Shipping and Fulfillment Options Evaluation

You don’t need a 40-page audit for your 3PL. Here’s how to run a fulfillment health check in 60 minutes. You don’t need to pause growth to figure out if your ops are falling apart. You just need an hour and the right questions. Here’s your under-60-minute health check: 1. Pull your top 20 SKUs by volume → Are they placed near your top customer regions? → Are any shipping from opposite coast FCs for no good reason? 2. Look at your last 30 days of orders → What % were split shipped? → What % were late or expedited? → Are you paying for speed because your inventory is in the wrong place? 3. Check storage cost vs. inventory velocity → What’s just sitting there costing you money? → Are you storing low-velocity SKUs in high-cost zones? 4. Review your CS tickets tagged “fulfillment” or "shipping" → How many “Where’s my order?” → Any patterns around specific SKUs, carriers, or zones? → What’s avoidable with better ops planning? 5. Audit your real cost-per-order → Don’t just include pick/pack and shipping → Layer in packaging, labor, storage, tech stack, and "oh crap" costs → What’s changed in the last 90 days? 6. Look at Q4 now not in August → Where are your top SKUs likely to spike? → Are you already behind on pre-positioning? → Will you survive peak if demand doubles next month? You don’t need to fix everything in 60 minutes. But you can absolutely find what’s breaking before it snowballs.

𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗙𝗕𝗔 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗕𝗠—𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 Most Amazon sellers think it's FBA or FBM. But the smartest sellers? They use both. Here's what Amazon's own product managers revealed at Amazon Accelerate 2025: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝘆𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀: - Use FBM while your FBA inventory is inbound (never miss sales during lead times) - Switch to FBM when FBA stock runs out during peak seasons - Test new products with FBM first, then scale winners with FBA 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗕𝗔 𝗦𝘄𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁: Products selling 20+ units/month with the Prime badge get a 25% sales boost. But heavy items (50+ lbs), multi-box shipments, or refrigerated goods? Often more profitable with FBM. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗕𝗠 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲-𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿: Amazon's data shows every day you improve delivery accuracy = 5% sales increase. Not faster delivery—just hitting the date you promise. 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿: 1. Ship Settings Automation (definitive delivery dates) 2. Premium Shipping Options (55% volume increase for one seller) 3. Buy Shipping with claims protection 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲? Thinking fulfillment strategy is set-and-forget. Top sellers revisit monthly, adjusting based on seasonality, inventory levels, and product performance. Your fulfillment mix should evolve with your business—not trap you in one approach. #AmazonSelling #Ecommerce #FBA #Fulfillment

🚀 Navigating the Amazon Seller Fulfillment Landscape: Prime Insights 🚀 Whether you're a seasoned Amazon seller or just dipping your toes into e-commerce waters, understanding the nuances between Seller Fulfilled Prime (SFP) and Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is crucial for your business strategy. Seller Fulfilled Prime (SFP): - Control & Flexibility: SFP allows you to manage your own inventory and shipping while still displaying the Prime badge. This is particularly beneficial for items that are large, slow-moving, or require special handling, avoiding hefty storage fees from FBA. - Multi-Channel Fulfillment: With SFP, you can fulfill orders not only on Amazon but also on platforms like Walmart and Shopify without worrying about differing fee structures. - Challenges: Meeting SFP's strict requirements for on-time delivery and fast shipping speeds can be daunting. Sellers might need multiple warehouses and advanced shipping software to meet these standards. Fulfillment By Amazon (FBA): - Convenience & Reach: FBA handles storage, packing, and shipping for you, making it easier to scale and reach a broader audience. Your products are eligible for Amazon Prime's fast shipping. - Cost Consideration: While FBA offers convenience, the storage fees can add up, especially for larger items or those with slower turnover. Recent Updates: Amazon's SFP criteria have shifted, now focusing on on-time delivery instead of shipment, with faster delivery promises required on product pages. Keeping up with these changes is essential for maintaining your SFP status. In the e-commerce world, understanding these fulfillment options helps you optimize costs and enhance customer satisfaction. What strategies have you found effective in managing your fulfillment processes? 🤔 #EcommerceInsights #AmazonSellers

