A fulfillment plan should assign responsibilities before comparing providers. The useful question is which party handles each activity for each product and sales channel.
Amazon's Canadian FBA overview explains its fulfillment and customer-return role. Keep that program scope separate from the services quoted by a warehouse or preparation provider.
Write the responsibility map
- Identify where each product is stored and which stock pool serves each channel.
- Assign preparation, labels, carton checks and dispatch to a named party.
- Confirm who submits inbound shipments and retains the shipment identifiers.
- Define who answers customer fulfillment questions and who receives returns.
- Record storage and handling requirements for expiry-dated goods.
Compare services on the same basis
Ask providers to identify what their quotes include and what creates extra charges. Check product restrictions, receiving instructions, exception handling and the evidence provided when a shipment is complete.
Use a documented product movement to inspect the proposed handoff before expanding it. Keep current costs and operational responsibilities visible in the decision record. Compare the actual quoted costs and documented responsibilities for your own products and channels.