Switching 3PL providers is stressful because orders cannot stop while inventory moves. We plan the migration around your sales calendar, run a controlled cutover and keep your customers shipping throughout.
Why brands leave their current 3PL
Brands rarely switch 3PLs over one bad day. They switch after a pattern: rising mis-ship rates, slow responses, invoices that do not match the agreement, inventory counts that drift, missed cutoffs during peak, or a single warehouse location that no longer suits where customers are.
Before you move, write down the specific failures you are trying to fix and the metrics that prove it. Those become the requirements for the new provider and the benchmarks you hold them to. It also helps you decide whether the issue is the provider itself or something in your own process, such as inaccurate inbound paperwork, that would follow you anywhere.
How a planned cutover works
A planned cutover keeps orders flowing while inventory changes buildings. We start by setting up your SKUs, packaging rules and integrations in our system and testing them with sample orders. Then we choose a transfer approach. The safest is often a staged move: send fresh inventory from your supplier to us first, start shipping fast movers from our location, then transfer the remaining stock from your old 3PL.
If a full transfer is required, we schedule it for a lower-volume period, set a clear cutoff date for your old provider, and receive the transferred inventory as a priority so it becomes available quickly. Your storefront's inventory locations are updated at each step so orders route to wherever stock is available.
Avoiding the common migration pitfalls
The biggest migration risks are inventory discrepancies, integration gaps and contract surprises. Request a full inventory report from your old 3PL before transfer and compare it with what we count on receipt, so any loss is documented. Check your current agreement for notice periods, minimums and exit or transfer fees before you set dates.
On the integration side, review every app connected to your store, including returns tools, subscription apps and shipping rules, and confirm each one is pointed at the new location. Finally, avoid migrating immediately before a major sales event; finishing a few weeks ahead leaves time to fix issues while volume is normal.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to switch 3PLs?
Switching 3PLs typically takes four to eight weeks from signed agreement to full cutover, depending on SKU count, integrations and whether inventory is transferred or replenished from suppliers.
Will my orders stop during the switch?
They should not. A staged cutover keeps shipping from your old 3PL until inventory is available with us, and storefront locations are updated so orders route to available stock.
What should I check in my current 3PL contract before switching?
Check notice periods, minimum commitments, termination or inventory release fees, and how long the provider has to release your inventory after notice.