Dec 9, 2022 | Blog
With online shopping continuing to grow in popularity, demand has never been higher for fast and efficient fulfillment services. As a fulfillment warehouse, you need to be able to ship products as quickly and accurately as possible.
That’s where warehouse storage and organization come in. Nothing can kill productivity faster than a disorganized warehouse, so let’s break down the best ways to keep your operation running smoothly.
Why is an Organized Warehouse Essential for Fulfillment?
There are a few problems you can encounter when your warehouse isn’t organized or running properly, such as:
- Wasted Time – If workers have to walk back and forth to pick items for shipments, those seconds and minutes can add up. Even just 15 minutes per employee for a 50-person warehouse could lead to 3,000 minutes lost in a year.
- More Returns and Refunds – Mis-picked orders can lead to dissatisfied customers, meaning they’re more likely to return their items. Unfortunately, putting these products back on the shelves is more wasted time for your staff.
- Inaccurate Inventory Counts – If your inventory is not organized properly, you can order more products than you need or delay ordering because you think you have more than you do. Either way, such inefficiencies can cost you dearly in the long run.
Overall, every piece of your warehouse is like a cog in a well-oiled machine. One faulty part could cause a chain reaction that could lead to major headaches and higher operating costs.
Top Five Ways to Keep Your Warehouse Organized
Because warehouse organization and storage are so critical for success, let’s look at five ways you can improve your operational efficiency. Best of all, you can combine strategies for even more benefits that lead to more clients, happier customers, and fewer returns.
Invest in High-Tech Solutions
Fortunately, we’re living in a golden age of technology, so there are multiple options available, including:
- RFID Tags – These tags make it easier for pickers and inventory managers to stay up-to-date with production levels. Tags can be on bins or individual items, depending on your needs. As workers scan these tags, your inventory management system updates automatically.
- Worker Tracking Software – Programs can keep track of individual employees and how they move throughout a given shift. If you notice a lot of time spent going back and forth, you can figure out what’s causing that extra wasted time and fix it accordingly.
- Order Tracking – As items move in and out of your warehouse, you should know details like where they came from, how long they stayed in the warehouse, how they were shipped, and their final destination. Warehouse management software allows you to track inventory in real time so you’re never out of the loop.
Review Your Warehouse Layout
So much time is wasted with inefficient picking methods. For example, let’s say you have multiple types of the same product. If you don’t store these items together, workers have to go searching for each variety.
As a general rule, you want to place similar items in the same area and rank products based on seller info. Best-selling items should stick together while infrequent purchases can get moved to an area with less-heavy traffic.
If workers also have to sign in and out or submit documentation, you can place this station next to the fulfillment center. This way, employees can finish an order and fill out the paperwork without too much downtime in between.
Create a Waste Management System
A dirty or disheveled warehouse is an inefficient warehouse. Not only can empty boxes and other items pose a safety threat, but it’s much harder to verify your inventory levels.
So, it’s better to come up with a waste management system so workers know where to put packaging and other items. You can also have a picking system so individuals empty a current supply box before opening another one.
Focus on Safety
Just like a dirty warehouse, an unsafe warehouse is also highly inefficient. Usually, unsafe environments occur when the company cuts corners and doesn’t take its employee’s health seriously.
Safety measures can include apparel, best practices for dangerous items, clear marking for forklift paths, and more. Overall, the more you invest in extra-safe measures, the more likely your warehouse will stay safe and efficient.
Keep Warehouse Staff Trained
Employee morale and turnover are two of the biggest threats to the fulfillment industry. eCommerce giants like Apple and Amazon are struggling to retain workers, thanks to long hours, grueling working conditions, and more.
Maintaining a regular training schedule can help keep your employees sharp and motivated. Not only can you cover existing problems and risk factors, but you can also look at potential future situations.
Even better, staff training can be fun and engaging, further bringing everyone together when they’re on the clock.
By utilizing these top five tips, you can improve your operational efficiency greatly, leading to a higher level of client satisfaction while also creating a more cohesive environment for your staff.
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For More Information About ShipHero
Whether you want to let go of running your own warehouse, or run your warehouse better, you can do both – and so much more – with ShipHero.
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Oct 17, 2022 | Blog
Proactive inventory management is a vital part of running a successful eCommerce business. While managing inventory can be challenging, using a proactive rather than a reactive approach to inventory management may help to prevent problems such as inventory shortages, concerns about storage space and delayed fulfillment of orders.
When inventory isn’t effectively managed, clients may end up dissatisfied over out-of-stock items and the reputation of your company may be damaged. The best practice in inventory management is to be as proactive as possible.
Collect Inventory Control Data
Inventory control is the process of managing inventory levels in the warehouse and other locations. An effective inventory control system monitors the movement and storage of items and can help with forecasting and reordering. Effectively controlling inventory requires knowing what’s in stock and where it’s located while keeping items in inventory organized and in good condition.
Effective inventory management depends on knowing when to reorder products and how much to order to ensure that the right amount of inventory is on hand at the right location. To improve inventory control practices, start with collecting data on practices that involve your inventory from initial orders to shipping and receiving to restocking.
Identifying Inventory Control Problems
A good place to start working to identify inventory control problems is by reviewing past trends, particularly times when there was a problem with the amount of inventory on hand. Have you been scrambling to fill orders because of insufficient inventory? Or is unwanted inventory taking up valuable warehouse space?
Inventory that’s held too long has an increased risk of damage and keeping too much inventory ties up capital that could better be used elsewhere. All aspects of your stock must be tracked and managed, which includes tracking the quality of stock you receive from suppliers. How often is merchandise returned because it’s defective or broken?
Using Technology for Automatic Stock Control
Small businesses may use a spreadsheet as a manual inventory control technique but using manual processes to control inventory can be labor intensive and increases the risk of human error. Continuous advances in technology make stock management much simpler than it used to be, and automated systems can keep track of stock levels and can easily provide an accurate picture of inventory at multiple locations.
Review your current processes and identify tasks that can be automated. Stock management using automated systems and processes starts by assigning a unique identifier for each item known as an SKU (stock keeping unit). These unique identifiers make it easy to determine where the item is located and whether demand is higher for certain items or certain colors. Fast-moving and in-demand items are easily identified and time isn’t wasted trying to locate specific items.
