In the last couple of years, there has been massive growth in the e-commerce industry. It is predicted that in 2025, there will be a major rise in the customers’ expectations. This is why fulfillment centers for small businesses can be very beneficial. Fulfillment centers help small businesses to manage all their inventory. Not only this, fulfillment centers help in the picking of orders, storing and packaging them, and even shipping them to the customers.
In this article, we have discussed everything you need to know about small business fulfillment centers and how they can benefit you. So, let’s jump right into the article and have a look at it.
Why is a Fulfillment Center Important for Small Businesses?
Fulfillment centers for small businesses can be quite beneficial. They help streamline operations by handling all the main logistics of a company. This means that a fulfillment center will store the entire inventory securely; they will also pick up the order, pack it, and ship it to the customer efficiently. If you are a small business and you are partnering with a fulfillment center, then it will also reduce the overhead cost, such as the warehouse cost, and even offer you reasonable shipping prices.
By outsourcing the logistics to the fulfillment center, the business can focus on other aspects of its company. It can focus on the quality of the products, marketing, and overall growth of the business. It has also been seen that our fulfillment center is great when it comes to customer service. They can also handle returns and exchanges very efficiently, decreasing the load of a business and allowing it to grow.
10 Best Fulfillment Centers for Small Businesses
There are many different fulfillment Centers for small businesses. Below is a list of ten of the best for your startup.
NextSmartShip
NextSmartShip is a global fulfillment center that is amazing for small businesses. They help small—to medium-sized e-commerce businesses with their logistic needs. In addition, they offer the company a lot of different services.
Features
- They have global warehousing, which allows the companies to access them easily wherever they are in the world.
- Have a minimum order requirement, which means you can order as small as you like according to your business needs.
- They have added services as well, such as getting off the product assembly and custom packaging.
Pros
Yeah, they offer competitive pricing with no setup fees, which makes them budget-friendly for small businesses.
They also have flexible services so that emerging businesses can accommodate themselves accordingly.
Cons
- NextSmartShip might not have the same level of recognition as other brands
Saltbox
Another fulfillment center designed for new startups is Saltbox. It is a simple fulfillment center that offers many different services to its customers. You just need to connect to the online store, and they will ship your inventory and take care of all of the orders themselves.
Features
They offer comprehensive logistics services, such as storage, picking and packing of orders, and shipping them to customers.
They also have their own shipping platform, which allows businesses to save up to 30% on shipping costs.
They have strategically located their fulfillment center in major parts of the US to ensure efficient package distribution.
Pros
They offer amenities such as Wi-Fi content creation studios and even loading docks.
They also have on-demand labor services that can allow you to scale up your business operations.
Cons
They have quite a limited international presence, which is why not a lot of people know about this brand.
ShipBob
ShipBob is a prominent fulfillment center for small businesses. Its operations have expanded globally, which allows many brands to collaborate with it and increase their sales.
Features
- They have a platform integration feature with other major e-commerce platforms, such as Shopify and Amazon.
- ShipBob also has multiple fulfillment centers across the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia, which speeds up delivery.
- They have real-time inventory management, which allows businesses to check the stock level of shipments and manage their orders properly.
Pros
- The Interface of this platform is very user-friendly.
- They offer comprehensive and detailed reports for inventory planning and organizational management.
Cons
- The pricing structure of ShipBob is quite complex for the customers.
ShipMonk
Shipping is another small business performance center that works with any type of e-commerce business. It is also quite popular because of the amazing features and services it offers.
Features
- Different automation tools make the entire process much faster and more efficient.
- They offer discounted shipping rates from different carriers, which can reduce the shipping costs for businesses.
- They also offer custom packaging and kitting services.
Pros
- ShipMonk accommodates businesses of every size, which means small businesses and large businesses can easily collaborate with them.
- They have amazing customer support, which ensures that your customers have the best experience.
Cons
- A lot of people have pricing concerns and sometimes report unexpected fees
Amazon FBA
Amazon FBA is also another amazing close Feldman center that handles all the logistics, such as packaging, shipping, and customer service. This is a popular choice among businesses because of its amazing features.
Features
- Amazon offers the best shipping prices to customers and businesses, allowing them to save money.
- They have multi-channel fulfillment integration, which means they can order from more than one platform.
