5 Key Signs It’s Time to Switch Fulfillment Providers

Running a successful business is hard enough without worrying about missed orders, high shipping costs, or poor communication from your fulfillment partner. Your fulfillment provider plays a critical role in your business's growth, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency. If your current 3PL isn’t meeting expectations, it might be time to explore new options.

Here are five key signs it’s time to switch your fulfillment provider—and how PBD can help you solve these challenges and grow with confidence.

Sign #1: Your Orders Are Often Late or Inaccurate

In today’s eCommerce world, customers have endless options at their fingertips, making customer experience more critical than ever for building a loyal base. Accuracy and timeliness should be non-negotiable when partnering with a 3PL. Late or incorrect orders can damage customer trust, increase returns, and hurt your bottom line.

How PBD Solves This:
At PBD, we maintain a 99.8% accuracy rate for inventory management and ensure that 99% of orders received by 3:00 PM local time are shipped the same day. Our state-of-the-art warehouse management system (WMS) minimizes errors and ensures your customers get exactly what they ordered—on time, every time.

Sign #2: Poor Communication or Lack of Transparency

Many 3PLs today rely on generic support teams, making your business just another ticket in a queue. These generalized teams often don’t fully understand the intricacies of your business, leading to delays, miscommunication, and missed opportunities to optimize your operations. Without a dedicated account representative who knows your brand and priorities, scaling your business can become an uphill battle.

Additionally, if your current logistics partner doesn’t provide real-time reporting capabilities, it can leave you in the dark when it comes to critical business insights. The ability to access real-time data on inventory, orders, and product performance is essential to making informed decisions quickly and avoiding costly delays or errors.

How PBD Solves This:
We provide every client with a dedicated account manager who acts as your single point of contact, ensuring you always have someone knowledgeable and accessible. Our reporting tools, such as PBD SmartReports, give you real-time insights into inventory, orders, and shipping performance, so you’re never left guessing.

Sign #3: Limited Scalability for Growing Businesses

As your business grows, so do your fulfillment needs. If your current fulfillment partner struggles to handle increasing order volumes, doesn’t have the resources to adapt to your growth, or lacks scalability, it could be holding your business back. If spikes in order volume slow

Scaling isn’t just about fulfilling more orders; it’s also about tapping into new markets, diversifying your distribution channels, and maintaining a seamless customer experience. One of the key benefits of outsourcing fulfillment is the ability to manage volume fluctuations without delays or disruptions. If volume spikes—such as during peak shopping seasons or promotional events—are causing fulfillment delays or negatively affecting customer experience, it’s time to reconsider your 3PL.

Partnering with a 3PL that specializes in D2C, B2B and retail order fulfillment can give your business the agility it needs to expand. A fulfillment partner that understands retailer requirements, bulk shipments, and direct-to-consumer needs can streamline operations and ensure you’re prepared for whatever comes next.

How PBD Solves This:
PBD Worldwide offers expertise across all fulfillment channels, from precise and efficient D2C shipping to large-scale B2B and retail distribution. With scalable infrastructure and proactive planning, PBD ensures that volume spikes—whether from seasonal demand or product launches—are managed seamlessly without delays.

With a deep understanding of compliance and logistics for major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Target, as well as niche retailers in industries like publishing and health & wellness, PBD eliminates the need for multiple fulfillment partners. This ensures operations are efficient, scalable, and set up for long-term success.

Whether you’re growing your D2C customer base or launching new partnerships with retailers, we ensure our partners are never left scrambling to keep up with demand.

Sign #4: Lack of Industry Expertise

Different industries have unique fulfillment requirements and working with a 3PL that doesn’t understand your specific needs can lead to costly mistakes. For example, wellness brands may need expertise in managing expiration dates, while publishers may require established relationships with retail providers such as Barnes & Noble or expertise in bulk order going to schools. Also, your business may want to enhance your customer experience and grow your business through value-added services (VAS) such as kitting/bundling of products, restickering or gift wrapping.

If your current fulfillment warehouse isn’t knowledgeable in your industry, it is affecting your operation and time to evaluate other 3PL providers.

How PBD Solves This:
PBD has nearly five decades of experience in the fulfillment world which include a diverse portfolio of partners in almost every industry. We understand the nuances of major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Target, as well as niche industry players like Barnes & Noble, Whole Foods, and Academy Sports. This expertise ensures your products meet all compliance requirements and reach your customers seamlessly.

We also have the technology and systems in place to meet your unique needs including expiration date tracking, value-added service (VAS) needs such as gift wrapping, marketing inserts, bundling, repackaging etc., handling of oversized or specialized items, subscription box fulfillment, temperature-controlled storage and returns management. By addressing these industry-specific needs, PBD is more than generic fulfillment—it’s a strategic partner that understands the nuances of your business and helps it thrive.

Sign #5: High Shipping Costs and/or Inefficient Packaging

Shipping costs are one of the biggest expenses in eCommerce, and inefficient packaging can further inflate costs. If your fulfillment partner isn’t helping you optimize packaging and negotiate carrier rates, it’s time for a change.

How PBD Solves This:
Our partnerships with major carriers give you access to competitive shipping rates, reducing your overall costs. Additionally, our expertise in packaging optimization ensures your products are shipped in the most cost-effective way possible—without compromising quality or protection.

If any of these signs resonate with you, it may be time to reevaluate your fulfillment partner. At PBD Worldwide, we bring nearly 50 years of expertise to the table, helping businesses in across all industries achieve efficient, reliable, and cost-effective order fulfillment.

We specialize in navigating the complexities of retail compliance, scaling with your growth, and offering personalized service to ensure your success. Ready to see the difference PBD can make? Contact us today to learn how we can help your business Ship Fast & Scale Faster!