.png)
Certain times of the year can be hectic for warehouses due to seasonal surges. During a seasonal surge, items which are not bought at other times of the year or bought more than other items during the rest of the year are in high demand. For example, Christmas items are purchased more often leading up to and during the few months of the Christmas season, but they may not be purchased often during the rest of the year. During times like these, using a third-party logistics (3PL) can be helpful with surges and handling stock. Here are 3 benefits to using a 3PL when it comes to seasonal surges.
Flexibility. When you choose to outsource your inventory to an experienced supply chain partner, you broaden your storage capacity and special options. A good quality partner will provide you with options during these high volume periods. A 3PL should be able to accommodate your needs no matter if you need space for dry goods, bulk goods, building materials, or any other type of storage and distribution while also offering years of experience and service to complement the ever-changing needs of your business.
Cost Effectiveness. Seasonal surges are temporary. For this reason, you should not need to expand your warehouse to accommodate all of your needs during these surges. If that were the case, you would have unused and wasted space in your warehouse for the rest of the year. A 3PL offers you a cost effective temporary solution. Yes, your costs will go up for a relatively short time during the surge, but they will go back down to pre-fluctuation levels after the high volume period is over. There is no need to make long-term changes to the layout and construction of your warehouse.
Less Distraction from Core Business. It is a difficult task to plan the layout and flow of a warehouse. It is an even more difficult task to disrupt that flow for a short time to accommodate a surge. Using a 3PL helps you focus on your core business and take a surge in stride. A 3PL not only helps you with the storage of your product, but it will also help you with distribution, packaging, and transportation during this time of extra need. This will free up your mind to focus on your business without having to worry about the extra products during a high volume period.
