Jan 27, 2022 | newsroom
NEW YORK, Jan. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — ShipHero [https://shiphero.com/], the shipping and logistics provider for over 5,000 e-commerce brands and 3PLs, today announces it has entered into a strategic partnership with Pipe17 [https://pipe17.com/], a SaaS provider that makes it simple for e-commerce businesses to integrate their applications and have them work together to intelligently streamline their multi channel operations.
Starting today, ShipHero will be available to all Pipe17 customers as a new channel option for both fulfillment and warehouse management software (WMS). In addition, ShipHero’s fulfillment and SaaS clients can now take advantage of Pipe17’s growing base of e-commerce integrations and workflows to streamline their operations and more easily incorporate their Enterprise Resource Planning (ERPs) and Order and Inventory Management Systems (OIMSs).
Read more at PR Newswire
Jan 26, 2022 | newsroom
As we wrap up 2021, we have compiled the world’s largest collection of eCommerce experts and leaders to share their 2022 eCommerce predictions. Whilst it is impossible to truly predict what the next year will have in store, with this amount of industry expertise we are confident there is something that every eCommerce business can take away and implement in the New Year.
Read more at eSeller365
Sep 10, 2021 | Blog, Warehouse Management Software
By: Aaron Rubin, Founder & CEO of ShipHero
The definition of the prefix omni – is all, whereas the definition of multi – is many. So, how do you enhance your eCommerce business, marketing, sales and fulfillment to encompass everything, not just a lot of things? Since this is the future of eCommerce retail, it’s imperative that you and your organization figure it out.
Moving from a multichannel approach to omnichannel hinges primarily on how you think about your customers and their buying journey. Instead of selling and marketing to your customers via different channels – online, in-store, mobile – you’ll have to start thinking more globally. Let’s examine how this works.
Your Customer Journey Should Be Cohesive
Customers expect a unified customer experience. This means that if they visit one of your brick-and-mortar locations, they want it to look and feel like visiting your website, scrolling through your social media accounts or using your mobile app. It’s about making the experience as seamless as possible. This also ties back to buy online, pick-up in-store (BOPIS), curbside pick-up and DTC.
Target and Kohl’s are great examples of how to make omnichannel work. Both retailers have mobile apps that allow consumers to search for products in their local store or across all their stores; order directly from the app; order and pickup in store; and use their app-based wallet to keep track of all specials, coupons and payment methods. Additionally, both of these retailers leverage their in-store inventory to fulfill orders if the product is not available in the warehouse.
To the customer, this is a seamless and integrated experience. Now, you may not have the footprint of a store like Target, but your warehouses and stores can still be leveraged together to offer the consumer the best experience and make the buying journey more enjoyable.
The Four Basic Tenets of Omnichannel eCommerce
To enhance the effectiveness of your omnichannel-centered tech, you also want to be sure you’re addressing each of the four essential keys to Omnichannel eCommerce: sales channels, marketing and advertising, operations and shipping and fulfillment.
Your operations and fulfillment processes will fall flat without a strong sales funnel powered by the right marketing and advertising plan. These are the “first four” aspects of your business that must work together to get the kind of omnichannel eCommerce results you want.
The Right Technology is Your Best Investment
Now, to complete all of these tasks as outlined above, there is one particular tool you need – technology. And instead of just one or two pieces of tech, you’re going to need to make sure that your entire platform and its infrastructure are built to handle omnichannel eCommerce and enhance your success.
Three Keys to Omnichannel Tech Infrastructure
- Headless Commerce: Quite simply, headless commerce means that neither your front-end systems (POS, customer interface) or your backend systems (inventory/order management) are leading the way. Instead – your front and back-end act independently of each other. Why does this matter? It’s a more flexible way to manage your eCommerce business and allows you to make changes easier than ever. This can include upgrading certain features or adding new options all together.
- Customer Data: In order to provide a seamless and customizable customer experience, gathering, analyzing and using data of your customers’ behaviors is imperative. Customer Data Platforms (CDPs) can help you gather data from different sources like your website, social channels and mobile to bring everything together to create cohesive customer profiles. This data can then inform your omnichannel strategy as you strive to provide the best customer experience backed by actual data.
