Apr 15, 2021 | Best Practices, Blog
Proper inventory management is crucial to building a thriving Shopify store. Statistics from Shopify reveal that sellers accrue almost $2 trillion in costs due to inventory mismanagement. The losses are spread among overstocking, out-of-stock items and preventable returns.
Interestingly, these aren’t the only problems associated with inventory management. Shopify store owners still have to battle missing items, misplaced inventory, wrong product packaging and delivery, among others. If you can establish a solid foundation for tracking inventory on your Shopify store, you’re on your way to building a genuinely agile eCommerce business.
What is Inventory Management?
Inventory management refers to how businesses manage goods as they move along the supply chain. eCommerce inventory control ensures that companies know their products are in stock and are notified when inventory needs to be replenished.
Ultimately, a good inventory management system should minimize costs, satisfy customer demand and help you maintain optimal inventory levels. It should also centralize your data, making it accessible to the appropriate point persons.
Part of stock management is inventory control, which is the process of handling existing inventory, while the former primarily involves forecasting, ordering and receiving goods.
Why is Inventory Management Important?
Inventory management is the key to any eCommerce business’ success. It ensures customer satisfaction, keeps businesses profitable and minimizes operational costs. Other benefits of having an effective inventory management system include the following.
No Spoilage or Dead Inventory
When your inventory moves faster and your product lines stay healthy, you don’t put anything to waste. Regular inventory updates can help you avoid spoilage with perishable goods like food and beverages. Similarly, automatic stock updates can prevent dead stock, which are non-perishable products that are no longer in season.
Early Detection of Low Stocks
Most American retailers without powerful inventory software only have an inventory accuracy level of 65%. The more warehouse locations they have, the more this percentage falls.
Fortunately, perpetual inventory systems inform you of available inventory items in real time, preventing stockouts and missed sale opportunities. Instead of scrambling to increase your stock flow, early stock alerts can remind you to make refills in advance.
Improved Cash Flow
Cash flow shortfall is a persisting problem for businesses without perpetual inventory systems. The best way to increase cash flow is to turn inventory into revenue. When you factor inventory into your business operations, you get insight into how much you can sell and buy at any given time.
Remember, inventory flow can directly impact your future sales. Projecting when you’re about to run out enables business owners to accurately plan and increase sales.
Minimized Warehouse Costs
Efficient inventory counts tell you what items are selling fast and which don’t. You can free warehouse space up and store items that sell more by keeping up with sales volumes.
In addition, you can monitor every single product that doesn’t sell, potentially cutting them out of your inventory. When you stock only what is necessary, you can downsize your warehouse and save on costs.
Improve Shopify Fulfillment Network
By employing effective inventory management methods, you can hasten the fulfillment process. For instance, if you have multiple fulfillment partners, inventory management techniques like distribution ensure that you are close to buyers and can keep customers happy. Doing so also ensures that customer returns are seamless and you can easily re-enter usable inventory into circulation.
What is an Inventory Management System?
Inventory management systems enable users to track inventory quantity and streamline processes from purchasing to end sales. Key features of a stock management system include:
- Barcode scanning
- Detailed reports
- Labeling and documentation
- Purchase and supplier management
- Low stock alerts
- Stock turnover rates
- Bills of material (BoM) management
What is Inventory Management for Shopify Stores?
Inventory management for Shopify stores is the systematic approach to sourcing, storing and tracking your inventory. With a proper inventory management system in place, you’ll have the right stock at the right levels, in the right place, at the right time and at the right price.
Plus, it’ll reflect on your Shopify store listings. That way, you can avoid preventable losses due to out-of-stock items, overstocking and returns, and your brand has a better shot at survival, growth and profitability.
Why Inventory Management Matters for Shopify Stores
Inventory management is crucial to the success of Shopify stores. If you can get this aspect of business right, you’ll reduce overall inventory costs, optimize order fulfillment and position yourself to serve your shoppers better. Below are some of the benefits of proper inventory management:
Accurately Track Inventory and Prevent Stockouts
Shopify store owners understand that meeting customers’ needs is crucial to profitability. If you frequently run into stock management problems like overstocking, out of stock or overselling, you’re likely to have many dissatisfied customers. Ultimately, they would go elsewhere to make a purchase, and you may never see them again.
Better Cash Management and Inventory Accounting
If you have too much stock that you can sell within a reasonable period, you’re leaving your capital idle while wasting precious storage space. Knowing how much product to stock helps minimize the amount of dead stock on your shelves and levels out cash flow.
Improve Multi-Channel Selling and Demand Forecasting
Proper inventory management facilitates seamless selling across multiple marketplaces. For example, suppose you’re selling on Shopify, Amazon, eBay, Etsy and your business website. In that case, you’ll need to stay on top of your stock levels to convey accurate information to customers across these platforms. Inventory management also helps you accurately forecast demand, so you’ll always have what your customers need in stock.
Save Inventory Dollars
Virtually every task involved in inventory management helps you manage your resources efficiently. If you stock the right amount of the right products, you won’t waste inventory dollars on storage space. There’ll also be fewer cases of spoiled or expired inventory since your turnover rate will be optimal. Furthermore, the potential gains of having what your customers need in stock whenever they need it is unquantifiable.
