Improving 3PL Customer Satisfaction and Automating Shipment Communication

A third party logistics (3PL) provider (warehouse) had many issues communicating with their customers (vendors) on how and when to ship EDI orders.  When waiting for shipping requests they would receive emails or faxes but inevitably it would take numerous phone calls and hours of additional labor to make sure everyone was on the same page.  One customer in particular used another EDI provider to print the UCC128 labels.

PROBLEM:  The warehouse needed to pick and pack the orders, fax the marked up pick list to the EDI provider, then wait 1-2 days before receiving the UCC128 labels and shipping the goods.  Eventually this proved unacceptable with too many accuracy related errors, additional overhead, and 2 days of unnecessary shipping delays.

SOLUTION:  Luckily the warehouse had a partnership with Spring Systems and was able to help migrate retailer by retailer onto the eSpring platform.  Now using only two clicks within the eSpring Web application, the vendor sends a shipping order directly into the 3PL's warehouse management system (WMS).  The warehouse picks, packs, and ships the order using their own UCC128 labels.  Completing the shipment triggers a notification back to eSpring which automatically converts the data into an accurate EDI advanced shipping notice (ASN).  Accuracy has greatly improved and the vendor has gained up to 3 days in their already tight shipping window.  Even better, the warehouse doesn't have to worry about changing retailer ASN rules.  This is left up to Spring Systems, the EDI experts.

The results are faster speed to market, no delays in reworking shipments and no miscommunications.