Handing your fulfillment to a third party is a big decision — it affects delivery speed, marketplace metrics and customer experience. The right questions upfront save you from an expensive switch later. Here's what actually matters.
1. Channel coverage and integrations
Your 3PL should connect cleanly to every channel you sell on — Amazon, Walmart, Shopify, TikTok Shop — so orders flow automatically and inventory stays in sync. Ask how orders and stock levels move between systems, and how quickly a new channel can be added.
2. Location and delivery reach
- Where are the facilities, and can you position inventory closer to your customers?
- Do they support the regions you ship to most, including cross-border if relevant?
- Can you split inventory across locations as you grow?
3. Accuracy and reliability
Pick-and-pack accuracy and on-time dispatch directly affect your marketplace health. Ask how they measure accuracy, how they handle mistakes, and what visibility you get into inventory and order status in real time.
4. Prep and value-added services
Beyond basic pick-pack-ship, consider what else you'll need over time:
- Amazon FBA prep (labeling, poly-bagging, bundling) to spec.
- Kitting, subscription boxes and promotional packing.
- Labeling, tagging and retail-compliant packaging.
- Palletizing and cross-docking for wholesale and retail distribution.
5. Returns handling
Returns are part of e-commerce. A good partner receives, inspects and restocks or dispositions returns quickly, keeping your inventory counts accurate rather than leaving stock in limbo.
6. The relationship
Finally, look at how they communicate. Do you get a real point of contact and clear reporting, or a ticket queue? Fulfillment problems need fast, human answers.
The best fulfillment decisions consider the next two years, not just this month's volume — coverage, prep and returns matter as you scale.
Where ASL fits
ASL offers technology-enabled fulfillment across California, Texas, New York and Ontario, with prep, kitting, distribution and returns under one roof — and, uniquely, connected to marketplace growth. Request a quote to see how it maps to your operation.