- Omnichannel Marketing: Marketing to different consumers on different platforms is only a part of what omnichannel marketing really is; the true magic happens when you can target different messaging to customers depending on how they choose to engage with your brand. While your customers share many similar traits, they’re not all the same. The message you serve to Instagram is more than likely not the same message that will work on TikTok.
In all of the instances above, having a flexible and well-appointed infrastructure will make it much easier for you and your team to manage an omnichannel approach.
Partner With Experts
The best news about omnichannel eCommerce is that it’s not a road you have to navigate alone. Warehouse management systems, shipping and fulfillment providers, as well as customer data platforms all work together to help you build the best omnichannel strategy for your business. Find the right omnichannel partner and you’ve already taken a step further than many of your competitors.
Schedule a meeting today with our experts to learn more about our warehouse management software built for ecommerce brands & 3PLs looking to run their best warehouse and how ShipHero works to ensure that organizations invest in the solutions that match their needs, to improve productivity, revenue and success.
Click HERE to Schedule a Meeting Today
Aaron Rubin, Founder & CEO
ShipHero
About the author: Aaron Rubin is the Founder & CEO of ShipHero. He is responsible for planning and executing the overall vision and strategy of the organization. Rubin’s greatest strengths are leadership, change management, strategic planning and a passion for progression. He is known for having his finger on the pulse of ShipHero’s major initiatives, his entrepreneurial spirit, and keen business acumen. His leadership of ShipHero is grounded in providing excellent customer service that drives improved business operations. His passion for ShipHero comes from the culture and his ability to have an impact on the lives of employees, customers, partners, and investors.
Follow Aaron on Twitter & LinkedIn.
Sep 3, 2021 | 3PL Warehouse Management, Blog, Fulfillment, Warehouse Operations
By: Aaron Rubin, CEO and Founder of ShipHero
It can seem that managing a warehouse is a full-time job for at least 100 people. For many smaller eCommerce businesses, devoting that type of people power and resources to one aspect of their operation just isn’t feasible. That’s why it’s so important to implement a strong, robust and fully functional Warehouse Management System (WMS). And it will also save you money, time and frustration.
Warehouse Management System Explained
First, let’s talk about what a WMS can do. Primarily, it manages every aspect of your warehouse operation. This includes receiving inventory, counting and storing inventory, laying out the warehouse and picking and packing. It manages everything that happens from the time a customer places an order to the time the order is placed on a truck for shipping.
That is a big lift, which means the software needs to not only work flawlessly, but people in the warehouse must be willing to learn the system and capitalize on all that functionality.
Managing so many things also means that having WMS will close the gaps in your processes. Gaps where errors, revenue or wasted effort might escape. And this is the real beauty of WMS – it saves you time and money and makes the entire customer experience just that much better.
Ways WMS Reduces Errors
So, what is that magic that WMS performs? How is it possible for a software system to address physical and logistical problems, like mis-picks and inventory errors? Let’s find out.
- Provides Inventory Management: If you’ve ever worked at a brick and mortar retail store for a large company, there are the two dreaded times a year when inventory must be counted. It’s a nightmare, have no doubt. Tracking down barcodes for the smallest tchotkes, scrambling to find the last piece of clothing to make sure it’s all counted. And it all happens while the store is closed, meaning you were probably pulling an all-nighter. With a warehouse management system your inventory is tracked daily, down to the last barcode and managed as shipments are received. Because inventories and manifests are reconciled on an ongoing basis, it is easy to keep track of all of your product and even easier to keep inventory levels up-to-date in your point-of-sale system. This enables you to sell the products you have (earning revenue), to not sell the products you don’t have (losing revenue), and re-order the products you need to as soon as they run low. The less down time between replenishments, the quicker you can make a sale and make money. To be clear, you will still need to run inventory counts, but it will be so much easier.