- Amazon also have great returns and customer service, which will give your customers the best experience.
Pros
- It is known for its scalability because it can accommodate both small and larger businesses
- You can get access to a vast customer base from all over the world through Amazon FBA.
Cons
- They have high storage and fulfillment fees
FedEx Fulfillment
FedEx fulfillment is another fulfillment center for small businesses provided by FedEx. They offer many different services, such as packing, shipping, and other amazing options for e-commerce brands.
Features
- Fast and reliable shipping because they leverage the FedEx global network.
- They also have a real-time inventory tracking system through which you can monitor stock levels and shipments.
- You can even get custom packaging according to your brand identity.
Pros
- They offer an extensive global shipping network.
- They are a reliable and secure brand for shipping and storing your inventory.
Cons
- They have a higher cost than other brands in the market.
Red Stag Fulfillment
If you are a company that works on heavy and oversized materials, then Red Stag Fulfillment is the best option for you. The main aim of this company is to focus on the accuracy of the orders and deliver them quickly to the customers.
Features
- They ensure 100% order accuracy, which means there will be minimum fulfillment errors.
- They specialize in bulky and heavy items such as electronic furniture and other goods.
- Red Stag Fulfillment also claims the same-day shipping.
Pros
- This platform has high accuracy and reliability on the orders.
- There is no long-term storage space.
Cons
- It is less suitable for small and lightweight products.
Deliverr
Deliverr is a fast-growing fulfillment Center for small businesses. This company is designed for businesses that want to prioritize speed and affordability when it comes to shipping orders.
Features
- They offer two-day or even next-day delivery.
- Deliverr also has multi-channel fulfillment, which means they support other platforms from which to get orders.
- They have simple and affordable pricing.
Pros
- They offer fast and reliable shipping options that are also affordable.
- They make it easy to integrate with other major marketplaces as well.
Cons
- There is no option for custom packaging.
Whitebox
Whitebox is a complete fulfillment center that not only provides fulfillment facilities but also helps businesses with their sales strategies.
Features
- This is an all-in-all e-commerce solution that has fulfillment facilities and marketing solutions.
- They offer automated inventory and order management, which reduces errors.
- Whitebox also help sellers rank higher on Amazon, Walmart, and other marketplaces.
Pros
- They have strong analytics that improve the company’s sales.
- The fulfillment facilities are also impressive.
Cons
- They are more expensive than any traditional fulfillment center.
Shipwire
If you are looking for a fulfillment Center for small businesses that provide global logistics services, Shipwire is the best option. It is also a cloud-based fulfillment network that makes tracking much easier.
Features
- They have a global fulfillment network, which means the warehouses are across North America, Asia, and even Europe.
- They have flexible storage and shipping solutions that are great for small businesses.
- Shipwire also allows you to integrate with other e-commerce platforms to boost your sales.
Pros
- They are quite flexible, which means any business size can collaborate with them.
- They offer real-time inventory management and tracking systems.
Cons
- Shipwire offers less control of where the warehouses are.
Why do Small Businesses Prefer NextSmartShip Over Other Fulfillment Centers?
NextSmartShip is one of the best fulfillment centers that you can find. One of the main reasons small businesses prefer NextSmartShip is its bis because of its affordability. NextSmartShip offers the best rates when it comes to the cost; there are no minimum order requirements for small businesses, which makes it much more accessible. They even have personalized services, which means you can get custom packaging that fits your brand’s identity.
The global warehouses of NextSmartShip ensure fast and cost-effective shipping. They also have real-time inventory tracking, which allows you to check stock levels. They even offer a tracking system for shipments so that customers can keep track of their packages. Hence, because of the transparent pricing, amazing customer service, and flexibility, NextSmartShip is a top choice for small businesses.
Final Words
Fulfillment centers for small businesses can be quite helpful. They help with a lot of different aspects of a business. Some of the centers help with picking, packing, and shipping orders. They even have proper inventory management and their own houses, which allow small businesses to keep all of their products.
Some of the fulfillment centers even integrate with another e-commerce platform to boost the sales of small businesses. Hence, we hope this article was beneficial for you. Now that you know some of the best fulfillment centers and why they are a great choice for small businesses, make sure to check out NextSmartShip for the amazing services it provides to its customers.
