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The Best Order Fulfillment Software for Your Business

Dragomir Simovic Image
Written ByDragomir Simovic
Updated March 07,2023

Timely product delivery is a crucial aspect of running a business dealing with physical goods, regardless of whether it's a B2B or B2C operation. No matter the industry and your target market, customers have little tolerance for a mistake made during delivery and expect their goods to arrive on time. That's why it's imperative that you implement high tech order fulfillment software which allows you to manage orders from the point-of-sale and your distribution center to your customer's doorstep. To help you find the best tool on the market, we've compiled a list of software companies offering order fulfillment solutions. See what they have to offer and choose the one that best fits your business.

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1. ShipBob

ShipBob Logo

With 16 fulfillment centers in the US, one in Canada, one in Australia, one in Ireland and one in the UK, ShipBob provides comprehensive coverage and plenty of shipping options as well as global reach. The center in the UK provides international trade opportunities for UK order fulfillment services and is a scalable solution for both small and large businesses. The company has helped thousands of businesses find their foothold in the industry and continues to provide excellent services for small and mid-sized businesses. Read Review

  • ⦿Order timeline tracking
  • ⦿Basic analytics tools
  • ⦿No hidden fees
Founded:
2014
Own warehouses
Yes
Suitable for:
Startups and small and medium-sized businesses
FBA support:
Yes
Integrations:
50+
Best for Startups

2. ShipMonk

ShipMonk Logo

ShipMonk is one of the best-known web-based order fulfillment platforms in the US, offering great deals to small and midsize businesses. Because there is no monthly minimum of orders, ShipMonk is great for sellers who are just starting out. It's one of the best choices for people who plan on shipping their items within the US, as it offers plenty of good integrations, and its warehouses are located on both the east and west coast. Read Review

  • ⦿Country-wide coverage
  • ⦿Automatic item bundling
  • ⦿No payments for unused services
Founded:
2014
Own warehouses:
Yes
Suitable for:
Startups and small and medium-sized businesses
FBA support:
Yes
Integrations:
75+
Best for International Shipping

3. Fulfillment Bridge

Fulfillment Bridge Logo

If you're looking for something truly international, look no further. Fulfillment Bridge is located in Hong Kong and handles shipments in 17 countries. Thanks to the wide coverage of centers, you can expect a cheap fulfillment service and low shipping costs. Besides standard services, Fulfillment Bridge also offers help with FBA preparation, but only as an add-on for existing clients. Read Review

  • ⦿More than 20 eCommerce shopping channels
  • ⦿Fully customizable software
  • ⦿Numerous international carriers
Founded:
2016
Own warehouses:
Yes
Suitable for:
International sellers
FBA support:
Yes (for existing clients)
Integrations:
20+

4. Zoho Inventory

Zoho Inventory Logo

Zoho is a reputable corporation with nearly a quarter of a century of experience in creating custom software. In 2015, Zoho developed its software for order fulfillment with an intuitive, straightforward user interface full of useful information about your orders. It comes with 40-plus shipping integrations available and the Zoho-recommended AfterShip for tracking shipments. Read Review

  • ⦿Easy software navigation
  • ⦿Automatic packing slips
  • ⦿Dropshipping functionality
Founded:
2015
Own warehouses:
No
Suitable for:
eCommerce retailers
FBA support:
Yes
Integrations:
100+

5. Boxzooka

Boxzooka Logo

Boxzooka eCom fulfillment center offers one of the best WMS solutions on the market. It's fully customizable, so it can easily adapt to any demands you might have. One of the biggest features of this warehouse management system is the integrated calculator, which always provides you with a landed cost for the orders. Read Review

  • ⦿Relies on 3PL services
  • ⦿Subscription boxes
  • ⦿Real-time order updates
Founded:
2013
Own warehouses:
No
Suitable for:
Retail, wholesale, and FBA distribution
FBA support:
Yes
Integrations:
30

