When you’re deciding scaling your eCommerce business, you’ll inevitably find many companies saying they are 3PL and/or fulfilment centres. While often used interchangeably, understanding the key distinction betwen these terms can help you choose the right partner for your growth.
In summary: fulfilment is the service, 3PL is the provider
Fulfilment is the process of getting an order from the warehouse to your customer. A 3PL (Third-Party Logistics) provider is the company you outsource that process to.
A 3PL can be a specialized, external company that offers a wide range of logistics services. A 3PL will operate a fulfilment centre (or a network of them) on your behalf. Some 3PLs offer a large scope of services like transport.
In practice, the terms are practically synonymous, as most 3PLs core offering for eCommece businesses is order fulfilment.