Fulfillment Performance Metrics: What Actually Tells You If a 3PL Is Working

Every fulfillment operation talks about metrics. On-time shipping. Inventory accuracy. Order throughput. The problem is not a lack of numbers. The problem is knowing which fulfillment performance metrics actually tell the truth about how a 3PL is performing.

Bad metrics create false confidence. Good metrics expose reality early enough to do something about it.

Why Metrics Become Meaningless Without Context

Many brands receive monthly scorecards filled with percentages that look reassuring but explain very little. A single blended number hides delays, bottlenecks, and recurring issues.

Maureen Milligan, Director of Operations and Projects at G10 Fulfillment, explains what customers truly care about. "A lot of the 3PL customer expectations are that order fulfillment is happening extremely timely, that our inventory is accurate, and that we're able to execute on their orders very quickly."

Metrics only matter when they map directly to those expectations.

Operational Accuracy Is the First Metric That Matters

Inventory accuracy, pick accuracy, and ship accuracy form the foundation of fulfillment performance.

Joel Malmquist, VP of Customer Experience at G10 Fulfillment, points to the impact of precision. "We have over 99.9% ship accuracy of these orders," he says. That level of accuracy prevents downstream issues that metrics often fail to capture.

Speed Metrics Reveal Hidden Bottlenecks

Order cycle time, same-day ship rate, and receiving turnaround expose how quickly work actually moves.

Connor Perkins, Director of Fulfillment at G10 Fulfillment, explains why speed matters competitively. "A previous 3PL took three days from when the order was placed to when they would ship it. That's not great if you're trying to compete in this industry right now."

Speed metrics show whether a 3PL is keeping pace with customer expectations.

Scan-Based Data Makes Metrics Trustworthy

Metrics are only as good as the data behind them. Bryan Wright, CTO and COO of G10 Fulfillment, explains the foundation.

"A good WMS tracks inventory through the warehouse at every point that you touch it," Wright says. "That is what makes reporting accurate."

Without scan-based workflows, performance metrics drift away from reality.

Retail and B2B Metrics Raise the Stakes

B2B fulfillment adds compliance metrics that directly affect revenue. Missed ship windows, incorrect pallets, and ASN errors show up quickly.

Holly Woods, Director of Operations at G10 Fulfillment, describes the consequences. "Target has a deadline for delivery and that's it, no exceptions. They'll just cancel the order."

Performance metrics in retail reveal whether growth is sustainable.

Real-Time Metrics Beat Retrospective Reports

Looking backward explains what went wrong. Real-time metrics help prevent it.

Milligan highlights the value of immediacy. "They can actually watch those progressions going on."

When teams see metrics update as work happens, they can intervene before SLAs are missed.

Metrics Improve Relationships When Shared

Shared visibility into performance changes conversations between brands and 3PLs.

Matt Bradbury, Director of Sales at G10 Fulfillment, connects metrics to confidence. "Transparency and predictability help us build trust."

Clear metrics replace assumptions with alignment.

What Fulfillment Performance Metrics Really Deliver

The right metrics reduce surprises, support better planning, and keep growth grounded in reality. They turn fulfillment from a cost center into a managed operation.

For growing brands, fulfillment performance metrics are not about scorekeeping. They are about control.

The next step is simple. Choose a 3PL whose performance metrics reflect real execution, so decisions are based on truth instead of hope.