How to Choose the Best 3PL for Your Ecommerce Brand

As your ecommerce brand grows, one of the most important decisions you’ll face is how to scale your order fulfilment efficiently, without sacrificing customer experience. For many growing brands, this means partnering with a third-party logistics provider (3PL).

But not all 3PL fulfilment centres are created equal. Choosing the right one can be the difference between delighting customers with quick delivery and losing them due to delays, errors, or lack of visibility.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to choose the best 3PL for your ecommerce brand, including what to look for, key questions to ask, and how to avoid costly mistakes.

📦 What Is a 3PL?

A 3PL (third-party logistics provider) is a company that handles storage, picking, packing, shipping, and sometimes returns on behalf of ecommerce businesses.

They take care of the operational side of getting products from your warehouse to your customer’s doorstep, so you can focus on growing your brand, not managing parcels.

🎯 When Do You Need a 3PL?

You should consider a 3PL if:

• You’re shipping over 100 orders per month

• You’re running out of space for stock

• You’re spending too much time packing boxes

• You want to offer faster delivery options

• You’re expanding to new markets or sales channels

  
  

🔍 What to Look for in the Best 3PL Partner for Ecommerce

1. Ecommerce Platform Integration

Choose a 3PL that integrates directly with your ecommerce platform (Shopify, WooCommerce, Amazon, Maropost, etc.). This ensures seamless order syncing, real-time inventory updates, and automatic tracking.

2. Speed and Accuracy

Ask about average pick, pack, and dispatch times. A reliable 3PL should offer next-day dispatch and high order accuracy rates.

3. Location and Delivery Options

Choose a provider with warehouses near your customers to reduce shipping times and costs.

4. Scalability

Can the 3PL handle sudden spikes in orders (e.g., Black Friday, product launches).

5. Pricing Transparency

Look for clear, itemised pricing. Typical 3PL fees include:

• Administrative fees

• Storage fees

• Pick & pack fees

• Packaging costs

• Shipping (courier) charges

Watch out for hidden charges and minimum monthly fees.

6. Returns Management

A good 3PL should handle returns smoothly, including inspecting items and restocking.

7. Custom Packaging & Branding

If your brand experience matters (and it should), choose a provider that allows custom packaging and branded inserts.

8. Customer Support

Responsive support is critical. You need a partner who can troubleshoot quickly and provide updates when needed, not someone who takes days to respond.

❓ Key Questions to Ask a 3PL Provider

• Do you integrate with [insert your ecommerce platform]?

• What is your average pick and dispatch time?

• Can you support peak seasons and high volume?

• What couriers do you use?

• How are returns handled?

• What are your standard storage and fulfilment fees?

• Is there a minimum monthly volume or spend?

• Do you support global shipping?

  
  

🧮 Comparing 3PL Quotes

When reviewing 3PL proposals, compare:

Feature	Provider A	Packitle
Integration with Shopify	❓	✅
Pick & Pack Fees	$+Additional item rate	$+Additional item rate
Storage Costs	$rate/pallet	$rate/pallet
Returns Handling	Yes	Yes
Custom Packaging Support	No	✅
Minimum Order Volume	500 orders p/m	No minimum requirement

Make sure to calculate true cost per order including packaging and shipping, not just the cheapest line item.

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Choosing purely on price – Cheap often means slow or unreliable.

• Not asking about integrations – Manual work slows you down.

• Ignoring returns – A bad returns experience can damage your brand.

• Skipping the onboarding questions – Proper setup is key to avoiding fulfilment issues later.

  
  

🔚 Final Thoughts

Choosing the right 3PL is more than a logistics decision — it’s a strategic investment in your customer experience and brand reputation.

The best 3PLs will act as an extension of your team, not just a warehouse. They’ll help you ship faster, scale easier, and delight customers from the first click to final delivery.

📣 Ready to Find Your Ideal Fulfilment Partner?

Packitle helps ecommerce brands across the globe enter the Australian market with reliable, tech-enabled 3PL services, from storage to shipping and returns.

Let's Chat 3PL