10 Best Fulfillment Service Shortlist
Here's my pick of the 10 best software from the 25 tools reviewed.
There are seemingly countless fulfillment services available, so figuring out which is best for you is tough. You want to have someone handle the storage, packing, and shipping of products for your ecommerce business—but now need to figure out which tool is the best fit. I've got you! In this post, I make things simple, leveraging my experience as an ecommerce expert, and using dozens of different fulfillment solutions to bring you this shortlist of the best fulfillment services overall.
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The Best Fulfillment Services Summary
| Tools | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| ShipStation | From $9.99/month | Website |
| ShipBob | Pricing upon request | Website |
| Linnworks | From $449/month (volume-based pricing) | Website |
| ShipMonk | Pricing upon request | Website |
| eShipper | Pricing upon request | Website |
| OWD | Pricing upon request | Website |
| ShipHero | From $499/month | Website |
| Fulfillment by Amazon | From $39.99/month | Website |
| Bolt | Pricing upon request | Website |
| Shipfusion | Pricing upon request | Website |
Compare Software Specs Side by Side
Use our comparison chart to review and evaluate software specs side-by-side.
Compare SoftwareHow to Choose Fulfillment Services
When selecting software for your business, especially when considering a specialized tool such as fulfillment services, it's essential to approach the decision with a strategic mindset. Here’s a checklist that balances general software selection principles with specific considerations for fulfillment services:
- Compatibility and Integration: Ensure the software seamlessly integrates with your existing systems (e.g., ecommerce platforms, inventory management, and customer relationship management tools) to streamline operations and data synchronization.
- Scalability: Consider whether the software can accommodate your business's growth, handling increased order volumes and expanding inventory without compromising performance.
- Features and Functionality: Assess the software's features to confirm they align with your specific fulfillment service needs, such as order processing, shipping rate calculation, label printing, and return management capabilities.
- Cost Efficiency: Evaluate the pricing model of the software to ensure it fits within your budget while offering the best value for its features and capabilities, including any setup fees, monthly subscriptions, and transaction costs.
- Customer Support and Training: Look for software providers that offer robust customer support and training resources to assist with troubleshooting, software updates, and user education.
- Vendor Reputation and Reviews: Research the software provider's reputation, seeking feedback from current users about their experiences, to gauge reliability, customer service quality, and overall satisfaction with the software.
Best Fulfillment Services Reviews
Here’s a brief description of each fulfillment service solution to showcase each tool’s best use case, some noteworthy features, and screenshots to give a snapshot of the user interface.
Shipstation integrates with over 200 ecommerce tools like carriers, fulfillment services, inventory platforms, and online marketplaces to streamline your order fulfillment process. The platform is extremely useful for shop owners who sell their products on multiple platforms and use multiple carrier providers to fulfill their orders.
It lets shop owners view all orders from a single platform and offers instant discounts without volume requirements for selected carriers. Users love it because it lets them switch shipping providers effortlessly. Additionally, the intuitive features allow even the least tech-savvy users to automate order management and ship orders on time.
The best part is that their services scale as the store grows, and the support is on-point, so you get a team that helps you grow from day one.
Shipstation’s pricing starts at $9/month and goes up to $159/month for the most complex store requirements.
ShipBob handles everything from your inventory to order fulfillment. So, all you’ve got to do is send your products to one of its fulfillment centers, and the platform will ensure your orders are fulfilled on time.
The best part is that you can offer 2-day express shipping and increase your average order value and conversion rate with the software’s distributed inventory. This feature strategically splits inventories across different locations so your customers get their inventories from the warehouse closest to them. Additionally, the feature also reduces shipping costs and brings more savings to your bottom line.
Users prefer ShipBob for its intuitive interface, efficient shipping process, and speed to scale. In other words, they can go global by outsourcing fulfillment while simultaneously maintaining complete control over the process.
ShipBob offers customized pricing upon request.
Linnworks is an order and inventory management software that helps businesses automate their fulfillment processes. It's designed for online retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers who want to streamline their operations and save time on managing orders, inventory, and shipping.
