Signing a 3PL contract is not the finish line. It is like getting the keys to a new restaurant kitchen while dinner service continues. The ingredients, recipes, ticket system, and staff habits still have to move together.

3PL Onboarding Checklist

Ecommerce fulfillment works the same way. Stock may arrive on time, yet orders fail because a size has the wrong barcode. Shopify sends “Express,” while the WMS expects another name. A late cancellation reaches nobody.
This checklist covers data, physical inventory, system events, and human decisions. It uses eight gates. Each gate needs an owner, evidence, and an agreed result. A little formal? Maybe. It is still much calmer than debugging live customer orders.

What 3PL Onboarding Actually Has to Achieve

3PL onboarding is the controlled transfer of fulfillment work from your current setup to a logistics partner. It ends when the warehouse can identify stock, process normal and awkward orders, follow packing rules, report events, and bill correctly—not when an API says “connected.”
If you are still defining what your logistics partner should own, start with the wider role of a 3PL fulfillment service. For onboarding, though, the practical finish line is operational control.
The eight gates in this process are:
  1. Scope, ownership, and commercial rules are approved.
  2. Product, order, and access data are accepted.
  3. Inventory is transferred and reconciled.
  4. Integrations and status changes pass testing.
  5. Warehouse SOPs are approved and trained.
  6. Billing events produce an accurate sample invoice.
  7. Go-live criteria are met and a cutover plan is ready.
  8. The first 30 days reach stable performance.
Operations usually coordinates onboarding, while ecommerce, finance, support, technical staff, and both warehouses own specific tasks. Give each workstream one accountable person. A group inbox is not an owner.

3PL onboarding checklist

Gate 1: Lock the Scope, Owners, and Commercial Rules

List every channel, region, product family, and service the 3PL will handle: DTC, marketplaces, wholesale, subscriptions, returns, kits, inserts, relabeling, inspection, and assembly.
This is also the point to confirm whether the provider actually fits the job. A team still comparing locations, channel support, product restrictions, and value-added services can use this guide to evaluate 3PL companies in China before implementation gets expensive.

Create a Small RACI, Not a Corporate Wallpaper

A short RACI identifies who is responsible, accountable, consulted, and informed. Focus on decisions:
  • Who can approve a SKU file?
  • Who accepts an inventory variance?
  • Who can authorize a manual order workaround?
  • Who pauses order release if an integration fails?
  • Who approves the first live shipment?
  • Who can delay the launch?

Workstream Brand owner 3PL owner Approval evidence Escalation trigger
Product data Ecommerce operations Implementation lead Accepted item-import report Rejected or duplicate SKU
Integration Technical owner Integration specialist Signed test results Missing, delayed, or duplicate event
Inventory move Supply chain lead Receiving manager Reconciled stock report Unexplained quantity or condition variance
SOPs Operations manager Warehouse manager Approved version and training record Instruction cannot be followed on the floor
Billing Finance lead Billing contact Approved sample invoice Charge cannot be tied to an event
Launch Project sponsor Account owner Go-live sign-off Any critical gate remains open

Translate the Rate Card Into Real Events

A rate sheet may say “receiving” or “special project,” but billing needs a precise trigger. Is receiving charged per pallet, carton, unit, or labor hour? Does a return create inspection, photography, and restocking charges? Is storage based on a pallet, bin, unit, or cubic space?
Map each event now. This guide to 3PL costs for Shopify brands helps identify categories, but the signed rate card controls. Make sure the billing system uses the same meaning.

3PL onboarding checklist

Gate 2: Make the Data Pack Warehouse-Ready

Warehouses run on item data. “Classic Set — Blue” may sell well, but receiving needs an unambiguous record for every unit it counts, scans, stores, picks, or returns.

Build a Complete SKU Master

Use one controlled file with one row per physical SKU. For bundles, list the sellable bundle and its components.

