Today’s consumers expect things to work in their favor.
Whether they are buying online, through a marketplace or a physical store, they want the experience to feel fast, consistent and effortless.
This pressure forces businesses to rethink what the top-rated logistics solutions are for integrating multiple sales channels in North America and how well their current operations support omnichannel demand.
As a result, logistics now have to be flexible and able to keep up with how people shop.
What Is Omnichannel Logistics?
Omnichannel logistics is the practice of synchronizing inventory, fulfillment and delivery across every sales channel a business uses, from online storefronts and marketplaces to brick-and-mortar locations and mobile apps. As a result, customers always get a smooth, consistent experience regardless of how they shop.
It eliminates siloed systems. Instead of treating each channel independently, it creates a unified flow of goods and data across the entire operation. Today, approximately 73% of 46,000 retail shoppers worldwide engage across multiple channels during their buying journey, making omnichannel a common shopping behavior.
As customers increasingly bounce between online browsing, in-store pickup and marketplace purchases, logistics becomes a strategic differentiator because the ability to deliver fast, flexible and reliable fulfillment can directly influence customer loyalty and competitive position.
The Fundamentals of an Omnichannel Framework
A strong omnichannel logistics strategy has a few core components that work together to keep operations aligned as customers move across channels. Even the best technology or partners can fall short without these fundamentals in place:
- Unified inventory visibility: Omnichannel logistics has a single, real-time view of inventory across all locations, including warehouses, retail stores and in-transit stock. This visibility prevents overselling, reduces stockouts and allows orders to be fulfilled from the most efficient location based on availability, cost and delivery speed.
- Integrated order management system (OMS): An OMS acts as the central brain of an omnichannel operation, intelligently routing orders to the best fulfillment source. By evaluating factors like inventory levels and shipping timelines, an integrated OMS helps businesses balance speed and cost while maintaining a consistent customer experience.
- Flexible fulfillment options: Modern shoppers expect options like Buy Online, Pick Up In-store (BOPIS), ship-from-store and curbside pickup. Supporting these fulfillment models requires tight coordination between inventory, order routing and fulfillment teams so customers can choose how they receive their orders without friction.
- Seamless returns management: Returns are a critical part of omnichannel logistics. A seamless returns process allows customers to return items through any channel, regardless of where the purchase originated, while giving businesses visibility into returned inventory so it can be restocked or redirected efficiently.
Should a Retailer Choose In-House or a Dedicated Logistics Partner?
Once the fundamentals of omnichannel logistics are in place, the next decision is how those operations will be managed day to day. That choice comes down to building logistics capabilities internally or working with a dedicated logistics partner.
The Case for an In-House Model
Managing logistics in-house offers a high level of control over inventory, fulfillment processes and customer experience. Teams can customize workflows to fit specific business needs and make changes quickly without relying on external timelines.
However, this approach often requires a significant investment up front. For instance, warehouse and storage costs alone can fluctuate sharply, with rent increases reaching 50% or more in some markets, according to the 2025 The State of Logistics Outsourcing Study. Another layer of expense is the fulfillment and warehouse roles, with the U.S. national wage median of $37,648, excluding training, benefits, or turnover costs.
Companies must also purchase the technology, along with the ongoing complexity of managing multiple sales channels at scale, so in-house logistics can quickly become resource-intensive.
The Advantages of a Dedicated Logistics Partner
A specialized logistics partner brings expertise, fulfillment networks and operational efficiency to the table. These providers can handle omnichannel complexity, often offering faster scaling, broader geographic coverage and cost efficiencies.
Each of these can be difficult to achieve internally, and it is one of the very reasons outsourced logistics have continued to grow. The 2025 State of Logistics Outsourcing study revealed adoption reaching 87% as more organizations seek flexible ways to manage complexity and scale efficiently. The trade-off, though, is less direct control. This makes alignment and communication especially important when selecting the right partner.
Selecting an Omnichannel Logistics Partner
Choosing an omnichannel logistics partner can be an excellent opportunity to ship orders fast. Yet to ensure a partner can meet these expectations, organizations must find a solution that aligns with how the business operates and how it plans to scale in the future. A clear evaluation checklist helps cut through the noise and keeps the focus on capabilities that impact performance:
- Channel integration capabilities: A strong partner should integrate seamlessly with all the sales channels leaders rely on, including e-commerce platforms, online marketplaces and retail systems. The goal is real-time data flow between channels so inventory levels, orders and fulfillment updates stay accurate and synchronized without manual workarounds.
- Fulfillment network coverage: The size, location and flexibility of a provider’s fulfillment network directly affect delivery speed and shipping costs. Businesses should consider whether a partner can support regional distribution, scale during peak demand, and adapt as customer buying patterns change.
- Carrier partnerships: Reliable carrier relationships play a major role in keeping shipping costs competitive and delivery timelines consistent. Rather than focusing on specific carriers, it is important to understand how a partner manages carrier selection, rate optimization and service levels across different shipment types.
- Implementation and ongoing support: Even the best technology can fall short without a smooth implementation and ongoing support. Look for partners that offer clear onboarding, system setup support and responsive ongoing service to resolve issues and adapt.
- Pricing model and cost transparency: Omnichannel logistics pricing can vary widely, so transparency is key. Businesses should understand how costs are structured, including fulfillment, storage and variable fees. They should also know whether pricing can scale up or down in line with order volume and inventory needs.