Inventory Transfers
Due to varying demand levels, you may frequently have to transfer inventory from one marketplace to another when selling across multiple channels. If you do not follow the right inventory management practices during the transfers, tracking each channel’s inventory levels gets harder.
Shopify Inventory Management Challenges
Shopify has built-in inventory management software that’s adequate for tracking your inventory and managing sales on Shopify. However, the native Shopify app can’t cater to retailers’ unique needs who sell on multiple channels. Here are three common problems you’re likely to experience with Shopify’s native inventory management solutions:
Products That Don’t Integrate Into Shopify
Shopify has a long list of restricted and prohibited items. If you sell one of these products on other platforms, you’ll be facing a significant challenge with multi-channel inventory management.
Often, the only viable option is to have separate inventories for Shopify and other platforms. This complicates the inventory tracking process and can lead to inaccurate or inconsistent stock levels across the different channels.
Automated Inventory Replenishment
As your SKU library expands, your inventory management process will likely become more complicated, and there’ll be more opportunities for inventory management errors. To prevent these problems, you need inventory management software that automatically replenishes depleted stock from suppliers.
Such a program should recommend order quantities by factoring in your sales volume on Shopify and other channels. Unfortunately, the native Shopify app may be unable to carry out the task effectively.
Functionalities Across Channels
The native Shopify inventory management software does not fully support multi-channel selling. For example, the app cannot estimate all the product variants in your online stores. This information is vital to evaluating the performance of your products on channels other than Shopify.
Phantom Inventory
When your system reports items that don’t exist in your store, you risk creating phantom inventory. Without accurate and powerful reports, your business can become susceptible to errors and shrinkage.
While enterprise resource planning has its advantages, it does come with a steep learning curve, so always brush up on your inventory management tips.
How Do Shopify Merchants Handle Inventory Management?
How you utilize the different types of inventory management will ultimately depend on your business goals, existing systems, retail locations and other requirements. You can implement several strategies when using inventory management for the Shopify app.
FIFO Principle
The first-in, first-out (FIFO) principle prioritizes selling the old stock first, which is an ideal method for retailers that sell perishable goods. To achieve a FIFO system, warehouse management begins from the back, pushing older products to the front.
LIFO Method
Opposite the FIFO method is last-in, first-out or LIFO. This method involves selling your newest stock first, which benefits businesses that want to curb rising prices. While this method will lower taxable income, it will also yield lower profits and can negatively impact your retail business’ bottom line.
Regular Auditing
Facilitating a regular inventory and supplier audit can put the current state of your business into context and pinpoint areas of improvement. There are several ways to keep track of low or excess inventory:
- Physical inventory count: A physical inventory count refers to year-end inventory reporting. Count your stock to pinpoint discrepancies, update accounting and file income tax.
- Spot check: Count products in stock one by one throughout the year to ensure you have enough of that particular item. Spot checking is best for fast-moving items.
On top of physical audits, supplier audits can help identify areas of risk, improve your standards, enhance supplier communication and increase customer satisfaction.
Relationship Management
Relationship management is imperative to adapting quickly, especially if you have more than one retail store location or a thriving online business.
If you have a bad supplier, you could have insufficient inventory or too much of it. The better your relationships, the easier it’ll be to bring up issues with suppliers and resolve them. Keep your suppliers in the loop by letting them know when you’re expecting a sales increase, if you’re experiencing inventory dips or if a specific product is running behind schedule.
Accurate Forecasts
Accurate forecasts are challenging to achieve but not impossible. If you want to ensure you’re stocking the correct inventory, keep an eye on:
- Your average growth rate
- Market trends
- Upcoming deals and promotions
- Predicted ad spend
- Daily, weekly and monthly sales
- Sales comparisons
Noting these metrics can help you make more informed inventory decisions and prevent miscalculation in inventory mean.
What to Look For in a Shopify Inventory Management App
The Shopify App Store boasts numerous third-party inventory management tools that can make up for the native app’s shortcomings. Brands that sell on multiple channels typically layer these inventory apps over Shopify’s inventory management software to deliver the best results.
But how do you know the right app to choose among the scores of available options? Here are the nine inventory management features eCommerce store owners should look for in any app.
Multi-Warehouse and Multi-Channel Functionality
A good inventory management app must be capable of syncing your inventory across all sales channels and fulfillment centers. When you update your inventory, it should reflect in real-time or at most within fifteen minutes.
Order Routing and Automation
The app you want to choose should automatically route orders to the nearest fulfillment center to save on shipping costs. The order routing will be based on inventory availability across fulfillment centers, destination zip code and delivery date. Your inventory management app should direct the order to the warehouse, guaranteeing cost-effective and timely delivery.
Inventory Control Features
You want an app that allows you to adjust the number of units on your listings across channels. The inventory adjustments should reflect in real-time to prevent overselling or processing the payment for an order you cannot fulfill.