6. Fishbowl Warehouse

Fishbowl Warehouse Logo

Fishbowl is another reputable company with high-quality software solutions for order management. Its main piece of software is called Fishbowl Warehouse, and it offers a comprehensive but straightforward dashboard with numerous features. Like other similar product fulfillment companies, Fishbowl allows you to control multichannel sales, connect numerous warehouses, increase business automation, back product development with new continuous delivery options, keep track of inventory, and automate the reordering process. Read Review

  • ⦿Automated reordering
  • ⦿Embedded UPS service
  • ⦿14-day free trial
Founded:
2001
Own warehouses:
No
Suitable for:
Medium to large businesses
FBA support:
Yes
Integrations:
50+

Glossary of Important Order Fulfillment Terms

While hunting for the perfect order management and fulfillment software, you'll most likely stumble upon a couple of unfamiliar terms. To make life a bit easier for you, we've compiled a short list of some of the most common order fulfillment terms.

3PL (third-party logistics) - An outsourced logistics company that deals with various aspects of order fulfillment, from shipping to warehousing, inventory management, and transportation.

Allocated stock - Items in the inventory that are reserved but not yet shipped to the buyers.

Accessorial charge - An extra charge added to the freight bill for any additional services. For example, the shipping fulfillment center might require extra payment for handling hazardous materials.

Backorder - This happens when there is an order for an item that's out of stock at the moment. The retailer tells the customer that the item isn't available but that a new batch is being ordered.

Cross-docking - The process of unloading products from the incoming transport and loading them almost immediately onto the outbound transport. There is almost no storage time in between these two events.

EDI (electronic data interchange) - A fully automated exchange of ordering data between companies that happens completely without human interaction.

FIFO (first in, first out) - FIFO is a practice in online order fulfillment services where the oldest items are sold first when a product is ordered. 

LIFO (last in, first out) - The opposite of FIFO; a practice where the newest items are sold first.

Kitting - The process of bundling up various products and components into a single package under one SKU. It's often required for fulfillment by Amazon or FBA.

Landed cost - The total cost of the order, including all taxes, fees, and additional charges.

Pick and pack - The process of locating and packing the products in the warehouse. This process may also include assembly.

SKU (stock-keeping unit) - A unique code that identifies a specific item in the order fulfillment warehouse. It's possible to bundle up a couple of items with the same SKU through the process of kitting.

Supply chain - In its broadest sense, the supply chain represents the entire process, from material requirements planning to delivering the finished product to the customer. The software that manages the entirety of this process is called SCMS (supply chain management software).

WMS (warehouse management system) - A type of software that solely handles warehousing. It can be a part of a more extensive fulfillment system or function independently on-site.

Our Methodology

To find the best order fulfillment companies on the market, we've taken several essential elements into consideration:

Order Management

Arguably the most important part of the fulfillment process is streamlining the order management. You'll want your software to be able to compile all your orders from every spreadsheet and channel into a single, easy-to-follow dashboard. That way, you can keep track of them, search for individual packages, and edit the orders as needed. If the customer isn't satisfied with the order, you need to have a quick way to provide adequate customer service, authorize item returns and oversee the process without error.

Inventory Management

Pretty much all top eCommerce fulfillment companies in the world put great emphasis on their inventory management system. Reliable software will update the items in your inventory in real-time, so you won't lose profit on items that are temporarily out of stock. It'll also enable you to accurately forecast your inventory levels based on your sales, market demands, or the season.

Warehouse Management

Depending on the type of company you opt for, you'll either use its own warehouses or get an option to manage the ones you've picked out yourself. Either way, you should be able to manage the hardware side of the operation, multiple warehouses and fulfillment services within a single dashboard. Dividing and storing your inventory in multiple locations greatly reduces shipping costs and increases your products' availability.

Additional Fulfillment Options

Besides the standard retail and eCommerce fulfillment, top companies will often offer additional services like subscription boxes or crowdfunding campaign fulfillment. Labeling and kitting are usually tied to FBA prepping but aren't always offered as a separate service. We also check to see whether the company supports custom packaging that will help you promote your brand.

Integrations

Any piece of order management software is only as valuable as the number of integrations it allows. These integrations include marketplaces, shopping carts, analytics, shipping, and payments. If you use third-party shipping vendors, you'll want to include them in your dashboard, as well as accounting software like QuickBooks.

