The global dropshipping market segment has continually grown at a robust CAGR of 28.8% from 2019 to 2025 —and will stand at $128 billion from $102 billion in 2018 and 2025, respectively.
In the wake of its growth, this bullish market has created—and continues to create— digital millionaires and new job roles. An order fulfillment associate, a role that’s generating a lot of interest in the job market, is one such job role created by the dropshipping market.
Today’s article discusses everything you’d need to know about an order fulfillment associate, including what the job role entails and whether you’d need one as a dropshipping business owner.
Let’s start with the basics:
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What Is An Order Fulfillment Associate?
Order fulfillment Associates can wear many hats depending on a business’s needs. However, the main job description of a fulfillment associate is to take care of basic warehousing and stock management/order duties.
Let’s flesh out this definition a bit more by describing what an order fulfillment associate does:
What Does an Order Fulfillment Associate Do?
In a dropshipping business model, the fulfillment process starts when the customer makes an order.
While the dropshipping business owner is responsible for setting up payment processing systems, an order fulfillment associate takes over when an order comes in and moves on to the fulfillment stage.
An order fulfillment agent handles all warehousing, stocking, and order management elements, including but not limited to:
- Receiving, offloading, and inventorying stock deliveries, including offloading stock off delivery trucks using warehouse utility tools such as forklifts
- Ensuring that merchandise is easy to find within the warehouse by ensuring proper warehousing structures such as arranging merchandise in the correct area within the warehouse
- Processing incoming orders, which may include locating the merchandise within the warehouse, confirming congruency with the work order, then moving it along the fulfillment funnel
- Managing the order fulfillment and shipping process in line with the laid down fulfillment process. This may include quality-inspecting products, packaging orders in the appropriate packaging option, finalizing orders, arranging for order pick-up by the designated delivery agent, providing a tracking number and updating the order status, etc.
While these are the core responsibilities of an order fulfillment associate, the role is often very fluid, based on a business’s needs. Overall, however, if it involves stock, warehousing, and order fulfillment, a fulfillment associate can do it.
Because you’re curious about what an order fulfillment associate does, you’re probably also curious about the benefits of having or using one.
The Pros of Having an Order Fulfillment Associate
Besides managing the A-Z of your order fulfillment process, having an order fulfillment associate also has some other advantages, such as:
- A seamless stock, order processing, and shipping process: Stocking and shipping issues are the bane of dropshipping business owners, especially owners who have to take care of everything. Hiring an order fulfillment associate can make the stocking, order processing, and shipping process easier because having an associate whose sole responsibility is to manage the entire order fulfillment process can streamline things.
- Cost-saving: Having an associate who handles stock management and order processing can save you money because it saves time and energy, which, as you know, in business, time is money. Additionally, professional third-party order fulfillment associates, such as BestFulfill, offer dedicated warehouse facilities that dropshipping business owners can take advantage of and reduce warehousing costs.
- Professional—and often cheaper—shipping options: Most professional order fulfillment associates have the knowledge, expertise, and connection to handle all your dropshipping business shipping needs, including knowing which shipping partners to use to offer express shipping at pocket-friendly, customer-attracting prices.
- Energy and time saving: One of the primary business advantages of a third-party order fulfillment associate is that by handling the stocking, warehousing, and order fulfillment process for you, they save time and energy, making it easier to focus on generating more sales and growing your business. By not spending hours inventorying stock, running around the warehousing, selecting and preparing orders, packaging products, and printing out shipping labels, you can spend more time on marketing your business.
- Makes it easier to scale and grow: While managing inventory, warehousing, and shipping may be easy for a small business, the task usually becomes more challenging and resource-intensive as a business grows and orders start ramping up. Fortunately, you can leave all the heavy-lifting related to stock/inventory management and order fulfillment to a third-party order fulfillment associate and concentrate on scaling and growing your business.
- Better order processing and shipping turnaround times: Third-party order fulfillment associates have warehouses closer to the customer, making order processing and shipping faster, which can be very advantageous for eCommerce businesses because faster order processing and shipping turnaround times generate brand loyalty and earn happy, repeat customers.
Another thing you might be wondering is how to ensure you choose the right order fulfillment associate who offers professional services:
How to Choose a Professional Order Fulfillment Associate
Choosing a third-party order fulfillment partner is a key business process that requires due diligence. You can ensure that you end up choosing the right third-party order fulfillment associate by keeping in mind the following factors:
Warehouse, Shipping options, and turnaround times
Because managing inventory—warehousing—and shipping is usually the most involving and expensive parts of an eCommerce business, paying attention to the warehouse, shipping options, and turnaround times offered by a 3PL could be the linchpin that makes or breaks your business.
Therefore, it’s in your best interest to partner with a third-party order fulfillment associate who offers the best warehousing, order processing, and shipping options, down to the last mile, at fees your customers—or you—can afford without breaking the bank.
For example, at BestFulfill, we offer order fulfillment within one day and partner with third-party carriers to offer worldwide shipping at affordable, straightforward rates—no hidden costs.
Fulfillment centers
While modern shipping options have made it possible for businesses to ship from anywhere and to anywhere globally, it is important to consider the locations of fulfillment centers that an order fulfillment associate has.
Ideally, and while there are exceptions to the rule, you should work with a third-party order fulfillment associate with fulfillment centers close to your intended customer as possible to hasten order processing and shipping.
For example, if you are serving the European market, work with a 3PL partner with warehousing and fulfillment centers in Europe to make the order processing and shipping faster and cheaper. At BestFulfill, we’re always expanding and creating new warehouses and fulfillment centers at various locations in the US, UK, France, and other locations around the world. We are committed to offering the fastest, most affordable 3PL services to eCommerce businesses.