Comprehensive Analytics and In-Depth Reporting
You should be able to generate real-time data about stock level, inventory turnover, sales margins, profitability, etc., from your inventory management app. All these metrics can guide your purchase decisions and help you satisfy your customers better.
Shared Inventory Across Listings For the Same Product
The ideal app should be capable of tracking inventory across multiple listings for the same product. This is one of the shortcomings of the native Shopify app, as it cannot effectively manage multiple inventory listings that rely on one source.
Automated Inventory Replenishment
Your inventory management system should be able to generate purchase orders once you have the lowest inventory levels automatically. Furthermore, it should recommend order quantities based on previous sales data. These capabilities will significantly streamline your stock replenishment process.
Locked Inventory
If you offer special promotions or pre-order sales, you may want to prevent the items from showing on listings. However, you’d still want them to show on your total inventory since you’ll be processing pre-orders and promotional sales orders. The best Shopify inventory management apps have a wide range of features for locking such products.
Cross-Channel Capabilities
As mentioned earlier, brands that sell across multiple channels will benefit significantly from having a bird’s eye view of their inventory and sales data across each channel. For example, they should know how each SKU is shared across listings, the quantities of inventory in each warehouse at any given time, the amounts appearing on the listings across each channel, etc. Not all inventory management software can provide these vital pieces of information as desired.
How ShipHero Makes Inventory Management Easy on Shopify
If you’ve been looking for an all-encompassing Shopify inventory management app that allows you to fulfill orders expediently and manage inventory while still giving you the best shipping rates, ShipHero is the future of inventory management. Our inventory planner serves over 4,000 eCommerce brands and third-party logistics (3PL) companies, and you’ll no doubt enjoy our custom workflows. Below are a few advantages of ShipHero over its competitors:
All-in-One Inventory Tracking
With ShipHero, inventory management doesn’t stop at knowing what’s left in your warehouse or fulfillment center. Our all-in-one inventory tracking feature gives you limitless capabilities, including but not limited to tracking a product’s shelf life, tracking movement across warehouses, monitoring sales data across each sales channel, figuring out the best shipping routes and even providing customer experience insights.
These features allow you to monitor inventory movement in and out of your fulfillment centers while ensuring you give your customers the best shopping experience.
Easy to Set Up Shopify Inventory Integration
ShipHero is available on the Shopify App Store, and it seamlessly integrates with all the essential Shopify features. For example, the app easily connects with Shopify POS and allows you to swiftly and securely process customer orders as they come in. Beyond Shopify native apps, ShipHero also boasts numerous integrations that make it easy to connect shipping carriers, other eCommerce platforms such as WooCommerce and other essential business software like Inventory Planner.
And it still doesn’t end there. ShipHero further boasts over 20 partners that provide systems expertise and integrations to help you get more out of the app. FedEx, Hermes, LaserShip, DHL, USPS, WooCommerce, Walmart and Shippo are just some of ShipHero’s illustrious partners.
Inventory Reorder Alerts
As already emphasized, the ideal inventory management app should be capable of automatically reordering inventory based on your sales records. ShipHero also ticks this box, and it can significantly streamline your stock replenishment process while helping your in-house buyers make better decisions.
Also, since the app can have multi-channel integrations, it monitors your stock level across all the warehouses and factors in your sales data across each sales channel before placing the order. So, you can rest assured it’ll suggest just the correct quantity you need to satisfy all your customers and not just your customers on Shopify.
Conclusion
The native Shopify inventory management app can satisfy your needs if you only sell a few items on Shopify. However, the app’s limitations become more glaring when you explore other channels and expand your SKU library.
You’ll have to manually input SKUs into individual listings and update your stock levels, which can lead to poor inventory management. Doing this is akin to going back to managing stock using excel spreadsheets, and there’s no doubt your stock managers can make better use of their time.
Thankfully, ShipHero, an all-encompassing option for inventory management that integrates seamlessly with Shopify, is the commerce solution you need. The software possesses the much-desired multi-channel inventory management capabilities to streamline your inventory management tasks, get real-time location data, achieve strong sales and improve operational efficiency.
What’s more? You’ll be incurring significant cost savings while leaving your customers pleasantly satisfied. ShipHero helps you spend less time on inventory and has just the attributes you need to stay ahead of the competition.
Get started with ShipHero today by clicking the button below.
Shopify Inventory Management FAQs
Is there inventory management in Shopify?
Yes, there is built-in inventory and warehouse management on Shopify. You can track inventory history, stock transfers and product variants, adjusting stock levels as necessary.
Which is the best inventory management software integrated with Shopify?
The best inventory management for Shopify is ShipHero, which is ideal for growing and high-volume brands. ShipHero provides real-time tracking for stock transfers, levels, sellouts and replenishments. It also offers full warehouse management, enabling users to automate repetitive functions that contribute to a complex workflow.
In addition, ShipHero provides advanced reporting and personalized dashboards that make it easy to share data across teams. Other advanced features besides direct integration with Shopify include multi-location inventory, barcode scanning and supplier management. ShipHero also serves 10% of Shopify Plus stores globally.
How do I add a stock to Shopify?
