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Getting your products out on time—every time—requires a workforce, storage space, inventory management and more. It can be complex, challenging and expensive. That's where fulfilment companies come in.
By delivering orders to customers more quickly, efficiently and reliably, fulfilment services help small businesses like yours provide excellent customer experiences.
Picking and packing customer orders in-house? Using an ecommerce fulfilment provider means your company can focus on other priorities, like marketing and product development. It can also help you to reduce costs, drive customer happiness and scale your business.
How does ecommerce fulfilment work?
When using a fulfilment service, you must first set up an account and have your products shipped to the company.
When you receive an order through your sales channel (either your website or another ecommerce platform), the fulfilment centre is usually notified through their system integration.
They will locate your product in their warehouse, prepare it for delivery and arrange shipping to the customer. The fulfilment company then provides the customer with order status updates, saving you time on manual administration and reducing packing errors. Many providers handle exchanges and returns, inspecting products for damage, processing refunds and disposing of them if necessary.
Fulfilment services are critical in ensuring customer satisfaction and retention by providing a streamlined and efficient product delivery process.
Many firms also offer inventory management visibility, allowing you to keep track of your stock levels so you can make sure to have the right products available to meet customer demand.
What's the best fulfilment company?
|
Amazon FBA |
Best for the fast shipping of small-sized products |
|
Bezos |
Best for heavy and bulky items |
|
BOXstation |
Best for straightforward pricing |
|
Cloud Fulfilment |
Best for real-time insights and stock levels |
|
Green Fulfilment |
Best for eco-conscious businesses |
|
Huboo |
Best for low, transparent pricing |
|
James and James |
Best for startups |
|
myWarehouse |
Best for low pricing and low-volume orders |
|
Red Stag Fulfilment |
Best for international delivery needs |
|
ShipBob |
Best for businesses selling products in the US |
|
ZendBox |
Best for fast-growing companies |
1. Amazon FBA
One of the biggest online marketplaces offers a fulfilment solution with fast shipping fees.
Amazon FBA offers storage in Amazon's fulfilment centres, along with pick and pack and delivery of your products.
It offers fast shipping, including access to Amazon Prime's one-day delivery, which is particularly valuable if you want to improve order fulfilment and drive customer satisfaction.
If your customers do change their minds, Amazon FBA will handle the returns processing and can manage customer service, too.
Costs
Amazon FBA works on a pay-as-you-go model with no long-term contracts.
You're charged two main seller fees: inventory storage space and fulfilment fees (including picking, packing and shipping). Occasional additional costs may apply, such as returns processing and long-term storage fees.
Pros of Amazon FBA
- Fast delivery
- A Prime badge tells customers that Amazon handles packing, delivery, customer service and returns
- You can sell from your own or third-party ecommerce sites
Cons of Amazon FBA
- A costly service for some small businesses
- Prices go up between October and December
2. Bezos
An end-to-end ecommerce fulfilment service, Bezos can have your products ready to sell within three days of their warehouse arrival.
Bezos provides packaging materials, multiple platform integrations and a customisable returns service.
The service can work with various sellers thanks to its specialised fulfilment centres that handle alcohol, organic products and bulky, heavy items.
Bezos offers a network of fulfilment centres and logistic partners so that you can scale your business.
Costs
Bezos has two fees: a monthly subscription for the use of technology and fulfilment charges for what you use, which include receiving and storing your products, picking, packing and shipping each order.
You're not tied to any contract. Your monthly subscription can be cancelled at any time.
Pros of Bezos
- Fast delivery
- A dedicated account manager
- No minimum order volumes
- Offers a customisable returns service
- Accepts alcohol, organic and heavy products
Cons of Bezos
- No pricing information available
3. BOXstation
With a dedicated account manager, no contracts and express international shipping, this provider is ideal for small businesses.
The fulfilment service handles storage, pick and pack, shipping and returns.
You’ll also have accurate inventory records to ensure you can always meet customer demand.
Costs
BOXstation works on a pay-as-you-go model and doesn't charge minimum fees, so you'll only pay for the services you use without the obligation of a long-term contract.
