Updated: July 16, 2025
Our list of 50 questions was originally published in 2023, given the context of that period of time. However, as a lot has changed since then, we’ve updated our list of questions given developments around tariffs, the economy, a new administration, tech advancements & more.
As ecommerce business owners grow, they face several defining decisions that will allow them to scale and profit. One of the most significant challenges is understanding how best to use their time and limited resources. Should they self-fulfill or partner with a third-party fulfillment (3PL) company?
You might be one of these business owners looking to make a change. When looking at any specialized service, there’s always the option to build specialized competency within your business. But the cost to do so is often overwhelming. That’s why it’s better to seek a tax professional to handle your taxes or purchase off-the-shelf software rather than develop your own. The same goes for ecommerce order fulfillment. It rarely makes sense to keep fulfillment in-house since it can be done better by a company specializing in order fulfillment and free up an ecommerce business owner’s time to focus on what they do best.
Who are we? Speed Commerce is an end-to-end provider of outsourced customer experience solutions for eCommerce retailers (including for Shopify and Bigcommerce and more) as well as manufacturers, for close to 20 years.We grow our clients’ businesses by providing winning customer experience strategies such as 24/7/365 eCommerce customer service, order fulfillment, and warehousing – get a free quote from a fulfillment expert. Read our annual top ranked 3PLs in the US-list.
As you consider outsourcing your ecommerce order fulfillment, we’ve gathered, updated, and expanded a list of questions to ask your potential provider:
About the Company
- How long have you been in business?
- What industries do you specialize in?
- Do you have a disaster recovery plan in place?
Original Phrasing: Same.
Why the Tweak? No change needed, but in interviews, probe for updates post-2023 disruptions like extreme weather events linked to climate change. - Can you provide customer referrals?
- New: What is your company’s growth trajectory and investment in emerging technologies since 2023? (E.g., AI adoption rates have doubled industry-wide, per 2024 reports.)
- New: How many facilities do you operate, and what are their geographic distributions to support nearshoring or friendshoring strategies? (Trade wars have prompted 40% of businesses to diversify away from high-tariff regions.)
Finance
- How often do you increase service fees?
Original Phrasing: Same.
Why the Tweak? Inflation has averaged 3-5% annually since 2023; ask for caps tied to economic indices. - Do you offer tiered volume pricing?
- New: How do you structure pricing to account for tariff-related cost fluctuations or currency volatility? (U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports rose to 30% in 2025, impacting logistics costs by 10-15%.)
- New: What incentives do you offer for long-term contracts in an uncertain economic environment? (Freight volumes flattened in 2024 due to recession fears.)
Client Services
- Do you offer a dedicated customer support person or team?
- How often do you review the account performance with me?
- New: How do you use AI-powered tools for proactive client communication, such as predictive issue alerts? (AI chatbots resolved 20% more queries in 2024 e-commerce settings.)
Technology
- Do you offer integration with e-commerce platforms and marketplaces?
Original Phrasing: Same.
Why the Tweak? Expand to include emerging platforms like TikTok Shop, which grew 300% in users since 2023. - What kind of reporting and analytics do you provide?
Original Phrasing: Same.
Why the Tweak? Now emphasize AI-driven predictive analytics; demand forecasting accuracy improved 25% with AI in 2024-2025. - Do you offer integration with shipping software or shipping APIs?
- Do you offer order splitting or partial shipment options?
- Do you offer integration with accounting or financial software?
- Do you offer a customer portal or self-service options?
- New: What AI and automation technologies do you use for inventory management and order fulfillment? (Robotics adoption in warehouses rose 50% since 2023, reducing labor costs by 20%.)
- New: How do you incorporate IoT for real-time tracking and predictive maintenance? (IoT devices cut downtime by 15% in 2024 logistics ops.)
- New: Do you support blockchain for supply chain traceability? (Adoption surged with 2024 regulations on ethical sourcing.)
Operations
- How do you handle returns and exchanges?
Original Phrasing: Same.
Why the Tweak? With return rates at 15-20% in e-commerce, ask about AI-optimized reverse logistics to reduce waste. - Do you offer real-time inventory tracking?
- How do you handle damaged or lost products?
- How do you ensure that orders are accurate and shipped on time?
Original Phrasing: Same.
