7 Best Order Fulfillment Services of 2023 (Ranked & Reviewed)
Choosing the correct order fulfillment services is essential to deliver your products to customers promptly and efficiently. The best order fulfillment services can help you meet your goals by improving scalability and lowering shipping costs. In this guide, I ranked and reviewed the 7 best order fulfillment services so that you can pick the best one for you.
ShipBob
ShipBob offers the best shipping and logistics solutions at the best price for small and medium-sized businesses with its distributed fulfillment centers.
FreightPros
FreightPros gives you access to services, including, LTL (less than load), a wide array of tools that allow you to manage your shipment directly, rail carriers, and more.
WhiteBox
WhiteBox is one of the top ecommerce companies that combines all fulfillment solutions, shipping services, and storage fees under a single platform.
FedEx Fullfillment
FedEx Fulfillment offers an eCommerce solution that includes reverse logistics, packaging, warehousing, storage, and order fulfillment.
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As an ecommerce store owner, your job doesn’t end after a customer orders a product – that’s when it begins.

You have to take care of contract management and order fulfillment services, including shipping, inventory management, packaging, handling returns, and more.
The good news?
With the rise of Amazon, two-day shipping expectations, and more ecommerce platforms and software on the market, there are many order fulfillment providers to choose from.
This fast-growing market comprises companies that handle the logistics and other essential supply chain management tasks so that you can focus on marketing and running your ecommerce business.
In this article, I’ll rank and review the best ones.
Let’s get started.
What Are the Best Fulfillment Services?
Here are my picks for the best ecommerce, 3PL, and order fulfillment services to try this year.
1. ShipBob.

Adam’s Take
ShipBob is the best order fulfillment company for businesses that want fast and reliable fulfillment. I think they’re the best at what they do because once you send them your inventory and a customer places their order, ShipBob takes care of the rest. They have a very streamlined process, making it easy for businesses to get their products out to their customers as quickly as possible.
Ranked number 99 on the 2019 Inc. 5,000 list of fastest-growing privately held companies in the US, ShipBob is one of the most credible 3PL logistics companies on this list.
It’s known to offer the best shipping and logistics solutions at the best price. ShipBob works with both small and medium-sized businesses with its distributed fulfillment centers. The best thing about this 3PL is that it offers complete transparency in its operations.
It also provides proper integrations to ecommerce software tools such as WooCommerce, Shopify, Magento, BigCommerce, and many more.
ShipBob also provides fast shipping speed, which is imperative for delivering the best customer results.
On top of that, ShipBob allows businesses to efficiently manage their orders, inventory, SKUs, and online customer handling without additional fees. With ShipBob, you also get your dedicated account manager that helps you handle all of your shipping processes effectively.
ShipBob controls warehouse management, inventory software management, and final fulfillment.
FULFILLMENT SERVICES & FEES:
- Setup – The onboarding and setup are entirely free.
- Receiving – ShipBob charges $35 for check-in, unpacking, and inbound stock receipts.
- Inbound Shipping – Inbound shipping is available at discount rates.
- Returns – Returns are processed by ShipBob free of cost.
- Inventory Storage – Inventory storage prices start at $5 per month.
KEY FEATURES:
1. Inventory Management
Inventory management helps businesses get an exact idea of the quantity of stock they need. ShipBob uses 3PL software that gives proper insight into suitable inventory distribution. For instance, you can set reorder notifications in the inventory system to meet customers’ demands accurately.
2. Order Management
The order management system keeps proper track of the entire shipment cycle from A to Z. From processing to delivery and the return of the products, every detail is efficiently managed.
The order management system processes every order you receive so the appropriate fulfillment centers receive their orders.
Plus, the system accredits a good order tracking number so that customers and businesses can track the order’s progress.
3. Advanced Filters
ShipBob also allows businesses to find what they need precisely for the fulfillment process and allows them to save in-depth reports. The users can filter all orders by setting the order date, center location, tracking number, and country.
4. Advanced Reporting
With ShipBob’s in-depth reporting, you can keep track of your entire logistics process. Their detailed reports include expense breakdowns, revenue, sales, sales by channels, peak fulfillment hours, forecast revenue, and more. On top of that, advanced filters help users make better inventory decisions.
5. Returns Management
Return management is vital to any business, as many customers today make buying decisions and provide reviews based on the returns process. And this is where ShipBob nails it. It facilitates automated returns processing so you can process returns without hassle.
6. Fulfillment Network
ShipBob’s global fulfillment network spans the United States, Canada, and Europe. This network allows merchants to be closer to their customers while decreasing the time in transit and shipping costs associated with each order.
USER EXPERIENCE:
People who use Shipbob seem happy with the service, especially in pricing, convenience, and customer service.
Another big plus is the ability to quickly and easily scale up or down according to business needs.
HOW TO GET STARTED:
You can quickly get in touch with ShipBob by filling out a form directly on their website.

