When buying products online, people expect their orders to be packaged and shipped as soon as possible. Most customers say that convenience is the main reason they choose to shop online versus in-store.
To store, pack, and ship products, you need an ecommerce fulfillment strategy. Some businesses choose to fulfill customer orders in house. Others use a fulfillment partner to manage inventory, package orders, and organize delivery.
The right fulfillment solution for you depends on the size of your business, the type of products you sell, and your brand priorities. This guide covers the basics of ecommerce fulfillment, popular methods, and how to choose a fulfillment solution.
Table of contents
What is ecommerce fulfillment?
Ecommerce fulfillment is the process of picking, packing, and shipping online orders to customers. It includes managing inventory, packaging products, and delivery logistics.
You can ship yourself (as a lean operation or with your own warehouse and team) or outsource fulfillment to a third-party logistics (3PL) company.
How do you fulfill an ecommerce order?
Store owners who have unique shipping needs or prioritize direct control tend to manage their own orders. If you value including handwritten notes, QAing the process, or full accounting traceability, then self-fulfillment might work for you.
Fast-growing brands with small, lightweight products and high monthly order volumes ranging from 400—500 up to 10,000+ often choose to use a third-party logistics company. When you partner with a 3PL through Shopify Fulfillment Network, you can manage them from your Shopify admin.
Ecommerce store owners using a dropshipping business model forward the entire fulfillment process to the manufacturer or supplier.
Self-fulfillment
Using a commerce platform like Shopify, shipping orders to customers is straightforward. You can buy shipping labels, print pick lists, track orders, and handle returns and exchanges.
In-house fulfillment may mean managing your own inventory, providing customer support, and employing staff to process orders.
Third-party fulfillment
As order volume increases, some ecommerce businesses can no longer store, pack, and ship their products in house. So, they switch to third-party warehousing or fulfillment solutions.
With outsourced fulfillment, the process for ecommerce businesses becomes simpler. Orders can be sent directly to a fulfillment partner, which handles packing and shipping. The retailer needs to ensure their fulfillment provider has enough inventory to meet order demands.
Shopify Fulfillment Network helps Shopify store owners match with the right 3PL, monitor analytics, and troubleshoot orders from the Shopify admin.
Dropshipping
Dropshipping is an ecommerce model where store owners aren’t responsible for fulfillment. Instead of producing or storing inventory, a store forwards orders to a manufacturer or distributor, who dropships the product directly to the customer.
This fulfillment method helps online stores establish themselves and avoid upfront costs. But it can reduce store owners’ control over shipping and customer service, and mean longer delivery times.
9 best ecommerce fulfillment solutions
If you’re looking to work with a fulfillment company, figuring out where to start can be daunting. Here are nine popular options from the Shopify Fulfillment Network, with key features from each.
- Flexport
- Amazon Multi-Channel Fulfillment Network
- Bigblue
- DHL Fulfillment Network
- GoBolt
- Mayple
- ShipBob
- Shipfusion
- ShipMonk
1. Flexport
Amazon MCF uses global logistics infrastructure with hundreds of fulfillment centers.
Key features
- Options for same-day, one-day, two-day, and three-day delivery—97%+ on-time
- 100+ platform integrations and single inventory pool
Best for
- High-volume brands that sell on Shopify, Amazon, and other channels
- Fastest possible delivery speeds
- Prioritizing logistics reliability over custom packaging
2. Amazon Multi-Channel Fulfillment Network
Bigblue has a network of nine warehouses in Europe and a global carrier network. It’s enterprise-ready fulfillment for complex DTC and B2B needs, with advanced technology for B2C and B2B branded experiences.
Key features
- European dominance and local EU market knowledge
- Advanced customization for branded packaging and inserts
- 50+ carrier integrations and DDP to ship worldwide, with next-day delivery, standard, and the largest network of pickup points in Europe.
- Vertically integrated commerce platform.
Best for
- European brands or expanding into European markets
- Premium brands that want unboxing to reinforce brand identity
- Selling both DTC and B2B and wholesale
- 1,000 orders/month minimum
3. Bigblue
Bigblue has a network of nine warehouses in Europe and a global carrier network. It’s enterprise-ready fulfillment for complex DTC and B2B needs, with advanced technology for B2C and B2B branded experiences.
Key features
- European dominance and local EU market knowledge
- Advanced customization for branded packaging and inserts
- 50+ carrier integrations and DDP to ship worldwide, with next-day delivery, standard, and the largest network of pickup points in Europe.
- Vertically integrated commerce platform.
Best for
- European brands or expanding into European markets
- Premium brands that want unboxing to reinforce brand identity
- Selling both DTC and B2B and wholesale
- 1,000 orders/month minimum
4. DHL Fulfillment Network
DHL Fulfillment Network brings decades of global logistics experience, with a 3,000 orders/month minimum.
Key features
- Global network of fulfillment centers that position inventory near buyers for faster delivery and lower emissions.
- Expertise in cross-border logistics, customs clearance, and international compliance
- Built to support rapid growth from 3,000 to 100,000+ orders/month
Best for
- Proven product-market fit that’s scaling
- Expanding internationally
- Enterprise-level support
5. GoBolt
GoBolt provides tech-enabled fulfillment with an integrated parcel delivery service, with a 3,000 orders/month minimum.
Key features
- Carbon-neutral delivery with a primarily electric vehicle delivery fleet
- Cross-border expertise with warehouse networks spanning US and Canadian markets
Best for
- Fast-growing brands looking to expand across North America
- Eco-conscious brands looking to align fulfillment with sustainability positioning
6. Mayple
Mayple has fast, affordable global shipping from one central hub, with profitable international growth from 250–100,000+ orders/month.