You can add stock to your Shopify account by following these steps:
- Click on Products from the Shopify admin page.
- Click Add Product.
- Entitle your product and add a description.
- Save your product.
There are additional options for updating your stocks on Shopify, including duplicate, tags, edit, barcode scanning, delete and archive.
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About ShipHero: We make it simple for you to deliver your eCommerce. Our software helps you run your warehouse, and our outsourced shipping solutions eliminate the hassle of getting your products to your customers. With over 5,000 brands and 3PLs relying on us daily, we’re here to help with all your logistics needs.
Let us know how we can help you today by scheduling a call HERE.
Apr 14, 2021 | Blog
In today’s bustling marketplace, consumers have grown accustomed to the luxury of online shopping complemented by rapid deliveries. With the convenience of mail services and the availability of numerous delivery options, the demand for fast and reliable shipping services has skyrocketed. Major industry giants like Amazon and Walmart have paved the way, offering services like two-day, same-day, and even next-day delivery options. For smaller retailers, not jumping on the expedited shipping bandwagon can translate to missed sales opportunities. Data suggests that 26% of online shoppers abandon their carts due to extended shipping times. Furthermore, over half of these consumers consider delivery time a pivotal factor in their buying choices. An interesting fact is that while consumers crave fast shipping, 75% of U.S. consumers expect this service without any shipping fee. So, how can emerging businesses level the playing field? This guide provides a deep dive into the world of two-day shipping and its implementation.
Decoding the Essence of 2-Day Shipping
2-day shipping is a promise that consumers will have their products in hand within two days of placing their order. Given the current impatience of online shoppers, this delivery option is a cornerstone for a thriving eCommerce strategy. With the right information and strategy, even businesses with a single office location can offer this service effectively, especially when they partner with our top-notch shipping service.
The Impactful Benefits of 2-Day Delivery
Meeting customer expectations and enhancing loyalty: With brands like Amazon setting the standard, two-day shipping is now an anticipated service. Delivering within this time frame not only meets these expectations but also nurtures trust and loyalty, just like providing discreet shipping to your customers. Minimizing lost sales and cart abandonment: Speedy delivery times act as a significant incentive, reducing the likelihood of cart abandonment. Creating a unique selling proposition: A guaranteed two-day delivery can be a major draw, attracting more consumers to your online store.
The Intricacies of 2-Day Shipping
The execution of 2-day delivery is a form of expedited shipping that can differ based on the retailer’s choice and the way they handle their shipping logistics. For example, Walmart calculates two business days from the order cutoff time. Two primary methods are employed for two-day shipping: air and ground. Air Shipping: This method involves aircraft to transport packages, often suitable for international deliveries or those far from fulfillment centers. However, it can be pricier. Ground Shipping: This method, using ground vehicles, is more affordable and perfect for deliveries closer to fulfillment locations.
Leveraging 2-Day Shipping for E-commerce Excellence
With thousands of online retailers in the U.S., the eCommerce scene is intensely competitive. Offering two-day shipping can give businesses a competitive edge by: Meeting shopper expectations: Most online consumers find a three-day wait acceptable. Anything longer might push them towards competitors. Enhancing conversion rates: Emphasizing expedited shipping in marketing materials can lead to heightened interest and sales. Improving customer retention: Prompt deliveries can lead to repeat purchases. Offering two-day shipping as part of a membership program can also help balance shipping costs.
Unveiling the Choice: Should You Offer 2-Day Shipping?
While two-day shipping can diminish cart abandonment, it’s crucial to weigh the associated costs. If expedited delivery proves too costly, businesses can present it as an option alongside other shipping services. It’s essential to get your products shipped quickly with our reliable and affordable service, ensuring they reach their delivery destination in a guaranteed time.
The Price and Ways of 2-Day Shipping
The price of two-day shipping hinges on several factors on the packing slip, including item size, delivery calendar, chosen carrier, and destination zip code, among others. It’s always a good idea to access discounts and insurance options to ensure the best rates for your deliveries.
Mastering the Art of Affordable 2-Day Shipping
Businesses can keep costs in check by: Utilize Ground Shipping: This solution is cost-effective for deliveries near fulfillment centers. Offer 2-Day Shipping for Membership Plans: Like Amazon Prime, businesses can offer faster shipping to members, helping to offset costs. Leverage Multiple Warehouses: Using multiple fulfillment centers can cut down transit times, ensuring quicker deliveries.
The Future is Here: Embracing 2-Day Shipping
To stay ahead in the e-commerce arena, businesses must offer swift and affordable delivery options. Outsourcing fulfillment to experienced partners like Amazon’s Fulfillment By Amazon (FBA) or third-party logistics companies such as ShipHero can empower businesses to incorporate 2-day shipping seamlessly.
Exploring the Possibilities: 2-Day Shipping FAQs
- What is Second-Day Shipping? It signifies dispatching orders within two days of placement.
- Is 2-Day Shipping Actually Two Days? Typically, customers receive the package within two business days of it being shipped.
- What is the Amazon Prime Effect? It denotes the benchmark set by Amazon’s two-day shipping service.
