Dec 1, 2022 | Blog
Warehouse automation is the use of technology to improve and optimize the handling of goods in a warehouse. It can refer to the use of robotics and conveyor belts, improved picking and packing, or installing applications that can predict the most efficient routes and delivery schedules for each package.
The goal of warehouse automation is to improve accuracy, speed and efficiency in the warehouse and cut down on operational costs in the process. Read on for an overview of the different types of automation, the benefits they offer, and some best practices to keep in mind.
What is Warehouse Automation?
Warehouse automation involves finding labor-intensive and repetitive tasks related to receiving, storing and moving inventory in a warehouse and creating systems that reduce the need for manual labor and data entry.
Some examples of warehouse automation include conveyors and sortation systems and shuttle systems that utilize mobile robots to retrieve and deliver products across different levels. However, modern warehouse automation is not limited to robotics. One of the most popular and practical ways to employ automation in the warehouse is with a warehouse management system (WMS), a software that allows warehouse managers to monitor things like inventory levels, workers’ schedules, productivity, the order fulfillment process, and delivery schedules in real-time from one central dashboard.
How Does Warehouse Automation Work?
Warehouse automation works by combining warehouse automation software systems, robotic systems and artificial intelligence to simplify complex tasks and improve speed and efficiency on the warehouse floor. The goal, ultimately, is to meet customer demand and achieve customer satisfaction and retention. After all, in this fast-paced world where people expect to receive their packages in a matter of days, the businesses that can prepare and deliver their products the fastest retain more customers.
Most businesses start with warehouse management systems first. Eventually, they integrate their chosen systems with other tools so they can manage a wide range of tasks. There are several different categories of warehouse automation, including:
- Basic warehouse automation: These are simple tools that assist workers with manual tasks, such as conveyor belts or carousels that take packages from one point to another.
- Warehouse system automation: This includes WMS programs, data analytics, and machine learning tools that collect and organize data, as well as allow managers to create more efficient systems for storage and order fulfillment.
- Mechanized warehouse automation: These are robotic equipment that helps warehouse workers with tasks and processes that may be too time-consuming or labor-intensive to perform alone. For example, shelf loader bots can lift entire racks of items and bring them to a sorting station.
- Advanced warehouse automation: This makes use of both basic tools and robotics with automation systems. In most modern warehouses, automation equipment and systems are not standalone tools but rather integrated parts of a larger system for improving efficiency in the warehouse.
What Warehouse Processes Can Be Automated?
The following warehouse processes can be improved by automation:
- Receiving
- Returns
- Putaway
- Picking
- Sorting
- Replenishing
- Packaging
- Shipping
Types of Warehouse Automation Technology
There are many different types of warehouse automation technology, each with unique benefits, including:
- Goods-to-Person (GTP) solutions: This utilizes machines that pick up materials and take them to workers in the warehouse. The workers are then in charge of assembling and packing the products. GTP includes solutions like conveyors, vertical lift systems, and Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AR/RS). The latter is a type of fulfillment technology that makes use of material-carrying vehicles like shuttles to retrieve and store items for production.
- Pick-to-Light and Put-to-Light Systems: These types of systems use mobile barcode scanners to guide warehouse pickers on where to pick up and put down certain items. The scanners are synced with digital displays that light up and reduce the amount of time spent walking and searching for items. This is especially useful for high-volume warehouses.
- Voice Picking and Tasking: Using speech recognition software and wireless headsets, warehouse workers can “pick-by-voice” and eliminate their reliance on handheld scanners.
- Sortation Systems: This involves automatically identifying items on a conveyer and sending them to the right location using sensors and scanners. This helps speed up processes involved in order fulfillment, including receiving packages, packing them, and shipping them off to their respective buyers.
- Auto-Guided Vehicles (AGVs): Using magnetic strips, sensors, or wires, these vehicles travel through the warehouse on a fixed path, taking loads from point A to point B without the need for human guidance. AGVs work best in large, open warehouses with minimal foot traffic.
- Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs): Like AGVs, these travel around the warehouse carrying items from one area to another. However, unlike AGVs, these make use of GPS systems to navigate their environment and avoid obstacles.
When to Automate Your Warehouse?
You should automate your warehouse when you find yourself struggling with the following:
- You experience order delays due to limited warehouse employees
- Your day-to-day warehouse operations are labor-intensive and take up too much time and energy to fulfill
- You find that you can no longer keep up with the number of work orders that come in every day
- You can no longer keep track of your inventory
- Finding important information causes delays
- Your customer satisfaction and retention numbers start to dwindle
Benefits of Warehouse Automation
The aforementioned issues in your warehouse performance can all be traced back to manual processing. Though you may feel that you should get by with tried and tested methods, oftentimes, outdated processes can no longer keep up with the demands of the modern world. In turn, you experience delays and errors that don’t just hassle your workers but tarnish your reputation as a reliable business or service provider.
If you need more reasons to make the switch to warehouse automation systems, consider the following benefits:
Reduces Operating Costs
Automation is a game-changing technology that will help you reduce operational costs and make your business more efficient. This is done by eliminating human error and giving workers more time to focus on more important tasks.
Boosts Productivity
Even amid a labor shortage, you can maintain a lean team of warehouse workers by equipping them with tools and processes to make their jobs easier. When tasks require less time and effort to complete, workers can do more in a day. On top of this, warehouse automation can reduce safety risks associated with workers rushing, and, as a result, keep workers healthy and happy.
Enhances Inventory Management
When you can monitor your products’ every movement, you can reduce the risk of losing and misplacing items as well as relay accurate information to your customers. This helps to improve customer service and satisfaction as well.
Maximizes Warehouse Space
A lot of warehouse space goes underutilized. By implementing autonomous vehicles and conveyor systems, you can improve the flow of operations in your warehouse and allocate more space for new products, workstations, and the like.
Improves Sustainability
When you can create more efficient workflows, you end up using less energy to keep your facilities up and running. You also minimize wastage, take up less space to run your operations, and lower your operating costs.
