Frequently Asked Questions

01

General 3PL & Fulfillment

What does a 3PL do?

A 3PL, or third-party logistics provider, stores your inventory, receives inbound shipments, picks and packs orders, ships to customers or retailers, processes returns, and supports operational workflows like kitting, labeling, inventory management, and reporting.

How is ecommerce fulfillment different from basic warehousing?

Basic warehousing mainly focuses on storing goods. Ecommerce fulfillment includes receiving, inventory visibility, order routing, picking, packing, shipping, tracking, returns, carrier optimization, and system integrations with your selling channels.

What types of brands does 247 Fulfillment work with?

247 supports ecommerce, retail, wholesale, marketplace, and subscription brands across categories like apparel, beauty, supplements, food and beverage, electronics, home and kitchen, pet products, toys, games, hobbies, coffee, candles, CPG, and subscription boxes.

Can 247 support both small and growing brands?

Yes. 247 can support brands moving out of in-house fulfillment as well as brands scaling into multi-channel, multi-warehouse, retail, marketplace, and cross-border operations.

Where are your fulfillment centers located?

247 has Canadian fulfillment operations in Ontario and British Columbia, along with U.S. fulfillment capabilities through its North American network.

02

Pricing & Quotes

How does fulfillment pricing work?

Fulfillment pricing depends on your order volume, product size and weight, SKU count, storage needs, packaging requirements, shipping profile, sales channels, and value-added services.

Why does 247 build custom quotes instead of showing one flat rate?

Every operation is different. A supplement brand with subscriptions and lot tracking has different requirements than a cookware brand shipping oversized cartons or a retail brand shipping pallets. Custom pricing gives a more accurate quote for your actual operation.

What information do you need to provide a quote?

Helpful information includes monthly order volume, SKU count, average items per order, product weights and dimensions, storage needs, sales channels, destination mix, packaging requirements, and any special workflows like kitting, lot tracking, retail prep, or FBA prep.

Does shipping cost affect my fulfillment quote?

Yes. Shipping profile matters because package weight, dimensions, zones, service level, carrier mix, residential delivery, and destination mix can all affect total fulfillment cost.

Can 247 help identify ways to lower fulfillment costs?

Yes. 247 can review order profile, packaging, inventory placement, carrier options, pick logic, value-added workflows, and shipping strategy to find opportunities to reduce cost and improve customer experience.

03

Onboarding

What happens during onboarding?

Onboarding typically includes SKU setup, inventory setup, packaging rules, shipping rules, integration setup, receiving preparation, testing, and alignment on operational requirements before orders begin shipping.

How long does onboarding take?

Onboarding timing depends on SKU count, systems, sales channels, inventory readiness, packaging setup, and operational complexity. Brands with clean SKU data and compliant inbound inventory can usually move faster.

Do I need to create purchase orders before sending inventory?

Yes. Inbound inventory should be entered as a purchase order before arrival so the warehouse team can receive products accurately and efficiently.

What makes an inbound shipment compliant?

A compliant inbound shipment should have the required purchase order, clear SKU identification, accurate counts, proper labeling, appointment details where required, and products organized in a way that can be received without extra sorting or research.

Can multiple brands be managed under one account?

Yes. Multi-brand setups can be supported for operators managing multiple stores, product lines, or related brands within the same fulfillment relationship.

04

Integrations & Technology

What platforms can 247 integrate with?

247 supports common ecommerce and marketplace workflows including Shopify, Amazon, Walmart, WooCommerce, TikTok Shop, ERPs, EDI tools, APIs, and other multichannel setups.

Do you support Shopify fulfillment?

Yes. 247 can connect Shopify stores so orders flow into the warehouse system, tracking flows back to the store, and inventory can be managed through connected fulfillment workflows.

Can 247 support Amazon orders and Amazon FBA prep?

Yes. 247 can support Amazon-related workflows including marketplace order fulfillment and Amazon FBA prep, depending on the brand’s setup and operational requirements.

Do you support EDI?

Yes. EDI workflows can be supported for retail and wholesale requirements where brands need structured order, shipment, routing, and compliance data exchanged with retailers or trading partners.

Can 247 connect with ERPs or custom systems?