Software to Improve Inventory Control
Inventory control software makes it easier to be proactive about tracking inventory as well as keeping track of packing and shipping information. Inventory costs can be kept under better control by using real-time updates on stock movements so that stock levels can be monitored automatically and alerts can be provided when stock is low and needs to be replenished.
Real-time tracking provides up-to-date information that can guide your business decisions. Leveraging the information provided by real-time metrics provides performance information that can help you stay ahead of your competitors.
Categorize Your Inventory
Look for ways to categorize your inventory based on demand. Are some items seasonal or in demand only at certain times? Your inventory can be categorized by groups such as profit margin and cost of storing it.
Collect data from all areas of operation, which includes shipping and receiving along with inventory being held on hand. Review the methods you’re currently using to categorize inventory and how effectively it’s working to meet demand. A good way to be proactive is to gain a clear understanding of the entire supply chain such as shipping times and results you can expect from receiving and shipping items. Consider errors that have been made and what changes could be made to reduce the possibility of making a similar mistake.
Optimizing Inventory Control
Having a proactive inventory management system in place means utilizing available technology and continually working to improve inventory control practices. Manual processes and outdated software can slow the growth of your business and lead to costly errors.
There are many factors involved in identifying and maintaining optimal stock levels. Understocking and overstocking both need to be avoided. Setting minimal stock levels can help prevent running out of items. Track items regularly to identify what’s highest and lowest in demand.
Proactive inventory management includes ensuring that inventory records are accurate. Plan on performing regular audits to identify inaccuracies, theft or damaged items. An inventory audit provides detailed information on the value of your inventory and can help to optimize inventory control and contribute to a more proactive way of managing inventory.
To find out more about ShipHero’s fully outsourced fulfillment solution, talk to one of our Fulfillment Experts today.
Click HERE to Schedule a Meeting with Our Sales Team.
About ShipHero
ShipHero is a US-based, leading solution provider in the fast growing eCommerce fulfillment space. ShipHero served over $5 billion of eCommerce orders in 2020 and is growing rapidly. ShipHero provides warehouse management software for brands that operate their own warehouses as well as outsourced fulfillment as a service from ShipHero owned and operated North American warehouses. Some notable customers include Universal Music Group, Glossier and Canadian Tire. ShipHero is a Shopify Plus partner and more than 10% of Shopify Plus stores globally use ShipHero.
Follow us today on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Dec 1, 2022 | Blog
Many businesses these days already implement warehouse automation in various forms to keep up with customer demands and expectations. Warehouse automation tools help them deliver products faster, maximize warehouse space and reduce costs, among other benefits.
But what comes next after the current wave of warehouse automation? If you’re curious about what’s on the horizon for warehouse managers, read on to learn more.
What is Warehouse Automation Technology?
Warehouse automation technology encompasses all the tools and software used to automate warehouse operations. Companies often use warehouse automation technology to reduce labor-intensive work, reducing the occurrence of human error and avoiding costly mistakes. Automation also reduces total labor expenses, resulting in cost savings.
Warehouse automation doesn’t necessarily mean using robots or drones in your warehouse. It can be as simple as implementing a warehouse management system or automatic data capturing to assist in daily operations.
Some common examples of warehouse automation technology include:
- Warehouse management systems
- Robotic warehousing solutions
- Inventory management software
- Automatic data entry software
What are the Benefits of Warehouse Automation?
Some of the most important benefits of warehouse automation include cost savings, human error prevention and improved safety. Here’s a look at the benefits of warehouse automation:
Increase Warehouse Productivity
Warehouse automation software and tools take over manual tasks from human workers, meaning they can accomplish more work in less time. An example of how warehouse automation can improve productivity is when you implement goods-to-person (GTP) solutions.
GTP solutions typically use robots or machines to bring goods to warehouse workers for packing. These robots pick goods from shelves for your warehouse workers, so they don’t have to walk or ride forklifts from one end of the warehouse to another, saving them a lot of time.
Reduce Operational Costs
Implementing warehouse automation is often a major financial commitment, but the long-term cost savings can be considerable. Automating warehouse processes means you can reduce labor costs because you won’t need as many warehouse workers. Additionally, you’re less likely to suffer product damage or inventory loss due to human error when automating picking and packing processes.
Prevent Human Error
Manual processes are often prone to human error. While small mistakes won’t hurt your company much, big mistakes can cause significant shipping delays or major product damage, hurting your credibility and customer satisfaction.
Automating warehouse processes reduces human error by minimizing the role of warehouse workers in manual and repetitive tasks. For instance, automatic picking processes ensure your workers receive the right items to prepare for shipping.
Improve Workplace Safety
Warehouse operations are risky because workers often carry large items in high-traffic environments. An accident might mean people getting injured and hundreds of dollars in damaged goods.
Warehouse automation tools like GTP solutions reduce the risk of accidents by bringing the goods to the workers instead of the other way around. This way, there’s less foot traffic, reducing the likelihood of accidents.
Use More Warehouse Space
Your warehouse space is typically limited, so you need to use every bit of space to save on leasing or operational costs. Unfortunately, you can only stack your goods so high because your workers can’t pick products up safely when your shelves reach the ceiling.
Warehouse automation solutions like automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) help you by providing a safe way to pick products from high shelves without having your workers leave the warehouse floor. This means you can stack your goods as high as you like and use every single bit of space without endangering your human staff.
Boost Customer Satisfaction
Warehousing isn’t directly linked to customers, but good warehouse operations ensure their satisfaction. Your staff needs to process goods quickly so you can ship them punctually. If your warehouse crew is slow in fulfilling orders, customers will receive their products behind schedule, leading to complaints.
Warehouse automation tools improve your warehousing efficiency and ensure everything is shipped on time. By building a reputation for punctual deliveries, you’ll get happier customers and secure their loyalty.
Types of Warehouse Automation Technology
Different warehouse automation tools do different things to improve your daily warehousing operations. Here are three common warehouse automation systems you can look into:
Warehouse Management Systems
Warehouse management systems (WMS) are complete software bundles that help you monitor and manage the entire warehousing process. They cover all aspects of your warehousing operations, which include inventory receiving, storing, picking, packing, shipping and return handling. Warehouse management systems also give you automatically generated reports to help in decision-making.
You can consider implementing a WMS if you’re looking to improve your overall warehousing operations.
