Are you too busy to take care of order fulfillment in your eCommerce business? Do you lack the infrastructure to efficiently serve your customers nationally and globally? Do you not want to invest in running and staffing your own warehouse because of uneven sales?
If your answer to these questions is YES, then partnering with a third-party fulfillment provider can be the right strategy to go ahead. In this article, we will explore ten fulfillment service providers to help you pick one of the best eCommerce fulfillment services for your business.
What is an eCommerce Fulfillment Service?
An eCommerce fulfillment is a process of sorting products, packaging them, and sending them to customers. Everything that happens from the time a customer place an online order until he/she receives the purchased item falls within the ambit of eCommerce fulfillment.
Now, many third-party companies offer eCommerce fulfillment services, reducing the burden on eCommerce business owners.
From sorting orders to packing and shipping and live tracking of the goods, these fulfillment companies take care of everything required to deliver purchased items timely and delight customers. Most fulfillment companies also manage customer returns.
How do Fulfillment Services Work?
Here is how an eCommerce fulfillment service works:
- Business owners send inventories to a third-party logistics company offering fulfillment solutions
- Business owners pass the order details to the company
- The company packs and ships the purchased items to customers
- The company provides business owners with shipment details to be shared with customers
Most steps of the fulfillment process are automated and happen behind the scene. With technology getting advanced these days, customers can do live tracking of their orders.
A reputed company, like Amazon, has multiple eCommerce fulfillment center locations across the world to offer faster delivery.
So working with a reputed order fulfillment company means purchased products will reach customers from its fulfillment center quickly and timely. And the customer support department of the company will promptly address shoppers’ queries regarding product deliveries.
10 Best eCommerce Fulfillment Services
The following are leading eCommerce fulfillment companies:
1. ShipBob
ShipBob offers fulfillment services for both offline and online channels. You can use it for multichannel inventory. You can easily integrate ShipBob with major eCommerce platforms, such as Amazon, Facebook, Google, Etsy, eBay, and more.
Here are key features of the ShipBob fulfillment solution:
- 2-Day express shipping program for all continental US orders
- Distributed inventory among multiple eCommerce fulfillment centers
- Efficient order management
- Smart inventory management
Also, ShipBob comes with easy integration with leading eCommerce technology solutions. And it provides powerful reporting and analytics to help you make informed decisions.
What’s more, ShipBob offers custom branded boxes as well.
2. Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA)
If you sell primarily on Amazon, then Fulfillment by Amazon can be the right option for you. As Amazon has fulfillment centers worldwide, international shipping can be done quickly.
Here are the top highlights of Fulfillment by Amazon:
- Your products will become eligible for Amazon Prime FREE Two-Day Shipping, FREE Shipping, and more
- Transparent pricing
- Amazon will provide your customers with the top-class customer support and returns
If you sell a big volume or high margin products, FBA can be a good option to outsource the fulfillment process.
3. FedEx Fulfillment
FedEx is a reputed eCommerce fulfillment provider. With FedEx Fulfillment, you can offer international shipping services in a hassle-free manner.
Some key advantages of FedEx fulfillment are:
- A single place for order fulfillment and inventory management
- Easy-to-use commerce platform
- Reliable service for product delivery
- A reputed brand name
FedEx fulfillment is also known to offer excellent customer service. It is most suited for those businesses that do a lot of international shipping.
4. Rakuten Super Logistics
Rakuten Super Logistics, with its nationwide network of fulfillment centers, offers fast third-party fulfillment services. By having multiple fulfillment center locations and utilizing them, Rakuten Super Logistics can reach 98% of the US within two days via ground shipping process.
The main features of Rakuten Super Logistics are mentioned below:
- 100% order accuracy guarantee
- 100% shipped the next day
- 1-2 Day U.S. Ground Delivery Network
- Easy integration with leading partners for shipping and shopping carts
5. Red Stag Fulfillment
If you ship large and heavy items, Red Stag Fulfillment can be an excellent order fulfillment partner.
- Efficient support to manage inventory
- Data-driven business insights & forecasts
- Fulfillment centers across the US to reduce fulfillment costs
- Integrations with leading eCommerce platforms and marketplaces
Red Stag Fulfillment offers a variety of industry-leading guarantees for receiving, accuracy, processing, and more to meet customer expectations.
6. Shopify Fulfillment Network
Do you think Shopify only offers an eCommerce platform? Then, you probably don’t know- what is Shopify actually? The company provides reliable order fulfillment services along with a range of eCommerce solutions.
The key highlights of the Shopify Fulfillment Network are:
- Two-Day order delivery with transparent delivery dates
- Real-time inventory tracking
- Quick and smooth returns
If your online store sends subscription boxes regularly, you can explore order fulfillment service from Shopify.
7. ShipMonk
ShipMonk is one of the reputed eCommerce fulfillment partners. The company serves most types of eCommerce businesses, including adult products, CBD, and much more.
The key features of ShipMonk are:
- Enterprise-grade security
- Freight management
- MonkProtect to offer an unbeatable customer experience
- Transparent fulfillment and storage fees
If your eCommerce company is looking for specialized services, you can talk to ShipMonk. The company often helps clients tackle projects outside of the norm.
8. ShipHero Fulfillment
ShipHero offers outsourced fulfillment and end-to-end shipping software to manage your warehouse. The key features of ShipHero Fulfillment include but are not limited to visibility of your orders in real-time, prompt support, real-time reporting, and more.
9. eFullfilment Service
A good thing about eFullfilment Service is – no minimums, no setup fees, and no long-term contracts. The company offers affordable warehouse storage and order fulfillment service. Its web-based software application allows you to check inventory, orders, and shipment on the go.
10. Deliverr
Deliverr offers transparent, all-inclusive fulfillment services cost. If you sell small items and looking for a company with affordable shipping, Deliverr can be your best bet. The company offers next-day delivery to eligible eCommerce companies.
Things You Should Consider When Comparing eCommerce Order Fulfillment Services
You did lots of research to pick one of the best eCommerce suppliers to get the best deal. In the same way, you should do your due diligence to pick the best fulfillment company for your online store. You cannot make a decision solely based on shipping costs.
Here are the top five things you should keep in the mind while comparing eCommerce order fulfillment companies:
1. Inventory Storage and Fulfillment Fee
Pricing can be a starting point to begin your research. So you should compare charges for storage and fulfillment to narrow down the best options.
2. Technology and Integrations
The eCommerce fulfillment process is complex but technology makes it easier. So you should go through the technological features of various order fulfillment companies to select a few options for consideration.
Also, fulfillment services companies should provide easy integrations with leading partners for shipping and shopping carts.
3. Multiple Fulfillment Centers
A company with a large fulfillment network can provide faster shipping services. So check how many centers the company has before making the final decision.
4. Fulfillment Time
The entire process of eCommerce fulfillment involves many steps. So make sure to go with a company that offers quicker fulfillment time.
5. Intitutiveness of Fulfillment Software
A successful fulfillment strategy requires you to make informed decisions based on data and analytics provided by the fulfillment platform.
Therefore, it is imperative to go with a company offering intuitive fulfillment software so you and your employees can easily leverage all the functions.
What is the Best eCommerce Fulfillment Company?
Picking the best eCommerce fulfillment company depends on what your requirements are. If your customers are in the US only, Deliverr can your best bet. But if you sell to a global audience, Fulfilment by Amazon or FedEx can meet your requirements well. eFullfilment Service is ideal for small online retail businesses and startups.
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This article, “10 eCommerce Fulfillment Services” was first published on Small Business Trends