- Is 2-Day Shipping Guaranteed? Various factors can influence this, so a guarantee isn’t always possible.
- What is the Benefit of Offering Free 2-Day Shipping? It can entice more consumers, but businesses must weigh the associated costs.
Navigating the 2-Day Shipping Landscape
For businesses, shipping is more than a mere transaction—it’s a key aspect of customer satisfaction and success. As we’ve uncovered the nuances of 2-day shipping and the myriad benefits it holds, remember that the future of ecommerce thrives on swift, efficient, and reliable delivery options.
Apr 13, 2021 | Best Practices, Blog
Shipping customer orders on time is one of the most critical parts of your fulfillment process. And it’s vital to optimize the shipping process to keep customers happy.
Consumers are always looking for brands that offer them faster shipping times with minimal shipping costs (thanks, Fulfillment-By-Amazon.) While meeting these expectations isn’t always easy, business owners can lower shipping costs by reducing costs at individual stages of the fulfillment process.
One part of the shipping process where business owners can cut costs is packaging by getting their hands on free shipping supplies. There are a few promising ways to score some serious free shipping supplies, and we’ll take a look at those now!
How to Choose the Right Shipping Supplies
Good shipping practices balance safety and budget. Your packaging needs to ensure that items arrive safely, but you can’t use too many shipping supplies because it’ll raise costs.
Here, we’ll take a look at the three critical elements of good packaging for product shipping:
Containers
You have two main types of containers when shipping products, which are boxes and mailers. To ensure your items arrive safely at their destinations, you want them to fit snugly in their containers, so choose the smallest box possible. In addition to ensuring your items’ safety, small shipping boxes incur lower shipping costs.
Cushioning and Void Fill
Cushioning like bubble wrap, air pillows and packing peanuts fill the empty space in your containers, so your items don’t get jostled around during transit. Whichever cushioning method you choose, ensure that your products stay in place while the box is being moved so they won’t get damaged.
Special Care for Fragile or Irregular Items
Some items need special treatment to ensure their safety during transit. Here are some ways you can handle fragile or irregular items:
- Multiple items in one box: Wrap each item with foam or bubble wrap so they don’t get scratched when bumping into each other during transit.
- Delicate or fragile items: Wrap especially fragile items in bubble wrap or styrofoam sheets and fill the box with packing peanuts to ensure they stay in place.
- Items with sharp edges: Dull the edges by placing folded cardboard or using a reinforced double-wall box to prevent the edges from breaking the packaging.
- Wallpaper, posters, or rugs: You can’t fold items that shouldn’t have creases. Instead, roll them up and deliver them in tubular shipping boxes.
Where to Buy Cheap Shipping Supplies
You may need to buy your own shipping supplies if you handle shipping and delivery without third-party logistics. Here are some great places to get packaging materials and supplies:
Local Stores
If you’re only shipping a few items, your local office supply or stationery stores usually sell the things you need. Prices between stores may vary, so shop around to find the best deal.
Big Box Stores
Big box stores like Target and Walmart have locations all over the country, which makes shopping for shipping supplies easier. These stores also offer bulk shipping supplies for reasonable prices.
Amazon
Online retailer Amazon sells all kinds of shipping supplies, from poly mailers to cardboard boxes, at reasonable prices. For instance, a 25-pack of cardboard boxes is just $21.99 and can go even lower if you have the relevant coupons.
Additionally, Amazon also accepts cryptocurrency payments via BitPay.
eBay
eBay offers self-branded packing supplies like boxes, mailing envelopes and packaging tape to help its sellers deliver their goods. While it’s easy to access, eBay Shipping Supplies doesn’t have the best prices – a set of 25 cardboard boxes costs $31, for example.
To find better deals, you may need to look through eBay listings and search for sales and auctions that sell low-priced packing supplies.
Carriers That Offer Free Shipping Supplies
Many different carriers offer business owners free shipping supplies. One thing to keep in mind with each carrier is they only let you get free supplies if you use their services. For example, you can’t walk into the UPS store with FedEx’s packaging and expect them to let you ship it.
Let’s see what each one is offering.
How to Get Free Shipping Supplies From UPS
The advantage of working with a UPS store is they provide different boxes for each category of mail services. All you have to do is walk into your local UPS store, and they’ll provide packages for free.
How to Get Free Shipping Supplies From FedEx
You can get free shipping supplies from FedEx by going to their retail locations or ordering shipping supplies online. The packaging is complimentary when you ship with FedEx.
Are FedEx Boxes Free?
Yup! FedEx offers free shipping boxes and free shipping supplies in great variety. These boxes are free in small, medium and large sizes.
How to Get Free Shipping Supplies From USPS
The United States Postal Service offers shipping boxes and envelopes for free through its website. You can get boxes and envelopes in various USPS-standard sizes, which makes shipping easier if you deliver products through USPS.
However, there is a restriction to keep in mind when getting free boxes from USPS. When shipping your products, your mailing service must match the service listed on the package. For instance, using a Priority Mail Express flat rate envelope means you can only use USPS Priority Mail Express service.
