Let’s face it! TikTok is now one of the most influential social media platforms. It popularizes products and inspires people to make purchases. According to research, 50% of users make their purchase decision after viewing a product on TikTok Live. Also, two out of three shoppers feel inspired to purchase something on TikTok. These stats show that TikTok is a hot new sales channel for e-commerce merchants.
If you plan on setting up a TikTok shop, you must optimize TikTok fulfillment, as without it, you can’t generate sustainable revenue. Luckily, multiple 3PL companies offer fulfillment services directly to TikTok shops. If you are curious to learn more about these companies, read this guide!
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Part 1. What is 3PL?
3PL is a short form of third-party logistics. It’s a fulfillment and logistics partner that helps e-commerce companies manage inventory and ship products. These companies specialize in a wide range of services, including order fulfillment, inventory management, returns processing, warehouse storage, and transportation. Other names for these companies are fulfillment centers, fulfillment warehouses, and order fulfillment companies.
The best part about these companies is their cost-effectiveness, time-saving, and centralized services. Some of them have global supply chains covering export, import, and customs procedures. In short, the services are normally the same, but their range might vary, making one 3PL company stand out among others.
Part 2. How Does 3PL Work with TikTok Shop?
By now, you have obtained basic information about 3PL services. Let’s now hop onto how 3PL works with TikTok shops, leading them to success.
1. Send Your Goods to 3PL Warehouse for TikTok Shop.
Once you have initial terms set up with the 3PL, the very first step is to send your goods to the 3PL warehouse for the TikTok shop. This step sets the base for order fulfillment. 3PL warehouses for TikTok shop will store your goods for immediate access whenever an order needs to be fulfilled. The best part here is that these companies are dedicated to optimal inventory management. You get a real-time tracking facility to keep a check on the stock. Moreover, you will be notified about items that will get out of stock to ensure no customer returns disappointed. Isn’t it peace of mind?
2. Customers Place Orders on TikTok Shop
Once your TikTok shop is up, customers will browse different products and place orders on the platforms. TikTok shops offer an amazing shopping experience with integrated social media management. When a customer places an order, information is quickly transferred to 3PL companies. This real-time integration reduces wait time for customers, improving overall business growth. The transfer of order information marks the beginning of the order fulfilment process.
3. Order Fulfillment
The next step is to dig into the inventory to find out if the item is available. Once its availability is confirmed, the ordered item is picked, packed, and shipped to the customer. Most 3PL companies rely on advanced technology to minimize errors and speed up the entire process. Some companies may offer personalized packaging services to meet certain branding needs. However, you must inquire about this service before signing a contract with 3PL. It’s one of the best features that makes any 3PL company stand out among the crowd.
4. Return Management
The last phase is return management. Returns are complex and time-consuming tasks, but not with 3PL companies. These ensure all aspects of order return are efficiently managed. From observing the case and deciding fairly based on return policy to receiving returns, inspecting them, and updating inventory, everything comes under their tasks.
Note one thing: Effective returns are crucial for optimal customer satisfaction. It depicts that you are true to your values and value customer satisfaction, willing to resolve any issue they might have.
Part 3. Why Use 3PL for TikTok Shop?
Wondering why you should partner with 3PL companies to open doors of success for your TikTok shop? Dive into this section to find out!
Improved Efficiency
Most of the sellers on TikTok are newbies, trying to expand their income horizon with a multi-income stream. So, there is a higher chance that they may not have any experience in their respective fields. 3PL companies can cover this skill gap. They have recruited experienced staff to handle logistics and supply chains with expertise.
They ensure quick order delivery and rely on advanced technology integration for tracking inventory and shipments. This means there is a minimal chance of errors and delays that could impact customer satisfaction.
Scalability
When managing order fulfillment on your own, the biggest hurdles are the logistical challenges, especially with increased order volumes. This mostly happens during peak seasons or promotional events. 3PL companies can smartly handle such a spike in demand with quick deliveries and utilization of multiple shipping carriers. All you need to do is ensure the availability of the products; the rest is left to the 3PL partner.
Offer Customer Service
Customers are most concerned about quick and safe delivery after placing an order. Understanding this, 3PL companies offer real-time tracking for shipments to help customers stay up to date regarding their orders. They can see where their order is currently located and if there are any potential delays due to bad weather or any other uncontrolled situation. This transparency improves customer experience, increasing the chances of repurchases. That aside, swift and reliable deliveries are the plus points.
Cost-Effective
3PL companies get to handle order fulfilment for a plethora of businesses. It’s more likely that they have developed relationships or even signed contracts with shipping carriers for lower shipping rates. So, in turn, you will save a substantial amount that could have been spent on shipping carriers when dealing with them as individuals. 3PL companies also handle picking, packing, shipping, and inventory management, saving the cost of buying a warehouse and then hiring staff to take care of it. After all that, you still won’t enjoy the level of inventory management which 3PL companies offer with integrated technology.
Stay Focused on Your Core Business
Are you an entrepreneur or just someone wanting to increase their income streams with TikTok shop as a side business? It won’t be feasible for you to invest that much time in the shop to care for everything, from getting orders to shipping them safely. This is where 3PL companies get into play.
They can help you allocate your resources more effectively. You can leave order fulfillment up to them and focus on your core job while managing product development and advertising aspects. This will increase your chances of business success, improving overall business performance and growth.
Part 4: Choose the Right 3PL for your TikTok Shop
Are you impressed by the perks of partnering with 3PL companies and want to find the best option for yourself? We recommend checking out NextSmartShip. This amazing platform excels in offering a wide range of services, from inventory management using advanced tech tools and personalized packaging to swift shipping and more.
Thus, they offer whatever constitutes order fulfillment. What sets this 3PL company apart is its comprehensive services, which are tailored for e-commerce businesses of all sizes. Whether you run a full-fledged business or just a newbie small business, they have covered you. Check out their website for more details.
Conclusion
3PL services for TikTok ships are now becoming popular because of the level of efficiency and ease they offer. With them, you can just focus on the core business goals like marketing and development, ditching the need to stress yourself about shipping carriers, packaging issues, and inventory management.
