Top 10: E-Commerce Fulfilment Partners

The e-commerce sector has grown significantly over the past few years, with online shopping becoming a go-to method of purchasing goods for many people around the world. 

In an ever-evolving digital landscape, companies are having to adapt to consumer demands and remain competitive within the market. Leaders in e-commerce are adopting more technology in order to move fast and constantly evolve.

E-commerce fulfilment partners help these companies reach their full potential, by offering thorough logistics plans, storage space and customer service care.

Today, Supply Chain Digital examines the Top 10 E-Commerce fulfilment partners which are helping make online shopping much more efficient. 

10. Whistl

Employees: ~2,400
Principle: Ian Keilty
Founded: 2014

The Whistl Group is a UK leading logistics specialist, offering expert-led solutions to drive growth. It offers tailored e-commerce fulfilment services, with streamlined solutions to help businesses grow.

Whistl picks, packs and dispatches orders, aligned to each business' KPIs, with accuracy and speed.

It has purpose-build fulfilment storage facilities, as well as the capabilities to accurately manage and track stock in real-time. Through this, Whistl optimises space in order to help ensure consumer demands are always met.

9. ShipNetwork

Employees: ~450
Principle: Devin Johnson
Founded: 2001

ShipNetwork is a US-based partner with fulfilment centres across the country. It has a range of shipping carrier partners including DHL, UPS and USPS to help clients maximise shipping power. 

ShipNetwork offers 1-day fulfilment guarantees with a 1-2 day ground delivery network. Its fulfilment centres are strategically located to provide optimal locations for product port entry and as the optimal shipping network to get the parcel to the end customer.

8. Bigblue

Employees: 100-300
Co-CEOs: Mathias Griffe and William Meunier
Founded: 2018

Bigblue is using automated warehouses in France, Spain, the UK and Germany, with state-of-the-art technology to increase speed of order preparation and shipping. Its nine warehouses and network of more than 20 carriers allow clients to ship internationally while benefitting from local delivery prices.

It offers specialised processes and personalisation options for its clients, with controlled temperate storage capabilities for beauty and food products, and hanging racks which can be used for fashion brands.

7. Red Stag Fulfillment

Employees: 100-500
CEO: Wally Shaw
Founded: 2013

Red Stag Fulfillment offers automated API integration, connecting its software with the clients’ online store. In doing so, it offers a seamless fulfilment process, with no effort and added accuracy to ensure no manual errors occur. At Red Stag, all orders are picked, packed and shipped on the same day, preventing delays and streamlining delivery.

Red Stag also offers reverse logistics solutions, helping returned shipments be processed quickly so refunds can be received on time and customers stay likely to return to the business.

6. ShipMonk

Employees: 1,200+
CEO: Kevin Sides
Founded: 2014

As an e-commerce fulfilment partner, ShipMonk offers 99.9% order accuracy to ensure it protects its clients' brands and margins. It is a leading 3PL provider, handling everything from warehousing and inventory management, to picking, packing and shipping orders. 

It has strategically located warehouses across the US, Canada, Mainland Europe and the UK, meaning the optimal shipping location is chosen for faster delivery, reduced shipping costs and more satisfied customers.

5. Shopify

Employees: ~10,000
CEO: Tobias Lütke
Founded: 2006

Shopify Fulfillment Network (SFN) connects Shopify’s trusted logistics partner directly to its client’s Shopify store. Its launch partner, Flexport, sorts packaging and delivery, acting as a reliable and fast service.

Under SFN, retailers can monitor everything from their account, having a high level of traceability. It also offers hassle-free inventory shipping to one location, rather than having to organise many. The partner also allows clients to fulfil orders from connected sales channels, such as Walmart and eBay.

4. DHL

Employees: 600,000+
CEO: Tobias Meyer
Founded: 1969

DHL Fulfilment Network has helped many businesses around the world grow to scale. It is constantly adding to its services and building its network in order to support its customers. It is open to innovation, whether with greener packaging, new services or smarter warehouse technology. 

DHL has the scale and knowledge to support a business’ e-commerce journey, as the company has its own network of warehouses to reach every part of the world. It has resilience embedded, with continuity and response plans to help it face disruption.

3. FedEx

Employees: 500,000+
CEO: Raj Subramaniam
Founded: 1971

FedEx has been simplifying logistics for decades, working to strengthen supply chains with its global network. The company has a range of e-commerce services to help businesses grow their global reach, offering tools, advice and resources to business owners.

As part of its service, FedEx explores why each step is important within e-commerce fulfilment, offering transparency to its clients and helping them make informed decisions. FedEx also caters its e-commerce fulfilment plans for the boom of the holidays, meeting demand.

2. ShipBob

Employees: ~1,500
CEO: Dhruv Saxena
Founded: 2014

ShipBob works to provide best-in-class fulfilment for small to mid-size businesses, helping these companies grow to their fullest potential. In just over 10 years, the company has grown to host more than 60 fulfilment centres around the world, partnering with thousands of brands. 

ShipBob can create fulfilment solutions for a range of industries, including apparel, cosmetics, petcare and food and drinks. The platform focuses on helping businesses expand their global reach, reduce shipping costs and speed up transit times. Moreover, ShipBob helps businesses save time and money with its end-to-end fulfilment services. 

Its tech-enabled fulfilment solutions provide fast and reliable shipping from a seller’s online store to the customer’s door. In between, ShipBob has dedicated centres and staff to pick, pack and ship orders, ensuring the product gets there on time.

1. Amazon FBA

Employees: 1.5m+ company wide
CEO: Andy Jassy
Founded: 1994

Amazon FBA, also known as Fulfilment by Amazon, was founded in 2006. It is a storage, shipping and customer service programme, providing fulfilment expertise to sellers around the world. Through FBA, sellers can send products into Amazon’s global network of fulfilment centres, which will then be picked, packed and shipped by Amazon. The company also handles customer service and returns, providing the expertise of one of the largest e-commerce platforms.

Using its global network, FBA allows business owners and sellers to deliver orders quickly and reliably, meaning that sellers can grow their customer base without extra time or monetary costs.

By taking care of the time-consuming tasks such as order handling and shipping, FBA lets clients free up time and money to focus on creating new products.