Why the Tweak? Inquire about automation metrics; pick accuracy reached 99.5% with AI robots in 2025. - What warehousing and storage solutions do you offer?
- How do you handle international shipments, including compliance with 2024-2025 tariffs and trade restrictions?
Original Phrasing: “How do you handle international shipments?”
Why the Tweak? U.S.-China trade tensions escalated, with new tariffs adding 10-25% costs; providers now need expertise in alternative routes like Mexico or Vietnam. - Do you offer flexible shipping options?
- How do you handle large or oversized products?
- What type of shipping carriers do you work with?
- Do you offer specialized services, such as embroidery, engraving, etc.?
- Do you offer order consolidation services?
- How do you handle hazardous or perishable items?
- What measures do you have in place to protect against fraud or theft?
- How do you handle order cancellations or changes?
- Do you offer custom packaging and labeling options?
- Do you offer white-label or private-label fulfillment services?
- How do you handle product recalls or product safety issues?
- How do you ensure that products are stored and handled properly?
- Do you offer value-added services such as kitting or assembly?
- Do you have a minimum order requirement?
- How do you handle peak season demand in a labor-constrained market?
Original Phrasing: “How do you handle peak season demand?”
Why the Tweak? Labor shortages worsened post-2023, with 3PLs relying on temp workers or automation; industry vacancy rates hit 10% in 2024. - How do you handle product expiration dates or shelf life?
- Do you offer promotional or marketing materials with orders?
- Do you offer subscription service fulfillment?
- Do you offer order tracking and delivery confirmation?
- Do you offer gift wrapping or special packaging options?
- How do you handle products that require temperature-controlled storage?
- Do you offer custom crating or palletizing services?
- Do you operate the fulfillment center?
- How do you handle products that require special handling or transportation?
- Do you have any certifications or accreditations?
- Can I visit the warehouse?
- How do you handle products that require special labeling or documentation?
- Do you offer additional services such as live chat, email messaging, social media management, or customer service call handling?
- Do you offer freight forwarding or transportation services?
- New: What is your average order accuracy rate and fulfillment speed guarantee? (E-commerce expects same-day shipping for 80% of orders in 2025.)
- New: How do you manage omnichannel fulfillment across online, retail, and marketplace channels? (Omnichannel sales grew 20% since 2023.)
Green Tech (New Category)
The original list touched on this briefly, but sustainability trends have exploded, with 70% of consumers prioritizing eco-friendly brands in 2025 surveys. Carbon-neutral warehousing and circular supply chains are now standard. 60. What eco-friendly “green” programs do you have, including metrics for carbon reduction and waste minimization?
Original Phrasing: “Do you have an eco-friendly “green” program?”
Why the Tweak? Regulations like net-zero commitments by 2030 require quantifiable goals; 3PLs reduced emissions 15% via electric fleets in 2024.
61. New: Do you use sustainable packaging materials and support circular economy practices?
62. New: How do you optimize routes for fuel efficiency and lower emissions? (AI route optimization cut CO2 by 10-20% in 2024.)
63. New: What certifications do you hold for sustainability (e.g., ISO 14001, LEED for warehouses)?
Cybersecurity (New Category)
Supply chain cyber breaches affected 81% of organizations in 2024, up from prior years, with attacks exploiting third-party vendors. 64. New: What cybersecurity measures do you have for protecting client data and supply chain systems?
65. New: How do you conduct vendor risk assessments and respond to breaches? (Social engineering attacks rose 50% in 2024.)
66. New: Do you comply with standards like NIST or ISO 27001 for supply chain security?
Supply Chain Strength (New Category)
Macro shifts like tariffs (up 30% on key imports in 2025) and geopolitical unrest demand robust planning.
67. New: How do you build resilience against disruptions like trade wars or economic downturns?
68. New: What strategies do you use for diversified sourcing and inventory buffering? (Friendshoring to allies like Canada/Mexico increased 25% since 2023.)
69. New: How do you leverage AI for demand forecasting in volatile markets? (AI improved accuracy by 30% amid 2024 inflation.)
70. New: What labor management practices do you employ to address shortages? (Automation addressed 20% of roles in 2024.)
Once again, this list isn’t comprehensive, but it’s a great place to start. Speed Commerce is a 3PL. We appreciate the opportunity to earn your business. Give us a call at 1-866-947-5655.