- Provides Fail Safes and Backups: Inventory managed with barcodes makes it easier to pick, pack and prep for shipment. It also means that there are fail safes built into the system to reduce errors. With ShipHero, our pick and pack functionality is mobile. Warehouse employees take their order (on a mobile device) to the bin that has been identified (via the mobile device) and pick the product, scanning it before preparing it for shipment. It is then scanned again before it is packed, ensuring that the right order was picked. This reduces a multitude of errors. In fact, some of our clients see a 99% reduction in mis-picks and mis-ships. This is a huge cost savings and also helps to build customer loyalty. Customers aren’t happy when they’re anticipating a delivery and open the package to receive the wrong item. Accuracy is key and warehouse management software can help you meet that challenge.
- Provides Storage Optimization: The data gathered by a warehouse management system is invaluable to not only your warehouse team, but the entire organization. One of the most overlooked opportunities is warehouse layout. By analyzing your pick, pack and ship data you’ll quickly be able to see what products are the most popular, which products are most often shipped with others and the length of time it takes to pick orders. This gives you the chance to completely rearrange how the warehouse is laid out, bringing popular items closer, group like items together and in general, making it easier for your pickers and packers to do their jobs efficiently.
- Provides Better Forecasting: Managing your warehouse efficiently means that you have a much better picture, all the time, of what is needed, what’s working and what needs improvement. Knowing this information is already a huge step toward reducing errors. It’s also a big step towards enhancing other areas. One such benefit from this organization is your relationship with suppliers. Ordering and restocking will no longer be “hair on fire” scenarios – you’ll now be able to communicate your needs to your suppliers far in advance of when you actually need the product, meaning you won’t need to lean on this 3rd party for favors or miracles because you were unable to accurately forecast. It will make your business life much more smooth and enable you to forge lasting supplier relationships.
- Provides Peace of Mind: Maybe this isn’t the biggest error reducer, but knowing that you have a well-run warehouse filled with employees who know how to manage it will save you time and anxiety, especially when busy seasons or holidays roll around. You’ll no longer have to cross your fingers and hope that everything runs smoothly; now you’ll know with confidence that you have the systems and tools in place for your team and your business to succeed.
Major Benefits, Major Commitment
It’s true that Warehouse Management Software can do everything listed above, but there is some responsibility on you. Adopting and implementing WMS takes time and patience, and requires that you and your employees buy into all the benefits this new technology will afford you. In many cases, this may mean ditching the old “tried and true” methods that so many long-time warehouse employees rely on. There could be some resistance to a paperless picking process or hesitancy about how to use the new technology.
Make sure you’ve set aside the time and patience to handle the challenges that will come with transition. While the benefits far outweigh the obstacles, it’s still important to set everyone’s expectations.
However, based on past experience, ShipHero is confident that you won’t regret making the change.
Schedule a meeting today with our experts to learn more about our WMS software built for ecommerce brands & 3PLs looking to run their best warehouse and how ShipHero works to ensure that organizations invest in the solutions that match their needs, to improve productivity, revenue, and success.
Click HERE to Schedule a Meeting Today
Aaron Rubin, Founder & CEO
ShipHero
About the author: Aaron Rubin is the Founder & CEO of ShipHero. He is responsible for planning and executing the overall vision and strategy of the organization. Rubin’s greatest strengths are leadership, change management, strategic planning and a passion for progression. He is known for having his finger on the pulse of ShipHero’s major initiatives, his entrepreneurial spirit, and keen business acumen. His leadership of ShipHero is grounded in providing excellent customer service that drives improved business operations. His passion for ShipHero comes from the culture and his ability to have an impact on the lives of employees, customers, partners, and investors.
Follow Aaron on Twitter & LinkedIn.
Aug 27, 2021 | Blog, Fulfillment, Warehouse Management Software
By: Aaron Rubin, Founder & CEO of ShipHero
As much as you might wish to hold off discussing the holiday shopping season until the Halloween candy bowl is empty, as eCommerce retailers, you just don’t have that luxury. As evidenced by the sometimes crazy, always unpredictable season of holiday 2020, 2021 doesn’t appear to be any less wacky than its older sibling.
As an eCommerce retailer, you’ve probably struggled with this new post-pandemic norm, especially as it has seesawed between optimism (economically and otherwise) and despair. With the Delta variant inspiring statewide lockdowns once more, entering this high-volume season has come with additional questions, many that appear to already be answered.