🌍 LCL vs. FCL Shipping: Choose the Right Option for Your Global Trade 📦 In international logistics, selecting between Less than Container Load (LCL) and Full Container Load (FCL) can significantly impact your costs, transit time, and cargo safety. Here’s a concise breakdown to help you make informed decisions for your supply chain. 🔹 LCL (Less than Container Load) ✅ Pros: Cost-effective for small shipments (<15 CBM). Ideal for businesses with low shipment volumes or diverse product lines. Flexible for startups or companies testing new markets. ❌ Cons: Longer transit times due to consolidation/deconsolidation. Higher risk of damage or loss from shared container handling. Additional fees (e.g., handling, documentation) can add up. Best for: Small businesses, e-commerce sellers, or shipments under 15 CBM with no urgent delivery needs. 🔹 FCL (Full Container Load) ✅ Pros: Exclusive container use minimizes handling and damage risks. Faster transit times with direct shipping. More cost-efficient per unit for larger shipments (>15 CBM). Simplifies customs clearance for single-origin cargo. ❌ Cons: Higher upfront costs, less viable for small shipments. Requires sufficient storage space at origin/destination. May lead to underutilized container space if not fully loaded. for: Large shipments, high-value or fragile goods, or time-sensitive deliveries. 💡 Cost Insights: LCL: Lower per-shipment cost but higher per-unit cost due to shared fees. FCL: Higher initial cost but more economical per unit for larger volumes. 📊 Pro Tip: Always calculate the total landed cost (freight, duties, taxes, handling) to compare accurately. 💬 Which shipping method powers your supply chain—LCL or FCL? Share your thoughts below! 👉 Follow ASLG for expert insights on logistics, supply chain, and international trade: https://lnkd.in/gK9_jyBj #Shipping #Logistics #SupplyChain #LCL #FCL #InternationalTrade #FreightForwarding #ExportImport #BusinessTips

Most e-commerce brands spend up to 20% of revenue on fulfillment while competitors keep it under 12% Same product, same customers, totally different profit margins. Here's what's actually killing your fulfillment costs: The margin destroyer nobody optimizes Moving product from warehouse to customer includes storage, labor, packaging, and shipping. Most brands never separate this from other expenses so they can't improve it. Healthy benchmark sits around 11-13% of total revenue. What pushes costs too high 1. Shipping strategy problems - Offering free shipping without order minimums - Customers ordering single low-value items - No threshold to make economics work 2. Product design issues - Heavy or oversized items costing more to move - Assembly required before shipping increasing labor - Packaging eating up dimensional weight charges 3. Geographic inefficiencies - Warehouse located far from customer concentration - Shipping cross-country when most buyers are regional - Paying premium zone rates unnecessarily 4. Delivery promises you can't afford - Same-day or next-day options without premium pricing - Customer expectations set without cost analysis - Logistics requirements driving up expenses 5. Operational waste - Manual picking and packing creating errors - Complex returns processes burning time - No automation where it makes sense How to fix it Require minimum order values before offering free shipping - higher orders make shipping percentage drop naturally. Optimize package dimensions - right-sized boxes reduce dimensional weight and material costs together. Move warehouse closer to customer density - location determines zone rates and same region shipping costs less. Charge appropriately for speed - premium delivery should have premium pricing or eliminate it completely. Automate repetitive tasks - automated systems cut picking errors and increase throughput speed. Tighten inventory forecasting - less excess stock means less storage space and lower carrying costs. Redesign products when possible - flat-pack or collapsible versions can cut package size dramatically. Split channels by product type - bulky items work better retail while compact products suit direct shipping. The margin advantage Competitors absorbing high fulfillment costs sacrifice profit while optimized brands reinvest savings into growth and acquisition. Better economics means sustainable scaling without burning cash on logistics. That's why we built Ottit - watching e-commerce brands lose thousands monthly to fixable fulfillment problems is frustrating. Book a call and I'll show you where your costs are bleeding profit.