Pricing

Most fulfillment companies work on quote-based pricing plans. That means you have to fill out a form and contact customer support to get a custom price list specifically for your business. Transparency is of the utmost importance here as there are numerous fees and taxes at play. You'll want a company that can give you the landing cost - the service's total cost, including all applicable taxes.

Top 5 Order Fulfillment Software Packages in 2022

  1. ShipBob
  2. ShipMonk
  3. Fulfillment Bridge
  4. Zoho Inventory
  5. Boxzooka
Featured Snippet Image

Order Fulfillment Software Reviews

ShipBob Review Logo

ShipBob Review

Order management

EXCELLENT

Integrations

GOOD

Pricing

EXCELLENT

  • ⦿ 20 fulfillment centers
  • ⦿ Two-day shipping option
  • ⦿ Low shipping costs

ShipBob is a reputable US company founded in 2014. Over the years, it has helped more than 3,000 businesses set up shop, and it currently holds 37th place on the Y Combinator list of top companies in America. The Better Business Bureau gives it an A rating in accordance with hundreds of positive reviews on the web. So, how does this fulfillment company compare to the competition?

Right now, ShipBob has a total of 20 fulfillment centers - 16 located across the US, one in Canada, one in Ireland, one in the UK, and one in Australia. The company is no stranger to international shipping and encourages the concept of distributed inventory. If you send your items to various warehouses, you'll cover more ground and benefit by saving on the shipping rates. With this many locations throughout the US, ShipBob can also offer the affordable two-day shipping option that many users single out as the company's greatest value. The reason it costs less than what you'd expect from an expedited service is the fact that it's done by land and not air.

The order fulfillment software dashboard features a user-friendly interface with many helpful functionalities. Tracking your orders is pretty simple thanks to various filtering options. The software does a great job in providing a complete timeline for each order that you can easily share with your customers at any point. 

ShipBob also has an inventory management system with a basic integrated analytics tool. While the software works smoothly most of the time, some ShipBob internet reviews do mention slow loading times as one of the biggest issues. Obviously, it depends on the size of the business, but there can also be other reasons behind it.

Top fulfillment companies like this one understand the importance of transparency regarding the fees they charge. The ShipBob pricing page tells you how much each part of the shipping and fulfillment process will cost, with no hidden fees. Request a quote and fill out a form to get a custom pricing plan specifically created for your business. 

Customer support staff respond promptly to any questions you might have regarding the software. The fastest way to get in touch with an agent is to log in through the software dashboard, but you can also fill a form on the internet or give them a call. If you are unsure what fulfillment solution you need, there is an extensive user guide and knowledge base with articles that explain everything about this service. You can quickly learn how billing and pricing work, which tools ShipBob integrates, and how to manage your account.

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ShipMonk Review Logo

ShipMonk Review

Order management

EXCELLENT

Integrations

EXCELLENT

Pricing

EXCELLENT

  • ⦿ More than 150 shopping cart integrations
  • ⦿ Capacity of 10,000 orders per day
  • ⦿ Dedicated happiness engineer

ShipMonk launched in 2014 and gradually became one of the most popular order fulfillment companies in the United States. It has a capacity of 10,000 orders per day with no minimum, which works well for small and medium-sized businesses. The software integrates with more than 150 shopping carts and marketplaces, including all the major players, such as Shopify, BigCommerce, and WooCommerce. The inventory management system is automated, reliable, and full of helpful features. You just set things up, kick back, and watch the orders come in.

The company is based in Florida, but it offers its warehouse fulfillment service in three locations: Fort Lauderdale (FL), Los Angeles (CA), and Pittston (PA). eCommerce fulfillment is ShipMonk's flagship service, but the company can also help you with wholesale, crowdfunding, and subscription box fulfillment. If you opt for Amazon's FBA, ShipMonk will ensure your items are packaged and prepared according to the company's strict requirements.

Smaller companies will appreciate the fact that ShipMonk only charges for the number of products you ship. There are no extra expenses for unused services. In the same manner, you pay daily for storage but only while your item is stored. Thanks to the management's special deals with various carriers, the company gets lower order fulfillment company shipping rates and can then pass those savings on to you. 

