As a Shopify store grows, picking and packing orders, printing labels, and handing parcels over to carriers can start taking up more and more time. At first, these tasks are often handled in-house, but as order volumes increase, warehousing and day-to-day shipment administration can become one of the biggest operational bottlenecks.
In this case, it is worth considering a 3PL service. It allows you to outsource product warehousing and order fulfilment to an external logistics provider, while your Shopify store can continue to automatically transfer order, inventory and shipment tracking data.
This article covers 3PL solutions relevant to Shopify stores in Lithuania: ShipAway, Laika Logistics, Fulfillo and PaperSeal. It also reviews the international networks ShipBob and euShipments, which may be useful when expanding into European, UK or US markets.
What Is 3PL?
3PL stands for third-party logistics. Put simply, it is a service where an external provider takes over part or all of an online store’s order fulfilment process.
A 3PL provider can:
- receive your products into its warehouse;
- store them;
- view and manage inventory;
- pick products once an order is received;
- pack them;
- hand the shipment over to the selected carrier;
- provide the customer with a tracking number;
- in some cases, manage returns, assemble product bundles or provide customised packaging.
The key difference between a 3PL provider and a regular carrier is that a carrier only delivers the parcel, while a 3PL provider can manage the entire process, from receiving goods into the warehouse to shipping them to the customer.
How Does Shopify Integration Work With a 3PL Provider?
Shopify integration allows the store and the logistics provider to exchange data automatically. When a customer places an order in a Shopify store, it is transferred to the 3PL provider’s system. The provider picks the products, packs them, dispatches the order, and sends the shipment tracking information back to Shopify.
In practice, this means the store does not need to manually:
- copy orders into another system;
- reduce product inventory levels;
- send tracking numbers to customers;
- create each shipment separately.
All providers covered in this article offer Shopify order transfer, inventory synchronisation and the transfer of shipment tracking numbers.
A Quick Comparison Table of Shopify 3PL Providers
When choosing a 3PL provider, it is important to consider more than just the warehouse location. It is equally important to assess whether the provider suits your order volume, can handle the required packaging, how it manages returns, and which country your products will be shipped from.
| Provider | Warehouse location | When to choose | When to choose another solution |
| ShipAway | Lithuania | When you want Shopify orders to be fulfilled automatically from Lithuania while also planning to ship abroad | If your main customers are located across several Western European, UK or US markets and products need to be stored closer to them |
| Laika Logistics | Lithuania | When your online store already has a regular flow of orders and you want to outsource warehousing, packing and returns management | If order volumes are still very low or fluctuate significantly from month to month |
| Fulfillo | Lithuania | When you want to fulfil orders from Lithuania and ship to customers in other European countries | If your main need is customised packaging, gift sets or strong brand presentation inside the parcel |
| PaperSeal | Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia | When customised packaging, bundles, kitting and Baltic logistics are important | If you only need standard order picking and shipping and customised packaging is not important |
| ShipBob | Europe, the UK, the US and other markets | When sales are growing in Western Europe, the UK or the US and you want to store goods closer to your main customers | If most orders are still being shipped to customers in Lithuania or the Baltic States |
| euShipments | European warehouse network | When you sell in several European markets and want to fulfil orders from different European warehouses | If a single warehouse location in Lithuania is most important or you are actively planning to sell outside Europe |
This table helps you quickly compare different provider models, but the final decision should be made after assessing your order volume, sales markets, product type and required additional services.
ShipAway for Shopify Stores
ShipAway is an e-commerce warehousing and order fulfilment solution in Lithuania. It is relevant for Shopify stores that want to automate day-to-day order processing, warehousing, packing and shipping.
Its direct Shopify integration allows orders to be transferred automatically to the warehouse, inventory to be synchronised, and shipment tracking information to be returned to the store. This can reduce the amount of manual work and help process orders faster.
When Should You Choose ShipAway?
ShipAway is worth considering if you want to store products in Lithuania, fulfil orders automatically, and also have the option to ship to customers abroad.
When May ShipAway Not Be Enough?
Before choosing it, it is worth assessing the minimum order volume, service pricing, returns process, and whether the provider’s packaging options meet your brand’s needs.
Laika Logistics for Shopify Stores
Laika Logistics provides e-commerce warehousing and order fulfilment services and supports direct Shopify integration. This solution is most relevant for growing online stores that already have a regular flow of orders and want to outsource day-to-day packing and returns management to an external provider.
Laika Logistics focuses on stores generating approximately 100 to 3,000 orders per month. This model can be convenient for businesses that have outgrown a home warehouse but do not yet need to build their own logistics team.
When Should You Choose Laika Logistics?
This solution may be suitable if your order flow is stable and the most important priorities are reliable, regular order fulfilment, packing and returns management.
