What to Expect in Your First 90 Days with a Fulfillment Partner
Outsourcing fulfillment is a major milestone for growing product-based businesses. While the long-term benefits are clear, such as improved efficiency, scalability, and reduced operational strain, the first 90 days with a fulfillment partner set the foundation for success.
Understanding what to expect during this onboarding period helps brands prepare internally, align expectations, and maximize the value of the partnership.
Discovery and Planning
The first phase typically focuses on discovery and planning. Your fulfillment partner will work closely with your team to understand your products, order volumes, sales channels, packaging requirements, compliance considerations, and customer expectations. This is where custom workflows are defined. Clear communication during this stage is critical, as decisions made here directly impact accuracy and efficiency later.
Systems Integration
Next comes systems integration and data alignment. Orders, inventory, and shipping data must flow seamlessly between your ecommerce platforms and the warehouse management system. During this phase, integrations are tested, edge cases are identified, and safeguards are put in place to prevent errors like overselling or missed orders. While this step requires attention to detail, it ultimately reduces manual work and improves visibility.
Inventory Organization
Once systems are in place, inventory is received and organized within the warehouse. Products are counted, inspected, and slotted according to fulfillment workflows. For businesses offering kits, bundles, or subscriptions, assembly and quality control processes are finalized during this period. Accuracy here is essential, as it ensures reliable order fulfillment once operations go live.
Fulfillment Go-Live
The next stage is go-live and stabilization. Orders begin flowing through the new fulfillment operation, and performance is closely monitored. It’s normal for minor adjustments to occur as real-world scenarios surface. A strong fulfillment partner proactively communicates during this phase, addressing issues quickly and refining processes to improve speed and accuracy.
Optimization
As the relationship matures, the focus shifts to optimization. Reporting becomes more meaningful as data accumulates, allowing both teams to identify trends, anticipate demand, and plan for upcoming growth or seasonality. This is also when operational improvements, such as packaging optimizations, workflow refinements, or cost efficiencies, are implemented.
By the end of the first 90 days, a successful fulfillment partnership feels less transactional and more collaborative. Your business gains operational stability, improved insight into inventory and orders, and confidence that fulfillment can scale alongside growth.
For brands transitioning from in-house fulfillment or a rigid 3PL, this onboarding period is an investment. With the right partner, the payoff is a fulfillment operation that supports growth rather than limiting it.
Partner with us at CBO Solutions
CBO Solutions partners with product-based businesses to provide custom, scalable fulfillment solutions that support growth without sacrificing accuracy, transparency, or control.
Contact us today to discuss partnership.