Shopify fulfilment in Europe: a practical guide
How Shopify orders flow to a European 3PL, what to prepare before onboarding, and how multi-store, bundles, subscriptions and returns work when Vareya fulfils your orders from the Netherlands.
Your store sells; fulfilment delivers
Your Shopify store decides how customers buy. Your fulfilment decides what happens next: how fast the parcel leaves, how it looks, and how a return is handled. This guide covers the practical side of moving Shopify fulfilment to a European 3PL — the data flow, what to prepare, how onboarding works, and the capabilities to check before you choose. For the full service overview, start with our Shopify fulfilment in Europe page.
How the Shopify to 3PL data flow works
When a customer places an order, it flows from your store to your provider's warehouse management system. Vareya uses ShipHero as its warehouse management system, fully integrated with Shopify. Shopify integration is available. From there:
- Orders arrive in the WMS and are picked, packed and labelled against the rules you agreed.
- Labels come from integrated carrier contracts. Vareya's shipping system can automatically select an appropriate carrier for each shipment, based on destination and parcel characteristics.
- Stock levels update when inbound stock is received. You create a purchase order in the WMS; when goods arrive they are checked and counted, and the purchase order acceptance updates stock levels.
- Returns are recorded in the WMS, so return status is visible to you.
Turn your order flow into rules
The right setup turns your order flow into rules: which carrier for which destination, what packaging per product line, and what happens on a return.
Prepare your product and SKU data first
Onboarding is faster when your data is clean. Each product needs a clear SKU, weight, packed dimensions and barcode convention that match between Shopify and the warehouse. Our step-by-step article on preparing Shopify product and SKU data covers exactly what to check — do that before you start comparing providers.
What to look for in a European 3PL
There is more to a 3PL than price per order. Fit, integration, the returns setup and how a provider handles exceptions all shape your day-to-day. We cover the evaluation criteria in detail in what to look for in a Shopify 3PL and the comparison method in how to compare 3PLs in Europe — this guide stays on the operational side.
What Vareya supports
We support multiple webshops, product bundles, subscriptions and stock with batch numbers or expiry dates. We also handle B2B orders and stock transfers.
- Multiple webshops: several stores can run on one fulfilment setup.
- Product bundles: bundle fulfilment is supported. The SKU structure and packing instructions are agreed during setup.
- Subscriptions: subscription orders are supported. Confirm the order flow and any subscription-specific packing rules during setup.
- Batch and expiry stock: stock can carry batch numbers or expiry dates in the WMS.
- B2B and stock transfers: wholesale and transfer orders can be part of the operation.
Our core product profile
If you sell cosmetics, supplements, phone cases, accessories or other smaller parcel products, you are in our core profile. Product fit is confirmed during qualification.
Onboarding with Vareya, step by step
There is no fixed duration for onboarding in this guide — timing depends on your data, stock and requirements, and is agreed with you.
- 1. Quote and agreement. We discuss the services you need, prepare an online quote, and work through the fulfilment agreement together.
- 2. Connect your store. You receive an invitation on your chosen email address to connect your Shopify store to our ShipHero setup. Once connected, we map your account.
- 3. Send stock. You ship inventory to our Breda warehouse and create a purchase order in the WMS. We check, count and update your stock levels.
- 4. Agree the details. We set the WMS rules, packing instructions and materials, and your returns process.
- 5. Test and go live. We run test orders and final checks, then start fulfilling your orders. Customer support is included at no additional charge. You also have a monthly catch-up with your account manager.
Costs: know what you are comparing
Vareya's fulfilment rates are fixed and all-in per agreement — no hidden costs beyond what the agreement sets out. Your quote separates fulfilment costs from shipping costs, so you can see both parts clearly. We do not publish prices: rates depend on your order profile and are prepared for your operation. Vareya is generally best suited to brands shipping 500 or more orders per month.
Switching providers
Moving from one 3PL to another is a project: you need stock transferred, SKUs mapped and a tested order flow before the switch. If you are currently with another provider, our guide on switching fulfilment providers in Europe covers the handover questions to resolve before moving stock.
Frequently asked questions
Does Vareya work with Shopify?
Yes. Shopify integration is available. Vareya uses ShipHero as its warehouse management system, fully integrated with Shopify.
Can Vareya fulfil subscription orders and bundles?
Yes. We support multiple webshops, product bundles and subscriptions.
Does Vareya fulfil Amazon orders too?
Yes. Amazon FBM fulfilment is available. FBA-related capabilities are confirmed case by case during qualification.
Ready to check your fit?
Send us your order profile — products, volumes, markets — and we will tell you how Shopify fulfilment from the Netherlands would work for your brand. Vareya will review your answers and send an initial fit response by email within one working day.