Looking For E-commerce Fulfillment In The UK? Read Our Guide

Yet, online retailers sometimes lack the capacity to manage the inventory and carry out the shipping themselves. Flip through our guide below to find out what are fulfillment options available for your e-Commerce business.

E-commerce fulfillment explained

After a customer places an online order, the fulfillment stage – the process of delivering the product to the customer takes place. This includes receiving and storing goods, processing orders, choosing and packing things, and delivering them to the customer’s shipping destination.

You should avoid any mistakes that may occur during this stage at all costs because they will influence the customers’ decision to return or not. Whoever handles the fulfillment for your company has to fully grasp the importance of this stage to ensure that packages do not go missing and that items are correctly packed and delivered.

Types of e-Commerce fulfillment in the UK

Depending on your business model and scale, you can choose from 3 main order fulfillment methods below:

In-house fulfillment

In-house fulfillment means customer orders are processed, picked, packed, and shipped all on your own.

If you think that you have all the materials, assets, and capacity needed to fulfill all the orders at your property, then you can opt for this option of direct fulfillment.

This practice can lower the cost you will need to spend on a professional service. However, manually handling the fulfillment process can be time-consuming, especially if you also have other responsibilities with higher priority to attend to.

Third-party service

Third-party fulfillment refers to the process of outsourcing your entire supply chain to a specialized fulfillment company.

These vendors have extensive knowledge and expertise in inventory management as well as shipping services, which can significantly streamline the entire process for your company.

In contrast, this service may incur additional costs to your bottom line, making it unsuitable for newly established businesses.

Dropshipping

Dropshipping fulfillment is when a business does not stock the products it sells. This allows you to run an online business without having to worry about inventory because a dropshipping supplier will handle everything.

Dropshipping is an excellent option if you are not yet ready to invest in product and inventory stockpiling. This way, you’ll only have to worry about business development rather than logistics.

Best e-Commerce fulfillment service in the UK

Amazon FBA – The fastest fulfillment service for businesses

Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a service that allows you to outsource order fulfillment from Amazon.

By utilizing the infrastructure and workforce of the FBA network, your order can be shipped quickly, even on the same day.

Simply send your products to the fulfillment centers, and when a customer makes a purchase, the e-commerce giant will sort, pack, and ship the order on your behalf, as well as handle customer service and refunds.

When you use Amazon FBA, you must follow strict guidelines, such as product restrictions and inventory requirements. Before sending your products to fulfillment centers, make sure they meet all of the criteria.

Pros

• Customers support is available 24/7
• No monthly order minimums are required
• Shipping to any country in the world
• Multi-platform sales supported
• Overnight delivery available for businesses
• Handling of exchange, returns, and refund process

Cons

• Hidden costs may occur
• Strict criteria from fulfillment centers
• No personalized packaging option

Pricing

FBA service has two different pricing tiers, including

• Basic plan

You can choose this plan if your business ship fewer than 35 products a month. You will be charged £0.75 per product sold, plus an additional fee.

• Professional plan

You’ll have to pay a monthly subscription fee of £25/month, regardless of whether you list or sell anything. This is suitable if your business has a large number of orders.

BOXstation – Best fulfillment service for small retailers

BOXstation has 25 years of experience in fulfillment and warehousing, offering a variety of fulfillment options.

Whether you have an established e-Commerce business that you want to expand into the UK market or you are starting a new e-Commerce venture, Boxstation can help you achieve your goals.

The brand works with companies of all sizes, from e-commerce companies, fashion retailers, and importers, to non-profits, micro-vendors, and many more.

Pros

• Kitting and return services are available
• No setup costs required
• On-demand pricing with pinpoint precision

Cons

• Difficult to scale your business
• Limited options for shopping cart integration
• No transparent pricing plan

Pricing

The Boxstastion plan’s price is not available online; you must contact customer service for a quote. Nonetheless, many businesses confirmed that Boxstation charges extremely low fees and provides a flexible, pay-as-you-go service.

Huboo – The most trustworthy fulfillment service

Located in the United Kingdom, Huboo provides shipping and fulfillment services to customers all over Europe and the rest of the world. The company guarantees a 99.9% accuracy rate on all orders, making it a reliable service for UK businesses.

It’s also a good option for e-commerce companies that want to start in the UK but eventually expand globally. Your orders will be shipped from the closest warehouse to the customer,
whether it is in the United Kingdom, Spain, or the Netherlands.