When May Laika Logistics Not Be Enough?
For very low order volumes, an external 3PL solution may be less cost-effective than packing orders independently. It is also worth assessing in advance which additional services your business requires.
Fulfillo for Shopify Stores
Fulfillo is an e-commerce 3PL provider operating in Lithuania, focused on warehousing and order fulfilment for local and international stores. It may be relevant for brands that want to ship from Lithuania to other European countries.
Fulfillo’s service model includes automated Shopify order synchronisation. This means orders can be transferred to the warehouse automatically, while inventory and shipment information can be sent back to the Shopify store.
When Should You Choose Fulfillo?
Fulfillo is worth considering if your main warehouse should be in Lithuania but your customers are located not only in Lithuania, but also in other European markets.
When May Fulfillo Not Be Enough?
Before starting a partnership, it is worth agreeing on your specific needs for packing, returns, shipping to different countries and additional services. Customised packaging or bundle assembly is not publicly highlighted as a standard service.
PaperSeal for Shopify Stores
PaperSeal stands out because it combines packaging services, order assembly, warehousing and 3PL logistics for the Baltic States in one solution. It may be relevant for stores where not only fast order dispatch matters, but also how the order looks when it reaches the customer.
PaperSeal’s Shopify integration is handled through its warehouse management system. Orders, inventory levels and shipment information can be synchronised with the store, while customised packaging and bundle assembly are among the main areas of focus for this solution.
When Should You Choose PaperSeal?
PaperSeal is worth choosing if customised packaging, gift sets, kitting or Baltic warehousing and delivery logistics are important for your brand.
When May PaperSeal Not Be Enough?
This solution may require more detailed alignment of the service model, especially if you have non-standard packaging requirements, many bundles, or specific product storage procedures.
ShipBob for Shopify Stores
ShipBob is an international e-commerce warehousing and order fulfilment network for brands that want to store products closer to their overseas customers. It may be relevant for businesses growing in Western Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States or other larger markets.
ShipBob has a direct Shopify app, so order transfer, inventory synchronisation and the return of shipment tracking numbers can take place automatically. This is especially important when selling in more than one country and fulfilling orders from multiple warehouses.
When Should You Choose ShipBob?
ShipBob is worth choosing if a large share of your customers are outside Lithuania and you want to store goods closer to your most important markets.
When May ShipBob Not Be Enough?
If most customers are in Lithuania, warehousing abroad may not be the most cost-effective option. You should assess the warehouse country, shipping costs, returns process and the overall pricing of the international 3PL model.
euShipments for Shopify Stores
euShipments is a European e-commerce warehousing and order fulfilment network for stores selling in several European markets. This model can be useful when you want to fulfil orders from different warehouses based on the customer’s country.
A Shopify store can be connected through an API or a Shopify module. This allows orders, inventory levels and shipment information to be transferred, while orders can be distributed across a network of European warehouses.
When Should You Choose euShipments?
euShipments may be suitable if your store is expanding across several European countries and you want to reduce delivery times by fulfilling orders closer to different markets.
When May euShipments Not Be Enough?
Before choosing it, you need to assess which warehouses will fulfil orders and whether this model is economically viable for customers in Lithuania. It is also important to agree in advance on the specific markets, returns process and additional services.
When Is It Worth Outsourcing Order Fulfilment to a 3PL Provider?
A 3PL service is not necessarily needed from the first day of running a Shopify store. However, it can become useful when logistics work starts limiting business growth.
It is worth considering 3PL when:
- order volume is steadily increasing;
- packing and creating shipments take up a lot of time every day;
- it is difficult to maintain accurate inventory management;
- you want to dispatch orders faster;
- you plan to ship to several countries;
- you need a reliable returns process;
- customised packaging or bundles are important for your brand;
- you do not want to rent your own warehouse and hire a separate warehouse team.
When May 3PL Be Too Early a Solution?
External warehousing and order fulfilment are not always the best choice for a very small store.
3PL may be too early a solution if:
- order numbers are still very low and inconsistent;
- products are easy to pack independently;
- you have a small product range;
- it is important to prepare every shipment manually;
- warehousing at home or in your own premises is still simpler and less expensive;
- you have not yet decided on your main sales markets.
In this case, you can start with a simpler shipment management solution and introduce 3PL when the order process becomes more complex.
How to Choose a Shopify 3PL Provider
Before choosing a 3PL provider, it is worth answering several practical questions.
Where Are Your Customers Located?
If most orders are delivered within Lithuania, it is usually most convenient to start with a warehouse in Lithuania. If customers are located across several European regions, it may be useful to consider an international network with multiple warehouses.
How Many Orders Do You Receive Per Month?
Order volume determines whether 3PL pricing will be economically justified. Some providers are more focused on regular and higher volumes, so it is important for a small store to clarify minimum volumes and fixed fees in advance.