This platform has a centralized inventory management system, which means you can manage your stock levels across multiple sales channels and warehouses. This is super helpful for keeping track of your inventory and avoiding stockouts or overselling. Another cool feature is the order management system, which automates the entire order process, from receiving orders to shipping them out. This saves a ton of time and reduced the chances of errors in the fulfillment process.
Finally, I like its shipping management capabilities. It integrates with major shipping carriers and allows you to print shipping labels, generate tracking numbers, and automate the shipping process.
Linnworks supports a wide range of integrations, including popular eCommerce platforms like Amazon, eBay, Shopify, and Magento, as well as accounting software like QuickBooks and Xero.
ShipMonk helps small to medium-sized businesses achieve sustainable and scalable growth by handling everything from inventory management to order fulfillment. The platform offers 65+ API integrations that allow store owners to manage inventory and fulfill orders from a single platform.
It also forecasts stockouts so store owners can restock products beforehand and eliminate an overstock problem. Additionally, users can calculate shipping prices easily and offer customers attractive international shipping rates to improve their bottom line.
ShipMonk offers customized pricing upon request.
If you’re an ecommerce store owner who sells on multiple channels, eShipper is your best retail fulfillment option. Once you connect your store to its portal and send your products to its warehouses, eShipper will take care of inventory management and shipping products to customers on time.
They also offer customized shipping solutions that enable you to offer same-day delivery or overnight shipping. If you’ve got additional requirements like storing food products, the platform has cold storage options that can scale according to your needs.
Additionally, eShipper’s in-house Amazon experts will help fulfill orders upon arrival if you want to sell on Amazon. And store owners don’t have to book an appointment to get their inventory to Amazon fulfillment centers as eShipper’s experts also work with Amazon-approved LTL carriers.
eShipper offers customized pricing upon request.
If you’re planning on selling through marketplaces like Walmart, staying EDI compliant is mandatory. This is where OWD comes in handy. Its Omni-Fill solution creates kits and package items, helps store owners adhere to compliance with EDI integrations, and ensures that orders are shipped correctly and on time. But that’s not all.
Users prefer OWD for their customer support and the ability to scale alongside their business without burning a hole in their pocket.
OWD offers customized pricing upon request.
ShipHero is great for ecommerce brands that maintain their own warehouse and rely on third-party logistics (3PL) to fulfill their orders. The software syncs inventory across multiple stores and has tools to optimize warehouse management which in turn helps the brand scale fulfillment.
Users love the software’s SKU kits feature as it allows them to improve picking efficiency by allowing them to track the locations of various products in the warehouse. It also comes with various order automation rules (adding boxes for necklaces) and billing options you can apply to your customers to help you fulfill orders on time.
The software is also relatively easy to use, and shop owners claim that it doesn’t take more than 15 minutes to train new warehouse employees and get the ball rolling.
Shiphero’s pricing plans start at $499/month, and if you want to throw in an extra set of tools for 3PL the pricing jumps to $1,995/month.
Amazon FBA helps third-party sellers automate their order fulfillment and shipping. In other words, Amazon takes full responsibility for picking, packing, and shipping the products. The best part is that store owners get access to Amazon’s 24×7 customer service, and it also processes returns.
Apart from these benefits, store-owners also love that Amazon offers customized, pocket-friendly solutions according to the products they sell. For instance, shop owners who sell small products like makeup brushes can enroll in the FBA Small and Light program.
Amazon FBA offers customized pricing upon request.
If you’re big on going green to save the planet while fulfilling orders, Bolt should be your go-to partner. It ships inventory to fulfillment centers closest to your customers to reduce the carbon footprint and ensure that there’s no compromise on timely deliveries.
Additionally, their technology offers better visibility into inventory, order status, and shipment tracking by giving access to delivery proof complete with photos and signatures and real-time execution timing and delivery status.
It also offers reverse logistics options that help store owners give unsold items a second life through furniture banks. Customers also love Bolt’s transparency in reporting and high delivery accuracy rate as it helps them improve their brand reputation and increase their orders.
Bolt offers customized pricing upon request.