Key features
- Single platform to manage cross-border shipping, tracking, and customer experience
- Automated duties, taxes, and compliance with accurate DDP checkout
- Branded tracking; customers can fix addresses and delivery details to reduce failures
Best for
- Fast-growing brands looking to expand internationally
- Store owners who want international delivery to feel as simple and reliable as domestic
7. ShipBob
ShipBob operates 60+ fulfillment centers globally, with particularly fast service across the US and transparent pricing.
Key features
- Centers across North America, Europe, UK, and Australia
- Omnichannel fulfillment (DTC and B2B)
- Automated inventory distribution and replenishment to keep costs and transit times low
- Transparent pricing model
Best for
- Fast-growing DTC brands
- Predictable costs
8. Shipfusion
Shipfusion is a premium 3PL built for high-growth DTC brands, with owned and operated facilities delivering white-glove service, transparent pricing, and custom flows.
Key features
- Owned and operated facilities for consistent service, greater quality control, and accuracy
- Each client gets matched with a dedicated account manager who provides proactive support
- Proprietary, award-winning software to manage inventory and forecasting from anywhere
- Clear pricing and real-time billing available down to the order level
- Advanced customization: kitting, bundling, custom packaging, subscription boxes, special handling
Best for
- High-growth DTC brands shipping 5,000+ orders per month
- Custom fulfillment workflows and high-touch service
- Teams that value personalized support and accuracy at scale
9. ShipMonk
ShipMonk has tech-forward fulfillment for scaling brands, combining advanced automation with personalized support.
Key features
- Fully owned and operated fulfillment centers across the US, Canada, UK, and Europe; operates 7 days a week for faster delivery
- 99%+ order and inventory accuracy powered by advanced scanning and quality control
- Packaging and cost-optimization tools to control spend as you grow
- No hidden fees—just predictable costs that help you plan for the long term
Best for
- Growing brands in apparel, beauty, lifestyle, and beyond seeking accuracy and speed
- High-touch support and operational partnership
How to choose a fulfillment solutions provider
Here’s what to look for when choosing an ecommerce fulfillment provider for your business.
Similar industry experience
Every fulfillment company functions differently. Many providers package their services for niche businesses or specialist industries. If your business has unique needs, look for a fulfillment partner with experience handling your products and customer base.
Ecommerce specialization
Try to find a logistics company that already works with ecommerce businesses. Prior ecommerce fulfillment experience means your provider can offer strategic guidance as you grow, including help with managing import tariffs and product classification for international shipping.
Before committing to an agreement, chat with your potential fulfillment partner about the needs of your business. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or request references.
Look beyond price
One of the most common shipping problems is cost. While choosing a fulfillment solution based on budget is tempting, finding a company that’s a good fit is just as important.
Poor fulfillment creates unhappy customers, which can cost more than shipping overheads. Pricing should be one of the factors in your decision-making, but not the only one.
Other factors to consider when choosing an ecommerce fulfillment provider
- Fulfillment center locations. Placing your stock closer to customers reduces shipping times and costs. You may be able to offer same-day delivery in some circumstances.
- Inventory shrinkage allowance. Some 3PLs charge fees for inventory shrinkage—the term for damaged, stolen, or lost products. Others offer zero shrinkage policies.
When is the right time to switch to outsourced fulfillment?
Most companies start by fulfilling their own orders and add a third-party solution as they scale. But when you’re bootstrapping your business, making the decision to partner with another company is hard.
Your business doesn’t need to reach a specific size to use a fulfillment solution. If you find yourself in one of the situations below, it could be time to start chatting with a logistics company.
Cyclical or uneven sales
If the number of orders you process fluctuates throughout the year, it may not make sense to commit to running and staffing a warehouse. A fulfillment company can adapt to your needs.
Unexpected spikes in sales can compromise your delivery promise. An expert can handle times when your daily order volume peaks, so you can maintain a consistent customer experience.
You’re too busy
If you’re so busy dealing with order fulfillment that you don’t have time to focus on growth, it’s time to start outsourcing. As a business owner, you need to devote time to marketing, expanding your sales channels, sourcing new products, and otherwise improving your offering.
Lack of infrastructure
Logistical hurdles like increased costs and longer shipping times can limit your ability to expand into new markets. When you outsource to a global fulfillment partner, they can use their multiple locations to keep up with customer demand.
Ecommerce fulfillment challenges
No single solution is perfect for every business. There are times when using an ecommerce fulfillment provider doesn’t make sense, no matter the size of your business.
A third-party logistics company may not be the right option for the following types of business:
Businesses with limited cash flow
If extra funds aren’t available, you may need to bootstrap business growth and run your own fulfillment process. For example, during Amazon’s early days, employees would spend their evenings hand-picking and packing customers’ book orders.
Highly specialized businesses
Fulfillment centers may be unable to accommodate customizable products, highly fragile objects, or sensitive materials.
Businesses with limited daily order volume
If you’re only receiving a handful of orders per day, it’s likely too soon to consider outsourcing fulfillment. At this stage, it’s still manageable in-house by yourself or an employee.
When you hit five to 10 shipments per day, it might be time to begin your search for a 3PL.
Ecommerce fulfillment FAQ
What is an order fulfillment process?
What is the best fulfillment solution?
How do I fulfill an online order?
- Receive a customer order and process it.
- Package the order.
- Label and ship the order.
- Track the package to its destination.
