We can help you choose which warehouse supplier to outsource your 3PL services to. It's not all about saving money. But it helps make the choice.

1. Location

Location is a factor to consider when choosing a warehouse for outsourcing your 3PL services. The warehouse should be strategically located near your customers and suppliers to reduce transportation costs and delivery times. You should also consider the accessibility of the warehouse and the quality of transportation infrastructure in the area. Some 3PL fulfilment service providers do not have the ability to receive containers and articulated lorries like us.  The couriers and Royal Mail need Goods-in and Goods-out areas to aid the movement of goods flowing for our clients. Being located 5 minutes from a motorway junction is not a key factor for most but as long as you are situated on courier and Royal Mail routes your 3PL provider should be able to offer the services you need.

2. Infrastructure

The infrastructure of the warehouse is a crucial factor to consider when choosing a warehouse for outsourcing your 3PL services. The warehouse should have modern equipment, I.T. technology, and storage solutions that can meet your specific needs. You should also consider the capacity and scalability of the warehouse, as well as its security measures, such as intruder and fire alarm systems, accessed controlled areas and surveillance cameras. We are looking after your asset.  We need to be secure and earn your confidence in leaving your items in our capable hands.

3. Reputation

The reputation of the warehouse is another critical factor to consider when choosing a warehouse for outsourcing your 3PL services. You should research the warehouse's track record and reputation to ensure that they have a history of delivering high-quality services to their clients. You can also ask for references from the warehouse and speak to their existing clients to get a better understanding of their services.  We ask our customers to contact current clients and as part of our introduction, we encourage fact-checking about the CBF Group so that all clients are comfortable dealing with us.  Our reputation is business critical to us. We are all after 5-star reviews and we learn from some sadly unavoidable experiences. But transparency is key, The door is open.

4. Expertise

The expertise of the warehouse is another crucial factor to consider when choosing a warehouse for outsourcing your 3PL services. You should ensure that the warehouse has experience in handling products similar to yours and has the necessary certifications to operate in your industry. You can also ask the warehouse about their staff's expertise and training programs to ensure that they have the knowledge and skills required to handle your products.  We like training at CBF.  Our Warehouse staff are all trained on your products as if they were their own.  We need them to know your stock as well as you do to spot issues before they get to the end user.

5. Cost

Cost is always a significant consideration when choosing a warehouse for outsourcing your 3PL services. You should consider the warehouse's pricing structure and compare it to other warehouses to ensure that you are getting a fair deal. However, you should not compromise on quality for the sake of cost savings. You should ensure that the warehouse can provide stable processes, modular workflows and can save you money on shipping and processing costs compared to your current provider.  Overheads change all 3PL business models.  While some will offer pallet storage rates, we lean towards the fairer volumetric daily rate, so you are never paying for space you are not using.  Talk to us if you're looking to meet a price point, honesty is the best policy and we always try to make things work.