What 3PL Does Brilliant Use for Warehousing & Fulfillment?
Brilliant uses ShipBob as their primary third-party logistics (3PL) and fulfillment partner.
Introduction to Brilliant
Founded in 2016 and headquartered in San Mateo, California, Brilliant has established itself as a leading innovator in the smart home technology space. The company designs and manufactures award-winning smart home control systems, including touch-screen control panels, smart dimmer switches, and smart plugs that integrate seamlessly with other popular smart home devices. Often described as the "King of the Smart Home," Brilliant's mission is to accelerate mainstream adoption of smart home living by offering affordable and user-friendly home control and automation systems.
Under the leadership of CEO Lisa Petrucci, Brilliant has grown to become a trusted name among hundreds of builders, developers, and property managers across the U.S. and Canada, with their products increasingly being featured as standard in new homes and apartments. Their all-in-one smart home control systems unite various devices from leading brands into a cohesive, easy-to-use interface accessible to all household members.
Why Brilliant Needed to Optimize Fulfillment
As Brilliant experienced rapid growth in the competitive smart home market, they faced several challenges with their fulfillment operations:
- Inconsistent order volumes made it difficult to maintain efficient operations and accurate forecasting
- Lack of robust warehouse management software hindered inventory visibility and operational efficiency
- Need for temperature-controlled facilities to ensure the proper storage of sensitive electronics components
- Desire for a fulfillment partner with cultural alignment and a strong commitment to integrity
- Requirements for faster delivery times to meet customer expectations in the competitive smart home market
These challenges prompted Brilliant to seek a fulfillment partner that could provide the technological infrastructure, experience, and values alignment needed to support their growing business.
Partnership Details and Results
Brilliant's partnership with ShipBob has delivered impressive results, transforming their fulfillment operations and supporting their growth trajectory. The partnership has yielded:
- 4 million orders shipped since the beginning of the partnership
- Support for 700 customers through ShipBob's network
- Consistent daily order volume processing thousands of orders daily at minimum
- 3 years of successful partnership demonstrating long-term value and stability
- 60 fulfillment professionals dedicated to ensuring smooth operations
This partnership has enabled Brilliant to focus on their core competency of creating innovative smart home products while leaving the complexities of fulfillment to the experts.
The ShipBob Solution
ShipBob implemented a comprehensive fulfillment solution tailored to Brilliant's specific needs:
- Proprietary warehouse management system providing real-time inventory visibility and operational efficiency
- Strategic facility locations enabling faster delivery times and reduced shipping costs
- Temperature-controlled warehousing ensuring proper storage conditions for electronic products
- Scalable infrastructure starting with a single row of inventory and expanding to dedicated warehouse space as Brilliant's business grew
- Marketing and sales support leveraging ShipBob's capabilities to enhance Brilliant's market presence
By leveraging ShipBob's technology and fulfillment network, Brilliant gained access to enterprise-level logistics capabilities without the massive capital investment typically required.
Lessons for Other eCommerce Brands
Brilliant's successful partnership with ShipBob offers several valuable lessons for other eCommerce brands:
- Technology integration is crucial - The right warehouse management system can transform fulfillment operations, improving efficiency and visibility
- Cultural alignment matters - Finding a fulfillment partner whose values and business practices align with your own is essential for a successful long-term relationship
- Scalability is key - Choose a fulfillment partner who can grow with your business, from handling small initial volumes to supporting substantial growth
- Specialized capabilities add value - Industry-specific features like temperature-controlled storage can be critical differentiators for products with special handling requirements
Is ShipBob Right for Your Business?
When considering whether ShipBob might be the right fulfillment partner for your business, evaluate these factors:
- Business size and growth trajectory - ShipBob can accommodate both growing businesses and established brands
- Product characteristics - Consider whether your products have special handling requirements that ShipBob can address
- Technology needs - Assess how important integration capabilities and real-time visibility are to your operations
- Geographic distribution of customers - Evaluate whether ShipBob's network aligns with your customer locations
- Budget considerations - Compare the cost of ShipBob's services against in-house fulfillment and other 3PL options
If you're unsure which 3PL provider is right for your specific needs, consider using a matchmaking service to find the perfect fulfillment partner for your business.
Final Thoughts
Brilliant's partnership with ShipBob demonstrates how the right fulfillment partnership can become a strategic advantage in the competitive smart home technology market. By outsourcing logistics to ShipBob, Brilliant has been able to focus on their core strengths of product innovation and market expansion while ensuring their customers receive their orders accurately and on time.
For eCommerce brands looking to scale, the lesson is clear: finding the right fulfillment partner isn't just about outsourcing a function—it's about gaining a strategic ally that can help transform your business operations and support your growth goals. Whether you're selling smart home technology or other products, the right 3PL partnership can be a game-changer for your business.
As you evaluate your own fulfillment needs, consider not just the immediate cost savings but the long-term strategic benefits that the right partner can bring to your business. With the right 3PL relationship, you can achieve the scale, efficiency, and customer satisfaction needed to thrive in today's competitive eCommerce landscape.