Yes. ERP, API, and custom workflows can be reviewed during onboarding to determine the best way to connect orders, inventory, tracking, and operational data.

Can I see inventory and order status?

Yes. 247 provides operational visibility into inventory, orders, receiving, fulfillment progress, shipments, and tracking through connected systems and reporting workflows.

05

Inventory Management

Do products need barcodes?

Barcodes help ensure accurate receiving, storage, picking, packing, and inventory control. Products should be clearly identifiable and barcoded where required.

Do you support lot tracking?

Yes. Lot tracking can be enabled for products that require batch-level visibility, such as supplements, beauty products, food and beverage, pet consumables, and other regulated or expiry-sensitive products.

Do you support expiry management and FIFO?

Yes. Expiry and FIFO workflows can be supported for products where rotation matters, including food, beverage, supplements, pet food, treats, beauty products, and other consumables.

Can 247 track serial numbers?

Yes. Serial number tracking can be supported for products that require unit-level traceability, including electronics, higher-value inventory, or products with warranty requirements.

Do you support kits and bundles?

Yes. 247 supports kits, bundles, multipacks, variety packs, subscription boxes, retail sets, promotional packs, influencer mailers, and launch kits.

Can inventory be managed across multiple warehouses?

Yes. Multi-node inventory can be supported so brands can place stock closer to customers, support different regions, reduce transit time, and balance shipping cost with delivery experience.

06

Orders, Cutoffs & SLAs

What is the same-day DTC fulfillment cutoff?

For standard direct-to-consumer orders, orders that are fulfillable and imported before 12:00 PM local warehouse time are generally labeled the same business day. Orders imported after that cutoff are generally labeled the next business day.

How long does receiving take?

During normal operations, compliant inbound shipments are generally received within 3 business days. First inbound shipments during onboarding may take up to 5 business days.

Can orders be held, edited, or prioritized?

Yes. 247 supports workflows for order holds, address changes, product edits, high-priority orders, partial shipments, and order attachments where operationally appropriate.

Can 247 support product launches and preorder releases?

Yes. 247 can support launch-day order volume, preorder waves, crowdfunding fulfillment, limited drops, product releases, and inventory reservation workflows.

Can 247 support subscription orders?

Yes. Subscription workflows can be supported for recurring orders, replenishment cycles, subscription boxes, monthly kits, inserts, bundles, and custom packouts.

07

Shipping & Carrier Network

Can 247 ship across Canada and the United States?

Yes. 247 supports fulfillment and shipping across Canada and the United States, including domestic, cross-border, DTC, retail, marketplace, and wholesale workflows.

What is Parcel Plus?

Parcel Plus is 247’s shipping optimization approach that compares carrier options based on package weight, dimensions, destination, and service level so brands can balance cost and delivery experience.

Can 247 help reduce shipping costs?

Yes. Carrier optimization, rate shopping, packaging review, zone strategy, and distributed inventory placement can help reduce shipping costs while protecting customer experience.

Can orders be allocated to different warehouses?

Yes. Orders can be allocated across warehouse locations where inventory placement, speed, shipping cost, and operational requirements make multi-node fulfillment beneficial.

Do you support international shipping?

Yes. International shipping workflows can be supported depending on destination, product type, carrier availability, customs requirements, and whether DDP or DDU is appropriate.

Do you support DDP and DDU shipping?

Yes. DDP and DDU shipping options can be reviewed based on destination, product category, duties and taxes, customer experience goals, and carrier capabilities.

08

Returns Processing

Do you process returns?

Yes. 247 supports return workflows including return creation, RMAs, prepaid return labels, inspection, restocking, quarantine, dispositioning, and inventory updates.

How long do returns take to process?

Standard returns are generally processed within 3–5 business days of arrival, depending on condition, inspection rules, special handling, repackaging, or quality control requirements.

Can 247 inspect returned products?

Yes. Returns can be inspected based on your SOPs, then restocked, quarantined, disposed, returned to vendor, or handled through another agreed disposition workflow.

Can 247 generate prepaid return labels?

Yes. Prepaid return labels can be generated where supported by the relevant carrier, destination, and return workflow.

