What are fulfillment centers primarily used for?

Fulfillment centers are primarily designed to facilitate the efficient shipping of products directly to customers. They play a critical role in e-commerce and retail supply chains by receiving, processing, and delivering orders placed by consumers. These centers handle the logistics of picking, packing, and shipping products after they have been ordered online, ensuring timely delivery to customers' doorsteps.

This focus on direct-to-consumer shipping differentiates fulfillment centers from other facilities. For instance, manufacturing goods is the role of factories, not fulfillment centers. Similarly, while they may have some inventory storage, the primary function is not merely storing leftover inventory but efficiently processing customer orders. Additionally, managing raw material supplies is typically the function of warehouses or supply chain management facilities rather than fulfillment centers, which deal specifically with finished goods and shipping.