When a growing store should move to 3PL fulfillment

Direct supplier shipping is useful for testing products. As volume and SKU count grow, inventory and order handling often need a separate operating layer.

Signs you may need a 3PL

• Several suppliers feed the same store
• Brand inserts or custom packaging are used
• Bundles combine multiple SKUs
• Daily order files are difficult to manage
• Supplier production and customer dispatch need different schedules

What changes with a 3PL

Factories deliver stock in batches. The warehouse receives, identifies and stores it by SKU. Customer orders are picked, packed and dispatched individually using agreed rules.

Information to prepare

Share SKU count, product dimensions, expected units, daily orders, inbound frequency, bundles, packaging materials and destination markets.