The software uses automatic bundling to optimize the shipping process and make it more efficient. It can create as many bundle combinations as you want. It's also possible to track your items on multiple channels via a single user-friendly dashboard. In addition to all this, ShipMonk can respond to numerous return requests and easily exchange products for a different color or size. 

To ensure everything goes smoothly, the company assigns you a dedicated happiness engineer, which is basically a dedicated customer support employee. That person is there to answer your questions, provide advice and make sure your online order fulfillment software works as promised and without error.

The pricing page on the site gives you a full breakdown of the packages with a convenient fee calculator and a form for getting a custom, on-demand quote. Everything is transparent and user-friendly.

Finally, ShipMonk integrates with a broad range of other software products and tools. The company collaborates with the most popular eCommerce companies - Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Magento, and many others. On its list of partners are also the world's most crowded marketplaces, including eBay and Etsy, and various financial, banking, CRM and other solution providers - BlueVine, Brex, Salesforce, TradeGecko, and so on to help you with invoice and revenue tracking. It's safe to say that ShipMonk is one of the best fulfillment services for startups since the software easily integrates with tools that facilitate a smooth and fast daily workflow. Moreover, ShipMonk encourages its clients to send their requests for new software products to be added to the list of integrations.

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Fulfillment Bridge Review Logo

Fulfillment Bridge Review

Order management

EXCELLENT

Integrations

EXCELLENT

Pricing

GOOD

  • ⦿ Same-day item processing
  • ⦿ 17 locations around the world
  • ⦿ Shipping rates calculator

Fulfillment Bridge is a Hong Kong-based company founded in 2016 by Kais Khadhraoui. The company focuses on facilitating international shipping for online sellers via 20-plus warehouses in 17 countries all over the world. This web fulfillment center covers shipments in the US, Europe, Asia, Australia, and even Africa. Fulfillment Bridge is in partnership with numerous international carriers, such as DHL, UPS, USPS, and FedEx fulfillment.

The software integrates with more than 20 eCommerce shopping channels, including Prestashop and Shopify. If you have an eCommerce company supported by Shopify services, Fulfillment Bridge can help you grow and expand your business all over the world. Expect a smooth and reliable fulfillment process that will free up time for other aspects of your business that require your attention.

All your orders will be streamlined through the company's web portal for simple tracking and handling. This order fulfillment system gives you detailed information about the orders, as well as alerts, analytics, and reports. You can bundle up orders from various channels and save on shipping rates. The software is fully customizable and can be adjusted to fit each seller's specific needs. 

Items are processed within a day, and you immediately get an email notification. By default, all items are packed in standard shipping boxes, but the company also allows for custom packaging. Fulfillment Bridge can help with FBA prep, although this isn't featured as a separate eCommerce order fulfillment service. Rather, it's a special add-on for existing clients only.

Fulfillment Bridge is quite transparent with the cost of its services. You can use the shipping rates calculator on the site to find out exactly how much you'd have to pay in each of the warehouses. When you contact the customer support team for a custom quote, the company will provide you with a landed cost that combines insurance fees, shipping costs, customs duties, and any additional expenses that might come your way.

You can cancel the subscription to the web-based order fulfillment software at any time with no contract obligations or cancellation fees. All you need to do is give a 30-day notice.

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Zoho Inventory Review Logo

Zoho Inventory Review

Order Management

EXCELLENT

Integrations

GOOD

Pricing

GOOD

  • ⦿ 40+ shipping integrations
  • ⦿ iOS and Android apps
  • ⦿ Free subscription plan

Zoho is a world-famous brand that offers high-quality software solutions to companies in various industries. The corporation was founded in 1996, while its order management platform Zoho Inventory came to life in 2015. Its software covers everything from inventory control and fulfillment warehouse management to order fulfillment and business reporting. Note that, unlike some other online fulfillment services, Zoho doesn't have its own warehouses or packaging systems. It relies on your own infrastructure and helps you connect with your supply chains.