Field Example Why the 3PL needs it Validation rule
SKU TS-BLU-M Internal item identity Unique, stable, and not reused
Product name Trail Shirt, Blue, Medium Human recognition Matches the approved item
Barcode or GTIN 9506000134352 Scan identification One code maps to one trade item
Unit of measure Each Counting and billing “Each,” “case,” and “set” are defined
Case quantity 24 each Receiving and replenishment Agrees with supplier packing
Unit dimensions 30 × 22 × 3 cm Storage and shipping setup Measured packed unit, not a guess
Unit weight 0.42 kg Label and freight calculation Measured with sellable packaging
Product image Front and barcode view Visual verification Current approved version
Country of origin China Customs and trade data Supported by product records
HS code Product-specific Customs preparation Reviewed for the destination use case
Lot or expiry rule Lot capture + FEFO Traceability and rotation Required fields cannot be skipped
Storage rule Dry, 10–30°C Safe warehouse handling Feasible at the selected facility
Special flag Fragile; lithium battery Handling and carrier restrictions Reviewed before stock ships
Kit components 1 × A, 2 × B Assembly and stock depletion Component quantities total correctly

An SKU is an internal identifier. A GTIN is standardized. GS1 explains that a GTIN uniquely identifies a predefined trade item, normally under the brand owner’s responsibility. Do not confuse case and unit barcodes, reuse a variant code, or revive an old packaging code. Define who handles any relabeling.

Define the Source of Truth

Two systems can show stock and still disagree. Choose the authoritative source for every object and event.

Object or event Source of truth Destination Direction and timing Failure owner
Product master ERP or approved catalog WMS and store Controlled import on approval Brand data owner
Paid order Shopify or OMS WMS Near real time or agreed interval Integration owner
Inventory available to sell WMS or OMS Store and marketplaces Defined sync frequency Inventory systems owner
Cancellation Store or OMS WMS Event-based with cutoff logic Order operations
Shipment and tracking WMS Store, OMS, and customer On carrier-label or dispatch event 3PL integration owner
Return receipt WMS or returns platform OMS and support On scan and grading Returns owner
Refund Store or payment platform OMS/reporting After policy approval Customer support or finance

Create a shared dictionary for held, allocated, released, picking, packed, dispatched, short, cancelled, returned, quarantined, and damaged. One sentence per status is enough.

Control Access and Customer Data

Use named accounts, minimum permissions, multi-factor authentication where supported, and secure credential exchange. Record owners and revocation steps. Please do not paste an administrator token into a shared spreadsheet. It happens.
The voluntary NIST Cybersecurity Framework offers a useful risk mindset: understand the systems, protect access, detect failures, respond, and recover. Onboarding does not need to become a certification project.

3PL onboarding checklist

Gate 3: Transfer Inventory Without Losing the Baseline

Inventory migration needs a before count, a movement record, and an after count. Otherwise, a shortage becomes an argument.

Freeze and Classify the Starting Stock

Count close to dispatch. Separate sellable, damaged, quarantined, returned, sample, work-in-progress, and supplier-owned units. Capture lots, serials, and expiry dates where required. Resolve negative quantities, retired SKUs, and open adjustments, or place them on hold. The old location and brand should sign the baseline. Add scans, photos, seals, or count sheets for higher-risk goods.

Design the Physical Handoff

Send an ASN before the shipment. Include arrival details, transfer number, SKUs, quantities, cases, pallets, traceability fields, and receiving rules. Label each carton and pallet. Mixed cartons need a carton map; a packing list hidden in carton 14 is not a system.
Plan old/new warehouse overlap or a short sales pause. The choice depends on velocity, distance, value, and whether two sites can safely share order ownership.

Reconcile Before Releasing Orders

Compare four records:
  1. The brand’s approved starting baseline.
  2. The old warehouse’s dispatch count.
  3. Carrier handover and delivery evidence.
  4. The new 3PL’s received, damaged, and quarantined count.

Checkpoint Evidence Pass condition If it fails
Stock leaves old site Scan or signed dispatch list Matches transfer quantity Recount before vehicle departure where possible
Shipment arrives Seal, pallet, and carton check No unexplained visible loss Photograph and note damage before unloading
Units are received WMS receipt by SKU/status Count and condition match agreed baseline Hold affected stock and open variance case
Lots and expiry are captured Lot-level receipt report Required traceability fields are complete Do not make units available to sell
Available stock is published Inventory sync report Only approved sellable units are released Correct status mapping before order release

A contract may set an investigation threshold, but no percentage suits every product. Set it by value, traceability risk, order impact, and agreed terms.

3PL onboarding checklist

Gate 4: Test Every Integration and Status Change

“The Shopify app is installed” is not a test result. End-to-end tests must prove that orders, warehouse actions, stock, tracking, and customer statuses agree.
Map the path first. Shopify may connect straight to the WMS, or channels may pass through an OMS and ERP. If you are comparing supplier dispatch with stocked fulfillment, this dropshipping fulfillment workflow explains the handoffs.

Test Clean Orders and Messy Ones

Scenario Expected system result Expected warehouse action Pass evidence
Single-item order One order and correct SKU created Correct unit picked and packed Order, scan, and shipment records agree
Multi-item order All lines and quantities arrive once Items ship together unless rule says otherwise Correct contents and inventory deduction
Bundle or kit Sellable kit maps to components Correct version assembled Component stock decreases correctly
Duplicate submission Duplicate is rejected or held Only one parcel is prepared One charge and one tracking number
Address change Approved update reaches WMS before cutoff Label uses the approved address Store, WMS, and label match
Cancellation before release Order changes to cancelled No picking begins Inventory reservation is removed
Cancellation after picking starts Exception status is returned Parcel is stopped or handled by agreed rule Decision and cost are recorded
Partial stock Order follows split, hold, or cancel rule No silent substitution Customer status matches the action
Payment or fraud hold Order is not released No warehouse labor begins Hold and release events are traceable
Label failure Error is visible and retry is controlled No duplicate label or shipment Error log and corrected record exist
Return and reship RMA and replacement remain linked Returned item is graded correctly Stock, refund, and reship statuses agree
International order Address and customs fields are complete Approved route and documents are used Label and declaration pass review

Send physical test orders across products, zones, and services. Open the parcels and compare scans, weight, dimensions, stock, and charges. Test controlled failures too. Confirm alerts, ownership, safe retries, and manual logs. Check timing: a cancellation may work before release but fail during picking. Agree which carrier event triggers the customer email.
For broader store, supplier, QC, and shipping checks, use the Shopify fulfillment checklist before scaling ads. Here, the goal is to prove the brand and 3PL behave as one operation.

3PL onboarding checklist

Gate 5: Turn Fulfillment Rules Into Usable SOPs

An SOP is not “pack carefully.” It is an instruction an operator can follow, a supervisor can audit, and both teams can control.

Receiving, Putaway, and Inventory Control

Cover appointments, identity checks, counting, barcode exceptions, damage evidence, traceability, quarantine, putaway, and availability timing. Define stock statuses, authorized adjustments, cycle-count triggers, recounts, and approvals. If a picker finds an empty bin, specify the next check.

Pick, Pack, Kitting, and Presentation

Specify what to scan and when. List approved packaging, dunnage, seals, inserts, gift notes, and final checks. For kits, document components, quantities, versions, finished identity, and shortage rules.
Use an approved physical sample and photos for branded presentation. They often beat a heroic packing memo. Align your custom packaging plan for Shopify dropshipping with packaging stock, artwork versions, labor, and replenishment.

Shipping Method and Cutoff Mapping

Map each storefront shipping name to an approved carrier service by destination, weight, value, restriction, and promise.

SOP Trigger Operator action Required evidence Escalation point
Service mapping Order is released Select mapped route or automation result Service and label record No eligible carrier service
Address exception Carrier rejects address Hold and send structured error Error code and customer contact No response before cutoff
High-value shipment Order exceeds value threshold Add signature or insurance as agreed Label and coverage record Service unavailable
Failed label Label API returns error Retry once under controlled rule Error and retry log Repeat failure or duplicate risk
Carrier handover Parcel enters dispatch area Scan to manifest and hand over Manifest and first physical scan Parcel misses collection

Give cutoffs a timezone and business calendar. Cover PO boxes, remote areas, oversize, signature, insurance, and dangerous goods. Available international shipping solutions inform planning, but the route matrix must name each exact service and fallback.

Returns and Exception Playbooks

Define return authorization, destination, identity scan, condition grades, photos, restock, refurbishment, quarantine, disposal approval, refund handoff, and stock status. Then cover exceptions:
  • A unit is missing during pick?
  • The only available unit has damaged retail packaging?
  • A customer requests an address change after packing?
  • A parcel returns without an RMA?
  • A high-value order looks suspicious?
  • A carrier collects 99 of 100 manifested parcels?
Each exception needs an owner and a response clock. “Ask the brand” is not enough.

Keep One Active SOP Version

Each SOP needs an owner, approver, version, effective date, revision history, and training record. Archive old versions instead of keeping FINAL, FINAL-2, and FINAL-USE-THIS together.
The ISO 9000 family overview covers process discipline and continual improvement. Useful habits are simple: document, retain evidence, correct causes, and improve. Certification does not prove that your account’s current SOP is followed, so audit the work.

3PL onboarding checklist

Adjust the Checklist for Product and Channel Risk

The process stays the same, but a cotton cap and a lithium battery need different controls.

Product or channel Extra data Handling control Extra onboarding test
Apparel Size, color, measurements, care label Folding, bagging, shade tolerance Variant scan and return grading
Beauty and cosmetics Batch, expiry, ingredients or market records Leakage, seal, hygiene, temperature Leak check and damaged-return isolation
Supplements Lot, expiry, label version, market documents FEFO and traceability Lot recall trace and short-dated hold
Electronics and batteries Serial, battery type, capacity, safety data Anti-static or protective packing; route restrictions Serial capture and eligible-carrier test
Fragile home goods Packed dimensions, fragility points Approved protection and damage photos Representative pack and claims-evidence test
Amazon or wholesale Carton labels, routing guide, PO and ASN fields Compliance labeling and appointments EDI/ASN, carton, and acknowledgement test
Subscription kits Component BOM, edition, insert version Version-controlled assembly Component shortage and edition-change test

Restricted products may need qualified legal, safety, customs, or testing advice. The 3PL confirms what it can handle; the brand retains product-market duties unless the contract clearly assigns them.

3PL onboarding checklist

Gate 6: Audit Billing Before Full Volume

Billing belongs in onboarding. Load the signed rate card before stock arrives, create varied sample transactions, and produce a sample invoice.

Charge Operational trigger Source record Validation owner
Receiving Agreed inbound unit, carton, hour, or pallet event ASN and receiving record Supply chain and finance
Storage Agreed occupied unit over the billing period WMS location snapshot Inventory and finance
Pick and pack Released order or completed shipment, as contracted Order and shipment ID Ecommerce operations
Packaging Approved material consumed Pack material or order record Brand operations
Special project Authorized nonstandard work Work order and approval Project owner
Return processing Return received and graded RMA and inspection record Returns and finance
Shipping Carrier label or settled carrier charge Shipment and carrier record Logistics and finance

Check the inputs too. A wrong carton size creates a correct calculation from bad data. Confirm minimums, account fees, storage timing, carrier adjustments, and the dispute window. Every charge should trace to an order, SKU, receipt, location, shipment, return, or work order.

3PL onboarding checklist

Gate 7: Use Go/No-Go Criteria, Not Launch-Day Optimism

A launch date is a target, not evidence. Use pass conditions.

Gate Required evidence Pass condition Action if failed
Scope and ownership Approved scope and RACI All critical flows and owners are named Hold affected channel or service
Product data Import and exception report Active SKUs are accepted without unresolved critical errors Correct data and reimport
Inventory Reconciliation report Sellable stock and controlled statuses are approved Keep affected stock unavailable
Integration Signed test matrix Critical and edge scenarios pass Fix, retest, or use approved limited workaround
SOPs Approved versions and training records Operators can demonstrate the work Retrain and repeat floor test
Billing Sample invoice Charges match contract and events Correct billing configuration
Support Escalation sheet and coverage plan Contacts, hours, and severity rules work Add coverage before live orders
Cutover Runbook and rollback triggers Every timed task has an owner Delay or reduce launch scope

Choose the Cutover Model

A soft launch limits live orders by SKU, channel, country, or volume. A full cutover may be necessary when two sites cannot safely share stock. Either way, define the last old-site order, first new-site order, freeze, open orders, customer messaging, and rollback.
Set rollback triggers for issues such as duplicates, overselling, critical data exposure, widespread label failure, or excessive order age. Choose limits that match the brand’s promise. One person owns the timeline and one can stop it. Worried emojis are not a stop command.

3PL onboarding checklist

Gate 8: Manage the First 30 Days as Hypercare

Hypercare is closer monitoring after launch. Review daily at first and reduce frequency only when results stabilize. Both sides must use the same definitions.

Metric Definition Source Early review rhythm Trigger for action
Order accuracy Correct SKU and quantity shipped WMS, claims, and audits Daily Repeat error or agreed limit breached
On-time dispatch Orders dispatched within agreed clock Order and carrier events Daily Aging orders or trend deterioration
Receiving time Arrival to approved available status Dock and WMS timestamps Per inbound Stock unavailable beyond agreement
Inventory variance System stock versus verified physical stock Cycle counts and ledger Daily exceptions; weekly summary Unexplained or repeating variance
Exception age Time from detection to resolution Ticket or exception queue Daily Critical case lacks owner or update
Return accuracy Return identified, graded, and updated correctly RMA and WMS Weekly Wrong disposition or missing refund event
Invoice accuracy Valid charges divided by tested charges Invoice and operational records First invoices, then monthly Untraceable or repeated wrong charge

Record immediate containment and root cause. Reprinting a label fixes one parcel; correcting a service map fixes the process. Assign and verify corrective actions. End hypercare only after agreed exit conditions are met.

