A fulfillment partner for your eCommerce business can either help your company rise to the top or hold you back from endless possibilities. It’s not all about simply enlisting a partner to help you pick, pack, ship, and manage your fulfillment – it’s about finding the right partner to support your needs. 

So how do you know what fulfillment provider to work with? Consider these 5 questions when vetting your list of providers and considering which is the best fit for you. 

1. Do they offer the services you need – now and in the future?

There are numerous eCommerce fulfillment providers available – and many would claim to meet all of your requirements and ensure that your product is delivered precisely to your standards and on schedule. In a perfect world, this sounds great, but unfortunately, this is not always the case. Or often. 

It’s essential to understand what services your 3PL providers offer, not just if they have the services you need today. A good, long-lasting relationship with the right partner means they should be able to help your business scale, whether that’s 3 months from now or 3 years. 

Some fulfillment providers specialize in specific sectors of order fulfillment, such as services specific for start-ups and small enterprises. Others may be more suited to work with large enterprises. Make sure that the fulfillment services and technologies your partner provides are compatible with the needs of your business and fit into your current processes. 

A good fulfillment partner is just as concerned with your business's growth and success as you are. Make sure that the partner you hire is adaptable, scalable, and capable of dealing with any unexpected situations that may emerge during your journey working together. 

2. Does their cost fit your budget?

Partnering with an eCommerce fulfillment partner helps you today and also tomorrow. In the long run, a reliable partner will save money on shipping, packing supplies, and overhead. They will also free up your time, which can in turn be used to scale your business and grow your bottom line. 

Remember to consider ALL the services a 3PL has to offer, or doesn’t offer, to ensure you choose a 3PL with the best all-in cost inclusive of services essential to your business – like customer service and ongoing support. 

3. Are their delivery services fast and reliable?

Same-day shipping has become the new norm, implying that modern consumers expect faster shipping speeds than ever before. If your fulfillment partner anticipates lead times longer than 2 business days before shipping, move on to the next option. 

Top fulfillment firms should have efficient and effective fulfillment methods that allow them to deliver your products to your customers as promptly as possible. This is feasible when they have streamlined order processing and proper order fulfillment software.

4. Do they bring experience to your team?

It’s also important to remember that investing in a partner who can help your business increase sales is hugely beneficial to your bottom line. 3PLs run by leaders with eCommerce experience are highly recommended and a large benefit to businesses like yours. They’ve been in your shoes and know how the industry works. Remember, the cheapest choice isn’t always the best, especially if you want to level up and grow your business. 

Consider choosing a partner who brings additional experience to your team that can help your eCommerce business grow. Your 3PL provider should be an extension of your business and a group you can lean on for all things fulfillment.

5. Is their Warehouse Management System compatible?

When it comes to selecting the optimal eCommerce fulfillment provider, technology is critical. A 3PL’s Warehouse Management System (WMS) is the backbone of everything they do. For this reason, it is essential that their WMS is a compatible match with your business. The two most vital components of this are the integration points with your storefronts and order/inventory automations.

With compatible integration points, you can connect your storefronts with the WMS and automatically send orders from your eCommerce platform to your fulfillment provider for distribution without requiring extra input from you or your team. Additionally, the software automatically updates order statuses, inventory levels, and shares tracking data both at the warehouse and on your company website. These are straightforward, automated operations designed to simplify your processes and ensure that your website functions in real-time.

Choose a partner you can trust

Choosing the best eCommerce fulfillment partner for your online business necessitates considerable study and careful consideration of factors such as compatibility, pricing, transparency, scalability, delivery speed, branding, technology, experience, and so on. 

Ready to get started with a partner you can trust? ShipDaddy is here to help!