less likely to churn, and more likely to return!
93% of customers want proactive updates from retailers about their parcels. Utilising tracking emails positively impacts customer experience and LTV.
Email tracking is cost-effective and time-saving to demonstrate commitment to customer satisfaction, build trust, and enhance the post-purchase experience.
Tracking emails should provide all relevant information at a glance, including order status, parcel contents, carrier details, delivery address, and support contacts.
Precise updates on each step of the delivery journey reduce customer inquiries and increase satisfaction.
Upselling opportunities can be incorporated into tracking emails through marketing banners, promo codes, referral programs, social media promotion or showcasing new collections.
Bigblue Tips
Bigblue's tracking emails boast an impressive average open rate of 87%, far surpassing the 25% average for marketing emails.
We noticed a 50% decrease in customers' requests for “Where’s my order?” (WISMO) because they can get live updates. And you can save up to 9 hours in support for every 1K order.
👉 Discover Bigblue’s email tracking and pages
UPS found that the cost of returning an item can often be 20% to 65% of the cost of the item sold.
Efficient handling of returns is crucial. This is especially relevant for fashion brands that experience an average return rate of 50% in e-commerce.
Leveraging this opportunity can turn a returning customer into a loyal and profitable one.
Various approaches, such as offering exchanges for variations or new products, store credits, and refunds, can be employed based on the nature of the return.
Each strategy presents opportunities for maintaining revenue, fostering customer loyalty, and even increasing sales.
Clear communication about refund conditions is essential for preventing abuse and ensuring a positive customer experience, as +96% of customers read your returns policy before purchasing,
We noticed that 45% of consumers opt for store credit over exchanges. This not only facilitates seamless returns but also contributes to increased post-return spending.
Customers tend to perceive them as gift cards and often spend up to €39 more on average on the purchase following a return.
Bigblue Tips
Bigblue’s returns portal offers the best returns experience.
It allows your client to start a return autonomously, select between Store Credit and exchanges, and give more convenient options with Printerless returns and pickup at home.
👉 Discover Bigblue’s return portal
Look for a 3PL that integrates with your existing CMS (Shopify, WooCommerce, etc.).
This saves you time and ensures smooth data flow between your store and its logistics system. No need for manual data entry!
The best 3PLs offer more than just storage and shipping.
The best ones offer integrations with marketing platforms like Klaviyo or Yotpo, so you can increase revenue and improve customer LTV.
Additionally, integrations with tools like helpdesks (Gorgias or Zendesk) and CRM software streamline your customer experience before and after purchase.
Research from HubSpot indicates that positive customer service experiences lead to 93% of customers being inclined to make repeat purchases.
If your current setup involves custom tools or APIs, ensure your chosen 3PL can handle them. Communicate your specific needs upfront to ensure a smooth transition.
Bigblue Tips
Bigblue is integrated with the major CMS (Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce,...), +20 European carriers and popular marketing tools!
👉 Discover all our integrations
Transparent 3PLs offer real-time tracking, detailed inventory reports, and performance dashboards.
You'll see exactly where your products are, what's in stock, and how efficiently things move. Plus, they keep you informed of any issues.
Your logistics partners’ WMS should provide you with a dashboard and reports showing your bestsellers, stock levels, and delivery customer satisfaction with Net Promoter Scores (NPS) and send alerts.
As soon as your customer places an order on your online store, a series of automated steps in the 3PL WMS start so they can start fulfilling the order.
It includes picking the right product(s) from the warehouse, packing it as needed, and shipping it.
Every step of the product's journey must be tracked in real time, from inbound to storage in the warehouse, delivery to the customer, and handling returns.
Bigblue Tips
The Bigblue app empowers your logistics team with complete visibility into all operations.
Your user-friendly dashboard offers real-time insights into sales by product, remaining inventory days, and long-term stock levels.