The Drawbacks of Warehouse Automation
As helpful as warehouse automation systems are in streamlining operations, they also come with some considerable implementation costs. You’ll have to be prepared to cover the upfront costs of installing machines and software applications, as well as onboarding all your staff. Maintenance and repairs of your robotics and other equipment may also put a dent in your budget, stall your operations for a few hours and cause delays in processing orders.
How to Automate Your Warehouse
To prepare yourself for a warehouse automation solution, follow these steps:
Determine Your Objectives
What do you want to get out of implementing automation? Make a timeline of milestones you want to reach, KPIs to measure, and business goals you want to accomplish by adopting automation for your business.
Put Together an Implementation Committee
Get in touch with all relevant stakeholders, including your operations managers and engineers. You’ll want to know what your warehouse’s capabilities are, what challenges you face and what areas can be improved by introducing new technology. This step will help you identify what kinds of systems will work best for you.
Review Your Inventory Control Systems
Inventory control is a crucial and necessary component of warehouse operations. Before introducing automation into your business, make sure to review and rectify all standard operating procedures related to inventory management, including purchasing materials from vendors, receiving shipments and measuring customer satisfaction.
Implement a Warehouse Management System
A warehouse management system is a software used for monitoring and managing inventory levels, warehouse team productivity, order fulfillment progress and shipping progress. These systems provide managers with real-time updates on the warehouse and their employees’ work performance, as well as important data that can aid them in making more informed business decisions!
Find the Right Warehouse Automation for You
Now, it’s time to put all the information you’ve gathered and figure out the best warehouse solutions for you. Make sure the automation systems you choose align with your customers’ demands and your business goals.
Warehouse Automation Best Practices
To make the most out of your warehouse automation systems, make sure to keep the following warehouse automation trends and best practices in mind:
- Don’t skimp on workforce training. You’ll want to make sure your staff knows how to use your new automation systems, otherwise, what’s the point? Spend a considerable amount of time training them to understand how each system works and how they can make their tasks easier.
- Prioritize finding the right WMS. Don’t underestimate the power of a good, user-friendly, and easy-to-integrate WMS. A good system doesn’t just streamline workflows and centralize data, it also integrates with third-party apps and systems for a more seamless workflow.
- Optimize your warehouse with the Internet of Things. The IoT is a network that connects multiple smart devices within your facility, including sensors, RFID tags, trackers, and the like. By utilizing IoT, you can more easily collect data from your systems and improve your inventory control. Doing so also gives you a constant, real-time view of all operations in your warehouse.
- Take advantage of voice assistants. Help your employees do more by keeping their hands free as they move around your facility. Voice assistants and wireless headpieces make it easier for staff to navigate your warehouse and find everything they need to do their job.
- Consider replacing conveyors with mobile robots. Conveyors are a staple in any warehouse. But new technology is looking to replace or supplement this age-old automation technique. Today, there are mobile robots that can transport goods faster and more efficiently than conveyors, especially since they have more mobility across the entire warehouse floor.
How Much Does It Cost to Automate Your Warehouse?
The cost of automating a warehouse depends on the size and complexity of the project. Generally, though, warehouse automation can cost anywhere between several thousand to millions of dollars.
Key Takeaways
Warehouse automation technology is a great way to improve your warehouse operations. By automating tasks such as order picking, packing, and shipping, you can save time and money while improving your accuracy and efficiency. We’ve outlined the different types of warehouse automation technology and how to automate your warehouse in this post.
Warehouse Automation FAQs
How do I start warehouse automation?
You can start automating your warehouse by implementing a warehouse management system.
What technology do warehouses use?
Warehouses utilize a wide variety of technologies to automate and streamline tasks, including conveyors, shuttles, voice recognition software, autonomous robots, drones, and smart devices.
Will warehouses ever be fully automated?
There is no telling when all warehouses will become fully automated. While the world’s first fully-automated warehouse was introduced in China in 2021, a report showed that over 80 percent of warehouses today do not use any kind of automation at all.
Dec 1, 2022 | Article
What is Weebly?
Weebly is a website builder with themes created by top designers. You can use the drag and drop builder, custom fonts, image editors, video backgrounds, site searches, and java script for those with coding experience. They do offer a free basic package in addition to paid packages which offer domain connections and more customization options. And on the eCommerce side Weebly offers a shopping cart, unlimited items, item options, inventory management, automatic tax calculators, and coupons for your store.
What is Order Fulfillment?
If you own an eCommerce store or have thought about opening one, you know you need to get your product to your clients. Order fulfillment is the process in which this happens. You can either handle order fulfillment yourself, contract with a third-party fulfillment partner, or build out the logistical structure needed for your business like Walmart and Target have done. Many smaller companies prefer to use a third-party order fulfillment provider who has already created this logistical structure and makes profit by fulfilling the orders of several companies at once.
How Does the Weebly Fulfillment Process Work?
Weebly does not currently have a way to get products to your clients. It is a website builder only. However it does have a slew of integrations which allows you to integrate your store with a fulfillment provider who can handle the process of inventory receiving, storing, processing, picking and packing, and shipping to the client.
What Does A Weebly Order Fulfillment Provider Do?
When you receive an order on your stellar Weebly site, the fulfillment process begins. Your eCommerce store should be integrated into the software of your chosen fulfillment provider so you automate this process. Meaning when an order is received in your store your fulfillment provider is notified and can then pull the product from your inventory, pick, pack, and ship the product out.
What Are the Benefits of Using a Weebly Order Fulfillment Service?
A fulfillment provider enhances the client experience. This means a higher rate of tracking for order shipping, more shipping options with negotiated rates, and less manual processes which can lead to lost orders. With their help you can be hands off when it comes to managing and shipping your inventory which gives you more time to run your business and ensures a high quality client experience. Because if someone has a great experience with you, they are highly likely to purchase from you again
Need a fulfillment provider? Check out ShipHero!
What To Look For In A Weebly Fulfillment Partner
When searching for the right fulfillment partner, there are many factors to consider. We have listed seven below which we recommend you consider.
eCommerce Platform Integration
Fulfillment for your business works best when your fulfillment provider integrates directly into your online store. It gives you the advantage by allowing your brand to keep up when many clients convert on multiple channels at once.