If you sell nutraceuticals or food products online, Shipfusion has you covered with its FDA-compliant supply chain storage and end-to-end order fulfillment. The platform also integrates with multiple ecommerce marketplaces, and its developers ensure that you get accurate data to fuel your decision-making process.
Apart from winning at technical aspects of the order fulfillment process, Shipfusion also wins at exceptional customer service, which is why customers love it. The platform assigns a dedicated account manager who works with the company and helps them scale in addition to helping them with order fulfillment problems.
Shipfusion offers customized pricing upon request.
Other Fulfillment Services
Here are a few more fulfillment services and 3PL companies that didn’t make the top list.
- Saltbox
Best for small-sized subscription businesses
- ShipEngine
Best for order fulfillment via API integrations
- eFulfillment Service
Orders from Amazon, eBay, Etsy, Buy on Google, and more, in one centralized dashboard.
- Shopify Fulfillment Network (SFN)
Network of fulfillment centers managed by Shopify with ~2 day shipping to most of the USA.
- FedEx Fulfillment
Modular and scalable fulfillment solution with hub-based warehousing for both forward and reverse logistics.
- Deliverr
Fulfillment company with next day Delivery on qualifying Google, Shopify, and Facebook Ads.
- Ruby Has
3PL provider that recently joined with ShipMonk.
- Shipwire
Global fulfillment and 3PL services for brands and retailers.
- Rakuten Super Logistics
Order fulfillment and 3PL experts powered by a US nationwide fulfillment center network.
- Fulfillment Warehouse
Fulfillment service located near LAX with 150,000 square foot warehouse plus extra off-site storage.
- Whiplash
Nationwide omnichannel fulfillment provider for ecommerce, retail, and wholesale.
- Red Stag Fulfillment
Cloud-based order fulfillment for B2B and B2C ecommerce companies with an 100% order accuracy guarantee.
- Fulfillment Bridge
Global all-in-one fulfillment logistics service provider with solutions for everything from crowdfunding to Amazon sales.
- Falcon Fulfillment
Fulfillment service company with 2 day shipping available in 48 US states (via ground shipping).
- Fulfillment.com
High volume worldwide ecommerce fulfillment services with pre-negotiated volume discounts.
Related Ecommerce Software Reviews
If you still haven't found what you're looking for here, check out these related ecommerce tools that we've tested and evaluated.
- Ecommerce Platforms
- Inventory Management Software
- Payment Processing Software
- Shopping Cart Solutions
- Order Management Systems
- Warehouse Management Software
Selection Criteria for Fulfillment Services
Selecting the right fulfillment services involves a careful evaluation of what they have to offer. Through extensive personal trials and research, I've developed criteria to guide software buyers towards making an informed decision.
Core Functionality - 25% of total weighting score:
Fulfillment services must excel in core areas to streamline ecommerce operations. Key use cases include:
- Order processing and management: Efficiently handling orders from receipt to delivery.
- Inventory management: Real-time tracking and updating of stock levels.
- Shipping and handling: Reliable picking, packing, and shipping processes.
- Returns management: Simplified processing of returns for customers.
- Integration capabilities: Seamless connectivity with ecommerce platforms and other essential business systems.
Additional Standout Features - 25% of total weighting score:
Innovative features set top contenders apart. We explore and test for:
- Advanced automation: Tools offering smart automation for repetitive tasks, enhancing operational efficiency.
- Custom branding options: Services that support personalized packaging and branding efforts.
- Global shipping solutions: Providers with a robust international logistics network.
- Sustainable practices: Options for eco-friendly packaging and carbon-neutral shipping.
- Exceptional analytics: Comprehensive reporting tools for insightful business intelligence.
Usability - 10% of total weighting score:
Ease of use is paramount. Key aspects include:
- Intuitive design: A clear, straightforward interface that simplifies navigation and task completion.
- Accessibility: Services that are easily accessible across various devices and platforms.
- Streamlined workflow: Features that facilitate a smooth workflow, such as batch processing capabilities.
Onboarding - 10% of total weighting score:
The transition to new software should be seamless. We evaluate:
- Comprehensive training materials: Availability of in-depth tutorials, webinars, and documentation.