Pros

• Easy communication with stock management
• Excellent feedback from customers globally
• Restricted products storage is available
• Ease of signing up to get going right away
• No cost is required for API integration
• Affordable, transparent pricing

Cons

• Mainly supported B2C, no dedicated B2B service
• No support for large, heavy items (e.g., chilled or frozen goods)

Pricing

Individual item fees will cost you between £1.10 to £7.77, while subscription price starts at £25, up to £150 per month. If your order volume is greater than £5,000 each month, you need to pay for a tailored package.

Green Fulfillment – The most eco-friendly fulfillment service

Green Fulfillment caters to those who prioritize environmental concerns above all else.

This vendor is the best option for a cutting-edge, future-focused company because they exclusively use eco-friendly paper and recycle all plastics and cardboard.

The company specializes in providing medium-sized goods and services to both B2B and B2C clients. Account managers are stationed in each warehouse to provide immediate assistance to businesses.

Pros

• Support is accessible through telephone, email, and WhatsApp
• Notable clients include Facebook and the National Health Service (NHS)
• Risk-free trial for businesses for assurance
• Environment-friendly practices for modern businesses
• Offer excellent customer service function

Cons

• Not ideal for businesses with order volume under 300 units
• Not transparent in terms of pricing

Pricing

No pricing, rates, or listing is available online, so you have to contact customer support for a specific quote.

Minatus – The best choice for multichannel retailers

Minatus is a business-to-business firm that serves both large and small businesses, offering low-cost e-commerce order fulfillment services.

The company’s warehousing software integrates with popular e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, eBay, and Shopify. You can be confident that purchases made through any of their supported channels will be processed quickly and accurately, regardless of how you choose to reach your clients.

Pros

• Quick shipping with well-distributed hubs
• Helpful, friendly 24/7 customer support
• Live dashboard for stock management

Cons

• Additional charge for monthly storage
• Outdated technology may slow things down

Pricing

Minatus provides competitive pricing, with inventory starting at £2.48 per cubic meter per week and order picking rates for 100+ items per month beginning at £1.48.

myWarehouse – Top pick for low-volume online retailers

MyWarehouse is a UK-based service that provides customized fulfillment solutions for businesses with fewer than 2,000 orders per month.

The company charges no upfront or hidden fees; you must still pay fulfillment costs, but they are minimal.

The cloud-based fulfillment system supports both manual and automated order entry, as well as the ability to update the source sales channel, manage stock levels, and so on via API.

Pros

• Transparent pricing plan available online
• No setup fees or exit fees
• No long-term contracts are required
• Accurate pick-and-pack service
• Suitable for heavy items up to 25 kg
• Supportive for low-volume retailers

Cons

• No account management support
• Certain items are restricted (e.g., food, alcohol, or lithium batteries)
• May be inconvenient for large businesses

Pricing

The pricing is transparent, and it includes:

• Packing and picking: £2.61 + £0.42 per item for multiple-item orders
• Money Received per Item: £0.10
• Packaging: costs as little as £0.75, including order fill, packaging, and shipping
• Storage: £0.48 per cubic foot, regardless of the volume of the box

Red Stag Fulfillment – Best option for customized packaging

With a globally distributed network of fulfillment centers, Red Stag Fulfillment allows you to easily manage the entire operation.

The company is well-known for its personalized, bespoke approach to order fulfillment, particularly in the areas of package design and customization.

If your company specializes in selling large or heavy items, Red Stag can provide the most effective option among e-Commerce fulfillment providers, ensuring a 93% decrease in damaged or lost stock.

Pros

• No long-term commitment or hidden fees
• Automated refund handling is available
• Free, no-obligation trial for 30 days

Cons

• The intricate pricing system may be confusing to some
• US-based, so UK businesses may find it inconvenient

Pricing

Prices are not displayed on the website, you must contact the company directly to obtain a quote.

Are e-Commerce fulfillment services right for your business?

This is an important question to consider before deciding on the best fulfillment method for your company. To answer it, you must first estimate or collect data on your business’s monthly order volume and determine which channels are currently featuring your products.

You also have to know the scalability potential of your business to know whether you should upscale your fulfillment method.

By being fully aware of the number of orders, distribution channels, and growth opportunities of your business, you will be able to decide which fulfillment approach should you take to best serve your need.

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