A 3PL company uses a mix of software and systems to help store, pack, and ship products quickly and correctly for online stores and other businesses, so everything runs smoothly from the moment a customer places an order to the time it gets delivered.
They use a Warehouse Management System (WMS) which helps them keep track of all the items inside the warehouse, so they know exactly where each product is, how much stock is available, and when it’s time to reorder more items.
They also rely on an Order Management System (OMS) which connects with the online store and helps manage all customer orders, so it can match the right product to the right customer and make sure it gets packed and shipped without any mix-ups.
A Transportation Management System (TMS) is used to plan the best delivery routes and choose the best shipping carriers, so packages reach customers faster while saving money on delivery costs.
To connect everything together, they use Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) which allow the different systems like WMS, OMS, and TMS to talk to each other, so information moves smoothly between the online store, the warehouse, and the shipping company.
Some 3PLs use Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) tools to bring together data from different parts of the business like accounting, inventory, and customer service, so they can make better decisions and keep everything organized in one place.
Many companies also use barcode scanners and handheld devices in the warehouse so workers can quickly scan products during picking, packing, and shipping, which reduces mistakes and saves time.
For communication and updates, they use real-time dashboards and tracking tools that show the status of orders, shipments, and inventory levels, so both the company and its customers always know what’s going on.
Lastly, 3PL companies often use cloud-based software which means everything runs on the internet instead of one single computer, so their team can work from different locations and their systems can handle a lot of data without slowing down.
