How to Choose a 3PL Fulfilment Partner in 2025

Choosing the right third-party logistics (3PL) provider is one of the most important decisions an ecommerce business can make. Your fulfilment partner directly impacts delivery speed, customer satisfaction and your bottom line.

This guide walks you through the key factors to consider when evaluating 3PL providers in the UK.

1. Understand your requirements first

Before approaching any 3PL, you need a clear picture of your own operations:

• Order volume: How many orders per month do you ship? What’s your peak vs. average?
• Product types: Are your products fragile, temperature-sensitive, or oversized?
• SKU count: How many unique products do you stock?
• Channels: Do you sell on Shopify, Amazon, eBay, or your own platform?
• Delivery expectations: Do your customers expect next-day delivery?

2. Location matters

A fulfilment centre’s location affects both shipping costs and delivery times. Consider:

• Proximity to your customers: If most customers are in London and the South East, a warehouse in the Midlands or South East makes sense.
• Transport links: Good access to motorways and carrier hubs speeds up dispatch.
• Multiple locations: Larger businesses may benefit from distributed fulfilment across multiple warehouses.

3. Technology and integrations

Modern 3PLs should offer seamless technology:

• Platform integrations: Direct connections to Shopify, WooCommerce, Amazon and other channels.
• Real-time inventory: Live stock levels synced with your sales channels.
• Reporting: Clear dashboards showing order status, shipping performance and costs.
• API access: For custom integrations or bespoke workflows.

4. Pricing transparency

3PL pricing can be complex. Watch out for:

• Storage fees: Usually charged per pallet, shelf or cubic metre per week.
• Pick and pack fees: A per-order fee plus per-item fees.
• Shipping costs: Either passed through at cost or marked up.
• Minimum fees: Some providers charge monthly minimums regardless of volume.
• Hidden charges: Account management fees, onboarding costs, integration setup.

Always request a detailed pricing breakdown and model it against your actual order data.

5. Red flags to watch for

• No client references or case studies
• Reluctance to show you round the warehouse
• Long-term contracts with no break clauses
• No SLA (service level agreement) on dispatch times
• Outdated technology or manual processes

6. Questions to ask potential 3PLs

1. What is your same-day dispatch cut-off time?
2. What is your order accuracy rate?
3. How do you handle returns?
4. Can I visit the warehouse?
5. What happens during peak periods (Black Friday, Christmas)?
6. What are your contract terms and notice periods?
7. Do you have experience with my product category?

Next steps

Ready to start comparing 3PL providers? Browse our UK fulfilment directory to find and compare providers by region, integrations and services. Or request quotes and we’ll match you with suitable providers.