Order Fulfillment Speed
The speed of your fulfillment is a huge factor when clients make the decision to return to your store. In a world of single day and two day shipping, waiting any longer can stop your clients from completing orders, and send them looking elsewhere.
Storage and Fulfillment Fees
Some fulfillment services charge for storage, by the item when shipped, or by monthly average order volume. When you store inventory with a fulfillment partner, they will likely utilize different fees for different aspects of your inventory.
Pricing
Costs for fulfillment providers may include storage costs, inventory levels, distribution costs, bin occupation, palletizing costs, packing costs, shipping costs, and more. Though many companies find these fees are preferred to the cost of setting up their own logistical operation.
Returns Management
A fulfillment provider who can help you with returns management in your eCommerce business can make all the difference. The hassle of returns can quickly turn off a client. If they have a bad experience you can almost guarantee they won’t purchase from you again.
Multichannel Integration
With a multichannel integration you can sell online, in-store, on Amazon, on Etsy, and many other locations. Marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, Google, and Walmart are key places to sell and a prime example of multichannel retailers.
Ease of Use
Keep ease of use in mind when searching for a fulfillment provider. Using your fulfillment providers platform shouldn’t be hard. You should never be confused about where orders go or struggle to set up your logistical processes. The goal of this solution is to take work off your plate and give you back time.
Best Weebly Fulfillment Companies
As we looked at fulfillment provider options for Weebly, we kept the above seven factors in mind. Here are the five best Weebly fulfillment providers we found for your store.
ShipHero is a solution that has it all. With a stellar warehouse management system and fully outsourced fulfillment, they have a solution for any business need you may face. Prepared to grow with you and offer you strategic insights, ShipHero is a high quality fulfillment provider who is ready to serve your eCommerce business.
Pros
Offering an average of 30% faster shipping and 35% reduction in warehouse costs, ShipHero is also the fiscally sound solution. They offer a one click integration into your store, dedicated account resources, and a highly rated client support team who is available to serve you.
Cons
If you would like a quote, you will need to request one on their website and give an account representative your eCommerce business information such as orders per month, size, and weight of the items you are shipping out.
Pricing
With ShipHero you purchase either the software and the fulfillment solution separately or together and you can get specific quotes for each offering by requesting one through their website.
Find out more about ShipHero’s Fulfillment Solution!
2. XPS Ship
This is a free shipping software which connects to your eCommerce store. With it you can print shipping labels, choose shipping rates from different carriers, and track your orders. You can ship both domestically and internationally and offer live client service should you need help. Though this is not a provider who can handle fulfilling your orders, if you want to try order fulfillment on your own, this is a great company to help you navigate the complexities of shipping rates.
Pros
With this site you can compare different shipping options with pre-negotiated rates. They offer integrations into marketplaces like Amazon, Etsy, eBay, and Walmart and for your eCommerce website their integration is quick to set up.
Cons
This solution does not offer fulfillment services so you will be shipping out your product on your own.
Pricing
This is a free software to use and has no user fees. There is a calculator on the rates page which allows you to compare shipping rates with your current provider.
3. RedStag Fulfillment
This fulfillment company is focused on helping B2C and B2B online retailers with a cloud-based order fulfillment solution. They are trying to redefine fulfillment and want to become an extension of your business to help you achieve scalable growth. This is a very robust fulfillment solution with a high satisfactory rate and warehouses across the nation.
Pros
RedStag has a high rate of inventory accuracy and order accuracy which will ensure a better client experience. If your items are heavy, and high value, RedStag offers best-in-class big product fulfillment. Plus their software integrates into your website, is simple to use, and gives you visibility into your order across the board.
Cons
When using RedStag, clients are limited to using FedEx shipping only which can limit the negotiated shipping prices and options available.
Pricing
You can request a quote on RedStag’s website and receive a demo of their software. They use a pricing model which requires no long-term commitment, no setup fees, and no hidden fees.
4. 3PL Central
This software is a warehouse management solution for 3PLs. If you fulfill your own orders with your own warehousing space, they are a solution which can help you improve paper based and error prone processes. Building out your own logistical solution isn’t easy. It takes time and a great deal of money. With 3PL Central you can get a head of the game and get your logistical systems running smoothly in no time.
Pros
With 3PL Central you can optimize your warehouse operations, improve the efficiency of billing, go paperless, and get complete visibility into your inventory levels. This warehouse management software exists in the cloud and makes it so you can automate many routine tasks within your logistical processes.
Cons
According to user reviews, some of the accounting features within the program can be complicated and a bit confusing to use.
Pricing
If you would like pricing, request a free demo on their website where a 3PL Central account representative will show you the user interface and workflow capabilities of the program then offer a custom quote based on your needs.
5. WhiteBox
With Whitebox, you get a unique eCommerce platform which is both a fulfillment solution and an advertising agency. They help you manage your product listings, advertisements, and the sale of your products online. Plus they use both fulfillment and sales data to provide unique strategies to drive your brand growth.
Pros
With this software, you can integrate to your store and any marketplaces you use. Whitebox will handle your inventory and can ship straight to your clients door. When you are ready to list your products you get access to a market place team who help you advertise and increase conversions on your listings.
Cons
Whitebox is looking for clients who sell 1,000 orders per month on average as a minimum.
Pricing
On their website you can request a quote by filling out a very basic information form. Once you do so you will be contacted to discuss a customized quote.
Need a fulfillment provider? Check out ShipHero!
Final Thoughts
Overall, Weebly is a great solution for your eCommerce store. Not only can you make beautiful websites with Weebly, but you can also integrate several different eCommerce apps and fulfillment solutions into your site. With this comprehensive list of fulfillment providers you should find the right solution whether you fulfill on your own, are looking for a third-party fulfillment provider, or want to build out your own logistical structure. Picking your fulfillment is an important part of your business’s growth and the right one should complement you and your business!
