Inbound Logistics | July 2022

LOGISTICS Inbound logistics 86% Integrated logistics 75% Lead logistics provider 68% Inventory management 64% Just in time 60%

3PL SERVICES + CAPABILITIES TRANSPORTATION

Truckload 96% LTL 90% Intermodal 81% Rail 65% Dedicated contract carriage 63% Air cargo 59% Final mile/white glove 56% Ocean 54% Bulk 53% Small package 53% Fleet acquisition/equipment/drivers 25%

Vendor management 54% Omnichannel logistics 49% Logistics process reengineering 46% Shared services 45%

Supply chain finance 39% Global trade services 35%

The most commonly oered 3PL logistics services focus on inbound moves (86%). Many respondents can take a holistic approach to a shipper’s needs, either by providing soup-to-nuts integrated logistics services (75%) or orchestrating the services of several partners as a lead logistics provider (68%). More than half of respondents oer inventory management (64%), just-in-time logistics (60%), or vendor management (54%).

If you need truckload transportation, almost any 3PL in the survey—96% of them—can help. Ninety percent provide less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation, and 81% include intermodal in their portfolios. More than half of the 3PLs can execute freight movements by rail, air cargo, or ocean, or can provide specialized services such as dedicated contract carriage, final mile or white-glove delivery, bulk shipping, or small package delivery.

TECHNOLOGY

Electronic data interchange 94% Transportation management system 86% Visibility 78% ERP integration 74% Customer/supplier relationship management 65% Warehouse management system 63% Supply chain design (modeling, simulation) 57% Predictive analytics 49% RFID 42% Global trade management solutions 28% IoT / IIoT enablement 25%

WAREHOUSING Crossdocking 78% Pick/pack, subassembly 66% Transloading 66% Fulfillment 62% E-commerce 57% DC management 53% Vendor managed inventory 52% Site selection 47%

Although newer technologies have emerged to help companies share data, electronic data interchange (EDI) remains important in logistics, and 94% of 3PLs provide that capability. Many also oer IT solutions to support day- to-day logistics operations, such as transportation management (86%), visibility (78%), customer/supplier relationship management (65%), and warehouse management (63%). In addition, 3PLs oer technology to help shippers evaluate their operations and plan improvement, such as supply chain design solutions (57%) and predictive analytics (49%).

Shippers that outsource warehouse operations can call on many 3PLs for crossdocking, pick/pack and subassembly, transloading, and fulfillment. More than half of our respondents provide services related to e-commerce, DC management, or vendor managed inventory.

92 Inbound Logistics • July 2022