After filling out the form, a company representative will contact you to discuss your requirements, sales forecast, shipping needs, and goals.
Next, after discerning your shipping needs, they’ll provide you with a custom quote.
IN A NUTSHELL:
Without a doubt, ShipBob is the best 3rd party logistics company on the market. It’s well known for delivering the best shipping results with the lowest shipping costs, earning it a legion of satisfied customers.
If you want to take your business to an international level, you can rely on ShipBob as your order fulfillment company.
PRODUCT UPDATES:
With a new partnership with Cloudsort, ShipBob will soon be able to offer advanced data and analytics capabilities to its clients.
Get started with a free quote from ShipBob.
2. FreightPros.

Adam’s Take
FreightPros offers the best customer service for small enterprises looking to ship products from 1 to several hundred pounds. Whether you are shipping domestically or internationally, FreightPros provides an easy ordering experience with a great freight rate. I like their selection of thousands of carriers that can handle any shipment.
FreightPros is one of the best freight broker companies and is especially suited for small businesses. Along with affordable prices, you also get excellent customer service, which is a great addition to any 3PL service.
FreightPros gives you access to impressive services, including LTL (less than load), a wide array of tools that allow you to manage your shipment directly, rail carriers, and so forth.
BEST FOR:
1. Small Enterprises
FreightPros is perfect for small enterprises because it not only processes large shipments but can also ship as low as one shipment with proper management. The small-level shipping is the main feature of this company that no other big 3PL offers.
2. Quickly Catching Delivery Issues
FreightPro carefully tracks the entire shipment process, from pickup to final delivery. This tracking allows them to immediately catch and resolve delivery issues, saving time and cost.
3. Personalized Messaging
This 3PL company also actively leaves personalized messages to the users regarding the shipment and guides them through the entire process at the minimum cost. However, the company does not establish dedicated account relationships like other top companies.
4. Correct Pricing Suggestions
The company adds freight carriers according to the users’ needs and gives them accurate suggestions keeping cheaper options in mind for their shipment.
5. Handles Process on Behalf of Client
FreightPros uses terrific online tools to complete the process, including booking, quoting, and tracking the goods. The company also handles the entire management process on behalf of its clients.
KEY FEATURES:
1. Impressive Customer Service
FreightPros offers the best customer service by helping users with account setup, booking tools, and freight management.
2. Cost and Value
FreightPros has kept its cost system transparent so that the clients always know where their money is going. They help cover all the basics with proper freight classes and load insurance.
3. Ideal for startups
FreightPros is perfect for startups and helps new business owners manage things efficiently, even if they know little about the system.
4. Simple Onboarding
FreightPros accurately guides the users with all the dashboard features, such as critical designations, booking, scheduling, and other tools.
5. Management Systems
You can easily manage freight rate booking, tracking, and shopping in one dashboard. Furthermore, the system handles all tracking and booking preferences accurately.
The main benefit of using FreightPros services is that it offers many saving opportunities with its flat-rate freight classification. As a result, businesses spend less on freight spend.
USER EXPERIENCE:
Overall, the users seem satisfied with FreightPros’ services, customer support, pricing, and more.
However, there are some negative reviews, especially related to the carrier.
Reviews also suggest that the delivery is quick, and there are little or no issues regarding transportation.
HOW TO GET STARTED:
You can learn about the company by requesting a quote on its website. You need to fill out a quick form.

