Fulfillment-Box Review

Well-functioning logistics processes are one of the key factors for the success of an ecommerce company. The supply chain determines both the company's ability to meet market demand and the final level of service to the end customer.

More and more companies are opting for the latter when it comes to managing their logistics themselves or working with an external service provider. Fulfillment-Box is an international logistics company that offers a comprehensive supply chain solution in key locations - Europe, USA, Canada and China. In this article, we will thoroughly review what Fulfillment-Box offers and how it can help ecommerce businesses.

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Who is Fulfillment-Box?

Fulfillment-Box is a relatively young fulfillment company. It gained recognition in 2019 with the opening of its first warehouse in Bremen, Germany. However, the core of the team consists of employees who have been working in ecommerce for over 10 years and have a deep understanding of the industry.

The company is expanding rapidly in the international market. Starting in 2023, it will operate warehouses in Europe, the U.S., Canada and Turkey, and plans to open one in China by the end of the year. The company mainly locates its facilities in close proximity to Amazon warehouses.

Fulfillment-Box has no restrictions on minimum and maximum order quantities. They serve both startups and large enterprises by providing sufficient resources for scalability.

Let's take a closer look at the services Fulfillment-Box offers its customers.

Overview of Fulfillment-Box Services

The range of services offered by Fulfillment-Box goes beyond the scope of typical fulfillment centers. If you are a budding contractor, you should definitely consider this company. It can help you not only with the basic legal aspects of getting started, but also with a gradual build-out.

3PL Services

The company provides a full range of fulfillment center services for ecommerce - warehousing, pick and pack, order shipping and returns management.

Features:

• Processing of sets and packages;
• Facilitation of international delivery;
• Personalization services - use of branded packaging, inserts, business cards, etc;
• Same day shipping;
• You can provide specific instructions for product assembly and returns management;
• You can request customized services. The company is open to various forms of cooperation.

The Fulfillment-Box warehouse network comprises 6 sites in Europe, 9 in the USA (several more are planned) and one each in Canada, Turkey and China.(at the time of writing, the launch was in preparation). All sites generally offer the same range of services. However, the available volume may vary depending on storage capacity.

Amazon

The company primarily specializes in working with Amazon. They can fulfill FBM and SFP orders and also offer FBA Prep Center services (product control, labeling, order shipment processing, returns management).

As mentioned above, the company aligns its operations with Amazon's warehouse locations. Therefore, all stores can ensure the delivery of products to Amazon warehouses within 1-2 days.

Main Features:

• Handling of products in the dangerous goods category;
• Support for Amazon transparency program;
• Transit shipment handling.

Legal services in Europe

Fulfillment-Box offers a range of basic legal services for companies operating in the European market. These are beneficial for both start-ups and established companies:

• Registration of LUCID and EPR in Europe;
• Support for customs clearance for Germany (direct RP for customs clearance);
• Support for registration of WEEE EU number in Europe;
• Registration of VAT number for Germany and Estonia;
• Registration of EORI number for Germany.

Technologies

Fulfillment-Box utilizes cloud-based software Ysell.pro to automate processes and provide customers with maximum control with minimal intervention.

Real-Time Inventory Management

The use of software ensures constant inventory control. You have access to the exact stock levels at any time and from any location. After synchronization with ecommerce platforms, product availability information is automatically updated in stores. This is a crucial factor in avoiding overstocking.

The system also enables stock to be split between warehouses and marketplaces. The warehouse in Germany, for example, is available for sales throughout the European Union, while the warehouse in the United Kingdom is reserved for local stores and marketplaces.

Multi-Channel Fulfillment

Through the use of software, Fulfillment-Box supports multi-channel fulfillment. You can connect your ecommerce platforms to centrally manage all your orders.

Available integrations include Amazon, eBay, Shopify, WooCommerce, Otto, Kaufland, Cdiscount and Allegro. Other ecommerce platforms or your own online store can be connected via an API. The integration enables automatic upload of orders and transfer of inventory data to the platforms.

Process Automation

Fulfillment-Box offers a variety of process automation solutions that enable collaboration with minimal manual intervention:

• Export products from marketplaces for a quick start;
• Ability to provide detailed instructions for each product (viewable by warehouse staff during order fulfillment);
• Ability to configure order fulfillment rules (which orders to ship from which warehouse) to automatically control distribution;
• Automatic import into the system and order processing. Paid orders go directly to the warehouse for picking and shipping without errors;
• Automated and transparent financial settlements.

One Account for Everything

You only need one account to manage your inventory across the Fulfillment-Box network. You can connect multiple of your own businesses, marketplaces (separately for each business), and Fulfillment-Box warehouses to this account.

Note that the same account can also be upgraded as a Warehouse Management System (WMS) for your own warehouses. Especially if you run a hybrid order fulfillment, this can be an interesting solution.

Interaction with Customers

When selecting a 3PL partner, look not only for services and capabilities, but also for interactions with company representatives. Since problems will inevitably arise, it's important to know how quickly and effectively you will receive support.

Technical support is definitely one of the benefits of Fulfillment-Box. For each customer, the company sets up a free individual chat on Telegram or Skype. The support managers claim to respond within 20 minutes and are available throughout the week. Consultations are offered in English, German, Russian and Ukrainian. This ensures that many customers can work comfortably without language barriers.

For additional services, such as calling a postal operator, you can also contact technical support.

Prices

Fulfillment-Box operates on a fixed price basis and publishes the cost of its services openly on its website. Prices vary from country to country and are quoted in the local currency. However, the services are uniform in all countries, which makes it much easier to work with Prep Centers. There are no fees for software implementation.

The company often offers a 10% discount to customers working with new warehouses. This discount is valid for three months on all services except storage and transportation.

Here are some pricing examples from the Chicago warehouse:

• Storage of 1 pallet: $40 per month;
• Storage on the shelf: $13 per month;
• Order picking and shipping up to 4kg: $2 plus $0.30 per item in the order;
• SFP order shipping: $2 per order;
• Returns processing: $2 for FBA, $2 plus $1 per item for FBM.

Wholesale prices apply to some services. The larger the volume, the better the price. For example, move processing ranges from $1.05 to $0.70 and FBA shipping ranges from $1.50 to $0.50.

Financial Settlements

It is worth describing in more detail the process of financial settlement between Fulfillment-Box and its customers. All services and their costs are tracked in the system. You can see the cost of each order or shipment.

Billing is done monthly using Fulfillment-Box's cooperative prepayment model. You load your credit and the desired amount is automatically debited. Upon cancellation, the remaining balance reverts to the customer. But also the payment via PayPal, Payoneer or bank transfer is possible.

Conclusion

Fulfillment-Box is a fast growing company. It offers a wide range of services and opportunities for businesses of all sizes. Startups, especially those in the early stages of ecommerce, should take a closer look at the company.

Its extensive warehouse network allows customers to gradually expand and enter new markets. Automation ensures that collaboration is convenient for both parties and all processes are fast and accurate.

The integration of fulfillment center and FBA prep center services makes Fulfillment-Box a comprehensive solution for multi-channel businesses.