Which Shipping Boxes Are Free at the Post Office?
The free boxes at the US Post Office include different USPS Priority Mail Boxes like the priority mail medium flat rate box and other free USPS boxes like the small flat rate box and the large flat rate box.
Where to Get Poly Bags for Shipping
You can buy poly bags wherever shipping supplies are sold. Some of the best places to look for poly bags include:
- Local stationery stores or dollar stores
- Large retailers like Walmart and Target
- Amazon
- eBay
Does USPS Have Free Poly Mailers?
The USPS does not offer free poly mailers, but you can get similar items like padded envelopes from its website.
USPS Poly Mailer Shipping Costs
Poly mailers are often used for lightweight items, so the cost of shipping poly mailers is generally very affordable. If you’re using USPS First Class Mail, shipping a package under 13 oz starts at $0.49.
How to Get Free Shipping Supplies from DHL
DHL is one of the most prominent names in international shipping. If you have a DHL account, you can order free shipping supplies from its website. Available items include boxes of various sizes, envelopes, flier bags and waybill sleeves.
Tips to Keep in Mind With Carrier Packaging
Free carrier packaging is excellent, but it’s not a ‘no-strings-attached’ deal. Here’s what to keep in mind when using free supplies from carriers.
Use Specific Mailing Services
When you’re getting free shipping supplies from a carrier, it’s often complementary, which means you are limited to a specific mailing service. Again, you can’t expect to get free supplies from FedEx if they know you’ll ship with UPS.
Use Only Specific Carriers
Carrier-supplied free boxes come with shipping labels and stamps, so other carriers can’t use these boxes.
Don’t Order More Supplies Than You Need
We know it’s tempting, but carriers offer free shipping supplies and expect etiquette from their customers. So, don’t order more supplies than you need, even if they’re free. If it takes too long to get shipping supplies, head to your nearest customer center to pick up the supplies when needed.
Alternative Methods to Get Free Shipping Supplies
If you don’t want to commit to a carrier, there are other ways you can find free shipping supplies.
Reuse Old Packages
A great and cost-effective way to source your packaging is to look for reusable old packages and take off their old shipping labels. You can look up free packaging ads on websites like craigslist to reuse packaging that would have otherwise gone to the landfill.
Get Old Boxes from Local Stores
You can get free shipping supplies and old boxes from local stores. Depending on what type of packaging supplies you require, you could swing by your local furniture stores, grocery stores, boutiques, etc. This practice is especially popular with the community of recyclers and is a sustainable move for the environment.
Let ShipHero Handle Shipping for You
ShipHero is a leading 3PL that handles fulfillment for e-commerce brands. Here’s how you can improve shipping and grow your business with ShipHero.
The Right Packaging for Each Shipment
We use the packaging that we know is best for the types of products you’re selling for every order. We consider factors like size, weight, fragility and more when we pick and pack orders. This will save you money on shipping costs as we don’t charge for shipping supplies.
Save on Shipping Costs
ShipHero has volume discounts with major carriers like USPS, UPS, FedEx and more. We pass these savings on to you to reduce shipping costs. Our distributed fulfillment network sends orders to warehouses closest to your customers to reduce shipping costs and transit times.
Conclusion
The advantage of free shipping supplies is that since you can reduce your shipping costs, your business can lower the shipping charges that customers incur. Remember, customers are looking for faster shipping times and minimal costs, so you can drive sales by presenting them with attractive shipping options.
Get started with ShipHero today by clicking the button below.
Free Shipping Supplies FAQs
What shipping supplies does a typical business need?
Most businesses need shipping supplies like boxes or envelopes, package cushioning and tape. Here’s a quick checklist of shipping essentials every business should have:
- Cardboard boxes
- Poly mailers
- Bubble wrap
- Packing peanuts
- Packing tape
- Plastic wrap
- Shipping labels
- Markers or pens
How do you get free shipping supplies like boxes & mailers?
You can get free shipping supplies from carriers like USPS, UPS and FedEx by ordering through their website. Then, you can have them delivered or pick them up at the nearest office.
What should I know when using free carrier packaging?
Generally, mail carriers only accept free packaging from their own brand. So, for example, you can’t use a UPS box to deliver goods through DHL.
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About ShipHero: We make it simple for you to deliver your eCommerce. Our software helps you run your warehouse, and our outsourced shipping solutions eliminate the hassle of getting your products to your customers. With over 5,000 brands and 3PLs relying on us daily, we’re here to help with all your logistics needs.
Apr 13, 2021 | Blog, The Packet
The Rise of E-Crime
This week, hackers released a database of personal data on over 533 million Facebook users, including emails, phone numbers and more (You can check to see if you were part of the leak here). Security experts say that this information has been available on dark-web for a while, and this recent “leak” is just a large accumulation of previously leaked data.
Am I in trouble?
Because this information is not new to hackers on the dark web, you may not experience an increase in theft attempts to you as a person; however, this large, aggregated leak is a treasure trove for hackers and cyber criminals hoping to steal from e-commerce companies.
Oh dang.
