Outsourcing fulfilment is often seen as a turning point for growing eCommerce businesses — a way to unlock scale, reduce operational strain, and focus on growth.
But in reality, outsourcing fulfilment doesn’t fix broken operations. It exposes them.
Heading into 2026, with tighter margins and higher customer expectations, the businesses that succeed with third-party fulfilment are the ones that prepare properly before handing stock to a partner.
Here’s how to get your operations ready — and why skipping these steps almost always leads to disappointment.
1. Get Brutally Honest About Your Current Fulfilment Performance
Before involving a fulfilment partner, you need a clear picture of how your operation performs today.
That means understanding:
-
Average order volumes (daily, weekly, seasonal peaks)
-
Order profiles (single-item vs multi-line orders)
-
Dispatch times and cut-off reliability
-
Picking and packing accuracy
-
Returns rates and reasons
Many businesses outsource fulfilment because things feel chaotic — but without data, it’s impossible to define success or spot improvement later.
If you can’t clearly describe your current performance, neither can a partner.
2. Clean Up Your Product and Inventory Data
Fulfilment partners rely heavily on the quality of the data you provide.
Before outsourcing, make sure:
-
SKUs are unique, consistent, and clearly defined
-
Product weights and dimensions are accurate
-
Barcodes are assigned and usable
-
Bundles and kits are properly structured
-
Inventory counts are as accurate as possible
Messy product data leads to mis-picks, incorrect storage charges, shipping errors, and constant friction.
A fulfilment partner can store and ship your products — but they can’t fix poor data at scale.
3. Document Your Fulfilment Rules (Even the Unwritten Ones)
Most in-house fulfilment operations run on a mix of written processes and “how we’ve always done it”.
Before outsourcing, document:
-
Picking priorities
-
Packing rules and brand requirements
-
Insert handling (leaflets, samples, promotions)
-
Order exceptions and edge cases
-
Cut-off times and dispatch rules
If your team relies on instinct or experience to make decisions, a fulfilment partner won’t be able to replicate that without clear guidance.
Outsourcing works best when expectations are explicit, not assumed.
4. Define What “Good” Actually Looks Like
One of the biggest causes of frustration with outsourced fulfilment is misaligned expectations.
Before you sign a contract, define:
-
Acceptable dispatch times
-
Accuracy targets
-
Inventory accuracy thresholds
-
Returns processing timelines
-
Communication and escalation expectations
These don’t need to be perfect — but they do need to be clear.
If success is vague, performance reviews will be too.
5. Simplify Before You Scale
Outsourcing fulfilment is not the time to carry unnecessary complexity.
Before moving to a partner, consider:
-
Retiring slow-moving or problematic SKUs
-
Simplifying bundle structures
-
Reducing packaging variations
-
Standardising order flows where possible
Every exception adds cost and risk when fulfilment is external.
The simpler your operation is at the point of handover, the smoother onboarding will be — and the cheaper it will remain over time.
6. Prepare Your Systems for Integration
Fulfilment outsourcing is as much a systems project as a logistics one.
Ensure:
-
Your eCommerce platform is ready to integrate with a WMS
-
Order statuses are clearly defined and meaningful
-
Inventory ownership between systems is understood
-
You know where the “source of truth” for stock will live
Poor integration planning leads to delayed updates, overselling, and customer confusion.
In 2026, fulfilment partners are expected to plug into your tech stack — but only if your stack is ready.
7. Get Clear on Returns and Reverse Logistics
Returns are often overlooked during outsourcing discussions — until they become a problem.
Before outsourcing, decide:
-
What happens to returned stock
-
How quickly returns must be processed
-
When refunds should be triggered
-
How damaged or unsellable items are handled
-
What data you need from returns
Clear returns rules protect both customer experience and margin.
A fulfilment partner can only execute what you define.
8. Align Internally Before You Outsource Externally
Outsourcing fulfilment affects more than operations.
Make sure:
-
Customer support understands new processes
-
Marketing knows stock and dispatch constraints
-
Finance understands new cost structures
-
Leadership agrees on success metrics
When teams aren’t aligned, fulfilment partners are often blamed for issues that actually originate internally.
Strong internal alignment leads to stronger external partnerships.
———-
Preparing your operations for outsourced fulfilment isn’t just about logistics – it’s about setting your business up to scale with confidence. At RMI Services, we work with eCommerce brands to assess fulfilment readiness, untangle operational complexity, and put the right processes, systems, and partners in place before growth exposes the cracks. Whether you’re considering your first fulfilment partner or reviewing an existing setup, the goal is the same: clearer operations, better visibility, and fulfilment that supports growth rather than holding it back.
