Fulfillment companies Europe
Storage and order fulfillment services are an important part of being an online retailer, but also very time consuming. European ecommerce fulfillment companies can take care of the entire logistics process for you, including inventory storage, preparing orders and shipping.
Content:
- What is fulfillment?
- List of European fulfillment providers
- What does a fulfillment company do?
- Pros and cons of outsourcing
What is fulfillment?
Fulfillment describes the logistical process after the arrival of an order. This includes picking the right products, wrapping the items in shipping packaging and printing a shipping label. Storing your inventory and the shipment itself also fall under fulfillment services.
When starting your online business, you will likely manage storage and shipping on your own. However, as your order volume grows, this can become time consuming. While you can move to a larger warehouse and hire more staff, you maybe do not want to. You can also outsource fulfillment to a specialized fulfillment center, which serves as both a warehouse and a distribution hub for your ecommerce business.
A good fulfillment center acts like a warehouse and distribution center in one.
Best fulfillment companies in Europe
Many fulfillment providers operate warehouses across Europe, which is especially valuable if you handle cross-border sales and need international shipping to reach your customers. You can connect your store directly to the software used by fulfillment services for seamless order processing.
If you prefer to outsource shipping while managing your own stock, consider exploring our list of the top fulfillment providers in Europe:
Salesupply offers national and cross-border solutions for fulfillment and returns as well as customer service. The company works with 25+ fulfillment centers across the world, among them the following EU countries: Germany, France, the Netherlands, the UK, Italy, Spain, Poland, Denmark and Sweden.
ShipBob is a large fulfillment company that is headquartered in the United States, with multiple fulfillment centers in Europe (Poland, The Netherlands and the UK). In addition to fulfillment, the company also offers inventory management, order tracking and integrations with ecommerce software.
Direct Link is part of PostNord and offers cross-border ecommerce solutions. The company provides mail and parcel distribution as well as warehouse logistics. The fulfillment provider has offices worldwide, including 4 countries in Europe: Sweden, Poland, Germany and the United Kingdom.
Active Ants is a cross-border fulfillment company with locations in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. The company is known for its large-scale use of order picking robots. Retailers can outsource logistics but also product photography, customer service and payments.
Octopia provides cross-border retailers with ecommerce fulfillment services across Europe. They ship more than 20 million parcels per year to over 20 European countries from their warehouses in France, with more than 540 thousand square meters storage space. It also provides other services.
Fulfilment by Amazon is the fulfillment solution for sellers on Amazon. You can also use FBA to sell up to half of the stored products on other platforms, like your own store. FBA offers order picking, packaging and shipping as well as returns and customer service.
Bol.com is the largest online store in the Netherlands and Belgium. As a seller on the platform, you can let Logistics via Bol.com take care of storage, order picking and returns. Merchants can also choose to only outsource shipping. It has six warehouses across the Netherlands.
Huboo Fulfilment is headquartered in the UK and has its operational centres in the Netherlands, Spain and Germany. The company offers order picking, storage and shipping as well as returns. Inside Huboo’s warehouses, retailers get a micro-hub with their own hub manager for a more personal service.
FedEx is a delivery and fulfillment service from the United States, with European offices in France and Germany. The fulfillment center network processes over 210 million shipments across Europe per year, delivering next-day to more than 75 thousand European addresses.
Byrd is an e-fulfillment company that is active in Austria, France, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK. It offers storage, order picking and shipping and software to optimize the logistics and fulfillment process. The company has over 20 fulfillment centers across Europe.
What does a fulfillment company do?
Order processing is the core focus of fulfillment partners. They set up fulfillment warehouses for maximum efficiency, often using automation or even robotics. This reduces errors, lowers costs, and is often more sustainable.
Outsourcing your order processing means handing over all warehouse operations. Many ecommerce fulfillment companies offer more than just picking, packing, and shipping. They often assist with returns, inventory management, and other logistics tasks.
Some fulfillment companies also provide additional services like customer support, marketing assistance, or product photography. However, their primary focus is logistics. Customer service support is typically limited to inquiries about delivery times, stock availability, or order status.
Pros of outsourcing your order processing
When you outsource fulfillment, you no longer need to worry about storage or distribution services. This allows you to scale up as your business grows or scale down during slower periods.
Although outsourcing comes at a cost, logistics partners often secure cheaper shipping rates through collective agreements. Outsourcing also offers advantages like later cut-off times and access to multiple delivery options, such as same-day delivery, which often requires meeting minimum order quantities.
Efficient Processes and Better Equipment
Fulfillment providers use efficient work processes and advanced equipment, like automated packing machines. These machines allow for personalized packaging without the need for extra padding, which would be expensive to implement on your own due to limited volumes. By working with a fulfillment partner, you benefit from their equipment and up-to-date software, enabling faster and more efficient shipping while offering your customers higher-quality service.
Additionally, fulfillment companies often integrate seamlessly with marketplaces like Amazon. This ensures your business meets platform requirements for delivery times, packaging, and approved carriers, making it easier to expand your reach and maintain customer satisfaction.
Cons of outsourcing order processing
Outsourcing fulfillment can save money for fast-growing online stores by eliminating the need for additional warehouse space and staff. However, for smaller businesses, the costs can be a significant drawback.
Another disadvantage of outsourcing is the reduced control over the process. While fulfillment providers streamline logistics, managing everything in-house often gives you greater oversight. For instance, if a customer asks about a return, you may not be able to quickly confirm whether the item has arrived or check its condition.
Personal touches, such as handwritten notes or small gifts, are also less common with fulfillment companies, as their staff may not have the time for such details. That said, some providers do offer customization options, often tailored to specific products, like oversized packages.