Top Omnichannel Logistics Solutions for North American Businesses
With many providers claiming to support omnichannel fulfillment, it helps to look closely at what the top-rated logistics solutions are for integrating multiple sales channels in North America and how they perform in practice. The solutions below offer the ability to connect channels, streamline fulfillment and support growing omnichannel operations.
1. ProShipper
ProShipper is a top-rated omnichannel logistics provider that supports businesses selling across multiple sales channels in North America, serving Canada and the U.S. It is a strong fit for quality-focused, midsized and large enterprises that want a more hands-on, full-service partner, especially those importing goods and managing complex fulfillment across regions.
From a channel perspective, ProShipper integrates with over 100 digital retailers and online marketplaces, allowing orders to flow directly from existing sales channels into its fulfillment system. Once an order is placed, it is automatically received and processed, helping companies reduce manual work while keeping inventory and order data aligned.
On the fulfillment side, ProShipper operates a large warehouse in Toronto, Canada, giving it the ability to support customers across North America and handle cross-border fulfillment efficiently.
Key Differentiators:
- Full-service fulfillment: ProShipper manages the entire fulfillment life cycle, including storage, picking, packing, shipping and returns.
- Automated rate shopping: Every shipment is automatically rate-shopped through ProShipper’s system to identify the most cost-effective option from a pool of trusted carriers.
- Flexible and scalable pricing: Clients are charged based on the space they actually use, with the ability to scale up or down as needed. There are no monthly account fees or order minimums, which can be helpful when navigating fluctuating demand.
2. ShipBob
ShipBob supports growing brands selling through their own websites, marketplaces and retail channels. It is a common choice among midsized and enterprise-level businesses that need a tech-forward fulfillment partner with a broad geographic reach across North America.
ShipBob works directly with e-commerce platforms and marketplaces, so orders, inventory updates and shipping data sync automatically across channels. Its distributed model includes multiple warehouse locations across the U.S. and Canada, helping businesses place inventory closer to customers and shorten delivery times without managing multiple facilities themselves.
Key Differentiators:
- Distributed fulfillment network: ShipBob’s network of fulfillment centers allows businesses to split inventory across locations to reduce shipping zones, transit times and costs.
- Strong platform integrations: Native integrations with popular e-commerce platforms and marketplaces streamline omnichannel order flow and inventory management.
- Inventory and analytics tools: ShipBob provides real-time inventory visibility and performance insights that help businesses make more informed decisions about stock placement and replenishment.
3. Flexport
Flexport approaches omnichannel logistics from a technology-first angle, combining global freight forwarding with a software platform that improves visibility and control across the supply chain. This makes it a solid choice for midsized enterprises that sell across multiple channels and need better insight into how products move from suppliers to warehouses to customers.
In today’s environment, where 46% of organizations say price volatility is one of their biggest external challenges, having clear visibility across the supply chain matters more than ever. Flexport’s platform helps companies see where inventory is, track shipments in real time, and spot potential cost risks earlier in the process.
Key Differentiators:
- Real-time supply chain visibility: The platform gives businesses a centralized view of shipments across global transportation modes.
- Tech-led logistics management: Flexport’s software aggregates data from across the supply chain so teams can monitor performance and forecast demand.
- Data-driven decision support: With richer visibility and synced data, businesses can better anticipate cost swings.
4. Manhattan Associates
Manhattan Associates is a technology-driven logistics and supply chain company serving retail and physical store operations. It is commonly used by large retailers and enterprise brands that need tight coordination between stores, distribution centers and digital channels.
Rather than acting as a traditional fulfillment provider, Manhattan focuses on software that helps retailers orchestrate inventory and orders across complex environments. Its solutions treat stores as fulfillment assets, enabling capabilities like ship-from-store, buy online pick up in store (BOPIS) and flexible returns, all while keeping inventory visibility consistent across locations.
Key Differentiators:
- Store-centric fulfillment enablement: Manhattan’s technology allows retailers to use physical stores as fulfillment nodes, improving delivery speed and reducing last-mile costs.
- Advanced order management: Its OMS routes orders based on inventory availability, proximity to the customer and service-level goals.
- Unified inventory visibility: Real-time inventory data across stores, warehouses and distribution centers reduces overselling and stockouts.
Managing the Implementation Process
Implementing an omnichannel logistics solution requires careful coordination across teams, systems and workflows. The process typically starts with aligning internal stakeholders around shared goals and clear expectations. From there, businesses need to focus on data readiness, including inventory accuracy, SKU standardization and clean integrations between sales channels, OMSs and fulfillment partners. Taking the time to address these foundational pieces early prevents disruption once orders begin.
Equally important is managing the rollout in phases rather than all at once. Many organizations start with a limited number of channels, locations or fulfillment methods before expanding more broadly. This approach allows teams to test workflow, identify gaps and refine processes without putting the entire operation at risk. Ongoing communication with logistics partners and regular check-ins ensure the solution continues to support evolving business needs.
Bringing Omnichannel Logistics Strategy Together
As customer expectations continue to evolve, logistics has become a critical part of delivering consistent experiences across every sales channel. Understanding what the top logistics solutions are for integrating multiple sales channels in North America helps businesses move beyond fragmented systems and make more informed decisions about partners, technology and execution. The right approach connects inventory and fulfillment to support current demand and future growth.