They will give you a proper quote after analyzing your requirements. Also, ensure to understand the complete process and working of the company properly before hiring them to avoid any future complications.
IN A NUTSHELL:
FreightPros is best known for offering the best services to small businesses and excelling in everything they do. The company’s management team is exceedingly competent and knows how to handle things. Furthermore, the company effectively manages every process detail and offers the best pricing options.
PRODUCT UPDATES:
Users will also be able to integrate with Convoy and Transfix for marketplace rate purchasing, which should bring integrations to over 300 carriers.
3. WhiteBox.

Adam’s Take
I like WhiteBox as a solution for those relatively new to the commerce business and looking for order fulfillment companies. They offer a wide range of services to help your business run smoothly. They also provide advanced features for those looking to take their business to the next level.
WhiteBox is one of the top ecommerce companies that combines all fulfillment solutions, shipping services, and storage fees under a single platform. If you want to scale up your business and reach a more global level, then WhiteBox is an excellent option. It eliminates unnecessary costs and is a perfect choice for small and medium-sized enterprises.
However, unlike other 3rd party logistics companies, WhiteBox charges an initial onboarding fee of $3,000. The fulfillment cost is 10% of total sales.

BEST FOR:
1. Beginner Level Businesses
This 3PL company is suitable for beginner-level businesses and those struggling to handle the shipment volume.
2. Managing Client’s Tasks on his Behalf
WhiteBox offers the best customer experience by managing all the tasks efficiently on behalf of companies. This results in mitigating your in-house work and freeing up your precious time. You can now get more time for other essential tasks.
See what makes WhiteBox stands out from its counterparts:

KEY FEATURES:
1. Forecasting & Predictions
WhiteBox accurately predicts product demand in the market, which allows the users to collect stock accurately.
2. Quality Control & Kitting
WhiteBox creates a quality control document to keep a close eye on the shipment, which allows them to prepare a checklist to ensure everything is perfect and ready to be sold online.
3. Stock Maintenance
WhiteBox conducts a regular stock review to maintain the right inventory level without charging any additional fee.
4. SEO-friendly Product Listings
WhiteBox creates product listings according to SEO on eBay, Amazon, and other similar platforms.
5. Market Products and Improve Listings
WhiteBox also helps optimize the product listing so that the ranking of the brand and its products improves for organic search.
USER EXPERIENCE:
WhiteBox has 5-star ratings, which makes it a promising option.
From Facebook to Amazon seller ratings, it has received excellent reviews.
HOW TO GET STARTED:
You can get a free estimate by filling out some quick details about your products in the form on their website.

There is no hidden cost and no strings attached.
IN A NUTSHELL:
This 3PL company not only manages sales and products on Amazon but, at the same time, also helps you build your brand identity. Also, WhiteBox’s call center and customer support team correctly handles customer queries across all channels, so the user hardly ever gets stuck amid the process.
PRODUCT UPDATES:
To assist in distributing goods to clients, introducing a new, proprietary web-based software helps manage and update your products regularly.
4. FedEx Fulfillment.

