Distribution & Fulfillment Services

3PL distribution and fulfillment services that assist businesses in storing inventory, preparing orders, and moving products to their next destination.

SCHCI provides distribution and fulfillment services within our broader 3PL and warehousing capabilities, designing a program around your products, inventory volume, order requirements, and supply chain. Our logistics team has delivered third‐party logistics solutions since 2005, giving SCHCI decades of experience in managing the physical storage and movement of inventory. Whether you need:

Ongoing fulfillment support
Commercial distribution
Inventory storage combined with order preparation
A logistics partner that handles multiple stages of the process

SCHCI can assist in determining the right solution for your operation.

What Are Distribution & Fulfillment Services?

Distribution and fulfillment are closely related, yet not exactly the same:

Fulfillment: Preparing inventory to satisfy an order: receiving the order, locating the right inventory, selecting products, and preparing them for outbound shipment.
Distribution: The broader process of moving products through the supply chain toward businesses, retailers, wholesalers, other facilities, or additional points in the customer’s supply chain.

In many 3PL operations, warehousing, fulfillment, and distribution work together: inventory arrives, is received and stored, stays available until needed, then is prepared and moved according to customer requirements.

Why Outsource Distribution & Fulfillment?

Managing fulfillment internally requires space, personnel, processes, equipment, and the ability to accommodate changes in order volume. For some businesses, those resources are better allocated elsewhere:

Reduced internal requirements: Less internal space dedicated to storing inventory and preparing orders, using existing infrastructure and experienced personnel instead of building from scratch.
Accommodate growth and fluctuating demand: Additional capacity as inventory and fulfillment requirements grow, including seasonal peaks and promotions.
Focus internal resources elsewhere: Let internal teams focus on manufacturing, sales, and product development instead of warehouse operations.
Simplify the supply chain: Fewer vendors to coordinate across storage, inventory management, fulfillment, distribution, and packaging.

Outsourcing is a viable option when inventory occupies too much physical space or when staff spends an excessive amount of time preparing orders. It is also appropriate if current facilities are too small for growth or if order volumes change frequently. A third‐party logistics provider does not have to manage all internal operations. Companies can choose to outsource only the specific functions that improve their efficiency.

How 3PL Fulfillment Works

Each fulfillment program varies, but the basic process usually follows:

Inventory arrives at the warehouse according to program requirements. Accurate receiving is essential for all subsequent steps.
Products are received and handled according to their type, the quantity received, and their packaging.
Inventory is stored in a manner that matches its properties and the operation’s needs.
Inventory is managed to track its location while stored and moved.
Orders or distribution requests are received, ranging from single cases to large commercial quantities.
Products are prepared for distribution by handling, packing, labeling, or otherwise readying them.
Orders are sent to their next destination, which may be customers, retailers, distributors, facilities, or other points in the supply chain.

The exact workflow should be designed around the products and business, rather than forced into a single fulfillment model.

Choosing a Distribution & Fulfillment Partner

A fulfillment provider becomes an operational extension of your business, so the decision should involve more than comparing warehouse rates:

Can the provider handle my products and typical orders? Discuss inventory characteristics, packaging, quantities, and order patterns.
How will inventory be received and managed? Important as products continually enter and leave the warehouse.
Can the operation scale, and do I need packaging support? Consider seasonal peaks and growth, and whether combining packaging and logistics with one provider would simplify the process.

Packaging & Fulfillment Under One Roof

Products may need corrugated boxes, protective packaging, or other materials before they can move safely through distribution. SCHCI combines experience in logistics and industrial packaging, including moisture‐resistant wax packaging for food, seafood, and agricultural applications, so customers needing both services can consider packaging alongside warehousing and distribution rather than as an unrelated part of the supply chain.

Distribution & Fulfillment Across Two Markets

SCHCI’s logistics operations in Houston, TX and Edison, NJ support distribution and fulfillment programs on both the Gulf Coast and the greater New York/New Jersey market. Companies evaluating a fulfillment and distribution partner should consider where inventory originates, where customers are located, typical inventory and order levels, and product handling and packaging requirements.

Distribution vs. Fulfillment vs. Warehousing

A full 3PL relationship may incorporate all three: Warehousing → Inventory Management → Fulfillment → Distribution, with the appropriate combination depending on the customer’s operation. These related terms describe different parts of the logistics process:

Warehousing

Warehousing is the act of storing products in a physical location until they are needed.

Fulfillment

Fulfillment is the process of preparing inventory to complete an order or meet another outbound need.

Distribution

Distribution is the general process of transporting products to their next location.

Commercial Distribution Services

Businesses that manufacture, import, sell, or distribute physical products need a reliable method to move inventory from storage to its next destination. Distribution may involve moving products to:

Commercial customers, distributors, and wholesalers
Retail and food-related businesses
Other warehouse or distribution facilities, or additional points in the supply chain

Combining warehousing and distribution with the same provider can reduce unnecessary movement between facilities and simplify the number of vendors involved. SCHCI’s distribution services can include:

Shipment tracking, pickup requests, and document requests
Transit times, rate quotes and bill of lading management
Customized reporting

Fulfillment Services

Managing order fulfillment becomes more challenging as a business expands. Increased inventory requires more storage space, higher order volume requires more labor, and a broader range of products and customers raises operational complexity. The appropriate fulfillment program for a business depends on:

Product type, number of SKUs and inventory volume
Order volume, typical order size, and packaging/handling requirements
Distribution destinations and frequency of inbound/outbound activity

B2B Fulfillment & Distribution

B2B fulfillment often differs from fulfilling individual customer orders. These orders may include cartons, cases, multiple products, or palletized inventory, and they are typically shipped to distributors, wholesalers, retailers, restaurants, manufacturers, or other businesses. SCHCI can work with clients to create a process suited to their products, order types, and business needs.

Food & Produce Distribution

Food and produce supply chains need particular attention. SCHCI has worked in logistics and produce packaging. This experience provides our team with a working knowledge of how packaging, storage, handling, and distribution relate, and we can include food‐grade warehousing and distribution when necessary.

Distribution & Fulfillment FAQs

What is a 3PL fulfillment company?

A company that stores inventory and performs logistics functions on behalf of another business, including receiving, warehousing, inventory management, order preparation, fulfillment, and distribution.

What's the difference between fulfillment and distribution?

Fulfillment refers to preparing inventory to satisfy an order, while distribution describes the broader movement of products toward customers or other destinations. The two frequently work together.

Does SCHCI provide B2B and food distribution services?

Yes. SCHCI offers B2B and food distribution services. We manage commercial fulfillment and distribution needs. Our operations include food‐grade warehousing and distribution for specific products. You should provide our team with your product, order, and inventory details. We will use this information to determine if our services meet your requirements.

How much inventory do I need to use a fulfillment company?

There’s no single threshold. Product type, order volume, storage and handling requirements, and distribution needs all affect whether outsourcing makes sense.

Can I outsource fulfillment without outsourcing my entire logistics operation?

Yes. You can outsource specific fulfillment functions without outsourcing your entire logistics operation. Businesses use SCHCI for individual services or combinations of services. This allows you to choose which parts of the operation you manage internally.

Request a Distribution & Fulfillment Quote

If fulfillment and distribution are consuming too much space, labor, or attention inside your business, SCHCI can help determine whether outsourcing those functions makes sense. Provide details about your product type, the number of SKUs, and your estimated inventory volume. Include your average order size, storage requirements, and any specific handling or packaging needs. We will use this information to determine if SCHCI’s services match your requirements.