Choosing a 3PL logistics provider should not be based solely on a commercial proposal, a price quote or a presentation.
After all, you are entrusting a third party with a critical part of your business: your inventory, your orders and, ultimately, your customer experience.
That is why at Pick&Pack Systems we have a clear philosophy: whenever possible, we invite potential customers to visit one of our warehouses before making a decision.
And the results speak for themselves.
80% of the companies that visit our facilities ultimately choose Pick&Pack as their logistics partner.
But what actually happens during a warehouse visit?
It all starts by listening to the customer
Before we talk about logistics, we talk about your business.
When we receive a new business opportunity, we start with an initial video call to understand the company, its current logistics operation, its challenges and its objectives.
No two businesses need exactly the same solution.
Some manufacturers and distributors are looking to outsource their entire logistics operation. Others need to optimise inventory management, improve their delivery times in Spain or strengthen their supply chain with specific in-house logistics solutions.
Our first objective is therefore to understand what you need to achieve, rather than simply deciding what logistics service to sell you.
If we believe we can add value, we then request a set of operational data that allows us to analyse the business and prepare a fully tailored proposal.
Why present the proposal from the warehouse?
Whenever the customer’s location allows it, we prefer to present our proposal directly from one of our warehouses in Madrid or Barcelona.
Why?
Because we believe the best way to explain how we work is to show it in action.
A warehouse visit removes uncertainty, creates transparency and allows potential customers to understand what their operation could actually look like once they start working with us.
Instead of explaining our processes only through slides and documents, we can walk you through them.
You can see where your inventory would be stored, how orders would be processed and how our team manages the operation on a daily basis.
What do we show during the visit?
A warehouse visit is not simply a tour of the facility.
It is designed to give the customer a complete understanding of how our logistics model works from beginning to end.
During the visit, we show aspects such as:
- How we receive and control inbound goods.
- How inventory is organised and stored.
- Our picking and packing processes.
- How stock levels are controlled.
- How orders are dispatched and coordinated with different carriers.
- How inventory movements are tracked.
- How we manage incidents and operational exceptions.
- How the operation can adapt to changes in volume and customer requirements.
The objective is for the customer to be able to visualise their own products moving through each stage of the operation.
That makes it much easier to understand what working with Pick&Pack would actually look like.
Our WMS: technology developed by our own team
One of the aspects that generates the most interest during a warehouse visit is our Warehouse Management System (WMS).
Unlike many logistics providers that rely entirely on standard third-party solutions, at Pick&Pack we have a WMS developed by our own team.
This allows us to adapt the system to the way we operate and continuously evolve it as our processes and customers’ requirements change.
During the visit, we show how our WMS allows us to:
- Monitor inventory in real time.
- Maintain complete traceability of each SKU and stock movement.
- Manage warehouse operations efficiently.
- Integrate with major ERP systems.
- Provide greater visibility over the logistics operation.
This means that customers get to see not only the physical warehouse, but also the technology behind the operation.
Meeting the team is part of the process
Logistics is not only about facilities and technology.
People are a fundamental part of the service.
During the visit, potential customers have the opportunity to meet members of the team who may later be involved in managing their day-to-day operation.
This puts a face to the people behind their orders and allows customers to see first-hand how we work, how the operation is organised and the level of involvement we bring to each project.
For us, this matters.
A logistics operation can have excellent systems and facilities, but ultimately, people are responsible for making sure everything works when something unexpected happens.
Logistics is easier to understand when you can see it
Many of the most important questions naturally come up during the warehouse tour.
How do you prevent picking errors?
What happens when order volumes suddenly increase?
How can the operation adapt as our business grows?
How would our ERP integrate with the warehouse?
How are urgent orders handled?
These questions are much easier to answer when the customer can see the processes in operation.
Rather than describing a hypothetical scenario in a presentation, we can show how we actually manage the situation.
That makes the conversation more practical, transparent and relevant to the customer’s specific operation.
Transparency builds trust
Outsourcing logistics means placing a significant responsibility in the hands of another company.
You are trusting a third party with your inventory, your orders and an important part of your customer service.
That is why we believe that showing our facilities, our processes, our technology and our people is one of the best ways to build trust.
We do not want customers to choose Pick&Pack based solely on a presentation or a commercial quote.
We want them to make an informed decision after seeing how we work and understanding what their operation could look like with us.
Perhaps that is one of the reasons why 8 out of 10 companies that visit our warehouses ultimately become Pick&Pack customers.
Because when logistics can be seen, understood and experienced first-hand, making the decision becomes much easier.
What should you look for during a 3PL warehouse visit?
A warehouse visit is also an opportunity for you to evaluate the logistics provider.
Rather than simply looking at how clean or modern the facility is, we recommend paying attention to several things.
1. Organisation
Can you clearly understand how goods move through the facility?
2. Inventory control
How is stock tracked, counted and managed?
3. Processes
Are receiving, picking, packing and dispatch processes clearly defined?
4. Technology
Does the WMS provide the visibility and integration capabilities your business requires?
5. Flexibility
Can the operator adapt to changes in volume, SKUs or operational requirements?
6. People
Do the team members seem involved and knowledgeable about the operation?
7. Communication
Will you have clear points of contact when questions or incidents arise?
8. Scalability
Can the operation grow with your business?
These factors can tell you much more about a potential logistics partner than a price comparison alone.
A warehouse visit is more than a tour
For us, a warehouse visit is part of the process of building a long-term relationship.
It allows us to understand the customer’s operation in greater depth, while giving the customer the opportunity to see how we work before making a commitment.
It is also an opportunity to discuss the practical details that are sometimes difficult to identify during a commercial meeting:
- Specific product requirements.
- Inventory flows.
- Peak periods.
- Urgent orders.
- Special handling.
- Packaging requirements.
- Transport needs.
- Integration with existing systems.
- Future growth plans.
The more we understand about the operation, the better we can design the solution.
Your logistics operation should feel like part of your own company
For an international manufacturer or B2B aftermarket distributor, outsourcing logistics does not mean losing control of the operation.
The right 3PL partner should give you visibility, control and confidence, while taking care of the day-to-day logistics.
That is the relationship we aim to build at Pick&Pack.
We want our customers to feel that their inventory and orders are being managed by a team that understands their business and works as an extension of their own organisation.
That is why our approach goes beyond storage.
We combine warehousing, order fulfilment, inventory management, transport coordination and operational support to create a logistics solution adapted to each customer.
Want to see how we work?
If you are looking for a 3PL logistics partner in Spain and want to see first-hand how we manage our operations, we would be happy to welcome you to one of our warehouses in Madrid or Barcelona.
We will take the time to understand your business, analyse your current logistics operation and show you how we could support your growth in Spain with a flexible, efficient and tailored logistics solution.
Don’t just take our word for it. Come and see how we work.