Adam’s Take
If your business is at the scaling point, I urge you to check out FedEx Fulfillment as your order fulfillment company. With features such as reverse logistics, packaging, warehousing, storage, and more, FedEx can help take your business to the next level.
FedEx Fulfillment offers an eCommerce solution that includes reverse logistics, packaging, warehousing, storage, and order fulfillment. FedEx is a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. that handles the inventory of many small and medium-sized businesses by integrating various selling channels.
BEST FOR:
FedEx Fulfillment is best for fast-growing small businesses because of its complete visibility and transparent policies related to inventory, products, and tracking processes. Furthermore, the company empowers small businesses effortlessly with the help of its trained staff. Their customer support also significantly affects every process, including fulfillment, warehousing, outsourced logistics, and transportation.
The best part is that they assign a dedicated professional to help small business owners understand and complete the entire process efficiently. You can also store your products at FedEx’s warehouses, saving time.
FULFILLMENT SERVICES & FEES:
- Setup – onboarding and account setup is available for free.
- Receiving – FedEx offers free shipping in various cases.
- Inbound Shipping – FedEx offers parcel and freight rates at substantial discount rates.
- Returns – The return and quality check charges are $2.50 per order.
- Inventory Storage – FedEx charges 19 cents per cubic foot for inventory storage.
- Pick and Pack – The pick and pack charges are 40 cents per unit, including filling material and shipping box.
KEY FEATURES:
Some of the main features of FedEx Fulfillment are:
1. Ecommerce Integration
FedEx Fulfillment offers integrations with all prominent ecommerce platforms, including BigCommerce, Shopify, WooCommerce, and more.
2. Customization
FedEx offers easy customization of packaging and value-added services that helps small businesses to fulfill customer expectations.
3. Providing tracking and visibility in one place
It allows you to utilize a single platform to aggregate all orders and inventory, which makes it simple to analyze and improve your fulfillment network.
4. Tracking and Visibility Together
Businesses can quickly analyze and improve their processes and networks by managing orders and inventory in a single network.
5. Expertise Consulting
FedEx Fulfillment also provides expert logistics professionals that can help small businesses enhance the quality of their processes.
USER EXPERIENCE:
There are not many reviews about the company online, but a handful of them suggest that the company offers a positive experience to its clients with reviews similar to USPS.
HOW TO GET STARTED:
It is straightforward to use their services, and you can learn about the process by simply filling out a short form.

After submitting the form, a staff member will contact you to give you a quick quote and explain the entire process.
IN A NUTSHELL:
FedEx Fulfillment is one of the best 3PL companies out there because it offers complete logistic solutions and allows you to build your logistics network quickly. It has an extensive and robust network that helps small business owners to expand their network quickly and easily.
PRODUCT UPDATES:
FedEx Ground Economy Label enhancements for e-commerce merchants.
5. Red Stag Fulfillment.

Adam’s Take
Red Stag Fulfillment would be my top recommendation for those with special fulfillment needs. Whether you’re looking for a high volume of orders, unique order requirements, or a need for order personalization, Red Stag can get the job done. The company can handle all of that and more, thanks to its experience in the eCommerce industry. They also have a 30-day money-back guarantee, where they will refund you if you’re not completely satisfied with their service.
Red Stag Fulfillment offers custom-fit business solutions and a complete guarantee of order accuracy, timely delivery, and inventory accuracy. This fulfillment company uses cloud-based software and focuses on shipping heavy items for its customers.
BEST FOR:
1. Heavy and Oversize Parcel Fulfillment.
Red Stag’s pricing model favors companies that sell large and heavy products rather than t-shirts or smartphone cases. They’ve even designed their warehouses around this class of products, with wider aisles, specialized equipment, and a trained workforce that is especially adept at handling and shipping goods above 10 lbs.
2. Avoiding Fraud.
Due to its impressive accuracy rates, red Stag has become a top-notch 3PL logistics company. The company uses video monitoring of the complete process, effectively eliminating any chances of mistakes at any level. The company has positioned its cameras at every station, reducing the cases of theft and fraud. Plus, the affordable rates have also made it a highly preferable 3PL company by many businesses.
3. Order Management.
The Red Stag Fulfillment users manage the orders through a pallet delivery system that includes storage, packing, shipping, and return. Pallet delivery is a mode of packaging transportation from warehouses.
4. Guaranteed Order Completion.
Red Stag offers businesses a complete same-day shipping guarantee and order completion. The company delivers goods before 5 p.m. every day.
5. Product Fulfillment Network.
Red Stag has a network of various warehouses that helps them eliminate unnecessary costs. They also offer special discounts that substantially improve customer satisfaction.
KEY FEATURES:
1. Exceptional Customer Service
Their customer service is one of the best in the industry, as the company offers specialized stock storage. On top of that, they provide proper tracking and assistance to their clients over the phone.
2. Cost and Value
Owing to several specialized services, Red Stag is considerably more expensive than other 3PL companies, such as FedEx and ShipBob.
3. Scalability
They work efficiently with startups and companies that process hundreds of orders daily.
4. Simple Onboarding
Using Red Stag is very easy as it offers a 30-day free trial for its users so that they can understand the system clearly.
5. Integrations
They integrate with your online store and help you with order management, shopping carts, and seller marketplaces.
6. Management Systems
They offer a highly effective management system that allows users to monitor their order status, stock level, and success rate.
OTHER PROMINENT FEATURES:
Security:
- 24-hour security
- Secure servers
- Backup generators
- Metal detectors
- Access control system
- Professional warehouses
- Off-site data servers
Technology:
- Cart integrations
- Unique barcodes
- Video monitoring
- Order tracking
- Inventory tracking
- RSF OPS interface
- Monitor processes
USER EXPERIENCE:
The top online reviews show positive results.
Most reviews suggest that the company offers 100% on-time fulfillment, proper packaging, and shipping.
HOW TO GET STARTED:
You can get detailed information about the company by visiting its official website. The process is the same as other companies; you must fill out a short form to receive a personalized quote.
It stands out from other 3PL companies because it offers a 30-day free trial that allows you to test its services before shelling out big bucks.
You need to follow some quick steps to get started:

IN A NUTSHELL:
Red Stag is the best for fragile, large, and expensive goods that need advanced customization before shipment. Due to its collaboration with FedEx, it can ship oversized products at good discounts.
Plus, the company keeps the proper video track of the warehouses for providing quality control solutions. This proper quality control helps minimize packaging mistakes, theft, and shipping damage.
PRODUCT UPDATES:
100% inventory and order accuracy guarantees provide customers with up-to-date information on what is in stock and when products will ship.
6. RedHawk Global.

Red Hawk Global provides freight, warehousing, shipping, and distribution of goods to various small businesses across the US, Mexico, and Canada.
It is the most-suitable order fulfillment service for freight distribution and is perfect for small businesses. Most of their clients consist of small companies only.
RedHawk gives tough competition to FreightPros in terms of point-to-point shipping. On top of that, RedHawk Global deals with regional and nationwide carriers for shipment, which is very common in the freight industry.
BEST FOR:
RedHawk Global is most suited for freight shipping, storage, and distribution for small businesses within the North American region, i.e., the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Furthermore, if you are running a startup and your shipment includes a small number of pallets each month, then RedHawk is best for you. The company meets all the freight needs of startups, even for low shipments.
KEY FEATURES:
1. Multiple Services.
RedHawk Global provides less-than-load, cross-border import/export, intermodal rail containers, flatbed, and more. Moreover, the company provides other excellent 3PL services such as sort-store-repack, freight storage, and distribution.
2. Account Representative.
RedHawk Global offers excellent customer service by assigning expert account representatives to help clients manage their accounts.
3. Fees & Service Cost.
Like FreightPros, RedHawk Global’s prices consider freight shipping and service rates. They charge fees per shipment according to the number of goods, and the clients must pay for the shipment when they bid on a load. Red Hawk’s service cost is highly affordable and low compared to other top broker services.
Compared to FreightPros’s $250.93 shipment cost, RedHawk also offers competitive pricing at $275.59 per shipment.
The company even offers good class-based discounts and volume freight on large accounts. On top of that, you also get 3PL advanced management services, freight project oversight, warehousing, and distribution. The quotes revolve around the company’s specific needs.
4. Easy-to-Use Booking Portal.
The freight booking portal is free of cost and extremely simple to use. Plus, dedicated account representatives also help out the clients to understand the portal booking and tracking system. They usually guide users to set up an account quickly for free.
5. Real-Time Rates.
Like FreightPros, RedHawk Global shows real-time freight rates along with several eCommerce platform integrations. The real-time rates are shown for all orders shipping in your checkout.
6. Easy Management.
RedHawk Global allows small shippers to track shipments, rate shop, book, and oversee freight movement with its eFreightLine portal. Plus, the dedicated account representatives manage scheduled tasks and day-to-day bookings.
RedHawk Global staff and expert professionals help their clients grab discounts and cost-saving opportunities. They help clients lower their freight class by guiding them to identify the correct National Motor Freight Classification tariff (NMFC) numbers.
USER REVIEWS:
It is always quite hard to pinpoint the online reviews of any large and multi-tier 3PL logistics provider. Most of the time, the users operating on an enterprise scale do not review companies frequently. However, small entrepreneurs usually tend to leave their reviews.
By online reviews on credible platforms such as Google Reviews and Uship, RedHawk’s eFrightLine portal seems to be a big hit among small businesses.
HOW TO GET STARTED:
You can check out the official website of RedHawk Global to get the company’s contact information. Next, you can discuss your freight shipping and other shipping requirements with their representatives to get a customized quote. You can also open an account on eFreightLine without any charges.
IN A NUTSHELL:
Like FreightPros, RedHawk Global focuses on freight rather than ecommerce fulfillment shipping. It is also worth noting that they only offer services in the North American region, i.e., the US, Canada, and Mexico. Aside from this, its eFreight Portal, which allows you to get instant quotes, is an excellent hit among its users.
7. Ships-a-Lot.

