Sunday, March 5, 2017

Strategies In Looking For A Good 4PL Provider

By Maria Carter


A 4PL, also known as fourth party logistics, is an independent firm that integrates and manages the technology, capabilities and resources of an organization in order to provide them supply chain solutions. The difference between 4PL and 3PL, also known as third party logistics, is that 3PL provides services in specific needs of the client. While the 4PL coordinates all the logistic activities of your company including those being done by the 3PL.

Knowing what they can do, you want to look for one you can partner with. 4PL Baton Rouge New Orleans Louisiana have many companies that can provide your logistical needs. They are dedicated to the safety and quality of their operations and are flexible and adaptable to the needs of their customers. Just try to ask these few questions to see if your companies can work seamless together.

In order to find out if the provider you currently have an eye on is a good fit for your company, is to ask about the culture of their company. Do they have a certain vision on where they are taking their company towards. Get to know these things before deciding to commit with them.

See how they run things by visiting their operations and determine if the way they do things matches with their company culture and visions and yours. Meet with the persons in charge face to face and determine if they are sincere on their proposed partnership. Shaking hands with the people you may be working with is important.

Check their financial stability. An obvious question though forgotten most of the time. Try to know how they are funded and who funds them. Is it privately owned or by venture capital funds. It is also a red flag if they have been planning to sell their company in the foreseeable future because they might leave you hanging without a proper plan on handing over the operations properly to the potential new owners.

You could also ask about their shipping accuracy metrics and their financial improvements. Check customer references to get valuable information from them. This will be a great source of information because current and past customers can provide facts that can really describe how their firm work with their clients.

Question their initiatives with technology and what they are doing to use them to their advantage. Have they put in time and resources in trying to improve their own technologies. Have they also offered their customers that best available technology that can provide you with real solutions.

Managing their current talents and what are the steps taken in keeping them. The trainees and development available for their employees that are provided by them. These things could be an example on how they treat their clients such as yourself.

They must also know how to retain their top employees. In a very competitive industry such as logistics provider, they must be able not only to keep but also to entice other talents to their firm. When people want to work for them, it will be advantageous for you because you know that the top talents will be representing your brand.




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