A strong shipping strategy does more than move packages — it moves your business forward. 👇 When I evaluate a merchant’s shipping setup, I look through 5 key lenses to find growth opportunities: 1️⃣ Carrier Mix → Are multiple carriers being used to balance cost, speed, and reliability? → Is there a backup plan for seasonal peaks or unexpected disruptions? 2️⃣ Shipping Zones and Rate Strategies → Are zones mapped out to minimize delivery times and costs? → Are shipping rates accurate and transparent at checkout? 3️⃣ Delivery Promise → Are delivery dates clearly communicated through the purchase cycle? → Is there flexibility to offer faster options when customers need them? 4️⃣ Checkout Logic → Does the shipping experience at checkout support higher conversions? → Are options personalized based on product type, location, or urgency? 5️⃣ Customer Expectations vs Business Goals → Is there a balance between customer demands and operational profitability? → Are promotions and offers aligned with fulfillment capabilities? When shipping is optimized, it becomes a strategic advantage, not just a cost center. 👉 Which part of your shipping experience are you focusing on improving this year? #eCommerce #Shipping #eCommerceShipping #CheckoutExperience #ShippingSolutions #Shopify #ShopifyPlus #BigCommerce #SFCC #Magento #AdobeCommerce #SAP #WooCommerce #Commercetools

🚀 Shopify Shipping vs. Full-Service Fulfillment: What’s the Right Fit for Your Business? E-commerce fulfillment comes down to two main approaches: built-in shipping solutions like Shopify Shipping or third-party logistics (3PL) providers. Each serves a different purpose, depending on your business size, growth stage, and operational complexity. 🔍 Key Differences Between Shopify Shipping & 3PL Fulfillment ✅ Shopify Shipping Lets merchants buy discounted shipping labels and print them directly in Shopify. Best for businesses managing their own inventory and fulfillment. Provides basic tracking but doesn’t include warehousing or returns processing. ✅ 3PL Fulfillment Handles storage, inventory management, packing, shipping, and returns on your behalf. Allows e-commerce brands to scale without logistics bottlenecks. Works well for high-volume businesses and international operations. 📌 Main Differences: - Inventory: Shopify Shipping doesn’t store products; 3PL providers do. - Order Processing: Shopify Shipping requires you to pack & ship; 3PL handles everything. - Scalability: Shopify Shipping works for small brands; 3PL supports larger, global businesses. 💡 What E-Commerce Leaders Look for in a Fulfillment Partner A senior e-commerce executive at a company like Douglas evaluates fulfillment solutions based on: 📦 Warehouse Locations – Are there strategically placed fulfillment centers? ⚡ Scalability – Can the provider handle peak demand? 💰 TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) – Are costs predictable? Any hidden fees? 🌍 International Reach – How well do they manage global logistics and customs? 🔗 Tech Integrations – Can they connect seamlessly with ERP & e-commerce platforms? For large retailers, fulfillment isn’t just shipping—it’s a core part of customer experience & operational efficiency. 📊 When to Choose Shopify Shipping vs. a 3PL Partner 💡 Shopify Shipping is a great fit if: ✔ You're an SMB managing fulfillment in-house. ✔ You want control over shipping and easy access to discounted carrier rates. 🏢 A 3PL partner is the better choice when: ✔ Your business is scaling, and you need outsourced inventory & order management. ✔ You sell internationally and need expertise in customs & global logistics. 🔗 Seamless Integration is the Key Many e-commerce brands combine both—using Shopify Shipping for some orders while leveraging 3PLs for large-scale or international fulfillment. The key is seamless integration between systems. At Dinarys, we help e-commerce brands optimize fulfillment by integrating Shopify, 3PL providers, and enterprise tech into one efficient workflow. 💬 Let’s talk about how to optimize fulfillment for your business. #ecommerceexperts #3PL #dinarys