Ships-a-lot is an eCommerce fulfillment company that focuses on companies with high-volume transactions.
It’s a standalone fulfillment company that has rapidly gained high growth in the market. Its key features include crowdfunding fulfillment, warehouse management services, discounted rates, and more.
BEST FOR:
1. Small Items.
The maximum number of Ships clients-a lot are retailers with their eCommerce stores. All those retailers mainly sell small, lightweight, and easy-to-transport items. Moreover, the company integrates with popular ecommerce platforms like Shopify, eBay, and BigCommerce. It also handles sales on platforms like Amazon.
2. Flexible Price.
The cost of the process and services are fixed depending on the number of products to ship. A company representative will contact you to communicate the right price properly. Various factors in setting up the costs include the packaging material, storage space, and many more.
However, there is no information about the price on the official company website. But it has a shipping rate calculator that calculates the price after analyzing various factors involved in the shipping of the items.
3. Quick & On-time Delivery.
Ships-a-lot penalizes itself if it fails to meet the client’s delivery expectations. Thus, the company guarantees that your product will be shipped within 24 hours from the warehouse. However, if the company fails to do so, then it pays $20 for each delayed delivery.
4. Warehouses with Cameras.
This 3PL company works with small operators rather than sticking with large warehouses. The company keeps proper track of all products and ensures adequate safety and packaging by monitoring them with cameras. Moreover, companies track shipments with the help of carriers’ reports after they leave the warehouse.
KEY FEATURES:
1. User-Friendly Dashboard.
The maximum number of Ships-a-Lot clients use Shopify to monitor sales. Therefore, the company has made a straightforward user interface with some basic features. The dashboard shows complete data on late orders and orders on hold.
2. Inventory Reports.
It shows various categories, including inventory, reports, purchase orders, shipping, and many more, on the menu bar. You can see all orders, customers’ names, emails, and other essential data in a spreadsheet.
3. Customer Support.
Thanks to its third-party support solution, Ships-a-Lot offers excellent customer support with its third-party support solution. It usually helps out clients through emails and 24/7 live chats.
USER REVIEWS:
Most of the online reviews of Ships-a-Lot are positive, and customers have appreciated their quick response time. Many customers have recommended this company and suggested that it is a reliable 3PL company. The support team always answers customer queries on time, and the company also provides excellent shipping and packaging.
HOW TO GET STARTED:
You can contact the Ships-a-Lot team by visiting their official website. Using the real-time rate calculator, you can evaluate the cost according to your service requirements.