Inventory Management Solutions
Inventory management solutions give real-time updates on your supply chain and warehouse’s product stock to ensure you can meet customer demands without overstocking. Inventory management solutions also help you fulfill customer expectations by forecasting high-demand seasons and reminding you to order more stock before you run out.
Warehouse Robotics Solutions
Warehouse robotics solutions come in forms such as automatic guided vehicles (AGVs), autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), collaborative robots (cobots) and more. The main objectives of implementing robotic solutions are reducing human error, increasing warehouse efficiency and preventing accidents by minimizing the human element in the warehouse.
Some examples of warehouse robotics implementation include:
- Cobots that follow workers around the warehouse as mobile storage bins.
- AGVs that replace manual forklifts to move products.
- Automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) cranes that store goods in high shelves unreachable by human workers.
Top Warehouse Automation Technology Trends in 2022
All the technology we’ve mentioned in the article is just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many technological breakthroughs on the horizon, and each one has the potential to change the warehouse industry as we know it.
To help you prepare, we’ve compiled ten upcoming trends in warehouse automation you should keep an eye on:
1. Big Data and Predictive Analytics
Big data refers to large volumes of hard-to-manage data taken from sources like social media, transaction records and smart devices. These data volumes are often unstructured and tough to read, but they can provide so many insights that help your business identify upcoming trends and spot potential opportunities.
Big data goes hand-in-hand with predictive analytics. As the name implies, predictive analytics forecast upcoming events and situations by studying past data. For an eCommerce business, this might mean knowing which products will be popular and when they’ll be in demand.
2. Remote Warehouse Management
These days, you don’t even have to be on-site to manage a warehouse. Remote warehouse management gives you a real-time look into your daily warehousing operations and lets you make business decisions on the fly, no matter where you are. This is especially useful if your company runs multiple warehouses or distribution centers, meaning you don’t have to bounce around several locations just to ensure everything works.
3. Cloud-Based Warehouse Management Systems (WMS)
In the past, WMS providers installed warehouse management systems on cumbersome servers that take up space in your warehouse. Moreover, you had to arrange a vendor visit to get upgrades or fix problems.
Cloud-based WMS makes things much easier for modern warehouses and distribution centers. Instead of physical installations, you can access the WMS through the Internet. Your WMS vendor can also install updates and fix issues remotely without arranging a visit.
4. Machine Learning (ML) in Warehouse Labor Planning Systems
Machine learning is a field of artificial intelligence (AI) where computers can “learn” things through experience, much like humans. Labor planning in the warehouse is often complicated because there are many moving parts like worker availability, schedules, work zones and other elements.
Implementing machine learning in your labor planning systems allows it to learn by doing. As time passes, your autonomous planning system will know what to do and what not to do. Given enough time to learn, your warehouse labor planning system will be fully autonomous and save you a lot of effort because worker schedules are now AI-generated.
5. Mobile Robots Displacing Conveyors
Conveyor belts are one of the oldest warehouse automation tricks in the book. While they’re still viable today, they’re slowly being replaced by mobile robots because they can go places that conveyor belts can’t.
However, robots can still work together with conveyor belts. Some robots are designed to move items between conveyor belts, minimizing the role of human employees in transporting items across the warehouse. Reducing human interaction with the product decreases the likelihood of workplace accidents that cause injuries and product damage.
6. Blockchain Technology
Blockchains are permanent, irreversible ledgers that everyone can see. Implementing blockchain technology for recording warehousing transactions gives you the transparency necessary to avoid fraud and leaves an audit trail to ensure your warehouse complies with all local regulations.
7. Warehouse Drones
Unlike their robotic counterparts, warehouse drones aren’t big or strong enough to move products reliably. However, they’re great at capturing data by scanning barcodes on crates or boxes. A skilled operator can maneuver drones to high shelves and narrow aisles, ensuring every package in every nook and cranny of the warehouse is scanned
8. Internet of Things (IoT)
The core concept of IoT is a network consisting of multiple smart devices. In warehousing, IoT devices like sensors, RFID (radio frequency identification) tags and trackers monitor the movement of products to give you a constant real-time view of what’s happening in the warehouse.
By implementing IoT, you don’t have to do a physical check whenever you need information on a package or product in the warehouse.
9. Voice Assistants
Voice assistants in warehousing help employees navigate the warehouse to find the products they need. With voice navigation, the employee doesn’t have to constantly hold a device, so both hands are free and can focus on their picking job.
Additionally, voice assistants require the employee to listen closely to the directions, minimizing distracting conversations among coworkers.
10. Wearable Augmented Reality (AR)
Augmented reality in warehousing improves picking efficiency by showing employees how to navigate to the product and which box to take for packing. You can install AR technology on tablets, smartphones, or even wearable technology like AR smart glasses.
When the employee doesn’t know where to go, they can just pull their device up and get routed to the requested item for pickup.
Key Takeaways
Warehouse automation technologies improve day-to-day warehousing operations by increasing efficiency, reducing mistakes and minimizing the human element. You can fulfill more orders and ship quicker to secure customer loyalty by improving your warehouse operations.
Many warehouse automation options are available today, and even more technological advancements are coming. Following warehouse automation trends like big data, cloud-based WMS and robotics can help you stay ahead of the curve and learn which ones to implement in your company.
Warehouse Automation Technology FAQs
What are the new technologies in warehousing?
There’s a wide range of new technologies in warehousing. Some of the most prominent warehousing technology trends include, but are not limited to:
- Augmented reality picking
- Internet of Things integration
- Warehouse robots and drones
- Big data and predictive demand forecasting
- Cloud-based warehouse management systems
Will warehouses be fully automated?
These days, warehousing technology trends toward fully-automated warehouses and fulfillment centers. If the trends keep up, warehouses can be self-sufficient without human floor workers.
What are the types of warehouse automation?
The most common types of warehouse automation are warehouse management systems, inventory management software and warehouse robotics solutions.
Oct 17, 2022 | Blog
One of the biggest challenges facing the owners of eCommerce businesses is managing inventory. If you don’t have an accurate picture of the inventory that’s in highest demand by your target audience, you may end up not having enough inventory to fulfill orders, or you could end up overstocking items that aren’t selling.
There are several different ways to approach inventory management. One approach that may be used to increase efficiency is known as a just-in-time inventory system, sometimes called JIT or JST Inventory.
What is a Just-in-Time Inventory System?
