What 3PLs Are Doing to Meet Fast Delivery Demands

n today’s competitive retail landscape, customers increasingly expect fast and reliable delivery service. Willingness to pay more for quick delivery increased from 41% in 2023 to 70% in 2024, according to a recent survey from Capgemini. Sixty-five percent of consumers consider a two-hour delivery format a key attribute when they shop. For businesses looking to stay competitive, meeting tight delivery windows is crucial, and many are turning to third-party logistics (3PL) providers to meet these demands. 

Here’s a look at how 3PLs are evolving to meet the growing demand for fast delivery.

Stocking the right inventory in multiple locations requires precise inventory management. Real-time inventory tracking ensures products are available and ready to deliver instantly when an order comes in. Plus, customers can see what’s available in real-time. Third-party logistics providers are focusing on enhancing inventory management services to meet the demands of the growing eCommerce market. They are investing in new partnerships in order to modernize their inventory management processes, improving inventory accuracy and order fulfillment.

DCL Logistics has partnered with Dexory, a provider of robotics and data intelligence solution, DexoryView, to automate and streamline its inventory audit processes. By implementing DexoryView, the 3PL now has the ability to perform inventory audits on a daily and weekly basis and provide real-time data to its customers so they know exactly how much merchandise they have stored in the warehouse. This allows DCL Logistics’ customers to ensure that their order fulfillment is uninterrupted, and end-customers receive their products quicker.

Rather than relying on a single massive warehouse, many 3PLs now operate smaller fulfillment centers strategically located across key regions. This approach reduces the distance between inventory and end consumers, allowing for faster delivery while minimizing transportation costs. For example, placing inventory in hubs near major metropolitan areas enables same-day or next-day delivery to a large customer base without relying on expensive air freight. Third-party logistics providers are expanding their fulfillment networks to grow their customer bases and provide faster order fulfillment capabilities.

DHL Supply Chain recently acquired IDS Fulfillment, a logistics provider for eCommerce and retail shippers. The acquisition allows DHL Supply Chain to advance its efforts to expand its U.S. customer base beyond larger enterprises. IDS ships more than 50,000 packages daily from its four facilities. New customers will benefit from DHL Supply Chain’s technologies and continued investments in IDS network assets as the 3PL aims to supply more businesses with eCommerce fulfillment offerings.

Faster delivery isn’t just about having inventory close to customers, it’s about moving it intelligently and efficiently. Advanced routing and dispatch systems allow 3PLs to maximize efficiency, reduce costs, and meet tight delivery schedules. Third-party logistics providers can use real-time route optimization software that allows them to adapt to live traffic conditions and reschedule stops on the fly to accommodate urgent or time-sensitive deliveries. Dynamic dispatch capabilities allow 3PLs to analyze current driver capacity and location and assign new orders in real-time to the most suitable driver.

Advanced dispatch systems enable load consolidation or grouping deliveries that go to nearby addresses, fit together in the same vehicle, and can be delivered within the same time window. This reduces the number of stops, fuel consumption, and handling time. It’s especially important for densely populated urban areas, where a driver might deliver multiple packages on a single block. To orchestrate deliveries effectively, 3PLs can use powerful centralized dashboards that provide real-time visibility of all orders and vehicles, empowering managers to make data-driven decisions quickly and manage their last-mile delivery operations more efficiently.

As same-day and next-day delivery expectations become the norm, 3PL providers are indispensable partners for businesses aiming to meet these demands without sacrificing efficiency or profitability. By leveraging innovative inventory, fulfillment and delivery technology solutions, 3PLs are transforming fast delivery from a costly challenge into a competitive advantage.

For more information about how our delivery management solution can help you manage your deliveries more efficiently, please contact info@bringoz.com.