One of the biggest concerns for any growing company is how to meet customer demand through an optimized logistics network. 

In an era where e-commerce rules the consumer market and people expect to be able to place an order on Wednesday night and receive their shipment before Saturday, businesses need to have the capacity to meet demand. 

For this reason, as a business scales up it will often need to start outsourcing logistics to a third-party logistics (3PL) provider who can take care of their storage and fulfillment needs so they can focus on developing new products, expanding advertising, and reaching fresh markets. 

But what should you look for in a 3PL partner? Here are the three most important services to ask about when exploring your options.  

1. Warehousing and Fulfillment

Warehousing and fulfillment are at the heart of any logistics operation. In the 21st century, logistics isn't just about large-scale shipping and storage, but requires a hands-on approach to customer service. Most business owners want to partner with logistics companies that will oversee fulfillment, ensuring that as soon as an order is placed, warehouse staff are preparing the package for delivery. 

3PL companies like Stork Logistical Solutions ensure that you can outsource the entire process so you don't have to worry about whether your customers are going to receive their goods on time. 

2. Short and Long-Term Storage

When outsourcing logistics to a third-party, flexibility is essential - especially for companies that are just starting to scale up. Warehousing overhead is determined by two main factors, time and space, and the cost of logistical services is broadly determined by how much you need to store and for how long.  

Being able to choose a service timeline option that is targeted to your particular requirements is the best way to make sure you won't end up spending unnecessary amounts of money for long-term storage if that isn't what you need. 

3. Global Reach

There was a time when all businesses started out local. But in the modern global economy, it is quite easy for companies to build a consumer base in multiple regions simultaneously. A logistical solutions provider needs to be able to meet these demands. 

This does not mean, however, that you need to sign on with a 3PL company with locations across the globe. Many logistics companies that are based in a particular city leverage global partnerships and alliances to ship and store products across borders, and for companies that are just starting to scale up their operations, this can provide the perfect vector for growth. 

The initial stages of growth are a critical period in the life of any company, and the ability to scale up to meet demand often makes or breaks a business. The bottom line is that, when choosing between 3PL service providers, you need to be sure that they have the capacity to meet the delivery demands of your customers so you can focus on what you do best: growing your brand and creating products the public is hungry for.