Third-party order fulfillment services are suppliers who fulfill orders for other businesses like online retailers. eCommerce stores that don’t have warehouses or distribution facilities, as well as big brick-and-mortar retailers selling online, may benefit the hiring of an order fulfillment vendor, as it reduces costs for infrastructure and boosts efficiency in operations. In our ShipBob reviews, we take an in-depth look at the most popular order fulfillment companies and outline the organization and its unique features, such as pricing structures, plans, and main functions and strategies for the future.
Table of Content
What is ShipBob?
ShipBob can be described as a cloud-based program that you can access via all internet connections. It is targeted at small-business owners It offers businesses that sell online the following:
- Fulfillment solution
- Solution for managing inventory
- Warehouse management software
In the past, speedy shipping was a major advantage. Now? It’s a necessity. More than half of customers have abandoned their shopping carts due to poor delivery choices. With ShipBob’s fulfillment service provides two-day shipping, which is vital to meet the ever-changing demands of customers and markets.
ShipBob allows businesses to make use of customized packaging. An unboxing experience that is branded helps to make a lasting impression on clients.
ShipBob Reviews: Key Features
Inventory Management
The management of inventory helps you decide the quantity of inventory that should be available. This is because having too many inventory items could result in “dead stock,” and a shortage of stock can cause you to not be able to satisfy customer needs and lose out on sales.
To control inventory efficiently, ShipBob utilizes third-party logistics (3PLs) software. The system utilizes the information from previous orders to provide you with an understanding of the way you can divide your inventory among their warehouses. This will allow you to speed up shipping and low costs based on where your largest customers reside.
Order Management
ShipBob’s order management software keeps track of all deliveries from receiving the delivery, processing, and returns phases. It can also transmit tracking information to your customers.
If you link your shop with ShipBob, it will send your inventory to fulfillment centers that are convenient to ship your items from. So, when ShipBob receives the inventory, it’s cleaned and stored in designated locations.
Every order made by your customers is sent to ShipBob’s order management software. Then ShipBob assigns it to the most appropriate fulfillment center based on the customers’ location and the inventory levels.
Advanced Filters
ShipBob lets you find what you are looking for and save your data for future reference. It lets you sort orders by tracking number, date of purchase, the fulfillment center’s location, or even by the destination country.
Advanced Reporting
Utilizing ShipBob the app, you’re able to track the things that matter to you most, for example:
- Breakdowns of expenses
- Peak hours of fulfillment
- Revenue from the sale of products
- Orders are sold through the USPS zone
- Sales through channels
- Forecasted revenue
This data provides insight that will assist you in planning for the future and making better decisions regarding fulfillment and inventory.
Returns Management
Returns management is often a neglected aspect of order fulfillment. However, customers may also base their buying decisions on the ease with which they are able to return the item in the event of a need. Therefore, it is important to speed up the process of returning your items in addition.
ShipBob aids in automatizing the process of returning goods in an efficient method. For example, you could send back goods to the warehouse or let them reuse damaged or defective goods.
Customer Support
In the case of working with an outsourced fulfillment company, Communication is essential. Knowing whether your customers will get their orders in time is imperative.
Before contacting their customer service team, look at the Help Center to get answers from their vast knowledge database. You can also get direct assistance via their live chat option during working hours, or use their contact form outside of business hours.
ShipBob pros and pros and
ShipBob pros
If you’re a tiny online retailer, you might not have the space to store your inventory. On the other hand, if you’re generating more than a few sales each week, sending orders to customers in time could be challenging.
ShipBob tackles this by offering low-cost warehouse storage and shipping orders within two days. As a result, your customers will receive the best experience possible on your website with little effort on your part.
ShipBob can also be integrated with your various sales channels. This means that whether you’re selling items via social media, on the website you run, or even an online marketplace such as Etsy, ShipBob can handle the fulfillment of your orders.
ShipBob Cons
The main drawback of ShipBob is that it’s simply not designed to manage inventory. You can get basic inventory functions. However, these features are all tied to ShipBob’s component of the process: the customer’s order fulfillment. ShipBob offers tools to help you manage relationships with suppliers, product orders, and inventory delivery.
Furthermore, ShipBob struggles to accurately handle large orders and complete them. Therefore, if your business has customers who want to buy in large quantities, ShipBob won’t be the right choice.
In the end, ShipBob can be more costly than you imagine. Although the company claims that it can find you the most affordable offers on shipping that will reduce the cost, many customers complain of being charged high prices to ship their items, even over short distances. Shipping costs are also not disclosed in advance, meaning you might be charged the most expensive shipping cost without notice.
4 Shipbob alternatives
1. Shopify Fulfillment
Shopify Fulfillment is at the very top list. Shopify offers its well-known eCommerce platform with a vast collection of fulfillment centers across the US and Canada.
With Shopify’s two-day shipping, simple pricing, quick returns, and clever Warehouse management software that picks the most efficient place to store your merchandise based on the location of your customers, It is possible that you will prefer Shopify over ShipBob.
3. Simpl Fulfillment
Simpl Fulfillment is a technologically-driven third-party logistics company that provides shipping solutions for e-commerce companies and provides them with a real-time report of their orders, returns, and inventory. You can manage your business in one place by linking all your sales and marketplace channels. The 3PL software from Simpl Fulfillment provides an accurate report of the inventory.
Simpl Fulfillment comes with a robust web-based dashboard that allows business owners to manage the fulfillment of orders, including exchanges and returns. In addition, the platform changes inventory levels in real-time when changes are made across the stores that are connected. Simpl Fulfillment integrates with all major marketplaces and platforms like BigCommerce, Shopify, Amazon FBA, Magento, and eBay.
2. Red Stag Fulfillment
Red Stag Fulfillment is one of the most effective options for ShipBob for store owners who are tired of dealing with huge fulfillment companies. Red Stag works nicely if you need a 3PL partner who is able to be reached quickly without sacrificing speed. Red Stag is also helpful for shipping internationally, but it is primarily focused on efforts on speedy delivery of packages in the United States.
3. ShipMonk
ShipMonk offers fulfillment services for diverse businesses, including crowdfunding campaigns, subscription boxes, and retail storefronts. It also offers eCommerce websites and much more. With its software for managing inventory and its fulfillment warehouse system, it’s an excellent alternative to ShipBob.
If you’re looking for an outstanding service that ShipBob can’t offer, like 321-based services or seller-filled premium items, ShipMonk is a sensible option. Due to the set costs for promotional items and the cost of these items that decline in line with the volume of your monthly orders, ShipMonk pricing may also be more cost-effective for your business.
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