Supplier brief: compare ecommerce fulfillment providers

How to choose an ecommerce fulfillment provider

Editorial working template
https://www.ecommerce.spot/en/guides/choose-ecommerce-fulfillment-provider
Reviewed: 2026-10-28

Use the same brief for every candidate. Separate confirmed requirements, your forecasts and unanswered supplier questions.

Project / owners / date:
________________________________________

Choose an ecommerce fulfillment provider by checking your products, delivery destinations and order patterns against a documented operating proposal. Compare the full cost of the same order basket, test inventory and shipment updates, and agree how exceptions and returns will be handled before committing stock.

1. Products and orders
Record dimensions, weights, ordinary order baskets, exceptions and forecast assumptions.
Your inputs / decision:
________________________________________
Evidence / owner / unresolved issue:
________________________________________

2. Warehouse and routes
Record the proposed stock location, destinations, dispatch cutoff and return address.
Your inputs / decision:
________________________________________
Evidence / owner / unresolved issue:
________________________________________

3. Cost scenarios
Compare all quote lines under the same normal, low-volume and peak assumptions.
Your inputs / decision:
________________________________________
Evidence / owner / unresolved issue:
________________________________________

4. Integration acceptance
Record order, cancellation, split shipment, repeated notification and reconciliation evidence.
Your inputs / decision:
________________________________________
Evidence / owner / unresolved issue:
________________________________________

5. Service and escalation
Define each measurement, exception owner and escalation arrangement.
Your inputs / decision:
________________________________________
Evidence / owner / unresolved issue:
________________________________________

6. Exit and final decision
Record removal terms, exports, unresolved gaps and the person approving selection.
Your inputs / decision:
________________________________________
Evidence / owner / unresolved issue:
________________________________________

7. Shortlist evidence
Record mandatory checks, evidence, unresolved answers and the conditions for final approval.
Your inputs / decision:
________________________________________
Evidence / owner / unresolved issue:
________________________________________

Acceptance checklist
[ ] All candidates received the same order and product brief.
[ ] Proposed warehouses, destinations and return locations are confirmed.
[ ] Normal, low-volume and peak scenarios use stated assumptions.
[ ] Receiving, storage, packing, shipping and returns are included in the comparison.
[ ] Minimum commitments, onboarding and exit terms are visible.
[ ] Order, cancellation, partial shipment and inventory tests have recorded results.
[ ] Each service promise has a definition and escalation owner.
[ ] Unresolved requirements are assigned before stock is committed.

Article references
Shopify: webhooks and reconciliation: https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/webhooks