The simple layout of the Zoho Inventory dashboard makes navigation a breeze, even if it's your first time using this type of software. It consolidates all of your points of sale into one comprehensive list of orders. This allows you to immediately check the package ID, status of your orders, shipment date, customer name, and content of each package.

The software automatically creates a packing slip as soon as you accept the order, so it can be sent to the customer or printed out.

Zoho's order fulfillment software can be integrated with hundreds of applications covering eCommerce markets, carriers, or tracking add-ons. There are more than 40 carriers you can integrate your software with, while Zoho recommends AfterShip integration for reliable order tracking. If you suddenly run out of stock, you can use this management tool to set up dropshipping and send the requested items directly from your supplier. All this can be done on the go with dedicated apps for iOS and Android.

The pricing page on Zoho Inventory's website gives you a selection of plans with all the details about each. If you're unsure how order fulfillment software for small business works, you can opt for the free plan, which gives you a taste of the software's functionality. It will accept 50 orders per month and provide you with basic fulfillment features. 

It's a good solution for business owners who have one warehouse to manage, but for larger companies, the free version is not enough. Depending on the size of your business, you can choose among several paid plans that range from €79 per month to €299 per month. The most popular plan lets you register 7,500 orders each month, manage five warehouses, and track items by their serial and batch numbers, all for €129 per month. If you need order fulfillment services with the option to manage up to 15 warehouses, the company's most comprehensive plan is a good fit.

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Boxzooka Review Logo

Boxzooka Review

Order management

EXCELLENT

Integrations

GOOD

Pricing

GOOD

  • ⦿ Great WMS
  • ⦿ Wholesale and retail support
  • ⦿ Landing cost calculation

Despite having one of the strangest names on our list of web order fulfillment services, Boxzooka is actually a serious contender for the order fulfillment software throne. Founded in 2013, the company boldly pushed forward, focusing on several important elements, such as warehouse management, eCommerce 3PL, and international shipping.

Boxzooka has an exceptional cloud-based warehouse management system that lets you optimize your entire supply and shipping process. The software is fully customizable and scalable to fit your current needs and follow your ambitions. Thanks to its high-quality calculator, the landed costs of all your deliveries will be crystal clear, and you'll get more precise financial reports. Fulfillment warehouse services can be integrated into almost any system quickly and painlessly with the help of Boxzooka's technical support.

The company's international shipping services are second to none, thanks to a large number of useful 3PL deals. Through third-party logistics, Boxzooka can cover every aspect of the order fulfillment process. It saves you a lot of time and effort in the long run.

What type of orders can Boxzooka handle? The 3PL services deal with retail, wholesale, and FBA distribution. You can create subscription boxes, which are all the rage nowadays, or bundle up your products through kitting. Boxzooka promises to connect you with the best fulfillment companies in the USA.

Like with any other high-end fulfillment company, you can control multiple points of sale through a single dashboard. The interface is remarkably easy to get the hang of. The orders are updated in real time, which is essential for customer satisfaction. Of course, the software also includes some basic analytics and can generate useful reports.

As far as pricing is concerned, Boxzooka doesn't reveal any info on the site. It's all quote-based, so you'll need to fill out a form and wait for the order fulfillment service support team to get back to you. Some user reviews on the Internet mention that the minimum is $1,500 a month. Anyway, to fill out the form on the website, you'll need to provide your personal information: your name, surname, email, and phone number. Also, you'll be asked to provide the name of your company and the type of service you are interested in. Alternatively, if you feel like you need more information to decide, call the support team (973.315.8144), or send an email to [email protected] to inquire about Boxzooka's website fulfillment services.

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Fishbowl Warehouse Review Logo

Fishbowl Warehouse Review

Order management

EXCELLENT

Integrations

GOOD

Pricing

EXCELLENT

  • ⦿ QuickBooks and Xero integrations
  • ⦿ Multiple currencies
  • ⦿ Various additional plugins

The main selling point for Fishbowl Warehouse is its integration with popular accounting software QuickBooks. The company's marketing team obviously realized the importance of this integration and placed it at the very top of the list of benefits you get with Fishbowl Warehouse. But is that all there is to it? Do Fishbowl order fulfillment services have any other competitive edges? As a matter of fact, our research has shown that this is a robust software solution with numerous benefits for sellers.

