How to Choose a 3PL Provider | What Key Items To Look For

What breaks first when fulfillment can’t keep up? Shipping costs creep up, orders go out late and customer service takes the hit. For brands that rely on flexibility, high service levels, and long-term partnership, there are very specific items that you should be looking for and questions to ask.  Knowing what to look for in 3PL providers is not a side task. It is central to operational success.

Choosing the right third party logistics provider means looking past surface-level promises and focusing on alignment. These buyer-focused criteria help you evaluate how well each potential partner supports your service expectations, operational needs, and growth plans, not only today, but as your business grows.

What Key Items to Look For in a 3PL Partner

Many 3PL providers offer similar capabilities on paper. Warehousing, picking, packing, shipping etc. The real difference shows up when flexibility, service, and partnership actually matter to your brand.

That is why your evaluation should go deeper than a standard checklist. The right questions focus on:

• How a 3PL operates
• How it adapts
• How it supports your business model

For a broader foundation, this guide on choosing a 3PL provider offers additional context. The sections below focus on the areas that tend to separate capable providers from the right partner.

How do you know if a 3PL provider can support your ecommerce and omni channel growth?

Growth rarely happens in a single channel. Brands in expansion mode often rely on a true omnichannel strategy, selling direct to consumer while also supporting B2B and retail partners. That approach only works when fulfillment operates from a unified plan.

A strong 3PL should support ecommerce, marketplaces, and retail from the same operational foundation. Inventory accuracy matters here. Online stores, marketplaces, and retail locations all need to draw from real-time, shared inventory data to avoid overselling, stockouts, and delays.

What to look for:

• Proven success supporting ecommerce, retail, and marketplace programs
• Experience with platforms such as Shopify and NetSuite
• Integration with retail EDI partners like SPS Commerce and True Commerce
• Marketplace fulfillment experience, including Amazon
• Processes that support retail compliance and chargeback avoidance
• Unified inventory management across all channels

What FIDELITONE Offers

FIDELITONE provides omnichannel fulfillment services designed to support ecommerce, retail, and marketplace growth from a single strategy. Our teams work across multiple industries and selling models, helping brands manage inventory accuracy, compliance requirements, and service consistency as volumes scale.

What should you look for in a 3PL warehousing network and capabilities?

Customer expectations now shape warehouse strategy. One to two day delivery has become the norm, which puts pressure on where inventory is stored and how quickly it moves.

Warehousing is about space, location, consistency, and the ability to support your specific product mix. A 3PL should be able to explain how its network reduces transit times and how its facilities are managed day to day.

What to look for:

• Strategically located fulfillment centers that support fast delivery
• Owned or consistently managed facilities with standardized processes
• Capacity that scales with volume changes
• Storage types and services aligned with your products, including pick and pack, kitting, returns handling, and value-added services
• Support for specialized needs such as oversized, fragile, or regulated items

What FIDELITONE offers

FIDELITONE provides clear guidance on coverage types, responsibilities, and claims handling. Expectations are documented upfront, with defined communication processes so issues can be resolved efficiently when they arise.

How should you assess a 3PL’s operations, technology, and ability to keep orders moving?

Order volume rarely stays flat. Seasonal spikes, promotions, labor shortages, and supply chain disruptions are part of normal operations. The question is how a 3PL plans for them. Ask how volume fluctuations are managed and what contingency plans are in place. Technology plays a key role here, especially the warehouse management system. A capable 3PL should offer real-time visibility into inventory, orders, and shipments, supported by clear performance reporting.

What to look for:

• WMS capabilities that support scanning, location management, pick paths, and inventory control
• Real-time order and inventory visibility through dashboards or client portals
• Documented SOPs that guide daily operations
• Contingency plans for labor and supply chain disruptions

What FIDELITONE offers

FIDELITONE integrates with leading ecommerce, marketplace, and retail systems to support visibility and control across channels. Teams have proven experience keeping orders moving during peak seasons and unexpected disruptions for brands across multiple industries.

What should you ask a 3PL provider about operations and continuous improvement?

Strong fulfillment operations do not stay static. Continuous improvement signals that a 3PL is proactive and invested in long-term performance. Without regular review, inefficiencies build quietly. Service levels slip. Costs rise. A reliable partner has systems in place to measure, review, and refine operations.

What to look for:

• Documented operating procedures
• Plans for managing seasonal volume and growth
• Defined KPIs for on time ship rate, order accuracy, and inventory accuracy

What FIDELITONE offers

FIDELITONE conducts regular business reviews with clients and drives continuous improvement based on KPI performance. The focus stays on measurable outcomes and operational consistency over time.

How can you use site visits to compare 3PL providers and spot real differences?

A site visit reveals what proposals cannot. Walking the floor shows how operations actually run, how technology is used, and how teams work together. Tours also create space for deeper conversations with operations leaders, supervisors, and account managers. This is where escalation paths, service expectations, and accountability become clear.

Red flags to watch for:

• Hesitation or refusal to schedule a tour
• Disorganized, dirty, or unsafe facilities
• Staff who appear overwhelmed or cannot explain basic processes

What FIDELITONE offers

FIDELITONE welcomes site visits and encourages transparency. All teams are prepared to show live operations and answer detailed questions. For guidance on what to evaluate during a tour, this resource on evaluating a fulfillment partner warehouse tour is a useful reference.

Make the Right Decision for Your Next 3PL Provider

The right third party logistics provider brings operational discipline, transparency, and flexibility. It aligns with your service standards and helps you move forward with confidence. If you’re ready to evaluate your options or want to discuss your fulfillment strategy, contact FIDELITONE to start the conversation.