Do You Need Additional Services?
Not all 3PL providers are equally suitable for customised packaging, gift sets, returns, B2B orders or specific product categories. These services should be discussed before signing a contract.
Is the Integration Truly Automated?
The ability to “accept Shopify orders” alone is not enough. It is important to be clear about:
- whether orders are transferred automatically;
- whether inventory is synchronised in real time;
- whether shipment tracking numbers are returned to Shopify;
- whether returns can be managed;
- whether the system supports the delivery methods you use.
How Much Do Shopify 3PL Services Cost?
3PL pricing is usually not publicly fixed because it depends on the specific business model. Most providers calculate pricing individually based on warehousing, order volume and the scope of additional services.
The price usually consists of:
- receiving goods into the warehouse;
- warehousing fees;
- picking each order;
- packing materials;
- additional customised packaging or bundle assembly;
- handing shipments over to carriers;
- returns management;
- additional integrations or technical work.
For this reason, when comparing providers, it is important to request not only a general price list, but also a quote based on your actual monthly order volume, number of SKUs, average order size, warehousing needs and main delivery markets.
The Most Common Mistakes When Choosing a 3PL Provider
Choosing Only the Cheapest Offer
The lowest cost per order does not always mean the lowest total cost. You need to consider warehousing, packing materials, returns, minimum volumes and additional fees.
Not Assessing Your Product Range
Cosmetics, food supplements, electronics, fragile products, large items or bundles may require different warehousing and packing processes. The provider must be suitable for your specific product type.
Not Discussing Returns
The returns process can become complicated if it is not clear in advance where parcels will be returned, who will inspect products, how inventory levels will be updated, and how much this service will cost.
Forgetting About Branded Packaging
If packaging is an important part of the brand experience, you need to agree in advance on boxes, stickers, gift cards, bundles and other additional elements.
Choosing a Warehouse in the Wrong Geographic Location
If most of your customers are in Lithuania, warehousing in Western Europe will not always be beneficial. However, if you sell in Germany, the United Kingdom or the United States, a warehouse closer to the customer can improve delivery times and reduce shipping costs.
Recommended 3PL Choices by Situation
For a Shopify Store Whose Main Market Is Lithuania
Consider ShipAway, Laika Logistics, Fulfillo or PaperSeal. The final choice will depend on your order volume, packaging needs and whether Baltic logistics are important.
For a Growing Store With a Regular Order Flow
Laika Logistics may be a relevant solution if the store has a stable order volume and wants to outsource day-to-day packing and returns management to an external team.
For a Brand Where Customised Packaging Is Important
PaperSeal is worth considering when packaging, gift sets, kitting and brand presentation to the customer are an important part of the order.
For Selling in Lithuania and Other EU Countries
ShipAway or Fulfillo may be relevant if you want to fulfil orders from Lithuania while also shipping to customers in other European markets.
For International Expansion
ShipBob is better suited to brands whose main customers are in Western Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States or other larger markets. euShipments may be relevant when it is important to distribute orders through several European warehouses.
Conclusion
A Shopify 3PL provider can help a store outsource warehousing, packing and order fulfilment to specialists, allowing the business to focus more on sales, marketing and customer experience.
ShipAway, Laika Logistics, Fulfillo and PaperSeal are relevant to the Lithuanian market, but their strengths differ: some focus more on automation and shipping across the EU, while others focus on stable order flows, customised packaging or Baltic logistics.
International providers such as ShipBob and euShipments can be useful when expanding into European, UK or US markets, where storing products closer to customers is important.
Before choosing a provider, the most important step is to clearly assess your order volume, markets, product type, packaging needs and the actual total cost of the service.
FAQ
What Is 3PL?
3PL is a third-party logistics service where an external provider receives, stores, picks, packs and ships your online store’s orders.
Can 3PL Be Integrated With Shopify?
Yes. Shopify integration can automatically transfer orders to a 3PL warehouse system, synchronise inventory levels and return shipment tracking numbers to the store.
When Is It Worth Starting to Use 3PL?
It is worth considering 3PL when order volumes increase, packing starts taking up too much time, you need more warehouse space, or you plan to sell more actively abroad.
Is 3PL Suitable for a Small Shopify Store?
Sometimes, yes. However, for very low and inconsistent order volumes, this solution may not be the most cost-effective. Before choosing it, it is worth assessing minimum volumes and all service fees.
Does a 3PL Provider Manage Returns?
Some providers offer this as a standard or additional service. The returns process, pricing and inventory updates must be agreed before starting a partnership.
Can You Use a Lithuanian 3PL Provider and Ship Abroad?
Yes. ShipAway and Fulfillo may be relevant for stores that want to store products in Lithuania while shipping to customers in other European or international markets.