Order Fulfillment for Weebly FAQs
What Is Weebly Order Fulfillment?
Weebly currently doesn’t have an order fulfillment feature because it is a website builder. If you need any fulfillment for your eCommerce store, you will need to partner with a fulfillment service and integrate their offering into your Weebly store, or pack and ship orders yourself. If you have a fulfillment provider integrated into your Weebly store, you can automate the order process so when a customer purchases a product, the order is automatically sent to your fulfillment provider to begin the fulfillment process.
How Do I Set Up Delivery on Weebly?
When prepping for a delivery, you can print shipping labels from your Weebly dashboard for self delivery. Or you can send your delivery to the fulfillment provider of your choice through integration into your weebly store.
Can You Dropship on Weebly?
While Weebly doesn’t have dropshipping available on their basic site, there is an app in their app store you can integrate called Wholesale2B Weebly Listing Tool. This app lets you list products from any drop shipper directly on your eCommerce store.
Dec 1, 2022 | Article
What is Adobe Commerce?
This eCommerce solution is focused on delivering a world-class shopping experience. With access to high powered page builders you can offer product recommendations, live searches, and specific shipping solutions to your customers. Recently changed from Magento to Adobe Commerce, you can manage your B2B, B2C, or D2C business in one platform. With this solution you can host multiple sites and get your business to market quickly with partner support and high powered easy-to-use tools. Plus, you can customize your experience with a long list of extensions to fill any business need Adobe Commerce may not cover on its own. If you’d like to see a demo of the software, you can request one here.
What is Order Fulfillment?
Order fulfillment is the process which gets your product from your warehouse, to your customer. While some large retail companies build out their own logistical processes, many smaller companies prefer to use a third-party order fulfillment provider instead who has already created this logistical structure and makes profit by fulfilling the orders of several companies at once.
How Does the Adobe Commerce Fulfillment Process Work?
The order fulfillment process includes inventory receiving, storing, processing, picking and packing, and shipping to the customer. When handling your shipping through Adobe Commerce, you will need to work with a fulfillment provider as Adobe Commerce does not currently have warehouse operations available to its users. Meaning once you receive an order on your stellar Adobe Commerce site, you either need to fulfill the order yourself or send your order to a third-party fulfillment provider who will pull the product from your inventory, pick, pack, and ship the product out. This process is made simpler and more automated if you pick a fulfillment provider who directly integrates into Adobe Commerce.
What Does An Adobe Commerce Order Fulfillment Provider Do?
A fulfillment provider is a company dedicated to fulfilling the logistics of other companies. They often don’t have inventory themselves. Instead they purchase a warehouse space with the equipment and experienced staff so they can contract their fulfillment services out to companies like yours.
What Are the Benefits of Using an Adobe Commerce Order Fulfillment Service?
A fulfillment provider enhances the customer experience. With their help you can be hands off when it comes to managing and shipping your inventory which gives you more time to run your business and ensures a high quality customer experience. Especially because with a fulfillment provider they are expected and contracted to meet certain standards of delivery so your customers are satisfied with the entire purchasing experience.
Need a fulfillment provider? Check out ShipHero!
What To Look For In An Adobe Commerce Fulfillment Partner
Here are the top seven factors to consider when searching for the right fulfillment partner for your eCommerce business.
eCommerce Platform Integration
Integration from your Adobe Commerce site to your eCommerce platform is important. It allows manual order processes to become automated and improves your overall customer experience.
Order Fulfillment Speed
When choosing to purchase your product, the speed of your fulfillment is a big factor for customers. While on the hunt for order fulfillment providers, the speed at which they can deliver your product should be a considerable factor in the partner you choose.
Storage and Fulfillment Fees
When you work with a fulfillment provider, you purchase space within their warehouse. Some fulfillment services charge for storage, by the item when shipped, or by monthly average order volume.
Pricing
Fulfillment providers price their services very differently. As you hunt for the perfect fulfillment partner, you can ask for a breakdown of costs to understand exactly what you’ll be paying and why. Ensure those costs fit your business needs. The best fulfillment partners will look at your current fulfillment spend, compare it to your needs, and help you find a process which saves you money.
Returns Management
The hassle of returns can quickly turn off a customer. A fulfillment provider who can help you with returns management in your eCommerce business can make all the difference.
Multichannel Integration
You need to have the ability to connect different systems or platforms involved in your eCommerce business together so you can create a consistent shopping experience when listing your product on marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, Google, and Walmart.
Ease of Use
Keep ease of use in mind when searching for a fulfillment provider. The goal of this solution is to take work off your plate and give you back time.
How We Chose the Best Adobe Commerce Fulfillment Companies
As we compared fulfillment provider solutions for Adobe Commerce, we looked at several factors. The above seven to be specific with an emphasis on the ability to integrate into your store. Based on our findings, below are the five best Adobe Commerce fulfillment providers for your store.
Best Adobe Commerce Fulfillment Companies
Here are the Best Adobe Commerce Fulfillment Companies:
With both a warehouse management system (WMS) and a fully outsourced fulfillment option, you can trust ShipHero has a solution for you. If you want to dump the headache of running your logistics, they can manage your fulfillment needs and help you strategize as you scale up.
Pros
With ShipHero you get a 30% increase in shipping speed and a 35% decrease in warehousing costs. They have a highly rated customer service team to help you with any logistical needs and a cutting edge software platform where you can view and manage your entire order directly integrated into your Adobe Commerce site.
Cons
There are no costs listed on the website, and if you’d like to get a cost you need to go through their quote process.
Pricing
With ShipHero you can request pricing directly on the site and receive a demo and a customized quote to your needs. Plus your quote will have pick, pack, box & postage fees built in so you don’t have to worry about the separate cost of those items.
2. Shipfusion
With the goal to help you fill orders fast and scale easily, Shipfusion handles your eCommerce fulfillment so you don’t have to. They strategize with you on the efficiency of your inventory management placement so your product is within easy reach of your customers. Plus, they offer both managed warehouse solutions and a robust eCommerce fulfillment platform.