Costs and fee structure
Most third-party order fulfillment associates charge specific fees such as receiving fees, handling costs, warehousing fees, etc. Before inking a deal with a 3PL provider, ask about the various costs and fees involved to ensure they don’t end up eating into your profit margin.
For example, does the associate charge receiving, handling, or order processing fees? If so, is it by item, pallet, or by the hour? Knowing about these fees can help you make wiser business decisions.
Here at BestFulfill, we have a straightforward fee structure: a handling fee of $0.5-$1.5 per order and a $0.1-0.2$ per order for value-added services like custom packaging and promotional cards.
As you’ve been reading this, you’ve probably noted that we’ve mentioned “professional order fulfillment associate” several times.
What Can a Professional Order Fulfillment Associate Do?
A professional order fulfillment associate is a company or business that specializes in offering third-party order fulfillment and logistic services to eCommerce businesses.
Unlike a regular order fulfillment associate, a professional order fulfillment associate or agency can do so much more because it’s a business offering business-to-business services to business owners.
For example, a professional order fulfillment agency can offer the following additional services beyond the regular services offered by regular order fulfillment associates:
- Product sourcing
- Custom branding
- Quality inspection
- One-on-one customer support/services
Recommendations: The Best Professional Order Fulfillment Associates/Agencies
Different order fulfillment associates or agencies offer different services, and as a business owner, you should work with a provider who meets your specific needs.
That said, here are some of the best professional order fulfillment associates:
BestFulfill
BestFulfill is a professional, A-Z dropshipping, sourcing, and order fulfillment agent.
What BestFulfill can do
As a professional, A-Z order fulfillment agency, BestFulfill offers many customizable services, including but not limited to:
- Product sourcing: BestFulfill helps dropshipping business owners source products from Chinese manufacturers and suppliers
- Warehousing and bulk inventory storage: BestFulfill has over 3000m2 of warehouse space in China and additional fulfillment centers in the US, UK, and France and is constantly growing and expanding its fulfillment centers reach.
- Branding: Unlike regular order fulfillment associates, BestFulfill offers a very robust branding process that systematically walks you through the various facets, including product inspiration, brand storytelling, logo on product packages, branded gift cards and thank you cards, and so much more
- Quality inspection: BestFulfill offers product quality inspection services at source—from the manufacturer’s/suppliers—to ensure that your products are up to code, and again before shipping the products to customers to ensure they receive the right, undamaged products, thereby minimizing complaints and negative reviews.
- Product photography: Professionally done product photos and videos can make all the difference in eCommerce. BestFulfill offers free product photography from a qualified photographer with over four years of shooting experience.
- 1v1 customer services: BestFulfill offers high-level, one-on-one customer support guaranteed to help your customers solve order tracking, refunds, order cancelation, and related issues through numerous communication channels like WhatsApp, Skype, Messenger, and Email.
- Aftersales services: BestFulfill has a dedicated aftersales team that offers services such as resending orders, refunds, order updates, and replacing wrong, lost, or damaged-in-transit orders.
Who BestFulfill Works With
As a 3PL fulfillment agency with over six years of experience, Bestfulfill works with dropshipping business owners who want to source products from 1688, AliExpress, Taobao, and Amazon FBA.
However, because of a vast network of on-the-ground connections with Chinese manufacturers and suppliers, BestFulfill can help dropshipping businesses of all sizes source high-quality products from China.
ShipBob
ShipBob is a professional omni-fulfillment solution provider established in 2014 by Dhruv Saxena and Divey Gulati.
What ShipBob can do
This professional order fulfillment agency offers a broad spectrum of services, including but not limited to B2B fulfillment, various integrations with eCommerce platforms, warehousing at various fulfillment centers, and packing and fulfilling customer orders.
However, unlike BestFulfill, ShipBob does not seem to offer product sourcing, one-on-one customer support, or aftersale services.
Who ShipBob works with
ShipBob provides order fulfillment services to direct-to-consumer brands.
ShipMonk
ShipMonk is a 3PL order fulfillment company with fulfillment centers in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
What ShipMonk can do
ShipMonk offers various services, including but not limited to warehousing, multichannel 3PL fulfillment, eCommerce and retail fulfillment, crowdfunding fulfillment, Amazon FBA preparation services, and 321 services.
However, unlike BestFulfill, and like ShipBob, ShipMonk does not seem to offer product sourcing, inspection, or aftersales services.
Who ShipMonk works with
ShipMonk offers order fulfillment services to small and medium-sized brands and businesses.
Huboo
Huboo is a UK-based, professional order fulfillment agency founded in 2017 by Martin Bysh.
What Huboo can do
Huboo offers many order fulfillment services, including but not limited to stocking, picking, packaging, and order dispatching services, subscription box fulfillment, fashion order, healthy and beauty, and electronics fulfillment, among many others.
Who Huboo works with
Huboo works with all-sized businesses and integrates seamlessly with most eCommerce platforms.
Rakuten Super Logistics
Established in 2001, Rakuten Super Logistics is a professional 3PL order fulfillment agency.
What Rakuten Super Logistics can do
Rakuten SL supports eCommerce business brands by offering order fulfillment services like inventory management, picking, packing, shipping, returns, and other services like freight forwarding.
Who Rakuten Super Logistics works with
Rakuten Super Logistics works with all eCommerce businesses. However, like all the other professional order fulfillment agencies on this list except BestFulfill, the agency does not seem to offer product sourcing services.
Conclusion
A professional order fulfillment associate works with eCommerce business owners to ensure seamless stock, inventory, and order shipping management.
Having discussed what to look for in a professional order fulfillment associate, you can choose wisely and give your business the chance to grow.
At BestFulfill, we offer A-Z order fulfillment associate services: from product sourcing, packaging, shipping, returns, and even aftersales services. Reach out for a free quote in less than 12 hours:
