One of the perks of working with a fulfillment provider is that orders placed on your website or through other sales channels are automatically passed on to the vendor. But that can only happen if the fulfillment service provider has the right technology in place. Without proper technical integration between your shopping cart and the warehouse, it can become a shipping disaster. To confirm the technology is up to snuff, inquire about the logistics provider’s IT systems and more importantly request a demo.

You want to know how IT aspects are handled. Do they have an in-house IT team that works with you to ensure successful integration? Does the firm provide a testing environment to make sure everything works before going live? Is there ongoing support to help you if problems arise? Don’t forget to inquire about the fees associated with integration and tech support. It will vary from one fulfillment provider to the next.