In 2020 alone, Sift estimates that more than $1 trillion was lost globally due to cybercrime. According to the same report, 62% of all payment fraud took place on a mobile device, and 45% of the U.S. e-commerce market was conducted on mobile devices in 2020. The perps mainly used ransom-ware attacks (taking control of a company’s systems and extorting them for money) or by using email-delivered malware to learn passwords and siphon funds.
Who are they targeting?
Transportation was the top targeted vertical, with reports of coordinated efforts to steal food/liquor deliveries in broad daylight. Also, loyalty businesses was the top targeted industry with a 275% increase in fraud attempts.
Where does this money go?
Video games mostly… actually. The top item purchased by cybercriminals is video game currency, followed by cryptocurrencies and site credits.
Strip NFTs
After 83 years, the major-league trading card company, Topps, announced plans to go public in a SPAC merger valued at $1.3B. The recent NFT-craze allows Topps to link collectibles to digital tokens, then receive payouts through Smart Contracts for the second-hand market sales — like the Mickey Mantle card that just sold for $5 million (which Topps made a whopping $.05 on over 70 years ago). Beyond sports, Topps has forged partnerships with Marvel and Star Wars to branch into the collectibles market.
Smart Motors
Turntide Technologies says it’s able to use recent advances in machine learning, software and electronics to create highly efficient motors that greatly cut carbon emissions. Buildings owned by BMW, JLL and Five guys, as well as cooling systems on dairy farms, already use this smart motor to reduce their carbon footprint, and companies that have retrofitted old motors with this smart motor have cut their HVAC motor energy consumption by 64% on average. If scaled out to replace all motors, Turntide says it could eliminate 25% of global carbon emission.
Speaking of Engine-uity
NASA’s Mars Helicopter, Ingenuity, has survived its first Martian night and is sending miraculous pictures of the Red Planet, which (spoiler) don’t look too red.
ShipHero News
How To Create Content for Your E-commerce Business – Part 1: Video
The very first step to marketing your e-commerce store is simple: content creation. In the world of SEO, social media, and online sales, check out our blog to find out what it takes to create authentic and engaging video content that builds trust with your customer base.
The Fulfillment Innovation Wheel: Data Now
It’s your data, and you need it now! Reporting & Analytics has never been more important to your e-commerce warehouse operations. Find out the KPIs and reports you need to make to stay competitive, in our newest blog for ShipHero’s Fulfillment Innovation Wheel series – Data Now.
Apr 8, 2021 | 3PL Warehouse Management, Blog
Order fulfillment is a complex process involving multiple stages such as picking, packing, processing, and shipping customer orders. The smooth operation of these stages is crucial to prevent customer complaints and maintain a high level of customer service. One very cost effective way to manage inventory and streamline the order fulfillment process is by leveraging the expertise of a third-party logistics (3PL) company.
These companies, often referred to as experts in the field, offer access to 3PL software that automates many aspects of the logistics process, enhancing efficiency and reducing errors.
This article will delve into the role of 3PL software and the factors to consider when choosing a top 3PL provider or one, including the consideration of your business requirements, budget, and business goals.
Understanding 3PL Warehouse Management Systems
A 3PL warehouse and inventory management system is a software solution designed to aid in a company’s logistics operations. A 3PL system’s key features include warehouse task and inventory management, detailed processes for picking, packing, and shipping goods, delivery tracking, and shipping route optimization.
The level of automation provided by these systems can significantly improve warehouse operations, ensuring that items are managed efficiently and errors are minimized. These systems are particularly beneficial for large warehouses where manual inventory management can be time-consuming and prone to errors.
The Case for 3PL Software in Small Businesses
3PL software brings numerous benefits to small businesses, including the ability to streamline processes and manage sales, service and inventory levels effectively. Here are some reasons why small businesses should consider implementing 3PL software:
Efficiency and Cost Savings
3PL software can automate tasks such as order tracking, invoice generation, and payment processing, saving significant time and reducing the need for additional employees, thereby cutting operational costs. This efficiency can also improve the customer experience, as orders can be processed and shipped more quickly. In times of high demand, this efficiency can be particularly beneficial.
Minimizing Human Error
Manual data entry and processing can lead to errors, especially when information passes through multiple hands. 3PL software automates these processes, reducing the likelihood of costly mistakes. This automation can save time and also improve the quality of good customer service being provided to customers.
Meeting Diverse Business Needs
Different businesses have different needs, and 3PL software offers the flexibility to customize features according to these business needs. As your business grows, you can scale up the software by adding extra features. This scalability can accommodate the demands of growing retailers and ensure that the software continues to continuously improve to meet their needs.
Informed Decision Making
3PL software comes with reporting tools that provide insights into inventory levels, staff performance, and other crucial business information. These reports enable you to make better decisions based on accurate, real-time data. This data can also be used to inform product development efforts and improve customer relationship management (CRM) strategies.