- Interactive guides: Tools that offer interactive onboarding experiences to quickly familiarize users with the service.
- Customer support availability: Access to knowledgeable support teams during the initial setup phase.
Customer Support - 10% of total weighting score:
Support responsiveness and quality are critical. Criteria include:
- Multiple support channels: Offering support through live chat, email, and phone.
- Proactive service: Quick and effective resolution of issues before they impact operations.
- Community support: Access to user forums or communities for peer advice and tips.
Value For Money - 10% of total weighting score:
Assessing cost against features ensures affordability without sacrificing quality. Considerations are:
- Transparent pricing: Clear, upfront costs without hidden fees.
- Flexible plans: Pricing plans that scale with business growth.
- Free trials or demos: Opportunities to test services before committing financially.
Customer Reviews - 10% of total weighting score:
Feedback from existing users provides invaluable insights. We look for:
- Positive testimonials: High satisfaction levels among current and past users.
- Issue resolution: How effectively and quickly problems are addressed.
- Long-term value: Users’ perceptions of the service’s impact on their business over time.
Fulfillment services are foundational to ecommerce success, impacting everything from customer satisfaction to operational efficiency. By carefully weighing these criteria, businesses can select a service that not only meets but exceeds their fulfillment needs.
Trends in Fulfillment Services for 2024
Here are some trends I’ve noticed for fulfillment services fuctionality, plus what they might mean for the future of the ecommerce industry. I sourced countless product updates, press releases, and release logs to tease out the most important insights.
- Advanced Automation in Warehouse Management: The shift towards fully automated warehouse operations using AI and robotics underscores the drive for operational efficiency, reducing human error, and accelerating order processing times.
- Sustainability Practices: Eco-friendly packaging solutions and carbon offset shipping options are rapidly becoming standard features, reflecting the growing emphasis on environmental responsibility in ecommerce logistics.
- Customization and Personalization Options: Offering personalized packaging and branding opportunities speaks to the demand for ecommerce sellers to distinguish their brand experience, enhancing customer loyalty and unboxing experiences.
- Global Shipping and Expansion Support: Enhanced global logistics capabilities, including streamlined customs clearance and international shipping options, address the challenge of scaling ecommerce operations worldwide.
- Enhanced Return Management Systems: Streamlined and user-friendly return processes, including easy-to-navigate portals and instant return labels, cater to the ecommerce sector's focus on customer satisfaction and retention.
From leveraging advanced technologies to enhancing customer experience and ensuring sustainability, these trends offer a comprehensive view of what ecommerce professionals prioritize and value in their fulfillment partners.
What are Fulfillment Services?
Fulfillment services are third-party logistics providers that store, pack, and ship products on behalf of businesses, primarily ecommerce entities. They manage inventory, process orders, and handle shipping and returns, streamlining the distribution process. The purpose is to allows businesses to focus on core activities like product development and marketing, without the complexities of warehousing and logistics.
Key Functions for Fulfillment Services
The key functions of a fulfillment service involve managing various aspects of the order fulfillment process on behalf of businesses. These functions typically include:
- Warehousing and Inventory Management: Fulfillment services provide storage and management of inventory in their warehouses. They receive, inspect, and store products in a secure and organized manner. The fulfillment service keeps track of inventory levels, conducts regular stock counts, and provides businesses with real-time visibility into their inventory.
- Order Processing: Fulfillment services handle order processing tasks, which include receiving orders, verifying order details, and preparing them for fulfillment. This involves tasks such as order confirmation, payment processing, and order entry into the fulfillment system.
- Pick and Pack: Fulfillment services are responsible for picking the items from the warehouse shelves based on received orders and packing them appropriately for shipment. This involves accurately selecting the right products, ensuring proper packaging, and including any necessary documentation, labels, or promotional materials.
- Shipping and Logistics: Fulfillment services arrange for the shipping and delivery of orders. They work with shipping carriers to select the most appropriate shipping methods, negotiate shipping rates, generate shipping labels, and ensure timely dispatch of packages. This includes handling customs documentation and international shipping logistics if necessary.
