You might hear the following terms used interchangeably: fulfillment center, warehouse, distribution center, and third-party logistics (3PL). While there is some overlap, each of these terms has a distinct meaning. Here’s what you need to know when comparing a fulfillment […]
First in, first out — or FIFO — is an inventory management practice where the oldest stock goes to fill orders first. That way, the first stock purchased/received is the first to leave. FIFO is also an accounting principle, but […]
Innovative eCommerce fulfillment providers have been looking for better ways to measure and charge for warehouse storage. A volumetric storage model accurately measures the space your goods actually use, so the industry is moving toward this more precise method for […]
Cross-docking can help your eCommerce company streamline its fulfillment processes, increase customer satisfaction, and reduce order fulfillment cycle time. This post explains the cross-docking process, how it works with full truckload (FTL) and less-than-truckload (LTL) inbound shipments, and how cross-docking […]
Which is better? Floor loading vs palletizing? Many ecommerce companies don’t get involved in the taskwork of loading and unloading shipping containers. That’s one of the benefits of outsourcing fulfillment to a 3PL, but the decision between using floor loaded […]
Order fulfillment becomes a significant challenge when you outgrow the garage-as-a-warehouse stage and need to start considering how to balance inventory control against customer and warehouse locations. There are ways to save money and speed up fulfillment, but how do […]
It’s never a good idea to let your inventory drop to zero. At the same time, you don’t want too much capital tied up in products that sit on eCommerce fulfillment warehouse shelves, gathering dust while you pay storage fees. […]
Products with low inventory turnover rates can increase your storage and holding costs, leave you saddled with obsolete stock, and place a drag on your business growth. The first step to solving the problem is understanding how to identify slow-moving […]
The question of depot vs. warehouse is often one of semantics. What matters most is finding the right partner to meet your needs and help you grow. A depot can be a warehouse type, but that’s not how the term […]
The warehouse inventory management systems that you put in place will determine the success of your eCommerce fulfillment operations. One winning strategy is outsourcing your warehouse management to a 3PL services partner. When you put your fulfillment in the hands […]
Here’s the raw reality: warehouses don’t typically love receiving floor-loaded shipments. Why? Because unloading floor-loaded containers is much more complicated, time-consuming, and hazardous than receiving palletized stock. That said, there are times when floor stacking is the best (or only) […]
Accurate stock counts are critical to the efficient operation of your business. An inventory discrepancy introduced during eCommerce fulfillment can throw off your demand forecasts and lead to unexpected out-of-stock items. Here are the most common causes of inventory discrepancies […]
