Top e-commerce fulfillment companies

Whether you operate a small or large e-commerce business, you need a way to store your products and get them to your customer’s doorstep. As a business owner, you already have a lot on your plate, and it isn’t necessary for you to package and send out each order. 

That’s where e-commerce fulfillment companies come in. A fulfillment company provides space to store your products and automatically packages and ships your orders as they come in. These top e-commerce fulfillment companies can make operating your business easier and free up more time for you to focus on the big picture.

Quicklook: top e-commerce fulfillment companies

• Best Overall: ShipBob
• Best for Subscription Boxes: ShipNetwork
• Best for Shopify Users: Shopify Fulfillment Network
• Best for Customer Service: Fulfillment by Amazon
• Best for Fragile and Hazardous Shipments: Simpl Fulfillment
• Best for Bulky Products: Red Stag Fulfillment

The top 6 e-commerce fulfillment companies

Whether you’re looking for superior customer service or a bulky shipment specialist, these six top e-commerce fulfillment companies can help fill your business needs.

ShipBob

ShipBob is a great e-commerce fulfillment company for businesses that sell their products across marketplaces. They have more than 30 fulfillment centers across six countries, allowing for fast international shipping. Sign-up couldn’t be easier; just link your store across any of the six marketplace platforms it supports, import your catalog and send ShipBob your inventory. They’ll track your orders across platforms and speedily ship out your products for on-time delivery. 

Best Overall

Services: 

• Omnichannel fulfillment
• International shipping
• Customizable packaging

Benefits: 

•  Fast cross-country and international shipping
•  Inventory and shipment management
•  Easy business management
• Advanced analytics

Disadvantages: 

• Doesn’t offer refrigeration 

ShipNetwork

ShipNetwork, previously known as Rakuten Super Logistics, is another e-commerce fulfillment company that has centers across the country. Its locations enable it to offer two-day shipping services to most parts of the U.S. It can integrate with marketplaces such as Amazon and Shopify and is great at helping business owners get subscription boxes and kits to their customers.

Best for: Subscription boxes

Services: 

• Two-day shipping
• Customer service 
• Refrigerated shipments
• Subscription box and kit management
• Return services

Benefits: 

• Many central U.S. locations
• Fast shipping
• Custom client support
• 100% accuracy

Disadvantages: 

• No international locations
• No analytics 

Shopify Fulfillment Network

Shopify is one of the biggest e-commerce marketplaces, and it has its very own fulfillment network. The Shopify Fulfillment Network is convenient for business owners who use Shopify to operate their businesses since the store is already integrated. All you need to do is select the products in your store, send in the inventory and let Shopify handle the rest.

Best for: Shopify users

Services: 

• Affordable two-day shipping
• Inventory tracking
• Return management
• Customer support

Benefits:

• Products distributed around the country based on sales data.
• Custom packing slips
• No inventory fees for first six months

Disadvantages: 

• Does not integrate with Amazon
• Fees are by weight, so not ideal for larger items

Fulfillment by Amazon

Amazon is known for its centers around the world and their convenient, fast shipping. E-commerce retailers can use Amazon’s network for their own business by using fulfillment by Amazon. Your products will be eligible for Prime’s two-day free shipping. Amazon will also provide an inventory performance dashboard for easy company performance tracking, along with 24/7 customer support.

Best for: Customer service

Services: 

• Free two-day Prime shipping
• 24/7 customer service
• Quick international shipping
• Return management
• Multichannel integration

Benefits: 

• Top-of-the-line customer service
• Global distribution network
• Easy return policy
• Integrates with multiple marketplaces like Shopify

Disadvantages: 

•  Fees by weight so not ideal for larger items
•  No refrigeration

Simpl Fulfillment

Simpl Fulfillment can be integrated across marketplaces, and offers fast picking and packing services. Unlike many competitors, Simpl has just one warehouse at its Austin, Texas company base, so there’s no option for two-day delivery. However, Simpl does support the storage and shipping of hazardous and fragile materials.

Best for: Fragile and hazardous materials

Services: 

• Three-day shipping
• Dedicated account managers
• Simple return process
• Multi-channel integration
• Branded packaging
• Subscription boxes

Benefits: 

• Customizable packaging
• Ability to handle fragile and hazardous materials
• Customer service

Disadvantages: 

• Only one warehouse location
• Slower shipping than competition

Red Stag Fulfillment

Red Stag Fulfillment can ship products of all sizes, but really stands out for its ability to package and ship larger, heavier items. It has only two warehouse locations in Utah and Tennessee, but boasts same-day fulfillment and two-day shipping for the majority of orders nevertheless. The company offers 100% order accuracy and comprehensive inventory management tools.

Best for: Bulky products

Services: 

• Inventory monitoring
• Automated return processing
• Large product shipping
• Customer service

Benefits: 

•  30-day free trial
• Shrinkage reductions 
• Integrations with most major marketplaces
• Video monitoring

Disadvantages: 

• Only two warehouse locations
• No global centers
• Does not integrate with Amazon
• No dedicated account manager

What is e-commerce fulfillment? 

E-commerce fulfillment is the act of receiving an order, picking the product from inventory, packaging it and sending it to the customer. This process requires a lot of effort on the part of the business owner. That’s why many business owners choose to use e-commerce fulfillment companies that will store their inventory and fulfill orders for them. This process is also known as drop ship fulfillment.

How does e-commerce fulfillment work? 

If a business chooses to use e-commerce fulfillment companies, the process is easy. First, the business will sign up with the fulfillment company. Then, the business will list its catalog and connect all its marketplace channels. Once that is set up, the e-commerce business owner will ship inventory to the fulfillment center. From there on out, when the e-commerce store receives an order, the fulfillment center will pick the product, package it and ship it to the customer.

What to consider with e-commerce fulfillment companies

Using e-commerce fulfillment companies can be a game-changer in your business. Here are a few factors to keep in mind when finding a fulfillment partner for your business.

Onboarding process

Onboarding is the process of showing potential customers the value of your product. This feature typically comes from marketing, but fulfillment companies can help with this. For example, you might want your fulfillment company to provide you with advanced analytics to see how certain products perform so you can use that insight in your marketing. You’ll also want fast, safe shipping to show your customers they can get their product quickly.

Accessibility 

Fast shipping comes from centralized warehouse locations. Consider how many warehouses the fulfillment company has and whether those locations will serve you and your client base. The more U.S. and international locations the fulfillment company has, the better.

Range of services

Many e-commerce companies do more than just pick, pack and ship. They may also offer subscription box services, customized packaging and business analytics. Find a fulfillment company that will help grow your business.

Integration options

You can choose from many marketplace channels, such as Shopify and Amazon, and your business might use multiple. Ensure that your fulfillment company has comprehensive third-party integration with all of your selling channels for quick and comprehensive order fulfillment and inventory management.

Customer service

You want the peace of mind that your orders are being fulfilled on time without a hitch. In case a problem does arise, you’ll need access to comprehensive and personalized customer service. Some companies offer dedicated account managers who get to know you, your business and product so they can help solve any problems you may face.

Take your e-commerce business to the next level

Storing, packing and shipping your inventory by yourself can get time-consuming and costly, and it’s not scalable when your business begins to grow. Take that responsibility off your plate by partnering with an e-commerce fulfillment company. You’ll spend less time shipping orders so you can have more time to focus on marketing and business growth.

FAQ 

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