Are you considering outsourcing fulfillment services for your Shopify store? Learn when you should consider using a 3PL (“Third Party Logistics”) company – also known as a fulfillment center – and why you should be using the top fulfillment center for Shopify fulfillment, with rates starting at just $1.
What is a fulfillment center?
A fulfillment company is a warehouse that manages the receipt and storage of inventory, and the packaging, shipping, and returns of orders for your company.
Fulfillment Services
When do I need a fulfillment center?
You’re shipping at least 5-10 orders a day.
Fulfilling orders is simply taking too much time.
Most of your orders are in another country.
What are the benefits of using a fulfillment center?
Same-day shipping.
Faster shipping speeds.
Huge discounts on shipping.
More time to focus on driving sales and customer support.
No need to hire employees to pack and ship orders.
No need to lease storage space or buy packaging supplies for inventory.
You’ll have the technology to keep track of your inventory.
What to look for in a 3PL for Shopify?
1. Shopify Integration - Your fulfillment center should have a built-in Shopify integration that connects your store with their software. When an order is placed on your site, all of the information is sent to the warehouse for the 3PL to fulfill the order. Obviously, it is very important to make sure the fulfillment company integrates with Shopify, so you have a seamless fulfillment process.
With OTW Shipping, Shopify fulfillment is easy! All you need to do is connect your Shopify store to our software. It takes seconds. Once you get an order, we'll pick & pack it and have your product on your way to your customer the same day.
2. Low & Transparent Pricing - You want a partner you can trust with your product. So, be on the lookout for fulfillment centers with lots of hidden fees or slow responses. Stick to companies that show you all your rates up-front and are open about their fee structure. You shouldn't have to create an account or dive into the fine print to view the full list of fulfillment costs.
Common Fulfillment Fees:
Implementation/Account Fees – The costs associated with setting up or maintaining an account with your 3PL provider.
Receiving – The counting, processing, and storing of inventory from inbound shipments.
Types of Pricing
+ Per hour
+ Per unit
Pick & Pack – The picking of items from storage and packing of items into packaging.
Types of Pricing
+ Flat rate per shipment
+ Flat fee for 1st unit, plus a smaller fee per every additional unit
+ Flat fee per unit
Storage – The cost of storing your inventory in the warehouse.
Types of Pricing
+ Per Cubic Foot
+ Per Bin/Pallet
Shipping – The cost of shipping an order to the customer.
3. Good Customer Service
Good 3PL customer service is like insurance. You don't always need it, but when you do, you're happy you have it. If the fulfillment center you are looking at, does not at a minimum, provide you an account manager, that is a major red flag. You will have lots of questions and small issues will come up with orders all the time and most of these you will need quick resolution on. A generic support email or support ticket portal is not sufficient and shows the 3PL is not prioritizing your needs. A small portion of 3PLs, like OTW Shipping, will allow you to get in contact with someone in the warehouse directly for faster answers from the people who are handling your product every day.
Best Fulfillment Services for Shopify
With an advanced Shopify integration, friendly fulfillment pricing, and unmatched customer service, OTW Shipping is your best choice for a Shopify fulfillment partner.
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