Anxiety is only diminished by being prepared, so, let’s get prepared. Below are some of the key lessons eCommerce retailers, warehouse managers and fulfillment teams learned during 2020 and how ShipHero imagines they’ll be applied in 2021.
Start Shopping Early
The proliferation of online shopping 2020 made the novelty of historical mainstays, like Black Friday deals and Cyber Monday promotions, less enticing. Last year, many shoppers couldn’t even go to a store if they wanted to; in 2021, while that option may exist, all evidence suggests that online eCommerce, across categories and industries will remain strong.
In 2020, eCommerce grew by over 32% year over year, and was up by 31% in Q1 2021, according to reporting by Digital Commerce 360. There is no evidence these numbers will be on the downswing anytime soon.
However, there is an indication that a trend that gained steam in 2020 will continue to expand in 2021, click and collect, otherwise known as buy online, pick up in store (BOPIS). The prevailing wisdom is that this allows shoppers to enjoy the instant gratification of shopping in-store without incurring the risk of contracting COVID (or standing in line, or fighting traffic or juggling a toddler, a stroller and a handful of shopping bags).
Supply Chain Disruptions are Year-Round
While it was hoped that the delivery delays and empty shelves that were seen in 2020 (and 2021 if we’re being honest), would be a thing of the past, facts are that these types of disruptions will continue to affect the supply chain from manufacturing to distribution to retail for quite a while. Manufacturers have been unable to increase their output back to pre-pandemic levels and even if materials are ready to ship, there have been issues finding truck drivers (a chronic issue to be sure, but put into starker relief by the rise in demand for shipped goods).
What does this really mean for eCommerce? It means that consumers will continue to push buy online pickup in store options to ensure that they can physically get the product they want in time for gift-giving or holiday entertaining.
Settle In – eCommerce is Here to Stay
There is no doubt that the one key takeaway from Holiday Season 2020 is that consumers will continue to consume, even if they can’t leave their homes. While the rise of eCommerce isn’t new, recent behavior indicates that a variety of shoppers, even those not typically known to shop online (i.e. older adults), have adopted the switch to eCommerce. While the most recent information shows growth for in-store sales, there is uncertainty regarding the Delta variant and how that might impact in-person sales going forward.
The moral of this story is retailers shouldn’t scrap their direct-to-consumer (DTC) fulfillment or eCommerce operations that were brought online throughout 2020. The EY Future Consumer Index released in May 2021, showed that 80% of consumers are changing the way they shop – including 43% who stated they now shop online more frequently for items they had previously purchased in-store.
More Lessons to Learn
As Holiday season 2021 truly takes shape we will no doubt see even more changes to how consumers shop, how eCommerce retailers meet their needs and how businesses are staying agile in order to better understand and satisfy their consumer base.
ShipHero is excited to see what this holiday season brings and how we can better help our clients weather these sometimes disruptive, oftentimes invigorating situations. We look forward to working with our current partners and clients to help make Holiday 2021 better than ever, whether through solutions, support or superpowers. We will be posting helpful tips throughout peak season HERE, so be sure to check back frequently!
Schedule a meeting today with our experts to learn more about our WMS software built for ecommerce brands & 3PLs looking to run their best warehouse and how ShipHero works to ensure that organizations invest in the solutions that match their needs, to improve productivity, revenue, and success.
Click HERE to Schedule a Meeting Today
Aaron Rubin, Founder & CEO
ShipHero
About the author: Aaron Rubin is the Founder & CEO of ShipHero. He is responsible for planning and executing the overall vision and strategy of the organization. Rubin’s greatest strengths are leadership, change management, strategic planning and a passion for progression. He is known for having his finger on the pulse of ShipHero’s major initiatives, his entrepreneurial spirit, and keen business acumen. His leadership of ShipHero is grounded in providing excellent customer service that drives improved business operations. His passion for ShipHero comes from the culture and his ability to have an impact on the lives of employees, customers, partners, and investors.
Follow Aaron on Twitter & LinkedIn.