They also provide live chat and 24/7 support via phone to hook you up with their services. Even after you get on board with their company, customer service is quick and handles clients’ queries efficiently.
IN A NUTSHELL:
Ships-a-lot is the only 3PL company on this list with only a single warehouse and still delivers the best results. This company is best for startups and online stores that use Shopify.
Fulfillment Services FAQ.
Third-party fulfillment is an outsourced product management solution where a company stores merchandise, packs orders, and handles the entire shipping logistics process.
Fulfillment centers store products in their facilities and manage inventory, warehousing, and shipping. This gives ecommerce merchants the physical space to store their products. Store owners send their merchandise to the fulfillment center, and the center ships their products to customers.
The order fulfillment process starts when a customer orders and the fulfillment provider receives the product information. The system includes the logistical warehousing of inventory, receiving orders, picking (finding) the ordered items, packing (packaging) the products, shipping the order, and notifying customers about their order status. The exact process is slightly different for each provider. Still, it involves order information being sent in a message either in written form from an agent or received via mail, email, or within an ecommerce platform.
The Shopify Fulfillment Network is creating an end-to-end fulfillment solution to compete with Amazon FBA. These centers will use machine learning and demand forecasting to manage order routing and inventory allocation. Orders are processed on the same day and ship within two days with 99.99% accuracy. Currently, pricing for the Shopify Fulfillment Network is not publicly available. However, interested ecommerce merchants can apply for early access to the Shopify website.
Distribution centers are hubs that are more business-focused and less location-dependent. Whereas fulfillment order centers store inventory and ship products to customers, distribution centers handle shipping and selling but don’t ship to retailers.
The primary way that fulfillment centers make money is by charging long-term storage fees. There may also be other fees depending on the company you work with, including:
1. Setup fees.
2. Weight handling fees.
3. Packaging fees.
4. Returns and processing fees.
5. Account management and customer support fees.
6. Reporting and technology fees.
Additionally, there can be additional one-time fees for things like rush orders, order cancellations, SKU labeling, barcoding, credit card processing, marketing inserts, and “kitting” and assembling products. Check with your fulfillment center on these fees when shopping for your provider.
What Are The Different Types Of Fulfillment Services?
1. Transportation Based.

Transportation-based third-party logistics companies handle all the processes related to the shipment of the products. Transportation 3PL companies also handle export taxes and duties.
2. Warehouse and Distribution Based.

Warehouse and distribution-based 3PL companies deal with the products’ storage, shipment, and return. Innovative freight services, like those provided by Rakuten Super Logistics, are a mainstay and cover everything from pick up to drop off.
3. Financial and Information Base.

Financial and information-based 3PL companies handle freight auditing, inventory management, booking, tracking, and accounting tasks.
What Are the Benefits of Using an Order Fulfillment Service?
1. Business Growth.
With a 3PL company in tow, you have a team of experts who can manage your logistics and warehousing. This allows you to focus on more impending tasks related to your business. Plus, once your business starts to grow, you will already have all the necessary resources.
2. Expand Your Business to International Level.
You can quickly take your business to an international level as 3PL logistics ship products faster. Logistics providers also help boost the company’s market reach to the local market of various countries.
3. Low Warehouse Expenses.

With 3PL companies, you do not need to invest additional money in warehouses and their management. Almost every 3PL logistics company comes with its warehouses and staff.
What Should You Look for When Choosing an Ecommerce Fulfillment Company?
Almost every business dealing in any shipping could use the help of ecommerce fulfillment companies. These companies lessen your burden and eliminate extra costs by handling essential tasks such as freight, shipping, order fulfillment, and import/export.
While big logistics companies offer all these services, considerably less prominent companies provide only core logistic services. Companies focusing on core services mainly deal with small businesses.
I have evaluated different ecommerce fulfillment companies keeping the following points in mind:
1. Range of Services Offered.
A maximum number of 3PL logistics that deal with small enterprises mainly focus on freight or order fulfillment. However, FedEx Fulfillment offers a perfect combination of both.
2. Cost Transparency.
Cost transparency is one of the vital factors in evaluating 3PL services, as cost mainly varies according to shipping, company size, and different functions and processes. There must be no hidden fee in any process and service.
3. Scalability and Startup-Friendly.
3PL logistics companies must provide low order minimums to cater to small businesses and startups. Plus, 3PL companies also have to ensure that they meet every demand of the company to ensure proper scalability.
4. Easy Onboarding Process.
Small businesses prefer an appropriate and preplanned onboarding process and free account setup.
5. Customer Service.
Timely delivery and management of every task are crucial in logistics. The best companies offer instant support to customers by assigning them a personal account representative.
6. Proper Integrations.

