Fulfillment Service Shortlist
Here’s the list of the best tools that I’ll cover in this article.
The best fulfillment services will be able to offer personalized ecommerce order fulfillment solutions, clean integration with your sales channels, and all-inclusive warehouse logistics. Simply put: they can store, pick, pack, ship, and track the products you are selling in your online store.
In this article, I’ll go over some of the best efulfillment service options and outline what makes them great, what each does best according to my own honest review, and how much they cost.
What are Fulfillment Services?
Fulfillment services are third-party logistics providers that handle the storage, picking, packing, and shipping of products on behalf of businesses. These companies specialize in managing the supply chain process, from receiving inventory to delivering products to customers.
Fulfillment services can store products in their own warehouses or in a shared space, allowing businesses to outsource the entire process of order fulfillment. They use specialized software to manage orders, track inventory levels, and optimize shipping routes. By outsourcing fulfillment to a specialized provider, businesses can save time and resources, reduce shipping costs, and improve the accuracy and speed of order processing.
Overviews Of The 10 Best Fulfillment Services
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.
ShipBob
Best for personalized unboxing experiences
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
Best for retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers
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
Best for small to mid-sized businesses
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.
eShipper
Best for Canadian shipping services
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.
Fulfillment by Amazon
Best for leveraging Amazon fulfillment centers globally
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.
Saltbox
Best for small-sized subscription businesses
Starting a subscription business is tough work because it involves high customer acquisition and marketing costs. When you add order fulfillment to the mix, it can quickly transform your subscription-based business into a logistics company, and that’s not good for your bottom line.
This is where Saltbox comes in. Its flexible logistics solutions help subscription businesses scale up and down as needed. Their users get labor on demand and warehouse space at reasonable rates, which is otherwise difficult for small business owners. Another thing users love about Saltbox, apart from its flexibility, is that it also lets them offer same-day delivery. This allows them to compete against big players and retain customers.
Saltbox offers customized pricing upon request.
Shipfusion
Best for inventory management help
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.
OWD
Best for electronic data interchange (EDI) compliance
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.
Bolt
Best sustainable 3PL option
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.
ShipHero
Best for rate shopping
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.
The 10 Best Fulfillment Services Summary
| Tool | Free Option | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ShipBob Best for personalized unboxing experiences | Free demo | Pricing upon request | Visit Website |
| 2 | Linnworks Best for retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Visit Website |
| 3 | ShipMonk Best for small to mid-sized businesses | Free demo | Pricing upon request | Visit Website |
| 4 |  eShipper Best for Canadian shipping services | Not available | Pricing upon request | Visit Website |
| 5 |  Fulfillment by Amazon Best for leveraging Amazon fulfillment centers globally | Free demo | From $39.99/month | Visit Website |
| 6 |  Saltbox Best for small-sized subscription businesses | Not available | Pricing upon request | Visit Website |
| 7 |  Shipfusion Best for inventory management help | Not available | Pricing upon request | Visit Website |
| 8 |  OWD Best for electronic data interchange (EDI) compliance | Not available | Pricing upon request | Visit Website |
| 9 |  Bolt Best sustainable 3PL option | Free demo | Pricing upon request | Visit Website |
| 10 |  ShipHero Best for rate shopping | 30-day free trial | From $499/month | Visit Website |
Other Options
Here are a few more fulfillment services and 3PL companies that didn’t make the top list.
- ShipStation
Best for multiple storefronts
- Falcon Fulfillment
Fulfillment service company with 2 day shipping available in 48 US states (via ground shipping).
- Simpl Fulfillment
Ecommerce order fulfillment company that prides themselves on intuitively and ease-of-use.
- Fulfillment.com
High volume worldwide ecommerce fulfillment services with pre-negotiated volume discounts.
- Whiplash
Nationwide omnichannel fulfillment provider for ecommerce, retail, and wholesale.
- Rakuten Super Logistics
Order fulfillment and 3PL experts powered by a US nationwide fulfillment center network.
- Deliverr
Fulfillment company with next day Delivery on qualifying Google, Shopify, and Facebook Ads.
- Fulfillment Bridge
Global all-in-one fulfillment logistics service provider with solutions for everything from crowdfunding to Amazon sales.
- FedEx Fulfillment
Modular and scalable fulfillment solution with hub-based warehousing for both forward and reverse logistics.
- Red Stag Fulfillment
Cloud-based order fulfillment for B2B and B2C ecommerce companies with an 100% order accuracy guarantee.
- Shopify Fulfillment Network (SFN)
Network of fulfillment centers managed by Shopify with ~2 day shipping to most of the USA.
- Fulfillment Warehouse
Fulfillment service located near LAX with 150,000 square foot warehouse plus extra off-site storage.
- Ruby Has
3PL provider that recently joined with ShipMonk.
- eFulfillment Service
Orders from Amazon, eBay, Etsy, Buy on Google, and more, in one centralized dashboard.
- Shipwire
Global fulfillment and 3PL services for brands and retailers.
Criteria Comparison For Fulfillment Services
If you're wondering how I selected the best fulfillment services, here's where I'll break it all down for you. First of all, I started with fulfillment services that have high customer review and satisfaction ratings. Then, using my experience in ecommerce management, I discerned what key criteria were most important for fulfillment services and compared how each of them stacked up against the rest.
After careful consideration, I've determined that these are the most important criteria when selecting the best fulfillment services. Here's a brief list outlining the whats and whys of my selection.
Key Functions
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.
Customer Service
Customer experience is crucial when choosing a fulfillment service company because it can directly impact the customer's experience with your business. The fulfillment service is responsible for delivering your products to your customers, and any mistakes or delays can result in dissatisfied customers. A company with excellent customer service can help resolve any issues quickly and efficiently, ensuring that customers receive their orders on time and in good condition.
Fulfillment Centers
Ecommerce companies like Amazon have set a precedent for lightning-fast deliveries, so customers expect quick deliveries. So, you’ve got to ensure that your fulfillment service provider has fulfillment centers close to your customers. Different fulfillment services may have different reach, so you need to choose accordingly.
Services Offered
While some services are a must-have (like owning and operating distribution centers, basic order processing, and so on), others are just really, really nice to have. Or they are case-specific. For example, I might evaluate a service for their dropshipping, labeling, inserts, subscription boxes, or two-day shipping...all while knowing that each of these things is important to a particular customer niche and may not be needed across the board. I try to review a variety of ecommerce fulfillment company options to cover all of these bases.
Integrations
I look for a fulfillment provider that can integrate with your online selling platform of choice, be it a Shopify store, Amazon, or social media. Although fulfillment services are a third-party provider, their data and updates need to feed into your store backend in real-time in order for everything to run smoothly.
People Also Ask
Here are a smattering of questions I wanted to get the jump on answering while we’re on the topic of fulfillment services.
How much do fulfillment services cost?
What is the difference between fulfillment service and fulfillment software?
What are the benefits of using a fulfillment service?
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.
For more ecommerce tips and tools, be sure to subscribe to the Ecomm Manager newsletter.
Related Read: A Guide To The Global Order Fulfillment Process