A just-in-time inventory system is an inventory management system in which goods are received from suppliers only when needed. Different businesses may have different ways of implementing this method, but the idea is that the production and shipping of products is based on actual orders. Raw materials for production arrive when production begins and not sooner. The goal is to eliminate waste and limit the amount of inventory on hand.
For an eCommerce business to be successful, client satisfaction has to be a top priority. Just-in-time inventory control helps to optimize inventory so that your company only has on hand what’s actually needed. This can help to improve your return on investment by reducing nonessential costs.
Benefits of Just in Time Inventory Control
There are several benefits of using JIT. Some benefits of using this method of inventory management include:
- Less waste – Since this system revolves around client demand, there’s less waste involving unneeded items. When you only order what you need, you don’t end up with excessive unusable inventory. This allows manufacturers to quickly move on to production of different items if necessary.
- Saves money – There’s a lower upfront investment since less money is spent unnecessarily on raw materials. Labor expenses may be lower when there’s less inventory to handle.
- Reduced storage needs – Unwanted and unsold inventory doesn’t take up valuable warehouse storage space. This may eliminate the need for a large warehouse and can also reduce storage overhead costs such as rent and electricity.
- Eliminates or reduces production delays – When only wanted items are being produced, there’s less chance your clients might be impacted by production delays.
Using this method can improve productivity and delivery times since the time and resources needed for order fulfillment aren’t being spent on unnecessary stock. Less inventory means less chance of items held in storage being damaged. It also means it’s less likely you will end up with stock nobody wants that has to be cleared at a lower price.
JIT can be especially beneficial to new businesses that don’t have a lot of cash available that would normally need to be tied up in inventory. This approach can help to reduce costs so it’s a good idea to use this method when you have limited warehouse space or limited staff to manage inventory or perform inventory audits.
Drawbacks to Just in Time Inventory
While there are many benefits to using the just-in-time system, there are a few possible drawbacks to keep in mind when choosing to use this method of inventory management. One risk that businesses take when they use just-in-time inventory control is that a disruption in the supply chain means there’s usually no backup stock to fill new orders. This could end up delaying production and delivery when clients place additional orders. This type of disruption means sales could come to a halt.
If orders for products are more than the amount forecasted, shortages can create delays in fulfilling orders. For just-in-time inventory to work, your business needs to be able to rely on timeliness and top performance from suppliers. There are no guarantees that suppliers can consistently deliver items promptly. Sourcing raw materials locally can help shorten the time it takes to receive materials.
Tracking and Organizing Inventory
Just-in-time processing requires accurate data to manage inventory, meaning that all inventory has to be carefully tracked and organized. It’s imperative that your eCommerce business accurately determines inventory forecasts.
An effective way to do this is by using real-time inventory tracking with SKUs, which are stock-keeping units. The technology behind SKUs makes it possible to track stock digitally. This can help you to be aware of what items are in the highest demand and when items need to be replenished.
Is Just-in-Time Inventory Management Right for Your Business?
Just-in-time inventory management is often a good choice for small businesses that need to limit the amount of money they invest in inventory upfront. With fewer items in inventory, the return on investment may be higher. Another benefit to keeping fewer items in inventory is improved quality control. With fewer items to manage, there’s a better chance of a lower rate of breakage and improved ability to find production errors.
A just-in-time system can cut costs and reduce waste but there’s little room for error or supply chain disruption. In order for a just-in-time system to run smoothly, it’s important to accurately forecast orders and track current stock using available real-time technology.
To find out more about ShipHero’s fully outsourced fulfillment solution, talk to one of our Fulfillment Experts today.
Click HERE to Schedule a Meeting with Our Sales Team.
About ShipHero
ShipHero is a US-based, leading solution provider in the fast growing eCommerce fulfillment space. ShipHero served over $5 billion of eCommerce orders in 2020 and is growing rapidly. ShipHero provides warehouse management software for brands that operate their own warehouses as well as outsourced fulfillment as a service from ShipHero owned and operated North American warehouses. Some notable customers include Universal Music Group, Glossier and Canadian Tire. ShipHero is a Shopify Plus partner and more than 10% of Shopify Plus stores globally use ShipHero.
Follow us today on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Aug 2, 2023 | Blog
The supply chain is so complex that even the biggest businesses outsource some of their processes to other companies. You must sign agreements with the manufacturers, vendors, suppliers, and logistics service providers to ensure that the service level agreements do what you want them to do. The provisions of these contracts vary according to the client’s market niche and the logistics services it needs.
What is a 3PL Service Agreement Template?
When a company hires another entity to provide logistics services for it, this is called third-party logistics, also known as 3PL. If you Google any topic related to logistics, you will find that most major companies in a variety of sectors use 3PL. In business, airtight contracts with lots of details are the surest way to avoid trouble. If you simply base your business relationship on a verbal agreement or vaguely written contract, you are asking for risk, conflict, legal disputes, and financial losses. Do not simply let a carrier start providing transportation, shipment, or delivery services for you without first signing a logistics contract.
A 3PL service agreement outlines the business relationship between your company (the client) and the company that will be providing logistics services for you. At minimum, this document should list the names and contact information of the parties (you and the logistic service provider) and the services the logistics service provider will provide. It should also contain clauses about when the agreement begins and ends, how much you will pay for the services, and the consequences if one of the parties does not fulfill its contractual obligations or is not in compliance with the terms of the contract.
In other words, a 3PL service agreement needs all the elements of business agreements. Therefore, downloading a PDF file of a 3PL service agreement template is a good place to start when drafting your agreement.
Drafting a Third-Party Logistics Agreement
No two business agreements are alike. The main limitation of using a downloadable 3PL logistics agreement template is that they are too generic. All business agreements must respect the law and serve as a basis for contract negotiations, but your 3PL logistics agreement should also include detailed definitions related to the specific activities in which the parties are agreeing to engage. For example, these documents should clearly identify the names and taxpayer ID numbers of the companies involved as well as the contact information of the employees or partners who are signing the agreement on behalf of the company.
Next, it is time to outline the main terms of the agreement. What will the service provider do for the client? How much must the client pay? Must the client provide the service provider with any equipment to fulfill its tasks?