- Tracking and Visibility: Fulfillment services provide businesses and customers with tracking information to monitor the progress of orders. They ensure that tracking numbers are associated with each shipment, allowing customers to track their packages and businesses to have visibility into the status of their orders.
- Returns Handling: Fulfillment services manage the process of handling product returns. This involves inspecting returned items, processing returns, determining whether products can be restocked or need to be disposed of, and initiating any necessary refunds or exchanges. Efficient returns management is crucial for maintaining customer satisfaction and streamlining reverse logistics.
- Value-added Services: Some fulfillment services offer additional value-added services such as kitting (combining multiple products into a single package), customization (personalizing products or packaging), labeling, gift wrapping, or promotional inserts. These services can help businesses enhance their customer experience and differentiate their offerings.
- Reporting and Analytics: Fulfillment services often provide businesses with reporting and analytics capabilities. This includes generating reports on order fulfillment metrics, inventory levels, shipping costs, and other key performance indicators. These insights can help businesses make informed decisions and optimize their fulfillment processes.
Benefits of Fulfillment Services
By outsourcing storage, packing, and shipping responsibilities, fulfillment services offer a multitude of benefits that can significantly impact the efficiency and scalability of online stores. Here are five primary advantages that fulfillment services provide to users and organizations:
1. Increased Operational Efficiency: By handling the logistics of order fulfillment, these services free up valuable time and resources, allowing businesses to focus on growth and core operations. This efficiency can lead to reduced operational costs and increased productivity.
2. Scalability: Fulfillment services offer the flexibility to scale operations up or down based on demand, without the need for significant capital investment or long-term commitments. This adaptability is crucial for businesses in the dynamic ecommerce landscape, enabling them to respond quickly to market changes and growth opportunities.
3. Enhanced Customer Satisfaction: With professional handling of packaging and timely delivery, fulfillment services can significantly improve the customer experience. Reliable and fast shipping is often a key factor in customer satisfaction and can lead to repeat business and positive reviews.
4. Global Reach: These services often have an extensive logistics network, making it easier for businesses to expand their reach to international markets without the complexities of navigating global shipping regulations and logistics. This global reach can open up new revenue streams and customer bases.
5. Risk Management: Fulfillment services can mitigate various risks associated with inventory management and shipping, including damage, loss, and theft. By leveraging their expertise and resources, businesses can ensure a higher level of security and reliability in their supply chain.
Whether you're a small startup or an established online retailer, the benefits of employing fulfillment services are clear: improved efficiency, scalability, customer satisfaction, global reach, and risk management.
Cost & Pricing for Fulfillment Services
When venturing into the realm of ecommerce, one of the pivotal decisions you'll face is selecting the right fulfillment service to manage the logistics of storing, packing, and shipping your products. Fulfillment services offer a variety of plan options designed to cater to different business sizes, volumes of orders, and specific needs. These plans can range from basic offerings suitable for startups to more comprehensive packages for larger enterprises, including customizable solutions. Understanding the nuances of each plan will help you make an informed decision that aligns with your business goals and budget.
Plan Comparison Table for Fulfillment Services
| Plan Type | Average Price | Common Features |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $30 - $50/month | - Basic order fulfillment - Inventory management - Standard shipping rates |
| Professional | $100 - $300/month | - Advanced order fulfillment options - Enhanced inventory tracking - Discounted shipping rates - Customer support |
| Enterprise | Custom Pricing | - Customizable fulfillment solutions - Dedicated account manager - Priority shipping - Comprehensive analytics and reporting |
| Free | $0 | - Limited order fulfillment - Basic inventory tracking - Standard shipping with higher rates |
Choosing the right plan requires a careful assessment of your current needs, order volume, and future growth expectations. The free option may offer a risk-free way to explore the service, while higher-tier plans provide the scalability and features necessary for expanding businesses. Ultimately, the value you derive from a fulfillment service will depend on how well its offerings align with your operational requirements and long-term strategic goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a smattering of questions I wanted to get the jump on answering while we’re on the topic of fulfillment services.
What is the difference between fulfillment service and fulfillment software?
