Efficient Shopify 3PL Solutions
Published on: June 4 2023 by pipiads
Shipping is a crucial part of e-commerce, and it can make or break a sale. As a co-founder of Unbound Merino, an e-commerce business built on Shopify, I understand the complexity that comes with shipping. In this article, I will share some pointers and considerations that I wish I knew when we were in the early stages of launching our business.
Considerations for Shipping Rates:
- Put yourself in the customer's shoes and consider their shopping experience.
- Determine whether you will charge the customer the full price of shipping or offer a flat rate, free shipping, or bake the shipping cost into the product price.
- Find the balance between keeping your sale profitable and the customer happy.
- Be aware that customers have high expectations around shipping, thanks to Amazon Prime.
Calculating Shipping Costs:
- Figure out how much it costs you to ship by considering the weight, dimensions, and packaging of your products.
- Use a shipping app like Desktop Shipper to automate the process of calculating shipping costs and printing labels.
- Find e-commerce shipping rates for different shipping couriers.
Pricing Your Shipping:
- Map out all the e-commerce costs associated with getting your product to the customer.
- Use a chart to determine how much you should charge for shipping.
- Do trial runs before shipping actual products to test the whole process.
Using a Third-Party Logistics Service (3PL):
- A 3PL can handle the entire shipping fulfillment process for you.
- Consider the cost of pick and pack rates per order if you ship multiple items in one box.
- You have less control over the customer experience when using a 3PL.
Shipping is a complex but essential part of e-commerce. By considering shipping rates, calculating shipping costs, pricing your shipping, and deciding whether to use a 3PL, you can develop a sound shipping strategy for your business. With Shopify's tools, you can streamline your day-to-day shipping tasks and create a shipping setup that works best for you.
Table of Contents About Efficient Shopify 3PL Solutions
- 3PL - Third Party Logistics Explained
- How I Got Faster Shipping On Shopify In 2021
- 2 DAY SHIPPING for SHOPIFY: How to Use Shipbob Fulfillment Service | 3PL Warehouse for Shopify Store
- Best 3PL for Shopify 2022. Choose Wisely
- Shipbob 3pl review 2022 | Shopify Outsourced Fulfillment
- The FASTEST 3PL For Shopify Stores In 2022
3PL - Third Party Logistics Explained
When selling on online marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, Shopify, or Etsy, you will need logistical services to get your goods from suppliers, store your inventory, and deliver your products to buyers. In this article, we will explain what you need to know about 3PL, as well as 1PL, 2PL, 4PL, and 5PL. We will answer the six most common and important questions regarding third-party logistics.
1. Why do I need a 3PL?
Amazon has implemented a new FBA inventory limit, which means that sellers can only send a limited amount of products to their fulfillment centers. This limitation poses a challenge for sellers, especially if they have negotiated great prices for a large order with their suppliers. A 3PL, or third-party logistics service, is an outsourcing solution for warehousing, distribution, and fulfillment services. It can help you optimize and scale your online business, allowing you to focus on product research and marketing.
2. What does a 3PL do, and what are the advantages of using a 3PL?
A 3PL provides services such as receiving parcels, storing inventory, prepping and shipping boxes, providing FBM services, accepting removal orders and returns, and freight forwarding. Using a 3PL can save you money, time, and provide expertise in shipping logistics. Additionally, 3PLs can make your operations flexible and scalable, especially if you sell seasonal products that fluctuate in demand. International 3PL services also allow you to test your products and sell in new markets without having to commit to buying warehouses or hiring staff.
3. What is the difference between a 3PL and a 4PL and a 5PL?
A 3PL receives and stores a product from a seller and fulfills the order on behalf of the seller. A 4PL manages 3PLs, acting as a manager of logistics services. A 5PL manages the supply chain from raw materials to production to storage to delivery to the customer, making it a full-service logistics provider. The degree of separation between the seller and the supply line increases with each level.
4. Does your company need a 3PL, a 4PL, or a 5PL?
For most ecommerce sellers, a standard 3PL service is all that is needed. The decision should be based on which service will make you the most profitable and
How I Got Faster Shipping On Shopify In 2021
In this article, we explore the ins and outs of Third Party Logistics (3PL) and how it can help businesses scale and improve customer experience. We provide a guide on how to set up a 3PL, including tips on choosing the right provider, understanding pricing models, and avoiding red flags. Here are some key takeaways:
- A 3PL manages all parts of the warehousing and fulfillment process, including receiving shipments, storage, and shipping orders to customers.
- Using a 3PL allows businesses to focus on other aspects of their operations, such as growing their brand and marketing.
- Businesses should consider using a 3PL if they are filling more than 10-20 orders per day, running out of inventory storage space, or receiving negative reviews due to long dropshipping lead times.
- When choosing a 3PL, businesses should do a quick Google search for as many providers as possible and ask for transparent pricing models and clear standard operating procedures.
- Red flags to look out for include poor integration with shopping carts, confusing onboarding processes, lack of barcodes, and inaccurate or unavailable real-time data.
- Businesses should also prioritize communication and customer service when selecting a 3PL provider.
- While working with a 3PL can provide greater capabilities, businesses should be realistic and expect some problems along the way.
Overall, using a 3PL can help businesses streamline their operations and improve customer experience, but it's important to choose the right provider and avoid red flags. By following these tips, businesses can set up a successful 3PL partnership and focus on growing their business.