The biggest failure of most do-it-yourself business agreements is their failure to address all the legal nuts and bolts. If contract templates contain these provisions at all, it is probably just a legal boilerplate that is not specific enough to protect you from liability in the event of a dispute or a breach of contract. For example, what is the deadline to give notice in writing if one party wants to terminate the contract early without paying a penalty? Which party is responsible for paying for the insurance that covers loss or damage to the client’s merchandise when it is in the custody of the carriers? The contract should also contain language about which state’s laws have jurisdiction to rule on lawsuits arising from the contract. Must the parties consent to arbitration in accordance with the provisions of the contract before they have the right to file a lawsuit?
3PL Service Agreement Template Sample Download
It is possible to find downloadable forms that you can use as a starting point for your agreement with a 3PL service provider. The details of the agreement will be different depending on the services you are outsourcing. For example, is the 3PL service provider warehousing your items in its own facility, or is it handling order fulfillment, inventory management, pick and pack in your company’s own warehouse? Is it tracking orders and reporting them to the client, or is it transporting shipments of freight directly to customers?
Key Terms in a 3PL Service Agreement
Your 3PL agreement should identify the parties to the agreement and specify when and how each party shall perform its duties. It should specify what changes to the agreement one party can do at its discretion, and which ones it can only do with the approval and consent of both parties, including but not limited to adding more parties to the contract or extending the term of the contract.
The 3PL service agreement should state the expectations about invoicing and payment. If one party loses its ability to continue the performance of its contractual responsibility, the contract should contain a reference to the first step each party should take. It should indicate which documentation is necessary to show receipt and approval of the contract. The dispute resolution portion of the contract is the most challenging to write.
Procurement Logistics
Procurement logistics is the phase of operations that deals with getting the materials you need to the right location. The supplies that clients might be procuring could be raw materials, parts to assemble in consumer goods, and even finished products to ship to consumers. The availability and cost of certain goods, especially raw materials, are sometimes outside the control of the parties to the contract. The contract should contain instructions for a system of notification and negotiation about the fluctuation of prices in response to the changing costs of materials.
Production Logistics
Production logistics deals with the aspects of projects that handle the production of goods and the processing of materials. You might wish to outsource this part of the project to facilities with a lot of specialized experience with these procedures. You can ensure that this part of the work meets safety standards when you outsource it to companies with the capabilities to produce goods at the volume, weight, sizes, and quantity that you need for reasonable rates. These companies will likely also have streamlined systems for pricing, tracking expenses, and collecting payments. You can simply trust that you will receive the products in the amount ordered and then pay the invoice and be sure that the workflow will proceed to the next stage smoothly.
Distribution Logistics
Distribution logistics deals with the manner in which the goods travel to the people all over the world who order them. In the interest of customer service, it is a good idea if you store your products in various warehouses. This requires the outsourcing of warehousing unless your company has enough resources to own and operate multiple warehouses.
Effective distribution logistics requires you to compile and study a lot of data. Consultants can analyze your data and give you advice about how best to meet the demands of customers while keeping your costs low. In addition to the consultant’s recommendations, you should solicit suggestions from customers about the accuracy of orders and the assistance they receive. You should also compile data about damages to property during the delivery process. If you take all of these KPIs into account, you can make the best decisions about your distribution logistics strategy.
Reverse Logistics
The purposes and intended results of reverse logistics are the same as any other aspect of logistics, except that the process moves in reverse. Customers send items back to distribution warehouses. The company processes the claims and sends payment back to the customers, or else sends them a replacement article to compensate for the defective one, in the case of exchanges.
This is the most common type of reverse logistics, but there are also others. For example, some categories of reverse logistics involve warehouses sending unsold or unsatisfactory products back to production plants. The efforts required for reverse logistics seem more burdensome than for other types because no one profits.
Critical Areas to Consider in a 3PL Service Agreement
A 3PL service agreement should be concise and readable. It should have the company name and contact information on a title page. The next part should be a checklist of instructions that the parties need to do to complete the agreement. This way, you can help the service provider achieve the agreement correctly and minimize delays.
Termination Rights
To be sufficiently detailed, a 3PL service agreement might be multiple pages long; this is just the nature of legal contracts. It is only fair if both parties have the choice to terminate the contract ahead of schedule. The contract should specify what each party must do to accomplish this and whether the other party is entitled to compensation.
Indemnification
The agreement should state the situations in which one party is not liable for financial losses incurred by the other party. These situations often include force majeure events, which are adverse events beyond the control of the parties. They include shortages of materials due to natural disasters or disruptions caused by wars.
Protection Against Double Payment
The agreement should include a detailed outline of the procedures for collecting payment. This ensures that the party receiving money gets their payment on time and that the payments collected are accurate. Insufficiently detailed agreements can lead to double payment and other mix-ups that can cause delays and confusion and harm the business relationship.
Key Takeaways
Outsourcing is the key to scaling your business, and you will need to rely on other companies to manage various parts of your supply chain logistics. Each company that provides logistics services with you should sign a 3PL service agreement to govern the business relationship between your company and the service provider. You can find 3PL service agreement templates available for download online, but you should modify them so that they are specific to the services you are outsourcing. It is also a good idea to have a business law attorney review your 3PL service agreement before you sign it.
Frequently Asked Questions
A truly successful business agreement must go through a few rounds of apparently picky questions to ensure that your agreement covers all of the situations in which you might need to resolve a dispute arising from the agreement. These are some questions that eCommerce business owners frequently ask when entering into service agreements to outsource their logistics services:
How Can I Ensure a Fair 3PL Contract?
It is the fine print about legal procedures that separates a fair contract for an unfair one. Anyone can write a contract agreeing that Party A will perform the following services for Party B, and Party B will pay Party A X amount of money, and the courts will probably enforce it. Fairness comes in the contractual procedures, though. What should they do to modify the terms of the contract if necessary? How should the parties repair a breach of contract? Which situations absolve the parties of liability if they cannot perform their contractual obligations? Should they resolve disputes through arbitration or litigation? If litigation is an option, which courts should have jurisdiction to rule on lawsuits arising from the contract?
What are Common Pitfalls in 3PL Contract Negotiation?
Money is the main reason that contract negotiations fall apart. Often, the service provider wants the client to pay more, or the client wants to pay less. In order to arrive at a price that is acceptable to both parties, they might have to change other terms of the contract.
How Can I Protect My Business in a 3PL Contract?
You can protect your business in a 3PL contract by making your contract as specific as possible instead of just using a generic one. You should also go over your contract with a lawyer before you sign.
Contact ShipHero today for a demo.
