How to Choose the Best Walmart 3PL

I’ve spent the past eight years helping ecommerce businesses grow, ship faster, and adapt to Walmart’s ever-changing fulfillment demands. I work hand-in-hand with warehouse operators and 3PL partners every day. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: not all 3PLs are built to handle Walmart. The right Walmart 3PL should align with your business model and support your long-term goals for growth and efficiency.

So let’s break down how to choose the best Walmart 3PL, whether you’re evaluating Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS), looking to optimize order fulfillment, or just want to avoid hidden costs that quietly eat your margins. Remember, your choice of fulfillment partner can directly impact your business’s success on the Walmart platform, affecting everything from delivery speed to customer satisfaction.

Let’s dive into what matters most when finding the best fulfillment partner for your needs.

What Makes Walmart Fulfillment So Different?

Walmart’s ecommerce ecosystem isn’t plug-and-play like Amazon’s FBA. Their fulfillment process is strict, yet flexible, if you know what you’re doing. Sellers need to meet exact fulfillment requirements, comply with shipping speed standards, and deliver a seamless customer experience that rivals their physical stores.

That’s where a solid 3PL comes in.

But what you really need is one that understands the nuances of Walmart Marketplace, offers real-time inventory tracking, and doesn’t vanish when something goes wrong. It’s crucial to choose a 3PL that can seamlessly integrate with Walmart’s systems and your ecommerce platform for efficient operations.

WFS vs. Walmart-Compatible 3PLs

Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) is the default choice. It’s streamlined and deeply integrated. But WFS doesn’t work for every ecommerce seller. In these cases, outsourcing fulfillment to a third-party logistics provider (3PL) can address specific business and fulfillment needs, offering greater flexibility and control.

Why? Because you give up control—over your inventory management, your branding, and sometimes even your pricing flexibility.

A great 3PL, on the other hand, gives you:

• Multi-channel fulfillment
• Fulfillment solutions tailored to your unique needs, ensuring compliance and efficiency
• Flexible shipping options beyond WFS’s constraints
• Lower fulfillment fees (in many cases)
• More control over packaging materials and branding

Many of the sellers I’ve worked with start with WFS, but graduate to a more customized 3PL when their business outgrows the box. As your business evolves, matching different fulfillment solutions to your changing needs drives optimal growth.

Key Factors to Consider

If you’re serious about choosing the right fulfillment partner, here’s what to prioritize:

• Walmart compliance: Can your 3PL fulfill Walmart orders on time and according to spec?
• Fulfillment operations: Do they support fast delivery, accurate order processing, and smooth returns? Look for reliable fulfillment and ensure orders are processed efficiently to meet Walmart’s strict standards.
• Order tracking & shipping carriers: Does the 3PL offer real-time order tracking and integrate with major shipping carriers to provide timely updates and enhance transparency and customer satisfaction?
• Cost savings: Watch out for hidden fees and opaque pricing. Ask for transparency, and consider how shipping rates and weight affect costs.
• Peak season readiness: Can they scale with your volume during Q4 and beyond?
• Technology stack: Are they using order management systems that give you visibility and control?

A strong 3PL partner should also provide value-added services such as custom packaging or kitting, backed by deep supply chain expertise.

I’ve seen sellers burn through 3PLs simply because they didn’t ask the right questions early on. The best ones feel more like partners than vendors, supporting your growth every step of the way.

Inventory Management for Walmart Sellers

Inventory management is the backbone of any successful ecommerce business, and for Walmart sellers it’s even more critical. With customer expectations for fast delivery and reliable service at an all-time high, having the right products in the right place at the right time can make or break your Walmart Marketplace performance.

To stay ahead, Walmart sellers should invest in advanced technology solutions—real-time tracking and robust order management systems that integrate with your ecommerce platform and 3PL.

Outsourcing inventory management to a reliable 3PL unlocks cost savings and efficiency. A trusted partner handles everything from receipt and storage to shipping and returns, freeing your team to focus on customer engagement and growing your business.

Implement best practices like just-in-time replenishment, demand forecasting, and regular audits to fine-tune stock levels, reduce waste, and stay ready to fulfill Walmart orders at a moment’s notice.

In today’s competitive marketplace, effective inventory management is a must for Walmart sellers seeking high customer satisfaction, competitive pricing, and scalable growth.

Cahoot: A Walmart 3PL Built for Marketplace Sellers

Our network is built with Walmart sellers in mind. We help clients meet aggressive same-day shipping SLAs, reduce shipping costs, and avoid chargebacks due to fulfillment mistakes.

Here’s what sets Cahoot apart:

• Walmart-optimized workflows and shipping logic
• Strategically located nationwide fulfillment centers to ensure fast, accurate order processing, and support Walmart’s performance requirements.
• Integrated order routing across channels
• Full transparency with real-time tracking
• Ability to provide temperature control for perishable goods, ensuring compliance with Walmart’s standards

We’re not just managing shipments, we’re helping brands run leaner, faster, and more profitably inside the Walmart ecosystem.

Cahoot’s fulfillment centers are designed to meet Walmart’s requirements for shipping, labeling, and inventory management. Our customer service team efficiently handles inquiries, including order tracking and returns, to enhance the overall customer experience.

Final Thoughts

Choosing a Walmart 3PL isn’t about picking the biggest name—it’s about aligning your operations with a partner that understands Walmart’s expectations and your growth goals.

If you want a 3PL provider that actively improves your margins, Cahoot’s worth a look.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Walmart 3PL and how is it different from Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS)?

A Walmart 3PL is a third-party logistics provider that helps Marketplace sellers fulfill orders outside of WFS. Unlike WFS, you retain control over inventory, branding, and pricing.

Does Walmart allow sellers to use their own fulfillment partners?

Yes. While Walmart promotes WFS, third-party sellers can use their own 3PLs as long as they meet Walmart’s fulfillment and shipping performance standards.

What are the benefits of using a Walmart 3PL over WFS?

Benefits include more flexible pricing, better control of multi-channel inventory, branded packaging, and scalable peak-season capacity.

How does a Walmart 3PL impact customer satisfaction and shipping speed?

The right 3PL boosts speed and accuracy by reducing processing delays, leading to better reviews and fewer complaints.

How can Cahoot help with Walmart fulfillment?

Cahoot offers Walmart-compliant 3PL services with fast shipping, nationwide coverage, and cost-effective rates, supporting both WFS-alternative and hybrid models.

• Category: Uncategorized
• Tag: Cahoot, Order Fulfillment, Strategy