Can returned items be restocked?

Yes. Returned items can be restocked when they meet your sellable condition criteria and return SOPs.

09

Retail, Wholesale & B2B

Do you support retail fulfillment?

Yes. 247 supports retail and wholesale fulfillment workflows including carton labeling, routing guides, appointment deliveries, pallet preparation, BOLs, and retailer compliance requirements.

Can 247 support routing guides?

Yes. Routing guide requirements can be reviewed and built into fulfillment workflows where the retailer requires specific labels, cartons, routing instructions, pallet configuration, or appointment rules.

Can you ship pallets and LTL orders?

Yes. 247 can support cartons, pallets, LTL freight, commercial shipments, freight pickups, bills of lading, and appointment-based shipping workflows.

Do you support wholesale orders from the same inventory pool as DTC?

Yes. Many brands use 247 to manage DTC, retail, wholesale, Amazon, and marketplace fulfillment from one inventory pool, depending on inventory rules and channel requirements.

Can 247 help brands expand into retail?

Yes. 247 can support brands moving from pure ecommerce into wholesale and retail by helping manage labeling, cartonization, shipping documents, compliance workflows, and operational execution.

10

Amazon FBA Prep

What is Amazon FBA prep?

Amazon FBA prep is the process of preparing inventory according to Amazon requirements before it is shipped into Amazon fulfillment centers. This can include FNSKU labeling, polybagging, carton labels, pallet prep, bundling, shipment creation, and freight coordination.

Can 247 handle FNSKU labeling?

Yes. 247 can support FNSKU labeling, shipment labels, carton labels, and other Amazon prep requirements based on the shipment plan and product requirements.

Do you support polybagging, warnings, and multipacks?

Yes. 247 can support polybagging, suffocation warning labels, bubble wrap, shrink wrap, multipack assembly, bundle assembly, and other Amazon-related prep tasks.

Can 247 prepare cartons and pallets for Amazon?

Yes. Carton and pallet prep, case pack prep, pallet configuration, shipment labels, and freight preparation can be supported based on Amazon’s requirements.

Do B2B or FBA freight orders need appointments?

Third-party freight B2B and FBA prep orders generally require a dock appointment during warehouse receiving hours.

11

Industries & Product Categories

247 supports fulfillment workflows across high-SKU ecommerce, consumables, retail-ready goods, subscriptions, launches, marketplace orders, and wholesale distribution.

Apparel & Accessories

High-SKU apparel, variants, returns, retail prep, and marketplace fulfillment.

Beauty & Personal Care

Careful packing, lot control, bundles, samples, launch kits, and inserts.

Health & Supplements

Lot tracking, expiry management, subscriptions, bundles, and retail orders.

Food & Beverage

FIFO, FEFO, expiry control, cartons, variety packs, and retail fulfillment.

Electronics

Serialized inventory, high-value products, returns, warranty workflows, and accuracy.

Home & Kitchen

Oversized items, fragile goods, kitchenware, cartons, and retail-ready shipments.

Pet Products

Pet food, treats, subscriptions, lot control, bundles, and replenishment orders.

Toys, Games & Hobbies

Launches, crowdfunding, collector editions, subscriptions, and retail orders.

Subscription Boxes

Recurring boxes, inserts, kits, bundles, samples, replenishment, and monthly drops.

CPG

Packaged goods, ecommerce, retail, wholesale, cartons, and multi-channel fulfillment.

12

Support & Communication

How do clients get support?

Clients can work with the 247 team through agreed support channels, account communication, operational workflows, and the 247 Help Center for common client questions and procedures.

Does 247 have a Help Center?

Yes. The 247 Help Center includes client resources for getting started, inventory management, order management, returns, receiving guidelines, SLAs, and operational workflows.

Can 247 help troubleshoot fulfillment issues?

Yes. 247 can help investigate operational issues related to inventory, receiving, order flow, shipping, returns, packaging rules, carrier performance, and workflow setup.

How do I know if 247 is the right fit?

247 is typically a strong fit for brands that want a more operationally capable fulfillment partner for DTC, retail, Amazon, subscriptions, Canada/U.S. shipping, inventory control, and scalable growth.