Fulfillment guides
What is fulfillment, and which businesses need it?
By MY ARRAY · Content updated
Fulfillment is the process of receiving, storing, picking, packing, and handing orders to a carrier. With an outsourced service, the merchant retains responsibility for products, sales, and customers while a provider handles agreed warehouse operations. Compare both costs and working arrangements before choosing a service.
From receiving stock to dispatch
- Receiving: compare quantities and SKUs with the merchant’s stock list and record receipts.
- Storage: assign locations and record inventory movements in the warehouse system.
- Picking and packing: prepare the ordered items, check the list, and use the agreed packaging.
- Dispatch: hand parcels to the carrier. Dispatch time is different from the time of delivery to the recipient.
When should a business consider outsourcing?
Stores selling across several channels, spending more time preparing orders, or managing campaign peaks can compare their current costs with an external service. When orders are limited and space and time are available, packing in-house may still be suitable.
Temperature-sensitive, shipping-restricted, or specially packed products require a capability check. Do not assume every fulfillment warehouse can handle every product category.
Fulfillment, warehouse rental, and WMS compared
| Option | What it provides | What the merchant still manages |
|---|---|---|
| Warehouse rental | Storage space under a rental agreement | Staff, systems, and order preparation |
| WMS software | Inventory and warehouse management software | Space and operations staff |
| Fulfillment | Agreed receiving, storage, picking, packing, and dispatch operations | Products, sales, and service agreements |
Which costs should you include?
Request receiving, storage, picking, packing, packaging, shipping, and special-service charges. Identify whether each fee is per item, per order, or per month before comparing quotes.
Illustrative example: 500 monthly orders, one item per order, and 1 m³ of billable storage. Using MY ARRAY’s published rates, the subtotal is 700 + (500 × 3) + (500 × 10) = THB 7,200. This is not a full quotation: delivery and other charges requiring confirmation are excluded.
Where does MY ARRAY fit?
MY ARRAY provides fulfillment from Nakhon Pathom, with ARRAY WMS for browser-based inventory visibility and API order imports from Shopee, Lazada, LINE SHOPPING, and TikTok. Share your product details, SKU list, and estimated orders with the team to assess the scope.