Case Study: How Fanatics Unlocked International Courier Flexibility with Voila

About Fanatics

Fanatics is a global leader in licensed sports merchandise, operating across multiple regions with a need for fast, reliable shipping - from local fulfilment in the UK to cross-border logistics in Italy. When scaling their operations, they needed a flexible courier solution that could work seamlessly with their WMS partner across all locations - without additional dev work or operational disruption.

The Challenge

Fanatics was onboarding a new warehouse management system to support multi-location operations across the UK and Italy. While the WMS covered their warehousing needs, it lacked built-in support for the couriers Fanatics required.

Key challenges included:

• Missing courier integrations within the WMS, especially for regional services

• The need for international compatibility across both UK and Italian warehouses

• Complex commercial data requirements for customs and cross-border shipping

• Limited internal dev resources - the business couldn't afford lengthy development timelines or complex workarounds

• Desire for brand ownership over post-purchase communication, rather than relying on courier-branded tracking.

Their WMS provider recommended Voila as a trusted integration partner who could solve all of these problems - without requiring new development or infrastructure changes.

The Solution

Voila provided a simple, scalable layer that gave Fanatics the courier flexibility they needed, while continuing to use their chosen WMS.

1. Pre-Built Courier Integrations

   Voila already supported the couriers Fanatics needed, eliminating delays or development work. Their WMS had an existing integration with Voila, meaning the team could start shipping almost instantly - no downtime, no additional resources needed.

2. Full International Compatibility

   Whether shipping from the UK or Italy, Voila's platform handled regional shipping requirements and customs documentation with ease. Commercial data could be transmitted correctly based on local needs, ensuring compliance and smooth cross-border deliveries.

3. Custom Reporting & Heat Maps

   Fanatics gained access to Voila's reporting suite, allowing their team to:

   • Track courier performance and delivery success

   • Analyse trends by location with visual heat maps

   • Optimise courier selection based on real-world outcomes

4. Branded Post-Purchase Communication

   Instead of sending generic courier updates, Fanatics used Voila's branded tracking and email tools to stay in front of customers throughout the delivery journey - strengthening their brand and improving the post-purchase experience.

The Results

• Faster Setup: No custom development needed - Voila was already integrated with the WMS provider.

• International Support: One platform handled shipping from both the UK and Italy with accurate data handling.

• Zero Maintenance: Voila manages all courier API maintenance and updates, reducing operational overhead.

• Stronger Brand Experience: Fanatics maintained control over tracking updates and delivery communications.

• Flexible Courier Choice: The team now has access to an extended list of couriers and can adapt as needed without friction.

Conclusion

By partnering with Voila, Fanatics gained the freedom to scale across countries, couriers, and systems - without needing additional dev time or compromising on the customer experience. The result is a logistics infrastructure that's flexible, future-ready, and built for international growth.

Need to simplify international fulfilment while keeping full control of your brand experience? Let's chat about what Voila can do.