| Business outfits that are specializing in wholesale and | | | | are prepared for delivery, two activities will have to |
| retail operations will have to decide on whether to | | | | be undertaken. These are packaging of the product |
| contract Los Angeles public warehouse at certain | | | | and shipping of packaged product to the customer. |
| points in their operation. Companies will have to | | | | The cycle of packaging and shipping is normally |
| explore their outsourcing options that will also | | | | completed within the day and is dispatched for |
| consider the service of a Los Angeles Fulfillment | | | | shipping the following day. The FedEx, UPS, etc. are |
| service provider. These are independent entities | | | | used for the shipment of the products. Since these |
| specializing in the delivery of essential business | | | | fulfillment companies bring significant business, they |
| solutions focused in the storage, handling and | | | | are given big discounts which they normally pass on |
| transporting of finished products. | | | | to the customers. For bulk orders, the fulfillment |
| A public warehouse offers the following services: | | | | company adopts cargo consolidation. For volume |
| 1. Storage and Warehousing - A center will offer a | | | | deliveries, the company may opt to get the services |
| wide range of services that meet the storage and | | | | of private carriers because this is usually the more |
| warehousing requirement of the company. Majority | | | | cost effective alternative. |
| of the 3PL companies are equipped with a wide array | | | | 4. Handling of Product Returns - The final service that |
| of devices and tools to complement their storage | | | | the fulfillment company will handle will be the |
| and warehousing services. This would include the | | | | processing of product returns. This aspect of the |
| essential materials handling devices like docking doors, | | | | service provided by the firm requires attention to |
| forklifts, conveyor belts and scanners. The 3PL | | | | details. This would be more tedious and labor |
| company implements a comprehensive warehouse | | | | intensive as each product return has to be checked |
| and storage management system to ensure that | | | | manually. The inspector has to document the results |
| they meet the requirements and needs of your | | | | of the inspection along with his findings and |
| company. The client company is freed from of | | | | recommendations. The returned goods will be |
| logistical requirements as soon as it transfers the | | | | deposited in a special area in the storage facility |
| finished products from the production line to the | | | | intended for such types of goods. These returned |
| public warehouse. | | | | goods will then be processed by batches to be |
| 2. Processing of Orders - The fulfillment company will | | | | shipped back to the manufacturer for the appropriate |
| receive and process the orders of the company's | | | | disposition. |
| products of customers. The order processing system | | | | When considering the services of this type of |
| adopted uses a web based application. The | | | | company, it is essential that you tailor fit the services |
| company's clients will place their orders online using a | | | | of the service provider to meet the requirements |
| secured ordering system. Once the fulfillment | | | | and needs of your company. In some instances, the |
| company receives an order, the request is promptly | | | | firm develops customized warehousing and storage |
| processed and delivery is arranged within the set | | | | system to deliver the unique services required by |
| ordering cycle. | | | | their clients. |
| 3. Handling and Shipping Orders - Once the products | | | | |