Pros
Shipfusion offers competitive shipping rates and will help you manage customer returns. Their eCommerce platform eliminates tedious work and easily integrates into several eCommerce apps. And they can offer you temperature controlled warehousing and transportation so your food grade storage is safe.
Cons
Shipfusion includes a minimum of 500 shipments per month. Meaning if you do less, you may need to look for a different fulfillment solution.
Pricing
In order to get a price you’ll need to request a demo as their pricing varies depending on the needs of your store. As every eCommerce business is different they will customize a quote with your top needs in mind.
3. Deliverr
Their mission is to let any company, regardless of size, offer their customers fast and cost effective fulfillment. With no contracts, no minimums, and a quick start process which will allow most companies to get started within a couple minutes, they are a highly transparent fulfillment offering. They want to make sure companies who may not have huge order volumes have the same tools as a large company without the cost of the supply chain infrastructure.
Pros
There is a cost calculator tool on their site where you can input product information and get shipping costs quickly and easily if you want a quote. They have several freight options and offer benefits for selling through platforms such as Wish, Facebook, Shopify, Walmart, Google, eBay, and Instagram.
Cons
Unfortunately with Deliverr you won’t have access to international shipping which can be hard for growing eCommerce brands who want to scale.
Pricing
On their pricing page, Deliverr lists starting unit prices for both fulfillment and storage. This changes based on weight, dimensions, and service level needed for the product (you can choose from three different tiers based on shipping speed). If you sign up for a Deliverr account you can login and enter your product information to quickly see the pricing to fulfill and ship those products.
4. ShipBob
Focused on DTC businesses, Shipbob can provide you with global fulfillment solutions. They offer affordable 2-day shipping and can help to develop memorable unboxing experiences. With a wide range of offerings, they want to make sure you can be hands-off when it comes to your company’s fulfillment.
Pros
ShipBob will determine where best your product fits in their fulfillment centers based on the most common order locations. This way your inventory is strategically split across all their locations. With their order management software they will also track your shipments from beginning to end so you get clarity into where exactly your product is at any time.
Cons
Reviews have listed packaging errors as a common problem, for this reason you may want to ensure your contract with ShipBob includes a packaging accuracy rate.
Pricing
ShipBob offers a custom quote and a monthly subscription service quote on their pricing page. Plus they also offer a fulfillment estimation calculator, if you put in the width, height, length, and weight of your item, you can see where your fulfillment cost starts at and what the storage per bin, shelf, and pallet, will cost as well.
5. ShipMonk
With ShipMonk, you get both a cloud based inventory management software and fulfillment services. They boast a high performing customer team of “Happiness Engineers” who will spring into action and help when a problem arises. And they are focused on helping high-growth brands through powerful scalability.
Pros
Their software integrates with your sales channels including Amazon, eBay, Shopify, Walmart, and Target, so you can connect your order process to your shipping solution and is easy to use. Their inventory portal gives you the ability to identify your best selling SKUs and blacklist old skus. You can track your inventory levels across multiple channels, and with several fulfillment centers across the US they will split your inventory across locations and help you source the warehouse which offers the best price.
Cons
Some users report that ShipMonk also has receiving discrepancies when packing orders.
Pricing
Pricing is highly transparent. They offer both an eCommerce fulfillment price and a subscription box price directly on their site. All you need to do is move the sliding scale to input about how many orders you need shipped or assembled monthly and you’ll see the cost per item shipped. Once done you can continue to get pricing for your storage needs and any additional services or one-off costs like special projects or container unloading that may occur.
Final Thoughts
As the eCommerce landscape continually and dramatically changes, you need to choose a fulfillment provider who is on top of the latest technology so your company can keep up with the rest. Especially because a fulfillment provider can make a huge difference in the customer experience!
Order Fulfillment for Adobe Commerce FAQs
What Is Automated Order Fulfillment for Adobe Commerce?
You will benefit from automated order fulfillment when you connect your Adobe Commerce store to a fulfillment provider. If these two programs are integrated your orders can be automated. Meaning once a product is purchased from your store, the order immediately goes to your fulfillment provider to begin fulfillment and your customer gets automated updates along the way.
How to Improve Your Adobe Commerce Order Fulfillment Process?
When looking at your order fulfillment process, there are several great ways to make improvements. First, provide order tracking for your customer and for yourself. This helps you manage customer shipping speeds and provide a high quality experience. Second, make sure to offer your customers multiple payment methods. And third, make sure your product inventory counts are correct. If you are looking for more ways to improve your order fulfillment process, here is a guide from Adobe Commerce to help.
What Is Order Fulfillment Rate?
This is the number of orders processed, divided by the number of orders received. With order fulfillment software you can monitor this rate automatically as stock adjustments and goods receipts are provided for your orders.
Dec 1, 2022 | Article
What is Big Cartel?
Are you an independent artist? If so, have you ever thought about using Big Cartel? On their website, they promote themselves as “Easy online stores for artists & makers.” This is an eCommerce platform where you can create an online store, add product catalogs, list different product options, develop product descriptions, display art, accept credit card payments, and run promotions. They have helped artists since 2005 sell art, clothing, prints, jewelry, clothing, and more. It is a website built “for artists, by artists” according to Big Cartel with the goal to make Big Cartel empowering for anyone who uses it. And when it comes to site design, you can customize your eCommerce store using several free themes with the simple and user friendly website builder!
What is Order Fulfillment?
Order fulfillment is the process which gets your product from your warehouse, to your customer. The process includes inventory receiving, storing, processing, picking and packing, and transporting the items to the shipping address of the customer. The efficiency of this is measured in the time it takes for an order to get to the customer’s porch once processed. While some large retail companies can afford to build out their logistical processes including purchasing a warehouse, buying equipment and trucks, and hiring a team to manage their fulfillment process, many smaller companies prefer to use a third-party order fulfillment provider instead who has already created this logistical structure.
How Does the Big Cartel Fulfillment Process Work?
