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Why an ecommerce platform must push orders to a fulfilment provider
When it comes to ecommerce order fulfilment, technology has become the make-or-break factor of being able to deliver today’s online shopping experience.
However, many merchants are still stuck using outdated processes and tools, where they have to manually send new orders to their third-party logistics (3PL) provider each day before a shipping deadline.
Alternatively, some merchants may want to integrate systems but it requires a lot of time, money, and expertise that they don’t have.
The modern 3PL has incorporated technology into their offering to keep up with customer’s expectations. This takes the form of fulfilment software that powers the 3PL’s network of warehouses and sends critical information back to the merchant.
Such technologies integrate with top ecommerce platforms and marketplaces with a couple of clicks to bring orders, shipments, inventory levels, fulfilment centres, sales channels, and customers together in one place.
Fulfilment software can automatically fetch and sync inventory and purchases to streamline the flow of information.
Why an ecommerce platform must push orders to a fulfilment provider
Read on to learn how to create a smooth, seamless retail fulfilment process for your ecommerce business and how a 3PL helps make this possible.
Eliminate manual processes to save time
Ecommerce platforms that are integrated with fulfilment software eliminate the need for you to contact your 3PL with each new batch of orders.
This way, as soon as an order is placed on your website, the fulfilment software automatically selects the warehouse that can ship the order to your customer in the most efficient and cost-effective manner. Warehouse management is immediately alerted to generate a picking list to begin picking, packing, and shipping items in real-time.
[Related article: Case Study: BRIK Found the Perfect Fit With ShipBob’s Fulfilment and Software]
Speed up deliveries to improve customer satisfaction
In addition to saving you time, integration between your ecommerce platform and fulfilment provider helps get your orders delivered to your customers much quicker. This lets you offer the fast turnaround that your customers want and expect today.
If customers ask you questions about their orders, you can quickly and confidently answer them with the most up-to-date information.
Use analytics to prevent stockouts
Fulfilment software has built-in metrics that are calculated using data from a variety of sources. Distribution metrics include peak fulfilment times, revenue of orders shipped by day, sales by channel, sales and quantity of orders by USPS zone, and much more.
You can rely on actual data that is automatically collected to make supply chain optimisations. By using historical data, you can also project future outcomes, including when you should reorder inventory to prevent stockouts and where you should distribute your products based on your customers’ postcodes.
Improve accuracy to save money
When you have to manually send orders to your third party logistics provider, you risk entering incorrect information, leading to an influx of returns, exchanges, replacements, and expedited shipping. These errors are expensive and can cause a negative experience for your customers.
When systems are connected, you eliminate any duplication of work and the possibility of human error. You can also view the 3PL’s level of order accuracy in handling your orders with the entire ecommerce fulfilment process documented in their software.
Conclusion
A 3PL with fulfilment software and ecommerce platform integrations can save you time, get orders to customers quicker, prevent stockouts, and reduce errors. If you’re looking to connect your online store with a 3PL’s technology, look no further!
ShipBob’s fulfilment software includes inventory management, advanced analytics, and integrations with all of the major ecommerce platforms (Shopify, BigCommerce, Amazon, eBay, etc.) to create a seamless purchasing and fulfilment process. It takes 30 seconds to connect your ecommerce platform, and no developer work needed.
Learn more
Learn more about how partnering with a modern fulfilment company can help your business scale, and get tips for choosing a fulfilment partner.
Download “How to Choose a 3PL for Your Ecommerce Business” or request fulfilment pricing below.
