Guide to Ecommerce Fulfilment
Read our full guide to ecommerce fulfilment, answering the most commonly asked question from the industry and anything you need to know about working with us.
Got questions about eCommerce fulfilment, outsourcing or how IMD works in practice? We’ve pulled together answers to the most common fulfilment questions our team hears from eCommerce brands, subscription businesses and growing retailers.
If you want the bigger picture first, head to our fulfilment services page or speak to an expert today, and we’ll talk you through your set-up.
Most Common eCommerce fulfilment questions
What is an eCommerce fulfilment centre and how does it work?
An eCommerce fulfilment centre is the engine room behind your online orders. Your stock is stored in a specialised warehouse, and every order is picked, packed and dispatched to your exact specification. As soon as an order drops in, we scan-pick the items, pack them properly, generate labels, ship with tracking and process any returns when they come back in.
At IMD, all of this runs through our fulfilment software, so you can see orders, stock and returns updating in real time.
What fulfilment services does IMD provide?
We run complete eCommerce fulfilment for brands of all sizes across two UK distribution hubs. Core services include:
Picking and packing services, with 99.98% accuracy and same-day dispatch for orders placed before 3pm.
Shipping, including next-day and global services via tracked couriers, using our consolidated courier rates.
Secure warehousing, keeping stock in a clean, safe environment and set up for cost-effective storage.
Small business fulfilment for startups and growing brands.
Omnichannel fulfilment, managing orders from multiple sales channels through one platform.
Fulfilment software, giving real-time visibility of orders, stock and returns.
Which types of businesses benefit most from fulfilment services?
We’re built for direct-to-consumer eCommerce brands, subscription businesses and growing retailers that want fast, accurate shipping without having to manage an in-house warehouse.
Take a look at our industries page to see how we work with brands in fashion, cosmetics, supplements, food and drink, electronics, luxury products, toys and games, pet supplies, stationery, bundles and more.
What kinds of products can you handle?
We’re set up to handle a huge mix of products and support your brand as it grows, with hundreds of consumer categories already under one roof.
If you have specialist requirements or products that need specific processing, we’ll walk through your range in the early stages of our partnership and confirm exactly how we can support.
Working with us
How long does it take to start fulfilment services with IMD?
Getting started with a fulfilment partner typically takes around 1–2 weeks, covering setup, integration and getting your stock into the warehouse.
In that time, we connect your sales channels, configure your fulfilment rules and book in inventory so orders can start flowing smoothly.
Ready to get started? Speak to our team and we’ll map out the next steps with you.
What accuracy and service levels do you work to?
Our operation is built to be fast and reliable:
99.98% order pick accuracy
Same-day dispatch for orders placed before 3pm
Next-day shipping via tracked couriers as part of our core service mix
Behind that sits barcode-led picking, real-time system checks and audited workflows across two UK distribution hubs to keep performance consistent as you scale.
Where are your fulfilment centres based?
We’re an eCommerce fulfilment provider based in the UK, supporting brands that want local logistics expertise with the ability to ship worldwide.
Our operation runs across two distribution hubs, giving you extra resilience and capacity as your volumes grow.
What makes IMD Fulfilment different?
We’re built around a people-first fulfilment philosophy. We started IMD to fix real operational challenges, and we stay focused on bridging the gap between strong results and the people behind them - your team, your customers and ours.
We call this a new era of fulfilment: no one-size-fits-all model, no hidden fees, and a genuine focus on long-term partnerships and clear communication.
Want the full story? Find out more about us!
Services, shipping and returns
Do you offer global shipping?
Yes. We ship orders globally, using tracked courier services and leveraging the consolidated shipping rates of our whole operation, so you benefit from stronger rates on every order.
How does same-day dispatch work?
If an order lands before 3pm, we aim to pick, pack and dispatch it the same day. From there, it moves into our next-day and international courier services, depending on the delivery option you’ve chosen.
What warehousing facilities do you provide?
We keep your stock in clean, safe and secure warehousing, with inventory management built into the wider fulfilment service. Storage is set up so you only pay for the space you use and benefit from an efficient layout that keeps picking and packing fast.
Do you offer small business fulfilment?
Yes. Our small business fulfilment plan is built specifically for startups and growing merchants.
It sits within our wider eCommerce fulfilment services and gives you streamlined picking and packing, access to a range of shipping options, flexible warehousing terms and the benefit of our high-volume courier rates.
How are returns handled?
Returns sit inside the same operation as your outbound orders. When a parcel comes back into the warehouse, we scan it in, process it on receipt and update our system so you can see exactly what has happened with that order.
You get a live view of returned items alongside orders and stock levels in our software, so it’s easy to track what’s coming back, why, and what that means for your stock position.
Technology, software and integrations
What order management system do you use?
Our fulfilment software is powered by Helm, a cloud-based order management system built specifically for 3PLs. It’s designed for eCommerce brands of all sizes and gives you complete visibility over your operation.
Every order can be remotely viewed, tracked and amended through each step in the warehouse. Stock deliveries are booked directly onto the system with real-time stock levels and order assignments, and every item picked is scanned using barcode verification for maximum accuracy.
How does your fulfilment software help me run the business?
Our fulfilment software is there to keep you in control without you needing to be in the warehouse. It’s built for eCommerce brands at every stage and is designed to give you clear, live data rather than guesswork.
It allows you to:
View, track and amend orders through every step of the process
See real-time stock levels and goods-in bookings from anywhere
Rely on barcode verification for every item picked, improving accuracy
Bring orders from multiple platforms and carts into one OMS
In short, it turns your fulfilment into something you can actually see, measure and manage day to day.
Find out more about our eCommerce fulfilment software today!
Which eCommerce platforms and channels can you integrate with?
We integrate with all major eCommerce platforms in minutes. We regularly connect to:
If you’re using something bespoke or less common, we can usually support that too via custom integrations, so your orders still flow straight into our system.
Not sure if your set-up will work with us? Take a look at our integrations page for more details.
Can you support omnichannel fulfilment?
Yes, omnichannel is a big part of what we do. We can pull orders from Amazon, Shopify, retail stores and other channels into one system, then put them through the same picking, packing, warehousing and shipping operation. You see everything in one place, with centralised visibility via our OMS and a single, accurate stock position.
Getting started
How does fulfilment pricing work with IMD?
We don’t work off a generic rate card. Our fulfilment pricing is bespoke and shaped around what you actually need, things like your product types, order volumes, storage requirements and any special handling or value-added services.
That means you’re paying for a set-up that fits your operation, rather than squeezing into a one-size-fits-all package.
How do I get started with IMD Fulfilment?
Getting started is easy:
Share your requirements with us.
We’ll come back with a proposed setup and pricing based on how your operation actually runs.
Once you’re happy, we move into integration and stock intake so orders can start flowing through our warehouses.
From there, we fine-tune things with you and build a fulfilment operation that supports how you want your brand to grow. Get in touch today!