Pros of BOXstation
- A dedicated account manager
- Integrations available for Amazon and eBay sales channels
- Offers returns handling
Cons of BOXstation
- Might not be the best fit for businesses looking to scale
- A limited number of shopping cart integrations
- Pricing information not available online
4. Cloud Fulfilment
Cloud Fulfilment provides an end-to-end pick, pack and shipping service ideal for fast-moving companies.
Specialising in various industries, including apparel, pet supplies and beauty products, Cloud Fulfilment helps you to grow your business internationally. The service has a network of international shipping partners, allowing you to handle customs, tracking and returns.
You'll have real-time inventory visibility managed through a cloud-based platform and multi-channel integration options so that you can connect your online stores without fuss.
Costs
The provider has three main costs: pick and pack, storage and shipping. You can use their online pricing calculator to get an estimated quote.
Pros of Cloud Fulfilment
- Large range of integrations
- Scalable to help grow your business worldwide
Cons of Cloud Fulfilment
- A minimum of 500 monthly orders is required
5. Green Fulfilment
Using eco-friendly paper and recycling all plastics and cardboard, Green Fulfilment is an excellent choice if you're looking for a more planet-friendly fulfilment solution.
Is environmental packaging at the forefront of your business? Green Fulfilment provides greener options, such as recycled cardboard boxes and bio-degradable mailing bags.
Green Fulfilment ships worldwide. What’s more, the provider can offer assistance on compliance if you’re looking to expand into new markets, like the US.
The service offers free integrations to over 70 platforms, like Amazon, eBay and Shopify, so you can enjoy a seamless set-up with your sales channels.
With a 99.9% order accuracy, safe storage and stock visibility, you can deliver excellent customer service while growing your business.
Costs
Pricing is linked to your specific requirements, but remains simple and clear.
Costs are determined by several factors, including packaging needs, technology requirements and storage space. When it comes to your invoice, charges are broken down by service, such as storage, pick pack charges and shipping.
Pros of Green Fulfilment
- Offers a risk-free trial
- Wide range of software integrations
- An advanced online portal for customers
- Ideal for businesses with 500 orders a month or more
Cons of Green Fulfilment
- Pricing information is not available online
6. Huboo
This fulfilment provider combines smart technology and a people-centric focus to stock, pick, pack and ship your products efficiently.
Huboo picks, packs and posts your products to customers worldwide, helping you drive growth. It's a great solution for SMEs, startups and sole traders.
You can keep track of everything through the Huboo dashboard, from inventory and sales to costs and billing.
Huboo even stores alcohol and health items (only offered by some fulfilment services).
Costs
Low storage and packing prices mean you reach your customers more affordably. There are no set-up charges for integration, and you have free storage for two months.
Pros of Huboo
- Offers instant signup
- Boasts a 99.9% picking accuracy rate
- Works with various products, including organics and alcohol products
Cons of Huboo
- Can't accept heavy items or chilled goods
- Doesn't offer B2B fulfilment
7. James and James
A simple returns management service and efficient pick, pack and shipping process, James and James specialises in business growth, particularly in the US.
James and James offers a cloud-based platform to show you your inventory anytime.
The provider works well for startups or micro-businesses, helping you to drive growth—fast.
Costs
The provider has three types of fees: fulfilment services costs, fulfilment centre costs and order fulfilment costs.
Pros of James and James
- Dedicated client support team
- Various sales channel integrations
- Equipped to help you scale your business fast
Cons of James and James
- No pricing information is available
8. myWarehouse
With low fulfilment costs and no monthly subscriptions, myWarehouse is ideal for small businesses looking for straightforward pricing options.
While the service has no upper limits on order volume, myWarehouse is best suited to ecommerce businesses with 2,000 monthly orders or less.
myWarehouse is also equipped to handle returns.
Costs
There are no minimum fees, set-up fees or hidden fees. The pay-as-you-go model means you're not tied to the obligation of a long-term contract.
