5 Benefits of Partnering With a 3PL for Kitting & Subscription
If you’re buying a new foundation, including a same shade concealer in your purchase makes sense for the consumer. Same goes for sales of razors. Who wouldn’t want spare blades included in the order? And how about a regular supply of those blades so you never run out?
Welcome to the world of kitting and subscription where multiple products are packaged together as a single item. Not only does partnering with a 3PL for kitting and sbscription provide a new and appealing value proposition for your customers, it also has the potential to grow your sales substantially.
How Does Kitting Work?
Kitting and subscription require additional steps in the order fulfilment process which allow for the combination of multiple items to create a new product:
- Step One – Ordering. You receive an order for a product kit. Could be bespoke, product kit, or subscription.
- Step Two – Picking & Packing. The items to be included in the kit are collected and assembled. There may be personalised items. The completed kit is created.
- Step Three – Once the kit is assembled it’s given a unique SKU and is then dispatched.
What Kinds of Products Does Kitting Produce?
Shoppers love kitting and subscription because it produces new kinds of unboxing experiences, increases convenience, and offers savings on repeat items. Kits can be whatever your customers want them to be, but the current favourites are:
- Subscription Boxes. Your customers may want a simple replenishment subscription. Alternatively, they may like the idea of curated subscription boxes blended to delight and surprise.
- Pre-Assembled Kits. The flat pack is the supreme example of this. This kind of kit requires extensive picking and careful packing according to a precise plan.
- Customised Kits. Many brands offer their customers the option to craft a box of products to their own personal tastes. This is a premium option offering maximum choice.
- Seasonal/Promotion Kits. This option offers shoppers a pre-chosen combination of products. It may be a seasonal offering, or a promotional pack with a discount for buying multiple products.
The Benefits of Partnering With a 3PL for Kitting & Subscription
Kitting produces a range of benefits for brands, but it brings new challenges, too. Managing a complex kitting operation takes time, headspace, and physical space to work efficiently. For many brands handing over their kitting requirements to a 3PL with all the necessary infrastructure already in place is preferable to starting from scratch.
One of the first questions our new kitting clients ask us is “What are the benefits of partnering with a 3PL?”. Here’s what we answer:
1. Raise the Bar on Customer Expectations
3PLs operate in a competitive market. It’s in their best interests, therefore, to run kitting and subscription operations that add value at every stage of your product’s journey through the process.
2. Fulfilment Expertise
Brands that partner with 3PLs can benefit from decades of accumulated experience and skills. Your 3PL partner will help you to optimise your process for maximum cost efficiency.
3. Built for Growth
Most 3PLs operate an agile workforce which provides flexed response to consumer demand for your product. They’ll have the data that will help predict when a spike is coming, and a workforce to manage it.
4. Real-Time Visibility
Being hands-off means having the time to develop your growth strategy and enhance your product lines. The side product of kitting is the access to data which provides all the information you need to do this.
5. After Sales Care
A 3PL is far more than a provider of basic services. They are committed to providing a range of services tailored to your growth and continued success. Expect consultation of packaging and supply chain, personalisation and ongoing innovation and improvement.
Looking for a Kitting and Subscription 3PL?
If you would like to discuss kitting and subscription services, we’re here to help. Prolog is centrally located, with extensive warehousing and a trained, motivated workforce. We don’t just offer the basics; we provide a personalised service which is tailored to your brand. We’re designed to deliver great service to you and your customers.
