Running an e-commerce brand is tough. You’re the marketer, the product designer, the customer service head—and too often, the warehouse packer. The third party logistics industry exists to take that last, most time-consuming job off your plate for good.

A packing list template is a document that standardises the contents, quantities, and other critical details for every order your warehouse team fulfils. Use it as a clear, repeatable checklist to drive accuracy and speed, helping you drastically reduce packing errors from the start.

What is third-party logistics? Think of it as the expert backstage crew for your online store. They manage all the physical tasks—storing your products, packing boxes, and shipping orders—so you can focus on growing your business.

In e-commerce, lead time is the total time it takes from when a customer clicks ‘buy’ to when the package is in their hands. It’s the entire waiting period, covering every single step in between. Getting this number as low as possible is a sure sign of an efficient, customer-focused operation.

An Advanced Shipping Notification (ASN) is a digital heads-up from your supplier. It details exactly what’s in a shipment, the precise quantities, and when it’s scheduled to arrive. Think of it as a detailed tracking update for an entire B2B shipment, giving you the complete picture before the delivery truck even pulls up.

A backorder is an order placed for a product that is temporarily out of stock but has confirmed incoming supply. In other words, you are selling an item you don’t physically have in your warehouse yet, with the promise to ship it the moment your next shipment arrives. Understanding what a backorder is — and how it differs from being out-of-stock or a pre-order — is essential for any ecommerce seller who wants to keep revenue flowing without frustrating customers.