As the world gets more connected and new possibilities open up for many of us, con artists too rush in to help themselves. This has led to an increasing number of fake companies making over-the-top promises. One outcome is sowing mistrust and doubt in people’s minds when connecting with 3PL service providers. However, being aware of the differences between ethical and unethical companies can help you get better results for your company and yourself!
1. Transparency
This is probably one of the first major differences between ethical and unethical companies. A company that discusses its processes and strategies for your unique needs is a good sign. Another one is letting you get to know the people who’ll be working with you. Credible firms promote direct instead of indirect communication. All this ensures that clients are kept in-the-know from the start to the end.
2. History
One important difference between ethical and unethical companies is longevity. Fake firms are known to keep shutting down and reopening under different guises. They will usually not give any concrete historical information about their existence. Honest service providers will be able to verify their authenticity by disclosing their milestones, their client list, their offices, and their entire corporate history.
3. Branding
A company that wants to make a name for itself and stand out among its competitors will focus on branding. You can often look at a company’s online presence and see whether they take themselves seriously. Fake firms that crop up just to fleece people usually don’t spend too much time on proper and complete branding. So one noticeable difference between ethical and unethical companies is their look.
4. Communication
This difference between ethical and unethical companies is part of the transparency point but deserves a mention of its own. When dealing with honest firms, you can expect to hear the good, the bad, and the ugly. Technical jargon will be explained in layman’s terms, and procedures will be detailed for you. Reaching out in case of questions and clarifications isn’t just an email sign-off, it’s a genuine request.
5. Strange Legalese
One difference between ethical and unethical companies that you should be wary of is confusing legal terms. Many fraudulent firms exist by exploiting legal loopholes. As a result, the documents you have to sign with them might be worded a bit differently. They may also include clauses or addenda that you don’t usually find other companies employing. All this acts as a cover for the firm if things go sideways.
6. Customer Care
You can spot this difference between ethical and unethical companies by being a little proactive. Generally, we don’t bother contacting customer care until we absolutely have to. However, we should try the customer care chat and call features to see how fast and well the company responds in case of any hiccup. Not only can it help you spot a fraud, but you’ll also know what to expect in case you need assistance later on.
7. Admitting Mistakes
Dishonest people tend to portray themselves as flawless. Fraudulent firms do the same. They rarely admit to past mistakes or flawed processes. They desperately try to maintain their image of infallible perfection until they’ve secured the money. Honest firms will not only admit to mistakes but also the remedies they put in place to avoid them in the future. So, look out for this difference between ethical and unethical companies.
8. Constant Complaints
Having dealt with liars at some point, we know they like to play blame games and pass the buck. Whenever you bring up a problem, they will tell you it’s someone else’s fault – a colleague, a third party, internal office politics. Unprofessional behaviour and disclosing internal office matters are big differences between ethical and unethical companies. Today, they blame others; tomorrow, they’ll blame it all on you.
9. Delivering as Promised
One difference between ethical and unethical companies is being able to deliver what was said. Unreliable firms will usually oversell themselves and not put in the required amount of work. Honest organisations, on the other hand, will execute their tasks well. It’s one of the differences you have to watch and wait for, which means by this time, you might just have to start with a fresh service provider for your needs.
There are, of course, many other differences between ethical and unethical companies. Some might be small signs of everything not running smoothly. Others might surface after you’ve signed forms and made payments. It’s a minefield out there when you’re trying to get the right 3PL service provider for your needs. To cut through the fluff, contact Novalife and let our experts handle your manpower needs!
