Most third-party logistics providers (3PLs) excel at standard fulfillment—receiving inventory, picking orders, packing boxes, and shipping efficiently at scale. But when your operation requires more than that—like specialized assembly, licensing, or equipment—a 3PL’s standard workflow can fall short fast.

For brands with technical processes or regulatory needs, outsourced fulfillment doesn’t just create friction—it may be a non-starter.

This article—part of our series on when outsourcing fulfillment doesn’t make sense—walks through why specialized handling often demands an in-house approach.

Complex Assembly Often Falls Outside 3PL Capabilities

While many 3PLs offer light kitting—think bundling SKUs or inserting flyers—few are equipped to handle complex, technical, or customized assembly processes. If your product requires steps beyond basic packing, a fulfillment center may struggle to deliver consistent results.

Here’s why complex builds cause problems:

  • Specialized skills are hard to train: If your product requires specific placement, adhesives, wiring, or inspection steps, a typical 3PL won’t have the expertise—or desire—to take it on.
  • Assembly slows down fulfillment: Most warehouses are optimized for speed. Manual, multi-step processes disrupt that flow and reduce efficiency across the board.
  • Quality control may be lacking: Without your oversight, it’s easy for detail-oriented assembly work to slip—especially when workers rotate or lack training.

If precision, consistency, or customization matter, in-house fulfillment is often the only way to keep quality under control.

Licensing and Regulatory Compliance Can Block Outsourcing

Certain products—especially in food, beverage, and supplements—are subject to strict regulatory oversight. If your business handles regulated goods, outsourcing fulfillment may require a facility that holds the right licenses and certifications.

Here’s where things get tricky:

  • Standard 3PLs lack regulatory infrastructure: Few warehouses are certified for FDA, USDA, or similar oversight—especially for small-volume clients.
  • Repackaging may be prohibited: Some 3PLs won’t open or alter your products due to regulatory risk—shutting down insert swaps, reboxing, or labeling updates.
  • Audit readiness becomes your burden: If your products fall under compliance scope, you may still be held accountable for how your 3PL handles storage and shipping.

Unless your 3PL is purpose-built for your category, you may find that no amount of documentation or SOPs can close the compliance gap.

Your Fulfillment Process May Rely on Tools or Machines

In some businesses, fulfillment doesn’t just involve people—it involves tools. From heat sealing to shrink wrapping, engraving to quality testing, the right equipment is often central to the process. And most 3PLs simply can’t replicate that.

Here’s why specialized equipment is a dealbreaker:

  • Recreating your setup is expensive: If your process relies on machinery, training, or calibration, duplicating it at a 3PL may cost more than keeping it in-house.
  • Tooling slows down throughput: Machines that require prep, alignment, or cleaning between runs don’t match the speed-first model of most 3PLs.
  • Breakdowns become your problem: If something goes wrong and the 3PL doesn’t own or understand the tool, you’ll still be on the hook to fix it—often remotely.

When your fulfillment depends on tools, it’s usually best to keep the process close—where it can be monitored, maintained, and controlled directly.

Specialized Fulfillment Requires Oversight Most 3PLs Can’t Offer

Whether it’s custom assembly, compliance, or tooling, specialized fulfillment tends to be hands-on and dynamic. And while some 3PLs offer “white glove” handling, it’s rarely tailored to the nuanced, evolving needs of early-stage brands.

Here’s where expectations and execution often diverge:

  • Communication gaps create risk: Explaining your process via email or SOP leaves room for missteps—especially when warehouse turnover is high.
  • Changes take time to implement: Adjusting an assembly step or compliance document may take hours or days at a 3PL—versus minutes in-house.
  • Responsibility remains yours: Even if the 3PL is at fault, the damage to your product—and your brand—comes back to you.

When quality and compliance are critical, full control often matters more than convenience.

Some Fulfillment Work Can’t Be Outsourced

Pick, pack, and ship is the bread and butter of most 3PLs. But when fulfillment gets technical—requiring specialized labor, licenses, or equipment—the limitations start to show.

For brands that depend on precision, regulation, or tools, keeping fulfillment in-house isn’t about cost—it’s about capability. It lets you stay close to what matters, move faster when changes arise, and protect quality every step of the way.

Still trying to determine whether your operation can be outsourced? Let’s talk.