As your fashion brand grows, managing fulfillment across multiple sales channels becomes increasingly complex. Balancing inventory between wholesale, eCommerce, and retail while maintaining fast, accurate shipping can quickly outgrow internal systems. That’s where third-party logistics (3PL) comes in.
This guide explores how outsourcing fulfillment to 3PLs can simplify operations, reduce costs, and support scalable growth — especially when connected to your ERP and integrated across omni-channel platforms like Shopify, Amazon, EDI, and marketplaces. You’ll also learn how to connect multiple warehouses or logistics providers under one unified system for full visibility and control.
1. What Is Third-Party Logistics (3PL)?
Third-party logistics (3PL) refers to outsourcing fulfillment, warehousing, inventory management, and shipping to a specialized logistics partner. For fashion brands, 3PLs manage complex product variations — such as color, size, and pack assortments — and ship across multiple channels.
A reliable 3PL acts as an extension of your operations, ensuring that every order is picked, packed, and shipped on time while maintaining inventory accuracy across wholesale, eCommerce, and retail networks.
2. When Should a Fashion Brand Use a 3PL?
As order volume increases, in-house fulfillment can become inefficient and costly. Signs that it’s time to partner with a 3PL include:
- Running out of warehouse space
- Inconsistent shipping times or order accuracy
- Growing number of online and wholesale orders
- Limited internal resources to manage logistics
A 3PL allows your brand to scale faster, reduce overhead, and focus on design, production, and sales rather than warehousing and fulfillment.
3. How to Choose the Right 3PL Partner
Selecting the right logistics partner can determine how efficiently your business grows. Look for:
- ERP integration: Connects with platforms like AIMS360 for real-time data sync
- Omni-channel capabilities: Handles EDI, DTC (Shopify), Amazon, and marketplace orders
- Apparel expertise: Familiar with handling styles, colors, and sizes
- Transparent pricing: Scales easily for seasonal or promotional volume spikes
The best 3PL partners give you full visibility — not just shipping services.
4. Integrating Omni-Channel Fulfillment with 3PLs
True omni-channel fulfillment connects your ERP, 3PL, and sales platforms so every inventory and order update happens in real time.
With direct 3PL integration, your ERP automatically:
- Syncs stock levels across all sales channels
- Routes orders to the most efficient warehouse or 3PL
- Provides unified shipping updates for customers
This level of automation ensures a consistent shopping experience, whether customers order online, in-store, or through a retail partner.
5. Managing Multiple Warehouses and 3PLs
As your brand expands, you may operate a hybrid network of your own warehouse plus multiple 3PLs. With AIMS360, you can:
- Connect all locations under one centralized ERP
- Automatically allocate inventory by region, customer, or channel
- Track warehouse performance, transfers, and fulfillment accuracy in real time
Having multiple 3PLs gives you flexibility and redundancy while maintaining centralized visibility and control.
6. The AIMS360 Advantage
AIMS360 unifies all your warehouses, 3PLs, and fulfillment partners into one connected ecosystem. The system automates:
- Order routing
- Inventory allocation
- Warehouse synchronization
- Shipping confirmations and billing integration
This creates a seamless flow from production to customer delivery, improving accuracy, reducing labor time, and ensuring on-time fulfillment across every channel.
7. Key Takeaway
Outsourcing to the right logistics partner — and integrating them through AIMS360 — allows your brand to scale smarter. Whether you use one 3PL or several, centralized inventory control through your ERP ensures accuracy, speed, and customer satisfaction across every point of sale.
