We've been seeing an uptick in brands beginning to explore the market for new fulfillment providers in 2026. The common themes among them?

• They're more prepared and more educated about their needs and potential partner's capabilities than remember in previous years.

• The word "cost" is used less frequently while the use of the words "value" and "execution" are more prevalent in the conversations. Especially with hypergrowth and scaling brands.

Here's what to expect in today's newsletter:

1. Two articles around Q4 and peak season projections, and one article about how AI is being used to improve operators daily work vs. replacing them.

2. Exciting opportunities around the industry

3. How automation can move off the warehouse floor and into the warehouse offices to increase a provider's own business operation.

What's trending:

1. UPS Revenue is down, but don't read too much into it. The driver is their volume glide down with Amazon. Customer volume projections are up for peak season.

2. Amazon continues to pioneer tech and AI to enhance warehouse and logistics operators instead of outright replacing them.

3. It was spooky season for Halloween focused brands and retailers with many items like costumes and decorations being heavily dependent on China. While revenue is up, it's mainly due to increased prices.

Opportunities in Fulfillment

Powering 3PL Automation Through Systems Integration

Izba partners with leading 3PL providers to streamline fulfillment operations by connecting fragmented systems into one cohesive workflow — spanning invoice generation, shipping reconciliation, carrier scorecards, and inventory monitoring.

Leveraging tools like Parabola, Izba builds custom automations that seamlessly integrate platforms like ShipHero, QuickBooks, and carrier portals, turning siloed data into real-time visibility and actionable insights.

The result: faster, more accurate billing, proactive exception management, and efficiency gains across 3PL operations.

Want to see how the Izba team can help modernize processes, reduce manual effort, and unlock margin through automation for your operation? Get in touch with the team today!