Dec 30, 2022 | Blog
What is Warehouse Automation?
Warehouse automation solutions can help reduce the need for manual labor and improve accuracy and speed in the fulfillment of orders. While automation in warehouses is still a fairly new concept, there are already a wide range of solutions available and several warehouses have begun adopting as much automation as possible. Especially within the recent COVID years where supply chain and logistics companies were expected to double (and sometimes triple) their workloads. Warehouse automation refers to the use of technology and automation to improve the efficiency and productivity of warehouse operations. This can include the use of mobile robots and other automated equipment and softwares to handle tasks such as picking, packing, moving and tracking inventory, and shipment tracking.
How Does Warehouse Automation Work?
Most warehouse automation systems will use a combination of software, sensors, barcode scanners, robotics, and other technologies to track the movement of goods within the warehouse. This data is then used by the software to generate reports and provide real-time updates on inventory levels, order status, and other important information. The specific functionality of a warehouse automation solution can vary depending on the specific needs of the warehouse and the type of software being used.
Why Small and Mid-Size Warehouses Can and Should Automate
While automation may seem like something only large-scale warehouses can afford, automation truly is for all warehouse facility sizes. Advantages such as automated storage and retrieval (AS/RS) systems are becoming wildly popular in any sized warehouse. Plus automation protects your warehouse as well. It both reduces human error and risk, while speeding up your operations and offering a higher rate of efficiency. We have all seen within logistics a technology upheaval is taking place, and warehouse automation is only going to improve. That’s why it’s key to get in on the ground floor and begin automating as many processes as you can so your warehouse can stay ahead of the competition no matter its size.
Benefits of Small-Scale Warehouse Automation
The client experience is everything. And the more automated your warehouse is the more you can handle increased client demand. Warehouses who implement automation can do more with less and minimize human error. They get benefits like:
- Enhanced data
- Low stockout events
- Highly optimized warehouse space
- Improved inventory control
- A high level of workplace safety and employee satisfaction
- Reduced operational costs
- Higher operating speeds and accuracy rates
With all of these benefits warehouse automation simply can’t be ignored and it’s quickly becoming a solution your warehouse needs or you may fall behind.
When to Automate Your Warehouse
But how do I know when is the right time to automate my warehouse? Between peak season and trying to keep things up and running, making such a switch in your technology may seem daunting. We recommend reviewing several factors when considering automation. If you see a rise in client order delays, inaccurate inventory counts, using spreadsheets to manage your warehouse, or if you have a limited workforce yet your procedures are labor-intensive, it is time to automate. To do so, you’ll want to examine your supply chain from head to toe, identify gaps in your physical and technological processes, and recruit an expert to help you make the switch.
Types of Warehouse Automation Technology
There are several types of warehouse automation solutions which can help you become automated. We’ve listed a few below:
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- Inventory Management Software: These types of software allow you to track inventory using processes of automation such as barcode scanning, inventory optimization, stock notifications, and report generation.
- Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS): This can include tote shuttles and product carrying vehicles to retrieve products.
- Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs): These robots use GPS to develop routes through your warehouse at max efficiency and are safe to operate with humans around them.
- Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGVs): These vehicles follow a fixed path within your warehouse using magnetic strips or sensors and cannot be used with spaces that have a high volume of human traffic.
- Automated Sortation Systems: This conveyor system will both identify an item and move it to the required warehouse location using barcodes, scanners, and RFID tags.
- Goods-to-Person (GTP): Inclusive of carousels, conveyors, and lift systems, to help improve the speed of warehouse picking.
Challenges of Warehouse Automation
While warehouse automation is highly needed in any warehouse size, you should first understand significant capital is usually required to get started. Not only in purchasing the equipment but in order to get the help needed for your business to set it up correctly and get it running smoothly. And with any equipment there is always the chance of failure within these processes. And if your equipment goes down, you can get unscheduled down time which can hurt your businesses delivery and efficiency rates. The best way you can avoid these downtimes is to schedule regular maintenance on your automated systems. There are third-party companies you can contract to do this service for you. If you keep your equipment regularly maintained it is highly unlikely to break down.
Ways to Automate Small and Growing Warehouse Operations
If you take a highly strategic approach to your application of automation you can benefit from these processes quickly. In many ways these solutions pay for themselves once they are up and running. Here are four steps to help you in your automation journey:
#1 Assess the Efficiency of Existing Operations
You must understand where you are at today in order to prioritize the automation you purchase first. This means you need to review your operational goals and understand where these goals succeed and where they fall short. If your workers struggle to do their work quickly, or you have continually been surprised by empty product stock, this can give you some idea of what automation will help your warehouse the most.
#2 Search Out Solutions That Increase Worker Efficiency
Your workers need technology which is simple to use. Technology which requires a high rate of training to understand will slow down your processes not only when you implement, but when you get new workers as well. So make sure the technology you choose is easy to use and to implement with a highly user-friendly interface.
#3 Find Ways to Improve Overall Workflow
Once you have provided your employees with technology that enhances their productivity, you need to evaluate your workflows. Review what labor-intensive and tedious tasks could be handled by AMRs (or other automation) instead of your employees. Reviewing the workflows in your warehouse allows you to process what is outdated and what works so you can implement automation accordingly.
#4 Select Technology That Can Grow With Your Business
As you automate, you will grow. It is often a result of the efficiency which comes with automation. Knowing this it is a good idea to start with software automation first which will grow and expand as you do, then begin adding robot technology into your warehouse as your business grows. Finding a partner who can work as a strategic advisor to you in this warehouse automation will be key in successfully implementing these practices.
Warehouse Automation Best Practices
As you look to automate your warehouse, we have identified a few best practices to help you along the way.
Invest in Scalable Solutions
Whether it be a warehouse automation technology, or robotics these solutions need to have the capability of scaling with you. Meaning you should have no problem integrating these technologies into future warehouse locations, teaching new employees, or evolving with supply chain partnerships.
Integrate with a WMS
Any automation software you utilize should integrate directly into your WMS platform. These solutions specifically should help you manage and track inventory as well as offer dashboards and reports with key inventory insights.
Perform Continuous Cycle Counts
Once you implement automated data collection systems you can use barcode scanning and RFID tags to help you automate your continuous cycle counts. With this technology you can validate the inventory levels in your WMS and check for any discrepancies using reporting dashboards.