When handling your shipping through Big Cartel, you will need to work with a fulfillment provider as Big Cartel does not currently have warehouse operations available to its users. Once you have identified a fulfillment provider, you will need to send your order from Big Cartel to the fulfilling warehouse. This happens after the payment process is completed by the customer and an order generated. If you work with companies who directly integrate into Big Cartel, this process is highly streamlined. You can simply send your order to a fulfillment provider with a click of a button instead of using a more manual process outside of your eCommerce store.
What Does A Big Cartel Order Fulfillment Provider Do?
A fulfillment provider for Big Cartel will help you enhance the customer experience. They make it so you can get your orders shipped to the right place, on time, with a high quality of packaging and handling. Which means your products get to your customers safely and they have a great experience with your store.
What Are the Benefits of Using a Big Cartel Order Fulfillment Service?
If you use Big Cartel as your website, you’ll likely want to use a fulfillment service who can integrate directly into your program. This means a higher rate of tracking for order shipping, more shipping options, and less manual processes which can lead to lost orders. When you use a fulfillment service your company puts its best foot forward for the customer, and often generates recurring business. Because if someone has a great experience with you, they are highly likely to purchase from you again.
Need a fulfillment provider? Check out ShipHero!
Factors to Consider While Selecting an Order Fulfillment Partner for Big Cartel
There are several factors to consider when searching for the right order fulfillment partner for your eCommerce business. Below are the top seven factors we recommend you consider.
eCommerce Platform Integration
Fulfillment for your business works best when your fulfillment provider integrates directly into your online store. This integration is important, it connects your business systems together so you can handle order processing in one place. It gives you the advantage by allowing your brand to keep up when many customers convert on multiple channels at once. Which means you can see your customers orders, inventory, sales, marketing, and accounting in one place, and helps you eliminate manual data entry.
Order Fulfillment Speed
In a world of single day and two day shipping, waiting any longer can stop your customers from completing orders, and send them looking elsewhere. The speed of your fulfillment is a huge factor when customers make the decision to return to your store. While on the search for order fulfillment providers, the speed at which they deliver your product should be a considerable factor in the partner you choose.
Storage and Fulfillment Fees
When you work with a fulfillment provider, you purchase space within their warehouse. Some fulfillment services charge for storage, by the item when shipped, or by monthly average order volume. You can count on your fees being roughly $3 to $5 per item on average. Though this tends to get higher when demand for fulfillment providers is at its peak. When you store inventory with a fulfillment partner, they will likely utilize different fees for different aspects of your inventory.
Pricing
As you hunt for the perfect fulfillment partner, you can ask for a breakdown of costs to understand exactly what you’ll be paying and why. The best fulfillment partners will look at your current fulfillment spend, compare it to your needs, and help you find a process which saves you money and returns more margin to your pocket. Additional costs for fulfillment providers may include storage costs, inventory levels, distribution costs, bin occupation, palletizing costs, and much more. Though many companies find these fees preferred to the cost of setting up their own logistical operation.
Returns Management
A good fulfillment provider can help you navigate the road to returns with return automation, warranties, and exchanges. The hassle of returns can quickly turn off a customer. If they have a bad experience with your product, then have a bad return experience, you can almost guarantee they won’t purchase from you again. A fulfillment provider who can help you with returns management in your eCommerce business can make all the difference.
Multichannel Integration
With a multichannel integration you can sell online, instore, on Amazon, on Etsy, and many other locations. Marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, Google, and Walmart are key places to sell and a prime example of multichannel retailers. Which means you need to have the ability to connect different systems or platforms involved in your eCommerce business together so you can streamline between them and create a consistent shopping experience.
Ease of Use
Using your fulfillment providers platform shouldn’t be hard. You should never be confused about where orders go or struggle to set up your logistical processes. Keep ease of use in mind when searching for a fulfillment provider. The goal of this solution is to take work off your plate and give you back time, and a complicated fulfillment solution, likely won’t give you that relief.
How We Chose the Best Big Cartel Fulfillment Companies
As we looked at fulfillment provider options for Big Cartel, we looked at several factors. The above seven to be specific with an emphasis on the ability to integrate into your store. Based on our findings, below are the three best Big Cartel fulfillment providers for your store.
Best Big Cartel Fulfillment Companies
If you want to dump the headache of running your own warehouse, or if you want to run your warehouse more efficiently, ShipHero has a solution. With both a steller warehouse management system (WMS) and a fully outsourced fulfillment option their clients have peace of mind. The warehouse management system (WMS) streamlines your warehouse’s entire processes and procedures to increase efficiency and cut costs.
Pros
With ShipHero you get a fully outsourced fulfillment solution with a user-friendly software interface. Plus, they focus on giving you 30% faster shipping times and can integrate directly into your Big Cartel store. And on top of all that, they have a highly rated client response team which provides you with a fulfillment expert to help with any questions or concerns in your supply chain.
Cons
There are no costs listed on the website, and if you’d like to get a cost you need to go through their quote process. This can be confusing for users who want to see pricing listed on the site but isn’t listed because ShipHero would prefer to customize your pricing to your needs.
Pricing
With ShipHero you can request pricing directly on the site and receive a demo and a customized quote to your needs. Plus your quote will have pick, pack, box & postage fees built into the fees so you don’t have to worry about the separate cost of those items.
Find out more about ShipHero’s Fulfillment Solution!
2. Fulfyld
This fulfillment provider has a direct BigCartel integration. They are an eCommerce service focused on helping eCommerce businesses handle everything from storage selection, to picking, packing, and fulfilling. They can help with your subscription box fulfillment and simplify your fulfillment processes by distributing inventory to the most effective location based on your client order history.
Pros
With Fulfyld, you will experience seamless integration into your Big Cartel store. This platform is easy to use, offers you simple, transparent pricing, and free shopping cart and marketplace integrations. They are focused on helping you succeed and have a highly effective support team.
Cons
According to reviews, tracking numbers are said to be slower to update, and if lost inventory does occur, claims tracking can be tricky to work through as well.
Pricing
With Fulfyld you get flat-rate pricing with no hidden fees. Though they don’t have pricing listed on their website, you can request a free quote. They will give you a clear list of what is included in your pricing as well as detail out each part of the fees you’ll be paying.