3PL onboarding checklist

The Master 3PL Onboarding Checklist

Add an owner, due date, evidence link, and sign-off column to this control sheet.

Done Check Evidence to retain
☐ 1. Confirm channels, regions, order types, and service scope Approved scope
☐ 2. Name one accountable owner for each workstream RACI
☐ 3. Define severity levels and escalation contacts Escalation sheet
☐ 4. Map every rate-card item to an operating event Charge map
☐ 5. Confirm product and facility restrictions Written acceptance
☐ 6. Create one row per physical SKU SKU master
☐ 7. Validate SKU, barcode, GTIN, case, and UOM relationships Data audit report
☐ 8. Load measured dimensions and weights Measurement record
☐ 9. Add product, customs, storage, and handling attributes Accepted item file
☐ 10. Map kits to component SKUs and quantities Bill of materials
☐ 11. Define the source of truth for each data object System map
☐ 12. Approve a shared status dictionary Status document
☐ 13. Issue named accounts and minimum permissions Access register
☐ 14. Record credential owners and revocation steps Security checklist
☐ 15. Count and classify stock at the old location Signed baseline
☐ 16. Resolve or hold negative and unexplained inventory Exception log
☐ 17. Send an ASN with carton or pallet detail ASN acceptance
☐ 18. Label cartons and pallets to the 3PL specification Label samples
☐ 19. Capture lot, serial, and expiry data where required Receipt report
☐ 20. Reconcile dispatched, delivered, received, and sellable stock Variance sign-off
☐ 21. Keep unresolved units unavailable Quarantine report
☐ 22. Test a single-item and multi-item order Test evidence
☐ 23. Test a bundle or kit Component deduction report
☐ 24. Test duplicate, hold, cancellation, and address-change logic Negative test results
☐ 25. Test partial, split, backorder, and stockout rules Order-state evidence
☐ 26. Test tracking, returns, refunds, and reships End-to-end records
☐ 27. Test integration failure, retry, and duplicate prevention Error and recovery log
☐ 28. Approve receiving, putaway, and inventory SOPs Active SOP versions
☐ 29. Approve pick, pack, kit, insert, and packaging SOPs Floor test and samples
☐ 30. Map storefront shipping methods to warehouse services Route matrix
☐ 31. Approve returns and exception playbooks Decision trees
☐ 32. Train operators and record the active SOP version Training record
☐ 33. Generate and reconcile a sample invoice Invoice audit
☐ 34. Approve go/no-go criteria and rollback triggers Launch sign-off
☐ 35. Assign every cutover task and timestamp Cutover runbook
☐ 36. Run a controlled live-order group where practical Live test review
☐ 37. Monitor service, inventory, exceptions, and billing in hypercare Scorecard
☐ 38. Close root causes and verify corrective actions Corrective-action log
☐ 39. Confirm hypercare exit criteria are met Stabilization sign-off

Common Onboarding Failures and Practical Fixes

“The Integration Is Connected”

A test order arrived, but a cancellation after release still ships. Fix: Test each status and timing boundary. A connection proves transport, not business logic.

Inventory Arrives Before the Item Master

Cartons arrive but cannot be scanned. Fix: Make item-file acceptance a pre-dispatch gate. Hold any early emergency shipment under a written identification process.

“Express” Has No Warehouse Meaning

The WMS needs a carrier code, so orders fall to a default service. Fix: Map every storefront method and test it with a real label.

The Packing Rule Lives in an Email

One manager knows the insert rule; the night shift does not. Fix: Put it in the active SOP or order flag, then train and test it.

Nobody Owns the Stuck Order

The 3PL waits on a bad address while support assumes the warehouse will fix it. Fix: Define the owner, response time, fallback, and visible exception queue.

The First Invoice Finds the Real Configuration

Unexpected labor, dimensional weight, or minimums appear. Fix: Reconcile a varied sample invoice before launch and trace every charge to its source.