Accuracy and timeliness are critical in any business. However, 3PL companies should also offer connectivity with accounting, website, order management systems, and popular ecommerce platforms like WooCommerce, Amazon, Shopify, and more.
7. Management Dashboards.
The best ecommerce fulfillment companies always provide management systems to businesses. The management dashboard is necessary to pull reports and check the status of overseas operations.
Top Users Of A Fulfillment Service
Many industries can benefit from utilizing a fulfillment service.
Here are the main ones that you should consider using:
- Retailers: Retailers of all sizes can benefit from using a fulfillment service. By offloading shipping, warehousing, and customer support to a third-party provider, retailers can focus on other areas of their business while ensuring the timely delivery of products.
- Ecommerce Businesses: Online stores have become increasingly popular in recent years. A fulfillment service helps these businesses reach their target market efficiently by providing the necessary logistics for shipping goods directly to consumers in an expedited manner.
- Third-Party Fulfillment Companies: These companies specialize in helping customers get their orders out quickly and reliably, no matter where they’re located. By using a fulfillment company, businesses don’t have to worry about shipping logistics and can instead focus on marketing their products.
- Multi-Channel Retailers: Multi-channel retailers need a reliable fulfillment service to ensure that orders placed through different channels are fulfilled quickly and accurately. A good fulfillment service can help these retailers streamline their processes and improve customer satisfaction.
- Wholesalers & Distributors: Wholesalers and distributors use fulfillment services to speed up the delivery process for retail and wholesale customers, thus improving customer satisfaction and reducing operational costs.
- Subscription Box Services: For businesses offering subscription box services, having an efficient fulfillment service is essential for the timely delivery of products to customers. A fulfillment service can help automate shipping and tracking processes, thus reducing the time customers receive their subscription boxes.
- Medical Supply Companies: Medical supply companies rely heavily on a good fulfillment service to ensure patients receive their necessary medications and supplies promptly. By utilizing a fulfillment service, these companies can meet customer demands while ensuring the accuracy and reliability of their deliveries.
Executive Summary.
Both large and small-scale companies struggle to manage their logistics in-house. Therefore, it’s best to outsource your logistics and lower your shipping costs and time with one of the best order fulfillment services.
If you want to scale up your ecommerce marketing and expand it globally, it’s worth looking into hiring a fulfillment partner to lessen the burden on your warehouse team.
While all of the fulfillment services mentioned in this guide are impressive in their own right, before selecting one for your store, get quotes from different providers to make the best choice.
With the rise of Amazon FBA, multichannel ecommerce, and customers now expecting two-day shipping nationwide, find a fulfillment company that gives you complete order processing, packing services, quick shipping, excellent service, and no long-term contracts.
Ultimately, I recommend you get started with a free quote from my #1 choice, ShipBob.
Which one of these order fulfillment and 3PL companies suits your business the most? Share your feedback in the comments section below.
Further Reading on AdamEnfroy.com: Check out my reviews of the best ecommerce platforms to sell more online, the best dropshipping suppliers, and my ultimate guide to dropshipping.
Last Updated on December 29, 2022 by Adam Enfroy
Hi Adam, thanks for taking the time and putting in a lot of effort into sharing this comprehensive piece of information about the fulfillment services. This was informative indeed. Keep up the good work!
Thanks, Daniel!
A lot of great information your article, Adam! Thanks so much for researching and writing it.
No problem Jay! Thanks for reading. 🙂
Truly appreciate the effort and detail put into this. It’s incredibly helpful, thank you so much for putting this together! Hope you can also write up reviews on other fulfillment software like Zhenhub, Brightpearl, Shipstation etc.
Hey Marky – thanks. Yes, I’m planning to do an update soon and add more software to the mix. 🙂
Hi Adam, thanks so much for the information about the fulfillment services.
Thank you for providing such an informative breakdown of launching a dropshipping business.