Whether you are just starting up your business or looking to expand, having the ability to scale easily is essential. Third-party logistics solutions, including warehouse storage, give your business the ability to grow efficiently. With services including devanning, stock management, transportation and product handling, a third-party warehouse can help your company scale to successful growth.
Engaging the services of a 3PL warehouse benefits businesses of all sizes, but how does this support their growth and development? At GWS, we have many years of experience in product handling and stock management, so let’s look at how our expertise can help you scale your business.
What is Third-Party Logistics (3PL)?
Third-party logistics (3PL) refers to outsourcing some or all of your logistics operations to a specialist provider. This could include warehousing, stock management, fulfilment, transportation, or even customs clearance. For many growing businesses, working with a 3PL means gaining access to experienced teams and purpose-built infrastructure, without the upfront investment required to build your own logistics network. It’s a flexible and cost-effective way to manage growth, seasonal fluctuations, or new market expansion.
The Benefits of a Third-Party Warehouse in Your Logistics Solution
Logistics covers a wide range of services from transport and fulfilment to secure warehousing and inventory management. It is essential to get every stage right for a successful logistics operation, and when you get it right, you’ll see your business grow into new markets. Here are the benefits of effective storage and warehousing as part of your 3PL solution.
Cost Reduction and Efficiency
Renting or purchasing a dedicated warehouse can be extremely cost-prohibitive, particularly for new businesses. By seeking a third-party warehouse and hiring space, you remove a fixed cost from your outgoings and pay for what you need. A variable cost solution is a more responsive answer to your storage costs.
Smaller businesses often lack the economies of scale to put them in a strong negotiating position. Third-party warehousing and storage solutions have the expertise and wider networks to negotiate better costs for the various parts of your logistics solution.
Cost efficiency is improved with better stock management. Warehouse Management Systems (or WMS) help to control stock to improve stock management and purchasing. The latest online platforms ensure that your stock levels are kept at optimum levels and are traceable at any given time.
Third-party logistics streamlines your whole operation with your logistics managed under one roof. From shipping to product handling, all this expertise is handled to improve your overall efficiency.
Enhanced Scalability and Flexibility
Many businesses experience fluctuating stock levels, whether that is through seasonality or customer demand. Using a third-party warehouse gives you the flexibility to scale your stock as needed without the worry of paying for wasted space or not having space available when you need it.
Flexibility in your storage and warehousing facility means you can plan for future growth by buying in more stock. You can also respond to shipping capacity and product lead times.
By outsourcing logistics and warehousing to a third party, like ours, gives your business more time and resources to focus on other areas that are key to your growth. Your company will have more capacity to concentrate on research & development, marketing and sales.
Third-party warehousing operators are usually part of a larger network of services or have access to a wider range of suppliers. This knowledge of warehousing and shipping opens your business up to opportunities to aid further national or global growth.
Improved Customer Satisfaction
With a dedicated warehouse team comes a dedicated shipping solution. While your business can focus on the day-to-day running of your company, order fulfilment and shipping can be handled by the experts. This means that shipping times can be faster, and means your customers are even happier.
Expert product handlers ensure that your stock is kept in the best condition. GWS prides itself on its “ZERO DAMAGE” reputation, resulting in excellent client feedback and customer retention.
Third-party logistics operators are able to offer lower shipping costs. Coupled with more cost-effective warehousing and storage, this means you can pass on cost savings to your customers.
Lower Risk
3PL solutions come with a stronger supply chain, which helps mitigate any disruptions in your logistics. From port services for imported goods to robust onward logistics, your business can benefit from a strong supply chain that will save you costs associated with delays.
With an improved inventory management system, your business will see the advantages of optimised stock levels. By enhancing your stock management, you can avoid issues throughout the sales process and prevent any negative impact on customer satisfaction.
You also reduce the risk of over-investing in infrastructure or equipment that may not be needed in the long term. With third-party logistics, you can scale up or down with minimal disruption, which is ideal for businesses that experience peaks and troughs in demand.
Reliable Third-Party Warehousing with GWS
If you are looking to scale your business for future growth, using our ideally situated warehouse can do just that. As a start-up business, your cash flow needs to be kept agile and not tied up in renting or purchasing your buildings for storage and warehousing. If your company is looking to expand, your current warehouse solution may not have the flexibility you need to grow. Either way, GWS has the knowledge and the expert product handlers to help keep your inventory safe and give you the scalability you need to grow.
We are located close to the Port of Immingham and have on-site customs clearance professionals to give you a total logistics solution. We’ll help your business streamline your logistics with scalable and secure warehousing, product handling and transport solutions. With a dependable warehousing and storage option like ours, we’ll help you grow your business and keep your customers happy.
Whether you’re moving goods across the UK or importing from overseas, we offer the infrastructure and local connections to keep things running smoothly, even during times of disruption. Our team is always on hand to help you adapt, grow, and respond to whatever the market throws your way.
Speak to us today to find out how we can support your business’s future growth with our reliable, secure storage.