Fulfillment service and fulfillment software are two distinct components of the order fulfillment process. Here’s a breakdown of the differences between the two:
A fulfillment service, also known as a third-party logistics (3PL) provider, is an external company that specializes in handling various aspects of order fulfillment on behalf of businesses. When you use a fulfillment service, you outsource tasks such as warehousing, inventory management, picking and packing, shipping, and sometimes customer service to the service provider. The fulfillment service takes care of these operations, typically in their own warehouses, using their own infrastructure, systems, and personnel. They have expertise in logistics, order processing, and shipping, and they handle these tasks efficiently and effectively, often at scale. By using a fulfillment service, businesses can focus on other core areas while leaving the logistics and fulfillment aspects to the experts.
Fulfillment software, also known as order management software or fulfillment management software, refers to the technology and software solutions used to manage and automate various aspects of the order fulfillment process. This type of software provides businesses with tools and features to streamline and optimize their order management, inventory control, shipping, and tracking processes. Fulfillment software can include functionalities such as inventory management, order processing, warehouse management, shipping carrier integrations, real-time tracking, reporting, and analytics. It enables businesses to centralize their order fulfillment operations, automate repetitive tasks, track inventory levels, and monitor the progress of orders throughout the fulfillment cycle. Fulfillment software can be used by businesses that handle their own fulfillment operations in-house or in conjunction with a fulfillment service to enhance visibility and control over their fulfillment processes.
In summary, a fulfillment service involves outsourcing the physical aspects of order fulfillment to a third-party logistics provider, while fulfillment software refers to the software tools used to manage and optimize various aspects of the fulfillment process, whether it is performed in-house or in conjunction with a fulfillment service.
Can small businesses afford fulfillment services?
Absolutely, small businesses can afford fulfillment services, thanks to the variety of options available. The key is finding a service that scales with your business. Some providers offer pay-as-you-go models, where you’re billed for storage and fulfillment as you use them, making it manageable for smaller operations. It’s about balancing the costs with the value added, like faster shipping and more time for you to focus on growth strategies rather than packing boxes.
How do fulfillment services handle international shipping?
Fulfillment services simplify international shipping by handling the complexities of customs, duties, and international shipping regulations. They often have established relationships with carriers worldwide, ensuring more competitive shipping rates and streamlined processes. This means your products can reach global markets more efficiently, opening up a world of opportunities for your ecommerce business.
How do I switch to a new fulfillment service without disrupting operations?
Switching to a new fulfillment service requires careful planning. Start by syncing inventory levels and ensuring both your old and new service are up to date. Schedule the switch during a slower period to minimize impact, and communicate openly with your new provider about your needs and expectations. A phased transition, where you gradually move operations over, can also help maintain continuity for your customers.
Are there eco-friendly fulfillment service options?
Yes, there are eco-friendly fulfillment services that focus on sustainability through various practices. These might include using recyclable packaging materials, optimizing shipping routes to reduce carbon emissions, and even partnering with carbon offset programs. When selecting a fulfillment partner, look for those committed to sustainability if this aligns with your brand values and customer expectations.
How can I negotiate better rates with fulfillment services?
Negotiating better rates is all about demonstrating your value as a client and understanding your needs. Be ready to discuss your shipping volumes, growth potential, and specific requirements. Highlighting how a long-term partnership can be mutually beneficial can also sway negotiations in your favor. Don’t hesitate to shop around and bring competitive offers to the table to leverage better deals.
Other Fulfillment Software Reviews
If you want to take on fulfillment management yourself, I would start with these software options to build out your internal system.
- Order Fulfillment Software
- Warehouse Management Software
- Inventory Management Software
- Product Information Management (PIM) Software
- Pick and Pack Software
The Takeaway
An efulfillment service can be the “missing link” in your supply chain between you and your customers. They are a key part of scaling up, satisfying customers, and honing your B2C or B2B efficiency.
Now it’s your turn: Let us know what you think! Who do you think is the best order fulfillment service? What fulfillment services have you tried—and what do you think of them? Is there an ecommerce fulfillment solution that you think we missed on this list? Let us know in the comments.
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Related Read: A Guide To The Global Order Fulfillment Process