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Our 3PL Inventory Management Makes for More Streamlined Supply Chains
Competitive companies are increasingly trusting the care of products in between transit to 3PL inventory management partners.
Warehousing space isn’t cheap, and neither is the investment in optimized inventory management. According to the May 2024 National Industrial Report by Commercial Edge (a commercial real estate data analysis firm), Midwestern cities have the tightest industrial markets in the U.S. with the lowest available industrial space. That means even companies that might be inclined to handle warehousing in-house are going to have a tough time finding affordable space to do so.
By outsourcing critical warehousing services to third-party logistics providers, businesses get access to skilled labor, advanced technology systems, add-on services (coding, packing, repacking, kitting, labeling, etc.), and a strategic location for faster distribution.
At On Time Delivery & Warehouse, we have 90,000 square feet of secure warehouse space, plus 5 acres of outdoor storage. We have options for heated warehousing, FDA registered warehousing, customs bonded warehousing, a centralized examination station, and flexible options for daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly storage.
Our 3PL inventory management services include (but aren’t limited to):
- Product Coding & Repacking
- Contract Packaging & Repackaging
- Devanning
- Kitting & Assembly
- Labeling & Relabeling
- Transparent tracking & monitoring
- Crossdocking
- Distribution and fulfillment services
- Same day shipping
Customers who contract with us for 3PL inventory management at our Cleveland metro-area warehouse facility consistently report enhanced operational efficiency, cost savings, improved customer satisfaction — and less stress.
What is a 3PL Warehouse?
3PL is short for third-party logistics. A 3PL warehouse is a facility that’s operated by an outside logistics provider who offers a range of helpful services related to receiving, storing, handling and distributing goods.
3PL inventory management is one of those. It also usually involves fulfillment, transportation, and value-added services, like several of those listed above.
3PL Inventory Management Key Benefits
There are numerous advantages for customers who outsource inventory management functions to a well-run third-party logistics operation. Among these:
- Lower overhead costs. Companies can avoid the high expense associated with owning or leasing their own warehouse space. Staffing, maintenance, utilities, insurance – all of that is handled by the 3PL.
- Reduced capital expenditure. As noted earlier, buying commercial property to operate a warehouse in Ohio would require a significant capital investment. On top of that, there’s all the infrastructure, equipment, and technology you’d have to adopt to run it well. When you outsource, you can instead focus your energy and resources on other strategic areas of business development.
- Economies of scale. Because we have other clients, we can achieve the economies of scale that allow us to realize cost savings on a number of fronts, including storage and transportation. We can then pass on some of those savings to our own customers.
- Access to expertise. Effective inventory management is both a science and an art that is extensively studied and analyzed. It’s so much more than just placing items on a shelf. With 3PL inventory management services, customers get the benefit of our years of experience and expertise.
- Advanced technology. These days, it’s practically impossible to successfully operate a warehouse without adopting some type of computerized software. Keeping pace with tech advances is crucial if you want to meet and exceed customer expectations. Our warehouse management systems are capable of automated picking, real time tracking, and other features that improve accuracy and provide valuable insights into inventory levels and movements, empowering our customers to make more informed business decisions.
- Adaptability to demand fluctuations. When you work with a 3PL, you have the advantage of being more nimble in your operations. You can quickly scale up or down based on the needs of your business. This is especially helpful for firms that have seasonal demand fluctuations or are prone to unexpected dips or spikes in sales volumes.
- Faster order fulfillment. 3PL warehouses pride themselves on efficiency with inventory management and fulfillment, both of which lead to faster order processing, quicker delivery times, and happier customers.
- Security and compliance. We have robust security and compliance measures already in place.
- Less risk of stockouts and overstocks. When your inventory management team is on top of their game, you have a better sense of where your inventory levels need to be to avoid stockouts and overstocks.
No matter your industry or individual business needs, our 3PL inventory management services can help you achieve greater success with more streamlined supply chain operations.
Contact On Time Delivery & Warehouse by calling (440) 826-4630 or send us an email.
Additional Resources:
How to Manage Inventory Effectively (2024 Guide), April 2024, Forbes Magazine
More Blog Entries:
How 2 Know 4 Sure You Need 4PL Warehouse Logistics Services, March 24, 2024, Cleveland 3PL Inventory Management Blog
- Categorized: Warehousing
- Tagged: 3PL Cleveland, 3PL inventory management, Cleveland 3PL, Cleveland warehousing, Northeast Ohio 3PL, Northeast Ohio warehousing, Ohio 3pl
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