Types of order fulfilment in 3PL warehouses 2024

In 2024, nearly 80 percent of professionals responsible for third-party logistics (3PL) warehouses stated their orders were addressed to other companies, so that B2B made up by far the largest type of order fulfillment. In 70 percent of cases, fulfilment involved e-commerce orders, while 42 percent of executives mentioned Amazon's logistics service (FBA).

Efficiency in order processing

As the 3PL industry evolves, warehouses are focusing on improving order fulfillment speed. In 2024, almost 30 percent of 3PL professionals reported average order processing times of less than 30 minutes, an increase of five percentage points from 2020. This trend towards faster fulfillment aligns with the growing expectations of both businesses and consumers for rapid order processing and delivery.  

Adapting to market demands

3PL warehouses are expanding their service offerings to meet changing market needs. Return management services have seen an uptick, with 59 percent of 3PL warehouses offering this service in 2023, up from 54 percent two years prior. This increase reflects the growing importance of efficient reverse logistics in the e-commerce era. Additionally, the significance of e-commerce in the logistics landscape is evident in property leasing trends, with Cincinnati emerging as a key hub for e-commerce companies, occupying 15.3 percent of big box industrial property space in 2023.