How Does U.S. 3PL Fulfillment Work?
Moving your products from Australia to a U.S. warehouse can sound complicated.
In practice, the fulfillment process is relatively straightforward once the right systems are established.
Here’s how it works.
01Ship Your Inventory to the U.S.
You first arrange international transportation for your products.
Depending on your shipment, this could involve air or ocean freight, customs clearance, and domestic transportation.
A customs broker can assist with import entry requirements, classification, duties, and other customs processes. The U.S. Department of Commerce explains that customs brokers assist importers with federal import requirements and customs entry procedures.
02Your 3PL Receives the Inventory
Once the goods have cleared customs and arrive at the warehouse, the 3PL receives and records the inventory.
Products are then stored until customer orders are received.
03Your Ecommerce Store Sends Orders
Your online store receives an order.
The order information is transmitted to the fulfillment provider.
G’day Gateway supports integrations with ecommerce platforms such as Shopify and WooCommerce.
04The Warehouse Picks and Packs
The warehouse team:
- Locates the product
- Picks the correct quantity
- Packs the order
- Applies the shipping label
- Hands the package to the carrier
05The Customer Receives Tracking
The carrier takes over the final delivery.
Tracking information can then be passed back to the ecommerce platform and customer.
06Returns Can Be Processed
A 3PL can also support returns by receiving returned merchandise, inspecting it, restocking it, or handling it according to the brand’s instructions.
Why This Model Works
Without a 3PL, an Australian business may have to manage:
Without a 3PL
- International shipping
- U.S. inventory
- Warehouse space
- Packaging
- Staff
- Domestic carriers
- Returns
With a 3PL
- One partner brings these functions together
- A more scalable logistics operation
- No need to build your own warehouse infrastructure from scratch
A 3PL brings these functions together. The result is a more scalable logistics operation without requiring the Australian business to build its own warehouse infrastructure from scratch.
Ready to Take the Complexity Out of US Fulfillment?
From receiving your inventory to picking, packing, shipping, and managing returns, a 3PL can handle the operational side of selling in America.
G’day Gateway provides flexible US fulfillment solutions that can scale as your business grows. Talk to G’day Gateway about your fulfillment requirements.
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