Outsourcing your fulfilment to a 3PL like Wonderpack can lift a huge weight off your shoulders. But great fulfilment works best when it’s a partnership. The smoother things are on your end, the better the results on ours. Think fewer returns, faster dispatches, lower costs and happier customers.
Here’s how to make fulfilment seamless for your 3PL, and how that effort pays off.
1. Get Your Barcodes Right (One for Every Format)
Why it matters:
Barcodes are the foundation of accurate fulfilment. Without them, we can’t reliably pick, pack or dispatch orders, especially as your brand grows.
What to do:
- Make sure every individual product has a unique barcode.
- If you sell cases or multi-packs, give those a separate barcode.
- Ensure barcodes are printed clearly and placed in the same location every time.
Example:
If you sell both a single candle and a 4-pack, both options need their own barcode to avoid confusion or errors.
2. Be Clear About What the Customer Is Buying
Why it matters:
Returns often happen because the customer didn’t receive what they thought they were ordering. Unclear listings, images or missing info usually cause this.
What to do:
- Use clear, high-quality product photos from multiple angles.
- Be specific about contents, sizes, formats and materials.
- List everything included in bundles or kits.
- Clearly label pack sizes, such as “1 x 250ml” or “3 x 250ml”.
Example:
One snack brand listed “Peanut Butter Bars” without a pack size. Customers expected one bar but received a box of 12. Cue returns, refunds and confusion.
3. Design for Packability and Protection
Why it matters:
Our team are experienced, but packaging plays a big role. Fragile or awkwardly shaped items without protection are more likely to arrive damaged and therefore be returned or refunded.
What to do:
- Use packaging that protects the product in transit without relying on excess void fill.
- Let us know if anything needs special care when packed
- If you use branded packaging, make sure it’s courier-proof and durable.
Example:
A beauty brand initially shipped glass bottles in lightweight branded boxes. After a few cracked deliveries, they switched to recycled kraft wrap and haven’t had an issue since.
4. Add Address Validation to Your Checkout
Why it matters:
Incorrect shipping addresses can cause re-delivery costs, delays, failed deliveries and frustrated customers. This is especially risky for international orders.
What to do:
- Use postcode or address lookup tools in your checkout.
- Encourage customers to double-check their details.
- Auto-format addresses if your system allows it.
Example:
After adding address validation to Shopify, one brand saw a 30% drop in failed deliveries within just a month.
5. Share Accurate Forecasts and Product Data
Why it matters:
We plan labour, space and stock handling based on what’s coming in and going out. Good data helps us work better for you.
What to do:
- Let us know about new products or upcoming promos.
- Tell us what’s likely to fly off the shelves and what’s slower.
- Keep all SKU, weight, size and batch data up to date.
Example:
One lifestyle brand forgot to mention a flash sale. Orders spiked overnight and we had to scramble. Now, we work from a shared campaign calendar and things run much more smoothly.
💡 Wonderpack Tip: Think Like a Customer, Act Like a Partner
The best fulfilment relationships are built on collaboration. The most successful brands we work with are the ones who:
- Give us the tools and information we need
- Focus on quality and clarity at every step
- See us as an extension of their team
When we work closely, fulfilment becomes more than a backend function. It becomes a part of your brand experience and growth tool.
Want help getting set up? Or just a quick chat to untangle a few things?
We’re here to help make fulfilment feel simple, supportive and stress-free.