Automate Data Collection
This is a great place to start when it comes to automating your warehouse. Cloud-based solutions which use barcode scanners are one of the simplest, low-cost paths to automation. Starting here allows you to eliminate human error and use the barcode scanners to capture highly needed performance and inventory data which can be used for further analysis.
Optimize Receiving
When you optimize receiving you gain the ability to identify incoming product information such as dimensions, classifications, and packaging. Using this data, your warehouse automation triggers specific rules to determine where to store and how to handle these products. Automating as much as you can from the moment a product enters your warehouse makes your workflows highly streamlined down the road.
Evaluate Warehouse Design
Some don’t realize to be successful many physical automation solutions like AS/AR systems do need space to be as successful as possible. Which means you may need to rework your warehouse with the help of a solution vendor so you are optimized for automation.
Selecting the Right Automation Solutions
We already know automating your warehouse is a quick way to improve efficiency and speed, but automation has many different solutions in the mix that may be right for some warehouses and not for others. When you invest in warehouse automation you should first decide the process in which you want to automate and what solutions to add first which can help build up to other solutions.
There are several levels of automation solutions to pick from including basic automation which includes scanning systems and basic conveyor systems. System automation which involves a software based system often to automate inventory, order picking, and performance reports. Mechanized automation which includes physical robotics. And advanced automation which means you use automation solutions from all of the previous three types. With how many automation solutions are out there, and the fact that these solutions are expected to grow tenfold in the coming years, you need to find an automation expert to help you along the way so you can pick the right automation solution in the right order. Especially because “right” will look different for every warehouse.
Key Takeaways
With automation technology, warehouses are no longer considered slow growing and highly manual work. Innovative automation will continue to propel the logistics industry as demand grows higher and worker availability plummets. Now, whether your warehouse is large or small, you have the benefit of using automation to get more tasks done with less. In fact, warehouse automation stats show automating your logistical systems makes a huge difference when it comes to warehouse efficiency. Deloitte did an analysis of supply chains and found, “79% of companies with high-performing supply chains achieve revenue growth superior to the average within their industries.” Which means if you don’t have automation up and running yet, it’s definitely something you should get started right away!
Small-Scale Warehouse Automation FAQs
How Much Does It Cost to Automate a Warehouse?
Warehouse automation costs depend on the needs and size of your warehouse. You will need to first understand your own processes, and the software or robotics you’ll need to improve them, before you’ll get a scope of cost.
What Are the Types of Warehouse Automation?
When it comes to warehouse automation most different solutions can fall within two types: process automation and physical automation. While physical automation is specific to the process of moving products and often uses robots, process automation is about gathering and utilizing data so daily tasks can be automated and reporting presented with key insights.
Are There Any Fully Automated Warehouses?
Yes. Some warehouses are known as dark warehouses. The name comes from the fact that these warehouses don’t need lighting because they have no operators working inside of them. These dark warehouses are common in the automotive, food, and eCommerce industries.
Dec 1, 2022 | Blog
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 | Blog
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.
Nov 2, 2022 | Blog
If you’re a small or medium business owner that takes credit card payments online, you’ve probably heard of Square even if it’s not your preferred payment platform. They’ve been all over the news as a success story of a company that grew from a niche manufacturer of payment processing hardware for small merchants into a $100-billion-plus financial ecosystem.
And if you’re a client of Square Online or thinking about becoming one, then you know you need a strong, reliable fulfillment partner to complement the ease of use Square Online offers. Because if only two of the three elements of your customers’ experience with you are operating at peak efficiency (shopping and paying), and the third (fulfillment) is lacking, you’re playing with fire:
- 45% of shoppers expect their items to be delivered within four to five days
- 69% of online shoppers say they will be significantly less likely to shop with a retailer if they do not deliver within two days of the promised date
- 16% of online shoppers will take their business elsewhere after one incorrect delivery date
Before getting into the best fulfillment options for Square Online users, below is a quick recap for new eCommerce entrepreneurs. If you’re a veteran in the eCommerce space, skip down to “How We Choose the Best Square Fulfillment Companies.”
What is Square?
Square is a mobile payment processing app and card reader, and the very first of its kind, which is why the adoption rate was so high.
Overnight, Square (and then Square Online) let anyone accept credit card payments with their phones or tablets. And that “anyone” included those who up until that point only knew their business as a cash business like farmers’ market and flea market vendors.
Square was also unique when it launched because it didn’t require contracts, commitments, applications or monthly fees. All you needed was an email address and knowledge of how the Square dashboard works.
Today, Square Online is a complete revenue collection system for vendors on and offline; every account holder is enabled to accept online orders, ring up orders at POS and receive payments through the Square dashboard.
What is Order Fulfillment?
Order fulfillment is a quick way to describe the process of receiving a purchase order from a customer, processing that order and getting the purchased product to the purchaser. The fulfillment process begins when a customer’s order is received and ends when that customer receives their order.
When the customer receives the item or items they ordered in the time they were promised, this is considered positive fulfillment. If a hiccup anywhere along the fulfillment chain disrupts the process and the customer either receives their package late or doesn’t get what they asked for, this is considered negative fulfillment.
How Does the Square Fulfillment Process Work?
Square (and Square Online) makes fulfillment extremely easy for anyone from the Square dashboard.
From your Square dashboard that you can integrate into your site, you can set up curbside pickup or shipping fulfillment for any item. And you can set up a shipping fee if you see fit. Alternatively, you can use Square Online to build your own eCommerce site with a fulfillment option.
Either way, once you’re ready to accept orders with Square Online, you can choose your fulfillment method form the Square dashboard: fulfill yourself (i.e., you find the item, wrap it, box it and add arrange for curbside pickup or prepare the shipping label, ship it and track the shipment to make sure it gets to your customer), or you can bring in a third-party logistics (3PL) company for fulfillment.
What Does a 3PL Order Fulfillment Provider Do?
A 3PL order fulfillment provider will set the fulfillment method and handle the entire fulfillment process. It’s a massive headache off your plate and it gives you back hours of time per week (or more depending on how much you sell and how many shipping labels you have to produce) to put towards growing your business.
Some 3PLs will be software to help you pick, pack, create shipping labels and ship items purchased by your customers. Others own and operate their own warehouses to store your products and ship from there. And a few (like ShipHero) offer both.
What Are the Benefits of Using an eCommerce Order Fulfillment Service?
