Every big eCommerce firm is seen to adopt kitting services due to its several advantages. It is the process of assembling small items in preparation for shipping them as larger units. It can improve your business’s efficiency by helping you save money and labor costs. Choosing the right knitting and fulfilment 3PL provider can make a huge difference in the processing and workflow of your business. But for this, you should consider choosing the right kitting services.
Many companies offer kitting services, and they’re not all the same. For example, some may have more resources and tools, some may have better shipping practices, and others may have more expertise in specific industries.
This blog mentions the nine essential things to consider before choosing a kitting 3PL to handle your orders and get your company up and running quickly and efficiently!
Tips to consider if you choose Kitting 3PL
1. Consider Your Needs
First and foremost, make sure you have correctly identified your needs. Think through whether or not you need any additional servicing and how much staff will be required for the same. It’s also helpful to determine whether or not you need additional space for the storage of finished goods before jumping into market research. Once you know what your business requires, it’s easier to identify which kitting solution will work best for your business.
2. Start with Samples
If you want to get your brand off on the right foot, ask for samples before you finalise using the services of a kitting company. It will give you time to test their quality, customer service, and more things that you will have to deal with later. It will also help you identify any potential issues before moving forward. You can review their quality and customer service in-house and decide whether they’re worth being your kitting partner or not.
3. Fully Traceable
A good kitting 3PL will give you a product-by-product list of materials and subassemblies for each order. It makes the process much easier to see what went wrong if something goes wrong with your final product. In addition, you can better keep track of your inventory and avoid overages or shortages in inventory costs.
4. Quality Customer Services
Look for quality customer service if you want perfect and responsive customer service from a kitting 3PL. The professional company will go above and beyond for its customers because it knows how to respond effectively and needs to stay competitive. If your shipping is essential enough for you to have invested in using a third-party vendor, know that you deserve customer service that makes you feel like your business matters. Hiring someone who understands and is loyal to their work for your business is essential.
5. Product Qualification
Product qualification is one of the important things you want to look at. It can be based on several different characteristics. Do you have hazardous materials, or do you require special packaging? If so, you’ll need a certified company to ship these products. You might also have specific requirements for delivery times, transit time zones, and geographic areas. Make sure your kitting provider meets all of these standards before moving forward with them.
6. On-time Delivery
A kitting company’s core mission is to ensure your product arrives on time. Your customers rely on their orders, and you rely on that cash flow. That’s why the speed of delivery and order fulfilment is an essential factor when choosing a kitting service. Logistics providers should provide real-time shipping updates so you always know when your shipment will arrive. They should also have high customer ratings for speed of delivery. This way, you can schedule around expected delays in transit and prepare yourself if there are any last-minute snags.Â
7. Multi-Warehouse Management
If you want your product manufacturing, shipping, and delivery operations handled by one company, multi-warehouse management is likely perfect. Having a single point of contact for all your warehousing and logistics requirements can make it much easier for you and anyone who does business with you. If one of your suppliers has an order that needs kitting, it’s easier if they don’t have to deal with multiple warehouses; they need to get in touch with one team.
8. Adequate Capitalisation
When deciding on a kitting 3PL provider, it’s essential to make sure you have adequate capitalisation. It’s hard to run your business without worrying about your logistics providers. Your kitting 3PL service provider should be able to provide you with services that cover your specific needs, with each service billed separately at an agreed-upon price. If possible, choose a kitting 3PL provider that can also handle future demands.
9. Expertise in your Industry
If you’re going to outsource part of your business, it makes sense that your third-party logistics (3PL) partner should be experts in delivering similar services. If they are not, you may consider rethinking giving up valuable control over a crucial part of your supply chain. Asking yourself who they’ve done business with before is always helpful. But, perhaps, more importantly, ensure they can show how they perform and what you could expect from them.
Takeaway
If you’re considering hiring kitting 3PL services, we, Efficient Group Services, are here to help you elevate the cause and goals of your business. We have served innumerable kitting solutions with a team of experts and years of experience. To benefit from expert services, you can avail of our free consultation to know how we can work together to help you with kitting 3PL. Get in touch with us soon!
Also Read: Top 9 Tips to Lower the Cost of Demolishing a House.