First off, let's start with the dashboard. Although it doesn't look flashy or fancy in any way, it's reliable, uncluttered, and yet, full of useful information. You can manage multiple selling channels and connect as many warehouses as you like. Keeping track of inventory levels and making necessary changes requires just a couple of clicks. It's possible to automate many processes to increase efficiency.

Obviously, we can't ignore the featured integration of this order fulfillment software with QuickBooks. The software connects to both desktop and online versions of QuickBooks. The two work really well together: The inventory gets instantly updated, and double entries are immediately removed. You can also connect the software to another popular accounting option - Xero. The integration process is fast and easy; it takes place completely within the software. Accounting is made easy by the fact that Fishbowl accepts multiple currencies that can be later converted within software to provide accurate financial reports.

If your product needs to be assembled within the warehouse before being shipped, you can keep track of all the individual parts from start to finish. With Fishbowl order fulfillment and shipping services, you'll always know where you are in the process and how long it'll take for the shipment to come through. Speaking of shipping, UPS is embedded in the interface, but the software can also be integrated with other major courier companies like USPS and FedEx.

There are numerous Fishbowl plugins that expand the functionality of the software. For example, to manage your orders on the go, you can install Fishbowl Anywhere, a handy plugin that works with any device, including mobile iOS and Android. Fishbowl Go lets you scan barcodes and performs various other tasks in the warehouse. Fishbowl SalesPoint turns this order fulfillment software into a point of sale where you can directly accept cash and credit card payments.

Before you decide whether or not this is the right option for you, try the 14-day free trial. It unlocks full functionality of the software, so you'll know exactly what to expect. Clients are generally satisfied with the software and relatively easy integration with other apps. A few reviews highlight that the software is a bit complicated to set up, requiring a tech-savvy user or an IT professional to help in the beginning. Aside from those minor rough edges, this order fulfillment system is easy to use and manage. Besides, you can contact Fishbowl's customer care at any time and ask for help. The support team is available via live chat, phone, and email.

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FAQ
What is fulfillment software?

Fulfillment software is a specific program designed to help you manage your orders, organize inventory, keep track of shipments, and ensure customer satisfaction. This order processing software automates huge chunks of an otherwise slow procedure and drastically improves the efficiency of the sales process. Order fulfillment programs generally have an alert system in place to keep you notified of any important changes to your order.

What are the steps involved in producing an order and shipping it to the customer?

When an order comes in, the software automatically notifies the seller and marks the item for shipping. The item gets packed in standard or custom packaging (depending on the seller's preference) and shipped to the customer. Shipping fulfillment services automatically determine the best shipping method based on a number of factors - the item's size, weight, and any preferences of the seller or the buyer. In case the customer isn't satisfied with the product or wants a different variation, for example, another size or color, the software can also initiate the return process.

How do small businesses keep track of orders?

Most of the time, small businesses rely on fulfillment software because it's an inexpensive and efficient way to keep track of orders. Companies that offer order fulfillment services for small business ventures usually don't set any daily or monthly minimum number of orders. In other words, the seller doesn't need to meet a quota; they only pay for the shipped items.

What is a WMS application?

A warehouse management system is a type of software that automates and optimizes processes in the warehouse. It can improve inventory management, organize item shipping, and notify the seller when a product is out of stock. WMS can be stand-alone software, part of a bigger ERP (enterprise resource planning) application, or web-based software-as-a-service. WMS is often an integral part of good eCommerce order fulfillment software.

Does Zoho have inventory management?

Yes, it does. In fact, Zoho has a specific app called Zoho Inventory, designed to take care of the whole order fulfillment process. It lets you keep track of your inventory, manages your warehouses, and deals with shipping. However, unlike other companies on our list, Zoho doesn't have its own warehouses. Still, it can help you manage the ones you make a deal with. This is all part and parcel of its reputable order fulfillment software, used by thousands of businesses all over the globe.