3. Printful
For those of you looking for a dropshipping, print-on-demand model for your store, Printful is a great solution. Because of their print-on-demand model, Printful will manage your inventory counts and shipping rates and various shipping options with no upfront costs, you only pay when you make a sale. Plus, they help you make personalized products to list in your store!
Pros
With Printful, you can list your product options and fulfill them through their print-on-demand model, or you can use Printful to make your products. Their website can help you design, print, or embroider any logo or picture you sell. Plus they have several print centers globally so they can support your business worldwide.
Cons
Printful does not hold any inventory, which can present a problem if your customer needs something right away but the materials are scarce.
Pricing
Printful has highly transparent pricing. It’s free to sign up then as you add products to your store you will see the pricing to make and ship those products to your customer. If you approve, you can get that product listed with your markup added!
Check out ShipHero’s Fulfillment Solution!
Final Thoughts
Your fulfillment provider matters. You need to choose the right provider to fit your business, and the marketplace you plan to utilize. eCommerce is a continually challenging field which ebbs and flows continually. Picking the right fulfillment partner will allow you to survive those waves!
Order Fulfillment for Big Cartel FAQs
How Long Does Big Cartel Take to Ship?
This is depending on the fulfillment provider you choose to work with. When you receive an order in Big Cartel you have the power to mark the order as “shipped” almost immediately, which, with the email address they entered at checkout, will trigger a tracking email to your client, but this is why it’s key to have your fulfillment provider integrated directly into your store. Because your clients may not get accurate shipping information if this is a manual process.
Does Big Cartel Provide Shipping Labels?
Yes, you can do this. Once your shop is connected you can print a packing slip from the Orders tab in Big Cartel. Here is the help article on how to do so.
Can I Link Printful to Big Cartel?
Yes! Printful has a direct integration into Big Cartel so you can start selling clothing, accessories, art, and other merchandise through your eCommerce store with no order minimums. You can connect Printful to Big Cartel by going to your Printful Dashboard and navigating to the Stores menu where you select and add your Big Cartel store.
Dec 1, 2022 | Article
What is SAP?
Initially known as System Analysis Program, and later abbreviated to SAP, this company has become one of the leading producers of software business management processes. It grew from a small five-person team to over 105,000 employees world wide. With more than a hundred applications produced by SAP, you can connect all aspects of your business together into one digital platform.
How Does the SAP Fulfillment Process Work?
With SAP Sales Order Fulfillment, you can manage the orders filtering in through your business. It begins at the creation of a sales order and is highly communicative with the customer so they can monitor the status of their purchase. With SAP Sales Order Fulfillment you can create delivery documents, invoices, release credit blocks, reject sales orders, generate account documents, and much more.
What Does an Order Fulfillment Provider Do?
When it comes to shipping goods to your client, you will need to do this yourself, or find a fulfillment provider. Many companies opt to utilize a third party fulfillment provider due to the high cost of building out a logistics process. An order fulfillment provider will sort, store, pick, pack, and ship orders for your business from its physical fulfillment center.
What Are the Benefits of Using an Order Fulfillment Provider?
With an order fulfillment provider, your high quality order processing and shipping process will make things simple for those who wish to purchase from your brand, which will generate repeat business. And as a business you get to strategize with a company who has deep knowledge about the logistical industry. The best fulfillment providers will look at your order history and help you consolidate your inventory to key locations and create more efficient logistical processes to save you money.
Check out ShipHero’s fulfillment services!
Factors to Consider While Selecting an Order Fulfillment Partner for SAP
Order Fulfillment Speed
Companies like Amazon have made speed a huge purchasing factor for your clients. If they put an item in your cart, and see it won’t ship to them for 5-7 days, they are highly likely to leave your platform all together and go try to find the same product elsewhere. When it comes to providing top tier service and staying top of mind, you need to make faster shipping a priority. An order fulfillment partner can help.
Storage and Fulfillment Fees
The cost of a fulfillment partner’s services often accrue in different fees. The top being the cost of storing your inventory and fulfilling your order. This may appear as a monthly overall cost based on your average order volume, or a small fee per order. Either way, they are fees to be aware of when looking for a fulfillment provider. However, compared to the cost of building your own logistical process and investing in the buildings, equipment, and people needed for it, many business owners feel these fees are worth the price.
Pricing
When searching for a fulfillment provider, make sure you are keeping an eye out for what best fits your budget. Pricing is highly different between companies. Some offer you a free trial. Others offer a demo. Some want a full understanding of your inventory and order volume before they will quote you. Others have transparent pricing on their website where you can generate a quote yourself. Because this pricing will vary between companies, be sure to pick a provider who is forthcoming with any fees or overage costs you may incur.
Returns Management
A customer is less likely to buy from your store again if they have something they need returned, and the returns process is extremely hard. A good fulfillment partner will help you create a process to handle these returns smoothly for your client. They will also communicate with you on if you want the item to be restocked or shipped to the manufacturer if there was a defect.
eCommerce Platform Integration
A high quality fulfillment partner will integrate into the order processing technology your company currently uses. Without this integration, orders could get lost, manual data entry may be required, and it could slow down your order process. Which makes eCommerce platform integration essential for your business. Some fulfillment providers will even have engineers on site who can help build these connections between your platforms if a native connection does not already exist.
Ease of Use
It’s important you as a business owner get as much time in your day as possible. Which means whatever platform your company uses shouldn’t be difficult to figure out. Fulfillment providers will work with you to access their solution and tie their programs into your own. But those programs should be relatively simple for you and your teams to use. Keep this in mind when a fulfillment provider is showing you their solution.
Additional Software For Your eCommerce Business
If you use SAP, you know there are many different integrations you can utilize to amp up the effectiveness of your eCommerce business. And as we grow within the digital age it’s important to understand what options are available to you. Softwares which improve your marketing, your cart check out rate, give you an ERP system, aid your sales team, or aid in the customer experience help when expanding your business. Below, is a list of software which will help you fulfill orders and enhance your eCommerce business. Let’s take a look!
