GlossaryFulfillment
3PL (third-party logistics)
A company that stores inventory and picks, packs and ships orders on behalf of a brand or seller.
A third-party logistics provider (3PL) takes over all or part of a seller's logistics. Typical services include receiving inventory, storage, order picking and packing, shipping, returns processing and sometimes kitting or freight.
Sellers usually move to a 3PL when they outgrow shipping from home or a small warehouse, need multiple warehouse locations to reach customers faster, or want to avoid running their own facility. Pricing typically combines receiving, storage, per-order fulfillment and shipping charges.
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