Rapid order fulfillment is crucial in making a great impression on customers and building brand loyalty. Big box retailers like Amazon and Walmart have acclimated consumers to fast delivery, but dealing with customs clearance and supply chain delays can impact speed.
If you’ve wondered, “How can I find a 3PL in Canada that offers same-day pick, pack, and ship for my online store?” applying specific strategies and tools will help.
1. Streamline Your Supply Chain With Inventory Management
Table of Contents
- 1 1. Streamline Your Supply Chain With Inventory Management
- 2 2. Consider Cross-Border Logistics and Customs Compliance
- 3 3. Use Technology for Seamless Order Processing
- 4 4. Improve Last-Mile Delivery and Follow-Up
- 5 5. Monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- 6 Using Speedier Fulfillment and Better Logistics to Gain an Edge
Cloud-based technology and integrated shopping carts make tracking stock easier. When a customer orders, the system subtracts the products from the warehouse inventory. Tools that alert leadership when popular items run low or place automated orders keep operations running smoothly and avoid a backorder situation that might frustrate customers.
Through reports like inventory turnover and demand forecasting, you’ll quickly see which items are in demand and be able to prepare accordingly. You should also focus on an ABC analysis, prioritizing the highest profit listings. An example of a tool that helps you track inventory easily is ProShipper. You can connect a Shopify catalog to the warehouse management layer.
As the platform receives inbound orders with ASNs, it matches with an SKU and assigns the item a bin. Once a customer places an order, ProShipper tracks it, begins picking, and updates counts. The real-time inventory updates prevent oversells and notify users when an item is in demand and running low. High-velocity items receive an A rating for later analysis to help online retailers determine what leadership needs to reorder and when.
2. Consider Cross-Border Logistics and Customs Compliance
Ordering goods from China and importing them into Canada involves multiple logistics. You’ll deal with tariffs, HS codes, and customs documentation. Making mistakes can create delays that keep you from fulfilling orders and aggravate your customers. In some cases, customs seizes shipments, causing indefinite asset loss.
Speed up the process by using licensed customs brokers. These experts file paperwork correctly, and you can pay tariffs under the correct classification. For example, you can work with the Canada Border Services Agency to stay compliant with regulations and turn to trade organizations for updated tax code details.
It’s crucial to determine roles before moving goods from China to Canada. Will you act as the Importer of Record or Canadian Non-Resident Importer? What you choose determines duties, taxes, and compliance. Work with your broker before arrival and keep a compliance calendar to ensure you remain audit-ready and keep your shipments flowing smoothly through the system.
3. Use Technology for Seamless Order Processing
Ramping up your order processing and refining your methods can reduce errors and delays. Preventing customer churn involves centralizing data and ensuring checks and balances during fulfillment. Look for a 3PL firm that integrates with your shopping cart and inventory management. While you want the ability to go in and tweak things as necessary, once set up, the program should run on autopilot with little input from you.
McKinsey reports that companies investing in automated order management systems that integrate with the warehouse reduce fulfillment errors and improve order accuracy. The last thing you want is a frustrated customer who wants a product for a special event and receives the wrong one.
4. Improve Last-Mile Delivery and Follow-Up
Once an order leaves the warehouse, you lose control over how the delivery company handles the logistics. The last mile can significantly impact the speed of delivery and how customers see your brand, so look for a flexible service that offers parcel lockers, evening deliveries, and weekend drop-offs. Small factors such as these can improve your fulfillment times and give your online store an advantage.
The carrier you choose can make or break you. Brands such as Canada Post, FedEx, and Purolator offer cross-border and domestic service, but the rates and times vary. Real-time tracking matters, so make sure the partner you choose integrates with your systems and allows you to notify customers where their package currently is and when they might expect it.
Research by McKinsey shows that around half of all shoppers track their orders to ensure the item is moving through the system and will arrive on time. When you use branded tracking pages, you reinforce your image and offer transparency about fulfillment times.
5. Monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
What KPIs should you monitor and work on improving to keep customers satisfied? The ones that may have the most impact include:
- Average delivery time
- Order accuracy
- Customer survey scores
- Return rates
- Reports of damage
- Inventory issues, such as overselling or low stock levels
Running reports and tracking weak points can help you more easily tweak your processes and optimize order processing. Using platforms with advanced analytics and alerts through 3PL dashboards can also support you while improving underperforming KPIs.
Set up feedback loops to test any changes you initiate. If you use a new packaging method or change carriers, you’ll want to know how it impacts customers. Even after you reach your performance goals, you should review your fulfillment process and KPIs every three months. Utilize methods like customer surveys and compare them to analytical reports of your performance.
Using Speedier Fulfillment and Better Logistics to Gain an Edge
Finding a 3PL in Canada that offers same-day pick, pack, and ship for your online store is only part of the process of improving. When you sell products online, people expect to receive them quickly. Waiting for orders to leave customs or delays in international shipping can hurt your bottom line. You’ll develop a loyal base and grow your business by paying attention to what you can control, such as getting items through customs quickly and ensuring you order when stock runs low.
To compete with big box stores, you must offer a personalized service that meets customer expectations. Test your methods, improve what you can, and find the best partners to take your store to the next level. Your buyers will thank you for your reliability, and your pocketbook will appreciate the word-of-mouth referrals that come your way.