Best SAP Fulfillment & Software Integrations
With fully outsourced fulfillment options, ShipHero helps their clients develop a powerful logistics solution. They offer both order processing software and high quality outsourced fulfillment which will help you impress your customer every step of the way.
Pros
- Fully outsourced fulfillment solution
- eCommerce Integration
- High quality customer support
Cons
- No QBO integration (anticipated in 2023)
Pricing
- $0 Setup
- Pick, pack, box & postage included in cost
- Can request a quote on website
Check out ShipHero’s fulfillment services!
2. Zoho Inventory
With Zoho, you can manage and fulfill orders, streamline multiple sales channels, and oversee your warehouses all in one platform. This inventory management software focuses on helping growing business across the US. Their app works on both Android and iOS devices so you can be connected to your business wherever you may be.
Pros
- Warehouse management
- Multiple shipping integrations
- High number of out of the box integrations
Cons
- Focused on US businesses only
Pricing
- Free to sign up
- Pricing plans include several different options to choose from
3. DiCentral
As a global leader in EDI (electronic data interchange) DiCentral can help businesses expand their supply chain. They are a leading provider of supply chain solutions around the world.
Pros
- Integrate with any industry
- Has several systems you can use (ERP, WMS, accounting) if you don’t have your own
- Highly flexible EDI
Cons
- Needs a high amount of training
- Errors can be hard to fix
Pricing
- Offers basic, standard, professional, and enterprise packages
- Offers a free demo
4. Procurify
This is a procurement and purchasing software which helps your team track, control, and analyze your business spending. With this program you no longer need to use spreadsheets for your purchasing needs. You can generate purchase orders from virtually anywhere.
Pros
- Develops transparency in your organization
- Improves your operational efficiency
- Standardize your workflows
Cons
- Not many advanced filtering features
- Reports have low customization options
Pricing
- Offers different package types per your business needs
- Allows for customer pricing plans if needed
5. Prodsmart
This is a manufacturing solution which helps you enhance your production and can be used in a modular way. It empowers your shop floor workers and is built with a data security mind. Their systems will help you track your orders, shipping, and give you real-time visibility into production.
Pros
- Clean design and ease of use
- Highly customizable
- Professional and helpful customer support
Cons
- Some steps get repeated through the process
Pricing
- 14 day free trial
- Offers a product demo
- Transparent pricing and modular options
Check out ShipHero’s fulfillment services!
6. Sana Commerce
This company has a solution which will help you expand to meet your customer and market expectations. While not a fulfillment provider, this platform provides an integrated shopping cart software for both Microsoft Dynamics and SAP.
Pros
- Integration with SAP is easy to set up
- Well thought out training materials
- Robust product
Cons
- Lack of reporting and analytics
Pricing
- Offers a free demo
- Packages include essential, pro, and advanced options
7. Pepperi
With their B2B eCommerce platform, your sales channels can all funnel into your own branded eCommerce app. This program helps you understand buyer trends so you can strategize key promotion plans. Their goal is to help you increase your sales and improve your margins with Sales Force Automation (SFA).
Pros
- Can extract helpful customer information
- Can be used on web and mobile (iOS, Android)
- Accepts payments
Cons
- Updates can sometimes break the software
- Can be complicated for first time users
Pricing
- Pay as you go pricing model
- Free demo available
- Customized quote for business needs
8. Tradogram
This cloud-based procurement management software allows you to gain control of your purchasing. It is highly customizable and offers tools for managing and improving your purchasing processes. With it you can manage supplier lists, item catalogs, user permissions, approvals, budgets, inventory, and even build custom reports.
Pros
- Highly customizable
- High quality support team
- Easy to use and to teach
Cons
- Limited reporting capabilities
Pricing
- No contract required
- Offers basic, premium, and enterprise packages
9. inSitu Sales
This software is designed for wholesalers who look to enhance the capabilities of their sales team. With it you can create sales orders, mobile invoices, estimates, and take payments. You can also generate sales routes and track sales representatives with live GPS. And it integrates directly into your ERP solution to streamline the ordering process.
Pros
- Offers mobile invoices for sending sales orders & receiving payment
- View of inventory picklist
- Deep integrations into several ERP systems
Cons
- Works best if you are a wholesaler
Pricing
- 14 day trial available
- Offers free demo and onboarding
- Tiered subscription pricing options available
10. k-eCommerce
With k-eCommerce, SAP users have access to ePayment solutions worldwide. It is built for sales with the goal to drive continual growth. It has an ERP integration with SAP to help you automate and unify your business processes.
Pros
- Helps you secure your website
- Integrates with SAP and Microsoft Dynamics
- Ovvers payment solution integrated into your ERP
Cons
- Slow support response to program bugs
Pricing
- Can request a quote on the website
Final Thoughts
There are several solutions available to help your eCommerce business rise to the next level. As you compare businesses to find the right solution, keep in mind a good fulfillment partner should amplify your business and key software can give you time back in your day. Which should make it easier to reach your clients with your product and enable your supply chain to become a well oiled machine.
Order Fulfillment for SAP FAQs
What Is SAP Order Fulfillment?
This is a fulfillment app which allows you to monitor sales orders in key stages, collaborate with your third party fulfillment partners, and address any issues which may arise.
What Is the Fulfillment Process in SAP?
Once a sales order has been created it starts the fulfillment process. From there, your order gets sent to your fulfillment provider who picks, packs, and ships the product out. Through the program, they can confirm receiving the order as well as send you tracking information. That way you can ensure the customer can monitor the status of their order.
How Can I Improve My Order Fulfillment?
While there will always be aspects of your order fulfillment you can improve, here are a few which can make a big impact if you get them right.
- Make sure your fulfillment systems are fully integrated together
- Ensure your warehouse locations are specific to the location of key customers
- Continually measure and review key warehouse metrics
- Look for ways to simplify your order fulfillment processes
If you start with the above and review these strategies with a fulfillment provider who has in-depth experience in the logistical industry, you will streamline your fulfillment processes quickly.
