Choosing the right third-party logistics (3PL) partner is one of the most critical decisions a brand can make as it scales. The best 3PL partnerships are built on much more than just pricing and location alone, they’re defined by reliable operations, transparent communication, and the ability to grow with your brand.
Below, Tyler Walton, Senior VP of Client Engagement, breaks down a few common 3PL breakdowns that can throw your fulfillment strategy off rhythm.
Nothing kills the rhythm of a partnership faster than unexpected costs!
Brands are increasingly focused on total landed logistics cost, including receiving, storage, pick-and-pack, returns, account management, peak surcharges, shipping, packaging, and other warehouse transaction fees.
At DM, there are no hidden fees: any special work, such as bill-of-material builds or other value-added services, is approved in advance and billed hourly only with authorization.
The best partnerships don't involve surprise moves. Transparency builds trust, keeps everyone in step, and allows brands to plan confidently for growth.
SLAs… SLAYING or nahh?
A great 3PL isn't judged by how they perform when everything is calm, it's how they keep the routine moving when demand suddenly changes tempo.
Service Level Agreements (SLAs) are the scorecards that keep everyone accountable. At DM, we understand that every order represents your brand. That's why our operations and supply chain teams are committed to meeting critical service levels and ensuring orders are processed and shipped on time. With a 99.97% SLA performance rate, we take pride in delivering the reliability and consistency our clients depend on.
- Clearly defined SLAs and shipping cutoffs
- Retailer compliance expertise
- Detailed reporting on order accuracy and on-time shipment performance
- Proactive communication and performance transparency
Maintaining service levels during high-volume periods requires more than hard work, it requires planning, coordination, and the ability to adapt.
Whether it's Prime Day, holiday shopping periods, promotional campaigns, or seasonal demand spikes, our teams work proactively to ensure operations remain uninterrupted.
When the tempo ramps up, here’s how we adjust:
- Flexible staffing models that allow us to quickly expand labor when needed
- Seven-day-a-week order processing capabilities during peak periods
- A dedicated Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) team that helps brands forecast future demand
- Advanced planning and collaboration between client, operations, and supply chain teams
AI: How do you get jiggy with it?
AI helps us find our rhythm as we look for smarter, effective improvements to enhance our processes. With robots and high-speed conveyors helping us process thousands of shipments a day, we're tracking and analyzing far more data than the average 3PL.
In the past, sorting through millions of order data points felt like learning a complicated dance routine, it was time-consuming and difficult to turn all that information into meaningful insights. Today, AI helps us stay in step, processing that data in record time so we can make smarter decisions that have a real-time impact.
By keeping our operations in sync, we can quickly adjust to changing demands, improve efficiency, and deliver a standing-ovation-worthy customer experience with every package we ship.
Inventory visibility keeps every part of the fulfillment process moving in sync.
Inventory synchronization across platforms such as Shopify, Amazon, TikTok Shop, Walmart Marketplace, and retail channels is another concern for brands. DM addresses this by giving brands regular access to inventory levels and tools to manage availability by channel. Without accurate inventory data, brands can quickly find themselves out of step with customer demand, leading to oversells, stockouts, and frustrated customers.
For example, a brand may choose to show full inventory on Shopify, while limiting other channels to only a percentage of available inventory. By providing our clients with these controls, it helps brands protect their priority channels while still maintaining visibility and availability across the network.
Backed by an in-house IT development team, we can also provide a seamless shopping cart, storefront and retail integrations experience to keep everyone feeling groovy!
Final Thoughts
Strong 3PL partners do more than just pick, pack, and ship boxes. They become an extension of your team, staying in step with your goals, communicating clearly, and helping your business navigate every change in tempo.
If your current provider has you stepping on toes, missing beats, or struggling to keep pace with growth, let's talk. We'd love the opportunity to discuss your current 3PL breakdowns and help get your fulfillment strategy movin’ to the beat.
Hi! I'm Tyler.
I'm the Senior Vice President of our Fulfillment Division at Distribution Management. Finding a fulfillment provider can be challenging, I know. My goal is to help you understand our services & solutions so you can decide if we’re a good fit for your business.
Feel free to call me directly at (303) 587-2575 or email tyler.walton@distributionmgmt.com.
P.S. If you enjoyed the dance references, thank Marketing. If you didn’t… I’m not taking responsibility.