Conclusion

A 3PL is ready when product data, physical inventory, connected systems, and warehouse instructions tell the same story. The contract matters, but evidence runs the operation.
Move through onboarding in gates. Approve the scope. Clean the item data. Reconcile the stock. Test ordinary and messy orders. Put working SOPs on the warehouse floor. Validate billing. Then launch in a controlled way and watch the first weeks closely.
It is a little slower than sending pallets and hoping for the best. It is also far cheaper than finding an SKU mistake through 200 customer complaints. Good onboarding is not glamorous. That is kind of the point: when it works, fulfillment becomes pleasantly boring.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does 3PL onboarding usually take?

There is no universal timeline. A small, clean catalog can move faster than a multi-channel operation with lots, kits, EDI, or several warehouses. Build the schedule from data, integrations, stock transfer, SOP approval, testing, and cutover dependencies.

What data does a 3PL need before onboarding starts?

Provide the product master, channel rules, inventory, shipping map, packaging instructions, return rules, forecast, access, and commercial details. Product records need identifiers, dimensions, weights, case quantities, images, and handling attributes. Controlled goods need extra documents.

Who should own the 3PL onboarding project?

One brand-side owner, usually in operations or supply chain, should coordinate the project. Data, integration, finance, support, inventory, and compliance still need named owners. The 3PL needs an implementation lead and a final decision-maker.

What should be included in a SKU master file?

Include SKU, name, barcode or GTIN where used, UOM, case quantity, packed dimensions, weight, images, origin, customs and storage data, handling flags, traceability fields, and kit components. Give every physical item one stable identity and validation rules.

How do you transfer inventory from an old warehouse to a 3PL?

Count and classify stock, control movements, sign the baseline, and send an ASN. Label cartons correctly and retain dispatch, carrier, delivery, and receipt evidence. Reconcile sellable, damaged, and quarantined quantities before releasing SKUs.

Should inventory be counted before and after the transfer?

Yes. The old warehouse confirms what left; the 3PL confirms what arrived and its condition. Add scans, lot or serial details, photos, seals, and carrier evidence where risk warrants it. Preassign variance investigation and approval.

How do you connect Shopify to a 3PL?

Use the 3PL app, API, OMS, ERP, middleware, or a controlled file process. Map products, orders, holds, cancellations, inventory, tracking, and returns. Assign status ownership, then prove normal orders and failure recovery end to end.

Which test orders should be run before a 3PL goes live?

Test single items, multiple items, variants, kits, services, and international addresses. Add duplicates, cancellations, address changes, holds, stockouts, partials, label failures, returns, refunds, and reships. Verify the parcel, records, stock, tracking, messages, and charges.

Is a soft launch better than moving every order at once?

A soft launch limits unknown issues by SKU, region, channel, or order share. Full cutover may be necessary when two sites cannot share stock safely. Define order ownership, freeze windows, support coverage, and rollback triggers either way.

What fulfillment SOPs should an ecommerce brand give its 3PL?

Cover receiving, putaway, adjustments, counts, picking, scanning, packing, kits, inserts, shipping, returns, damage, shortages, address issues, and high-value orders. Add product instructions and photos. Record owner, version, approval, escalation, and training.

How should returns be tested during 3PL onboarding?

Return a test order and check the RMA, delivery, identification, grading, photos, stock disposition, refund, and reporting. Include an unidentified and damaged return. Confirm non-sellable stock stays blocked, and test a replacement.

What 3PL fees should be validated before launch?

Validate onboarding, receiving, storage, picks, packaging, kits, minimums, projects, returns, shipping, adjustments, and account fees. Confirm each unit and trigger, then reconcile a sample invoice. Every charge needs an operating event and evidence.

What KPIs should be tracked in the first 30 days?

Track order accuracy, on-time dispatch, receiving time, stock variance, exception age, returns, claims, first carrier scan, support, and invoice accuracy. Define each formula, source, owner, and review rhythm. Set targets from the contract and customer promise.

What happens if the inventory count does not match at go-live?

Keep the affected SKU unavailable. Compare the baseline, dispatch, carrier, receipt, damage, and location records. Recount and check UOM or case-pack errors. Document adjustments and responsibility; never change the ledger merely to hide the difference.

When is an ecommerce brand not ready to onboard a 3PL?

A brand is not ready if it lacks stable product identities, reliable stock, order and return rules, decision owners, required documents, or funding for the model. A 3PL can organize implementation, but it cannot invent the brand’s rules.

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