2 DAY SHIPPING for SHOPIFY: How to Use Shipbob Fulfillment Service | 3PL Warehouse for Shopify Store
In this video, the speaker shares tips on how to get two-day shipping for your e-commerce products in your Shopify store. They discuss the different options available, such as using a 3PL company like ShipBob, Red Stag Fulfillment, Shipwire, or Freight Pros. By using these companies, you can send your products directly to their warehouses, and they will ship them to your customers in two to three days. The speaker also recommends using a trusted supplier like Source Inbox or Alibaba to order your products and ensure protection of your payment. By following these strategies, you can build a brand that consumers love and increase your sales. The speaker also promotes a free five-day Shopify training for those who want to learn more about taking their store to the next level.
Best 3PL for Shopify 2022. Choose Wisely
In this article, we will explore the top 3PL companies for Shopify. If you're not familiar with 3PL, it stands for third-party logistics, which refers to outsourcing e-commerce logistics processes to third-party businesses.
Services:
1. Shopify Fulfillment Network: This service streamlines your order fulfillment, returns, and product storage, allowing you to focus on your business. They offer fast delivery, easy returns, and clear pricing.
2. ShipBob: With over 7,000 trusted brands, ShipBob allows you to fill global orders from multiple countries. They have 30 fulfillment centers across six countries and offer affordable two-day shipping, easy-to-understand pricing, and hands-off fulfillment.
3. RedStag Fulfillment: This cloud-based order fulfillment service provides warehousing, shipping, kitting, inserts, same-day pick and pack, and returns processing. They offer a direct Shopify integration and have a reputation for excellent warehousing.
4. ShipHero: This service claims to be 30% faster than its competitors, with 99% shipping accuracy, 35% warehouse cost reduction, and three times the picking efficiency. They offer flat-rate pricing, no zone pricing, load balancing, and zone skipping.
5. Amazon FBA: This service allows you to pick, pack, and ship your orders, and make your products available for Amazon Prime free two-day shipping, free shipping, and more. It incentivizes you to sell on Amazon with no extra charges for Prime shipping.
Choosing the right 3PL for your Shopify store can save you time and headaches. Shopify Fulfillment Network, ShipBob, RedStag Fulfillment, ShipHero, and Amazon FBA are all excellent options to consider. Remember to weigh the benefits of each service and choose the one that best fits your business needs.
Shipbob 3pl review 2022 | Shopify Outsourced Fulfillment
In this article, we will be reviewing ShipBob, a tech-enabled third-party logistics provider that fulfills e-commerce orders for direct-to-consumer brands. We will give you the pros and cons of ShipBob based on our own real experience of using the platform with Shopify in 2021.
Using ShipBob for Your E-Commerce Store:
- ShipBob integrates with most e-commerce platforms such as Shopify, Wix, WooCommerce, and a bunch of others.
- When orders are placed on Shopify integrated with ShipBob, the fulfillment process goes something like this:
- The order details will be sent automatically to ShipBob when they come in.
- ShipBob then physically goes around and picks the items for your order.
- The order will be packaged up and shipped directly to your customer.
- ShipBob will then send back the tracking information to your e-commerce platform to close the loop.
Setting Up ShipBob for Your Shopify Store:
- Check that ShipBob is available in the country that you are in.
- Go to ShipBob's website and request a quote based on the amount of shipping you expect to do.
- Install the ShipBob app with your Shopify store.
- Change the inventory management from whoever is currently doing it to ShipBob.
- Send your products to the ShipBob warehouse.
- When your customer places an order for that product, it will go right through ShipBob to handle the rest.
Pros and Cons of Using ShipBob:
Pros:
- Made for e-commerce
- Easy and fast setup
- No monthly app fee
- Automated fulfillment
- Generally fast shipping
- Excellent customer support
- Allows you to focus on building your brand
- Allows you to ship in your own container, which reduces cost and is good for the environment
Cons:
- Not available in every part of the world
- Billable weight to calculate your fulfillment rates for shipping can cause cost blowouts if you're not careful
- Items shipped are based on billable weight more often than actual weight
- All costs in ShipBob are in US dollars
Overall, ShipBob is a great solution that does everything they promise. If you're considering using ShipBob, we recommend requesting a quote for your shipping rates based on your volumes and the number of products you have.
The FASTEST 3PL For Shopify Stores In 2022
Shopify's recent acquisition of 3PL company Deliv has led to the announcement of one and two-day delivery times across North America, starting with US merchants. This provides a small window for merchants to benefit from lower shipping costs before the integration is complete.
The fastest third-party logistics partner for a brand is vital for fast shipping times, especially when competing with Amazon's one-hour delivery. Shopify's partnership with Deliv will enhance its shipping network with the launch of Shop Promise, offering two-day and next-day delivery options for eligible US merchants for free.
Deliv's current shipping times are available in the US and over 220 countries worldwide, making it an attractive option for merchants to integrate with Walmart, eBay, Wish, and Amazon. The integration of Shopify's fulfillment network with Deliv will simplify the supply chain for merchants of all sizes.
Merchants can still shop for the best pricing and rates by going directly to Deliv's website before the integration is complete, which could result in pricing changes. Fast shipping is essential to a higher conversion rate, and Shopify's study found that 73.6% of shoppers believe shipping is key to their shopping experience, with 83.5% unlikely to shop again with a brand that had a poor shipping experience.
For e-commerce brands or store owners making 20-30k per month, booking a call with Very Shorts Double Call team can help scale their business with e-commerce marketing programs.
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