The Advantages of Using 3PL Software
The success of your own third party logistics partner, provider partner or business largely depends on client satisfaction. In today’s marketplaces, customers expect their orders to arrive promptly and appreciate the ability to track their orders throughout the shipping process. For small businesses, these operations can often be managed in-house, but for larger businesses with high-volume supply chain operations, forming a partnership with a third party logistics partner or a 3PL provider can ensure accuracy and efficiency. Here are some benefits of using 3PL software ecommerce business:
Automation Saves Time
3PL software can automate various tasks and integrate processes, saving time for both the logistics services providers and their clients. For example, integrations with eCommerce platforms like Shopify and Amazon can automatically capture orders and add the information directly into your database.
This automation can also improve the customer experience, as customers can receive updates on their orders in real time.
Cost Reduction
The automation capabilities of 3PL software can reduce costs for logistics and warehousing providers by reducing the need for data entry clerks. These cost savings for a supply chain and logistics company can then translate into lower shipping and warehousing costs for clients. This cost-effectiveness is particularly important for businesses operating on a tight budget.
Error Reduction
Manual handling of different stages of the order fulfillment process can increase the risk of errors. 3PL software automates data storage and processing, reducing the likelihood of costly human errors. This automation can save money and also improve the quality of service provided to customers.
Customization and Scalability
3PL software can be customized and scaled to suit the needs of both supply chain management or individual clients, making it easier to manage changes such as adding inventory, opening a new distribution center, or entering a new market. This scalability is particularly important for businesses experiencing rapid growth.
Business Insight
3PL software reports on the entire supply chain activity of most companies, from production to shipping, providing visibility into any part of the business at any time.
This visibility can help businesses to manage their own supply chain, other supply chains, and SKUs effectively and ensure that they have the capacity to meet customer demands.
Increased Transparency
Entrusting a 3PL partner or logistics partner with your company reputation entire supply chain can be daunting. However, 3PL software and services like ShipHero provides full visibility into logistics performance and current inventory levels from reliable partners, ensuring everything is running smoothly. This transparency can also improve the customer experience, as customers can track their orders in real time.
Enhanced Customer Support
3PL software can track orders and payments from start to finish, allowing customers to track shipments in real-time and easily make returns. The software also enables the company to offer expedited shipping options like same-day and two-day shipping. This level of customer service can enhance the company’ customer experience and improve customer retention.
Every business is unique, and using 3PL software services may be more beneficial for some companies than others. If you’re considering transitioning your business to third-party logistics services, it’s important to know what to look for when shopping for 3PL software solutions.
Key Considerations When Choosing 3PL Software
When working with a third party logistics provider or third party logistics providers because of third party logistics providers third-party logistics companies, clients entrust the entire order fulfillment process to another entity. Making the wrong choice could cost your company in the long run, potentially leading to client loss and business challenges. Here are some factors to consider when looking for the best 3PL software:
Advanced Technology
Your third party logistics provider or chosen 3PL provider partner should have access to the latest technology. Advanced 3PL software can save you money and reduce errors through automation.
This technology should include enterprise resource planning (ERP) and transportation management systems (TMS) to ensure comprehensive management of your third party logistics operations.
Scalability
Many businesses outsource to a 3PL company when they’ve outgrown the capabilities of their in-house logistics department. If you plan to work with growing companies, choose 3PL software that can scale with their future business too.
Also, consider the capacity of the logistics partner and the software to handle increasing numbers of SKUs and items.
Compliance with Packaging and Labeling Standards
Logistics businesses need to comply with certain rules and regulations regarding product packaging and labeling. Good 3PL software can help you meet these requirements and prevent future issues. This compliance is particularly important to protect the rights of consumers and ensure that goods are correctly labeled.
Support for Multiple Client Accounts
In a single company, there may be several users of 3PL software as each division needs real-time access to the stored data. Good 3PL software should offer multiple user accounts so people from different divisions can log into the app simultaneously. This feature can improve collaboration and ensure that all employees have access to the information they need.
Invoicing Features
Most 3PL technology solutions include billing functions to ensure that invoices are paid out properly. This type of software automates put away, receiving, storage, and shipping, ensuring that charges for these services are always accurate and on time. This automation can also improve the customer experience, as customers can receive timely and accurate invoices.
Value for Money
Many clients work with 3PL providers to avoid the cost of logistics software. To provide your clients with the best value and service, choose a top 3PL partner or logistics partner, with software that offers advanced features at an affordable price. This value for money is particularly important for businesses operating on a tight budget.
There are many 3PL software options on the market catering to different needs. If you’re planning to become a 3PL provider, research the type of logistics software your potential clients prefer and match your software to the client’s needs.
The Bottom Line
The key to finding the best 3PL software partner is to take the time to examine your company’s needs and find a software partner and solution to meet them. Don’t forget to include the option for customization and scalability as well.
And remember, the things to consider when choosing a 3PL partner is not just about the software they provide and prioritize customer service, but also about the quality of their technology connecting their customer service, their ability to answer your questions, and their commitment to training their staff to meet your needs.
In the era of online shopping, shoppers have high expectations for fast and accurate delivery. This is where the role of a 3PL platform provider comes into play. A good 3PL platform provider will not only ensure the logistics company ensures efficient transportation of goods but the provider will also provide real-time tracking for shoppers, enhancing their shopping experience.