As mentioned above, the big benefit of using a 3PL for eCommerce fulfillment is getting rid of a huge pain in the neck, which you can do right from the Square dashboard.
The fulfillment process has so many moving parts and so much that can go wrong along the way that entire college-level courses are dedicated to it. And if you run an eCommerce business, you’re most likely too busy to take it. This would put you in a disadvantageous position if things went off the rails.
With a 3PL behind the scenes, whatever happens wouldn’t be your problem. And if the worst did happen, you’d know you had real experts in the field to respond, react and fix the issue before it cost you a customer.
Find out more about ShipHero’s fully-outsourced Fulfillment Solution now.
Factors to Consider While Selecting an Order Fulfillment Partner for Square Online
Like in almost every other business-to-business service market, the 3PL options for fulfillment are plentiful and varied, with many pretenders for every one contender. That’s why it’s important to be diligent in your research before selecting a 3PL fulfillment partner for your eCommerce business.
Fulfillment Type/Order Fulfillment Speed
This is the biggest one because failure here can lead directly to lost business (as stated above). You should definitely be looking for a 3PL that offers some sort of same-day delivery, as 41 percent of consumers are willing to pay a charge for same-day delivery.
Pricing and Storage/Fulfillment/Transaction Fees
On the surface, you’ll pay more for 3PL fulfillment than if you were to do it yourself. But if time is money, the investment in self-fulfillment is substantial. So, the goal when finding a 3PL is to spend less than you’d spend doing it yourself. Only you know that number, but be steadfast getting under it.
Returns Management
Less than one in 10 products bought in bricks-and-mortar stores are returned. Online, it’s close to 30 percent. So, the effectiveness of your returns process is very important for operations, but also for customer retention: 92 percent of consumers surveyed said they would buy again if the product return process was easy.
What to Look for in a Square Online Fulfillment Partner
Once you’ve narrowed down your list of possible 3PL vendors, you’d be wise to look under the hoods of each to make sure they can work with Square Online and the Square dashboard, and that they are in fact a fulfillment expert for Square Online. How well they execute the fulfillment type they promise will dictate their value to you.
eCommerce Platform Integration
This is obviously the most important part. If a 3PL provider can’t plug into Square Online or the Square dashboard, they’re of no use to you whatsoever.
Multichannel Integration
You never want your 3PL to keep you from growing, so you have to trust them to know everything about where you want to start selling next, and how to follow or adjust their fulfillment type to handle those orders.
Ease of Use
Often overlooked in 3PL selection is smoothness across the fulfillment process, and this starts with an interface that everyone along the line can use. And be picky. Find something you know will work for you and your team, where the transaction fees are minimal or non-existent, and that works with the Square dashboard.
How We Chose the Best Square Online Fulfillment Companies
You have many order fulfillment partner choices, so choosing one can be tough. Fortunately, we can help with that. Here are the criteria we use when choosing the best Square fulfillment companies:
- Shipping speed
- Fulfillment network
- Fulfillment software features
- Returns management
- Subscription, storage and shipping costs
The Best Square Online Fulfillment Companies
ShipHero was founded by a former eCommerce entrepreneur who was frustrated with the shipping software options available and decided to do something about it.
Pros
As mentioned above, the big pro ShipHero has going for it is the choice you have to either use their software to ship from your warehouse, or to let them ship your items from their warehouse, giving you back days of time by the end of every year.
Cons
Right now, the perceived knock on ShipHero is that it’s not a market leader yet. But that’s changing quickly.
Pricing
ShipHero Fulfillment offers flat rate shipping costs that includes picking, packing, shipping, mailing supplies and postage. Pricing is more competitive without shipping zones and costs are more predictable.
Find out more about ShipHero’s fully-outsourced Fulfillment Solution now.
2. ShipStation
ShipStation is a web-based order management and shipping software. They don’t have their own warehouses, but their software is used in North America, Europe and Australia.
Pros
- Fairly flexible and relatively easy to use
- Integrates with QuickBooks
Cons
- Can be clunky to use for some people
- Once your shipments reach 500 per day or more, the system loses its efficiency and can actually slow you down
Pricing
They offer six tiers up to $229.99/month based on how much you think you’re going to ship.
3. ShipBob
ShipBob is another web-based platform in the ShipStation family, and it has a built-in analytics cruncher.
Pros
- The ShipBob staff is very large, so help with problems when they arise is easy to get
Cons
- The learning curve is steep for beginners and tech newbies
- Struggle with API issues and compatibility
Pricing
Shipping costs are customized per client.
4. Ordoro
A shipping solution for small- to medium-sized businesses with a small business, homespun feel.
Pros
It has an intricate inventory tracking tool, which works well for eCommerce companies with multiple SKUs.
Cons
Overall, the features aren’t as robust as others.
Pricing
Pricing is definitely competitive, but you get what you pay for.
5. Shipedge
Shipedge has a suite of products to manage the entire order management lifecycle, supply chain and logistics in one centralized platform.
Pros
Easy to integrate with most platforms.
Cons
Not the most user-friendly interface.
Pricing
Pricing is modular.
Find out more about ShipHero’s fully-outsourced Fulfillment Solution now.
6. Printful
Printful is a 3PL fulfillment company primarily for eCommerce apparel companies, and specifically apparel creators.
Pros
You can use Printful to design your own products
Cons
- Its functionality is limited to the needs of its primary audience
- Products are not made until ordered which could cause shipping delays
Pricing
Pricing is customized
Final Thoughts About Square Fulfillment
If you’re a Square Online customer, you clearly care about quality and about giving your customers the best possible experience. By choosing the right 3PL shipping partner, you complete the loop.
Don’t work with Square? Find the best carriers for many of the highest profile marketplaces on the web.
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May 10, 2022 | Blog, Warehouse Management Software
ShipBob is an industry-leading third-party order fulfillment company. It delivers scalable services to startups and small and midsize businesses (SMBs) with affordable pricing, no monthly minimum, and a wide warehouse network to keep your shipping spend low.
However, ShipBob’s drawbacks may make it a less-than-perfect fit for certain businesses—including Amazon sellers, those with oversized or high-maintenance goods, and those seeking high levels of customer support. The company also received an influx of negative reviews recently, which may cause business owners to explore other options.
We evaluated dozens of providers to find the best ShipBob competitors for outsourcing fulfillment.
Read more at Fit Small Business
