Active Ants
Dutch e-fulfilment company that stores and picks webshop orders with AutoStore robots, now moving under the Paxon brand
Quick Overview
| Company | Active Ants B.V. |
|---|---|
| Category | Ecommerce Fulfillment Services (3PL) |
| Headquarters | Nieuwegein, Netherlands |
| Founded | 2010 |
| EU Presence | Yes - Netherlands (EU) |
| Data Location | Warehouses in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, England and France |
| Open Source | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | No |
| Main Features | AutoStore storage and picking, automatic packing, multi-warehouse stock, carrier integrations, returns, bol.com and Amazon connectors, warehouse tours |
| Pricing | Quote on request; no prices on the site |
| Best For | Shops with small, light items such as health, beauty and small electronics that suit automated storage |
| Replaces | ShipBob |
Detailed Review
Active Ants describes seven steps from factory to returns and builds the offer around the AutoStore system, a robot grid that brings bins to a picking station. Its timeline says it was the first company in the Netherlands to store and sort e-commerce items in AutoStore, in 2016.
The terms and conditions identify Active Ants B.V. with its registered office in Nieuwegein. Its about page lists warehouses in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, England and France, opened in stages from 2020 (Roosendaal) to 2025 (Lyon).
Automation as the selling point
Goods-to-person picking, dust-free storage and automatic packing machines are the heart of the pitch. Orders travel to the carriers' conveyor belts without manual boxing, and the company ties the packing process to less filler material.
Industry pages target health and beauty, fashion, food supplements and small electronics, which are product types that fit AutoStore bins.
Ownership and the Paxon change
Bnode, a Belgian logistics operator, became the full owner in August 2023, and the about page says Active Ants now belongs to Bnode's 3PL network together with Radial, Staci and Base Logistics under the single brand Paxon. The homepage says Active Ants is 'soon to be Paxon'.
Paxon's own site quotes fulfillment space across North America, so a customer should ask which entity signs the contract once the rename happens; today the terms name the Dutch B.V.
Multi-warehouse stock
The site describes stock managed across several locations, with real-time carrier integrations and links to bol.com and Amazon. A case study shows a pet brand expanding into new markets with tailored carrier selection and faster last-mile delivery.
A warehouse tour can be requested before signing.
Limitations to Consider
No prices are published and the pages checked give no minimum volume. AutoStore suits small and medium items, so bulky furniture or long goods are a poor match. The brand is changing to Paxon, so contract and portal names may change. The UK address is listed under Active Ants UK Ltd, which matters for customs and invoicing.
Who Should Use Active Ants
Webshops with compact, high-SKU catalogues in beauty, health or small electronics that want robot-assisted picking from a Dutch operator.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- AutoStore picking and automatic packing
- Sites in five European countries
- Contracting party is a Dutch B.V.
- Warehouse tours offered
- Marketplace links including bol.com
Cons
- No published prices
- Rebranding to Paxon in progress
- Poor fit for bulky goods
- Paxon network includes North American operations
Alternatives to Active Ants
Other European ecommerce fulfillment services (3pl) worth comparing before you decide:
Bigblue
France · French 3PL with a software layer and warehouses in four countries
Monta Fulfilment
Netherlands · Dutch fulfilment network with its own warehouse software
Zenfulfillment
Germany · Berlin-founded fulfilment with next-day delivery and an operating system
FLEX. Fulfillment
Germany · Six-site 3PL with Amazon FBA prep and one operating entity
See all European ecommerce fulfillment services (3pl) or compare them directly against ShipBob on our alternatives page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Its about page says Bnode, a Belgian logistics operator, became full owner on 21 August 2023.
The homepage says it is soon to be Paxon, and the about page names Paxon as the unified brand of Bnode's 3PL network.
The about page lists the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, England and France.