Also, you can easily monitor your client’s delivery satisfaction rate, your tracking email and page, and the performance of your returns page.
👉 Discover the Bigblue app
Selecting the right carriers for your shipping is crucial for e-commerce and omnichannel retailing growth.
However, dealing with multiple parcel delivery services can be tricky.
By partnering with a 3PL like Bigblue, you can outsource your entire shipping operations and easily manage multiple shipping services in one place:
Bigblue Tips
With Bigblue, you can also save on shipping costs with our smart-carrier offer that automatically chooses the fastest, cheapest option for each order.
👉 Discover more about Bigblue’s delivery experience
Before initiating the switch to a new logistics partner, it's vital to assess and enhance your operational capabilities for scalability:
Notify your existing 3PL provider about your intention to switch. Establish a transparent line of communication to address key points:
To facilitate a smooth transition, meticulous attention to paperwork and contracts is essential:
By diligently addressing these steps, you'll be well-prepared for a successful transition to a new logistics partner, fostering operational efficiency and continuity.
To begin, it's essential to incorporate a disclaimer on your website, informing customers about potential shipping delays during the relocation of your stocks to our warehouses.
Being upfront with your clients builds trust, manages expectations, and prevents misunderstandings, contributing to overall customer satisfaction.
Bigblue prioritises a smooth onboarding experience to get you shipping quickly.
Our streamlined process takes you from initial setup to launch in five clear and easy steps:
We start with a personalised meeting to discuss your business goals, answer any questions, and establish a timeline for launching your fulfilment process with Bigblue.
An Onboarding Specialist will also guide you through the entire process, from creating your account to personalising your Bigblue experience and monitoring the performance.
Once your account is set up on the Bigblue app, you can easily add your products, complete with descriptions, specifications, and high-quality images.
You can manually enter product details or use a CSV file for larger inventories.
During this step, you'll also arrange your first inbound shipment to send products to our fulfilment centres.
Our detailed delivery conditions will guide you in preparing your shipments to meet our warehouse standards.
With your inventory in place, the next step is to integrate your online store with the Bigblue app.
This secure connection allows you to select your preferred carriers and configure your store’s shipping methods to align with Bigblue’s services.
During this step, you’ll map carriers to specific shipping methods in the app, optimising delivery based on customer locations and preferences.
It also involves updating your shipping and return policies to match Bigblue’s offerings, ensuring that your customers receive accurate and transparent information during checkout.
If you offer multiple carriers or shipping options, this is where you can prioritise them based on factors like speed, cost, and reliability.
You can also decide on the type of inventory synchronisation you prefer: automatic, which updates Bigblue whenever you add a product to your online store, or manual updates.
At this stage, you can personalise the customer journey on the Bigblue app.
This step is optional, and it will depend on which packs you choose, more details here.
You can include flyers, marketing inserts, and even personalised packaging.
You can also customise your branded tracking emails, pages, and return portal to accurately reflect your brand.
Once everything is ready, it's time to launch your fulfilment with Bigblue.
We'll start shipping your orders, and you'll be introduced to your dedicated Account Manager for ongoing support.
You can then track your deliveries, inbound shipments, and inventory through our user-friendly platform and dashboard.
Bigblue’s platform also offers robust reporting tools, allowing you to analyse performance metrics and make informed decisions to optimise your logistics further.
Whether it’s scaling up during peak seasons or adjusting delivery methods to meet customer demands, your AM, and the care team are available to help you navigate any challenges.
For more detailed information on each step, visit our comprehensive onboarding checklist at Bigblue Help Centre.
Switching to a new 3PL provider can significantly boost your e-commerce and omnichannel brands LTV.
By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can ensure a smooth transition that enhances customer satisfaction and streamlines operations.
The right 3PL will support your growth, offer advanced technology, and meet specific product needs, ultimately leading to increased revenue and reduced costs.
Make a strategic switch to improve your fulfilment processes and beat the competitive market.
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