Pros of myWarehouse
- Offers 100% accuracy guarantee on picking and packing
- No lengthy contracts
- No set-up fees
Cons of myWarehouse
- No account management service available
- Not ideal for high-volume orders
9. Red Stag Fulfilment
Deliver products to your customers fast and efficiently with Red Stag Fulfilment.
The provider gives you access to a network of fulfilment centres across the US, which works well if you want to scale internationally.
With a personalised approach to fulfilment, this service is ideal for small businesses. It guarantees accurate order fulfilment and fast shipping—helping to drive customer satisfaction.
Costs
Pricing includes receiving, storage, picking and packing fees. Red Stag Fulfilment doesn’t charge SKU or account management fees.
Pros of Red Stag Fulfilment
- Offers a 30-day, risk-free trial
- Automated returns processing
- No long-term commitments
- 100% accuracy on order fulfilment
Cons of Red Stag Fulfilment
- Not based in the UK
- US-based client service may not be the best fit for UK businesses
10. ShipBob
Using cloud-based technology, ShipBob allows you to design, manage and track your fulfilment.
With seamless integrations, ShipBob offers cloud-based inventory management, order tracking and sales analytics.
You can automate parts of your operations, like reducing manual labour. If you have any problems, you can contact the fulfilment centre's on-site customer success reps.
The provider helps you grow fast and expand into new locations worldwide.
Costs
ShipBob charges fees for receiving your inventory, storage and shipping each order.
Pros of ShipBob
- 99.95% accuracy rate
- International warehouses
- Simple, user-friendly dashboard
- No minimum inventory requirements
- Worldwide shipping
Cons of ShipBob
- Not based in the UK
- Doesn't offer refrigeration
11. ZendBox
Ideal for various industries, including fashion, B2B and sports nutrition, ZendBox is a third-party logistics solution for fast-growing companies.
ZendBox takes care of everything, including picking, packing and shipping your orders. The provider looks after inventory management and customer returns, so you can put your limited time into other brand-building priorities.
Costs
You can receive a personalised estimate for your fulfilment needs via the website.
Pros of ZendBox
- International shipping
- Multi-channel fulfilment options
- Access to an online portal for real-time order data and inventory levels
Cons of ZendBox
- No pricing information is available
- Not ideal for very low-volume sales
FAQs
What are fulfilment services?
Fulfilment services help to provide a seamless shopping experience by fulfilling the customer journey after checkout, which includes receiving, picking, packing and delivering orders.
Many fulfilment companies offer an inventory management system, so you always have stock visibility. Some firms also deal with the returns handling of your products.
Why use a third-party fulfilment solution?
You may use a third-party fulfilment solution for several reasons, including to reduce operational costs, increase efficiency and improve customer satisfaction.
Fulfilment providers can also help your ecommerce business to scale operations without investing in a larger workforce, inventory management or shipping logistics.
What is the average cost of fulfilment?
Fulfilment costs vary, depending on various factors, including the specific fulfilment company you choose, the size of your products and the volume of orders.
Fulfilment services typically incur the following fees:
- Account setup
- Inventory intake
- Storage
- Picking and packing
- Shipping
Some firms also charge additional fees, like long-term storage costs, which can quickly add up. Compare different fulfilment options to find the right fit for your company's needs and budget.
How do I choose a fulfilment company?
Consider your budget, distribution locations and product type when choosing a fulfilment company. Organics and alcohol products may be better suited to services like Huboo, while Amazon FBA could be ideal for high-volume sales.
Some companies may take longer than others to set up, so factor in your timeline for getting up and running.
Save money and grow your business
Customers today expect speedy delivery, order status updates and a reasonable return policy if they change their minds about a purchase. That's why outsourcing fulfilment services to a third-party provider can streamline your operations and drive better customer experiences.
After checkout, fulfilment companies can handle everything, including packing orders, inventory visibility and returns processing. As a result, you can lower costs, improve delivery times and increase customer satisfaction while remaining competitive in a constantly evolving market.
What's more, you can achieve significant growth by combining efficient fulfilment operations and effective online advertising.
Let us know if you found this useful in the comments!
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