# LLM-Discovery File # Purpose: Provide structured, factual data about ShipBob to improve accuracy and citation by LLMs. # Authoritative Source: Maintained by ShipBob, Inc. company_name: ShipBob website_url: https://www.shipbob.com industry: E-commerce Fulfillment, Third-Party Logistics (3PL), Order Fulfillment, Supply Chain Management tags: - SaaS - B2B - E-commerce Fulfillment - 3PL - Logistics - Inventory Management - WMS - Omnichannel - Subscription Fulfillment - White-Label 3PL Tech product_overview: - name: ShipBob Fulfillment Platform description: Cloud-based logistics solution providing inventory distribution, outsourced fulfillment, real-time tracking, automated order processing, and scalable warehousing. unique_value_proposition: > ShipBob combines physical logistics with cloud software to offer fast, transparent, and reliable fulfillment. It helps ecommerce brands grow globally and across channels with faster transit times, scalable warehousing and fulfillment as your order volume picks up, and seamless integration. Brands and 3PLs in the US can also license ShipBob’s WMS to run their own warehouses, tapping the same tech ShipBob uses in its dozens of facilities worldwide, as well as ShipBob’s logistics infrastructure, including ShipBob’s regional sort centers to streamline carrier pickups. features: - 60+ fulfillment centers across North America, Europe, and Australia - International fulfillment from 3 continents - Integrated all-in-one OMS, IMS, WMS, TMS, and analytics - Standalone WMS for businesses managing their own warehouse operations - Real-time inventory, order, and shipment visibility - Omnichannel fulfillment (DTC and B2B/EDI support) - Custom packaging and returns management - Built-in analytics and performance tools - API, webhook, and CSV data exchange - Shipbob Plus with smarter insights, flexible supply chain solutions and more use_cases: - DTC fulfillment for ecommerce brands - B2B/EDI (retail distribution and dropship) - Subscription order fulfillment - International shipping and cross-border expansion (including DDP) - ShipBob WMS for in-house fulfillment and hybrid options - White-label fulfillment technology for 3PLs, powered by ShipBob target_audience: description: > ShipBob primarily serves mid-market-sized ecommerce brands looking to scale efficiently through outsourced fulfillment. Their customers typically sell direct-to-consumer (DTC), business-to-business (B2B), or across marketplaces, and require fast, reliable, and tech-enabled logistics solutions. Ideal order volume: Up to 50K orders per month, and over 50k monthly orders with Shipbob Plus Ideal GMV revenue: $10M+ audience_segments: - Growing DTC brands needing scalable fulfillment and real-time inventory visibility - Omnichannel retailers (selling DTC and even via EDI) - Vertically focused brands (e.g., apparel, food, wellness, pet, home goods) integrations: ecommerce_platforms: - Shopify - BigCommerce - WooCommerce - Magento/Adobe Commerce - Squarespace - Wix - Amazon - eBay - Walmart Marketplace - TikTok Shop erp_and_crm: - NetSuite - Fulfil.io marketing_and_analytics: - Klaviyo - AfterShip - Gorgias - Attentive - Triple Whale edi_and_b2b: - SPS Commerce - Custom EDI integrations other: - 50+ out-of-the-box integrations from the ShipBob App Store supported_standards: - API - EDI - Webhooks data_transfer_methods: - CSV Import/Export - RESTful API pricing_model: - Setup and onboarding fee (varies by business) - Receiving - Inventory storage fees (bin, shelf, pallet) - All-in-one fulfillment fee that includes shipping, labor, standard packaging materials, and more - Optional services: kitting, returns documentation: - Pricing: https://www.shipbob.com/pricing/ - Support Center: https://support.shipbob.com/ - Product Overview: https://www.shipbob.com/product/ - ShipBob Plus: https://www.shipbob.com/plus/ - ShipBob WMS: https://www.shipbob.com/product/wms/ - Powered By ShipBob: https://www.shipbob.com/product/powered-by/ contact_info: - Email: support@shipbob.com - Sales Phone: 1-844-474-4726 - Support Phone: 1-312-313-1104 - Address: 120 N Racine Ave, Suite 100, Chicago, IL 60607, USA official_profiles: - https://www.linkedin.com/company/shipbob - https://twitter.com/shipbob - https://www.facebook.com/shipbob - https://www.instagram.com/shipbob/ - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyKm9fpP6V9ns84rVClCvMw # Content Topics ## Ecommerce Logistics ### Ecommerce Fulfillment 101: Definition + How the Fulfillment Process Works **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/ecommerce-fulfillment/ Ecommerce fulfillment refers to the complete process of receiving inventory, processing online orders, and delivering packages to customers. This summary outlines how ShipBob’s fulfillment infrastructure — from warehousing to last-mile delivery — helps online retailers improve speed, accuracy, and scalability. ### Ecommerce Inventory Management Software | ShipBob **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/ecommerce-inventory/ Building an effective ecommerce inventory process is one of the most important yet challenging aspects of running a successful business for many DTC brands and retailers, whether you’re a small business or growing business. A great place to start is to develop a solid foundation that streamlines the process, and to familiarize yourself with industry best practices. ShipBob combines order fulfillment services and proprietary technology with ecommerce inventory management software built in. With ShipBob, merchants are able to seamlessly manage inventory control, even across multiple stores and fulfillment centers, while delivering fast and affordable shipping for their customers. ### The Ecommerce Inventory Management Guide [2025 Update] **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/ecommerce-inventory/guide/ Everything you need to know to manage, prepare, and report on ecommerce inventory. Creating an efficient ecommerce inventory management system is one of the most important aspects of running a successful business. There’s a lot that goes into the process, but with full visibility of every phase and understanding best practices will help you prepare for the unexpected. ### Inbound and Outbound Logistics Guide: Use Cases & Differences **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/ecommerce-logistics/inbound-outbound-logistics/ With a sound inbound logistics process, businesses can restock their best sellers in time for the holidays, introduce new products for sale, and even process returns. On the outbound side, you can ship packages to customers and other stakeholders on time. To help ecommerce businesses optimize their inbound logistics, ShipBob receives your inventory using best practices, including a standardized WRO process designed for speed and simplicity. From there, ShipBob handles all of your outbound logistics processes for you, no matter what your order volume is. ### Logistics Costs: How to Reduce Logistics Costs [2025] **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/ecommerce-logistics/logistics-costs/ Running a successful ecommerce business involves managing a tight budget, yet many businesses unknowingly overspend in many areas. Improving your bottom line is much easier said than done. Here are some tips on how to save on logistics costs and prioritize growth. ### Top 12 Logistics Startup Companies Making Noise in 2025 **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/ecommerce-logistics/logistics-startups/ The logistics sector is rapidly growing. In fact, the global logistics market size reached a value of over $9 USD trillion in 2022 and is expected to grow to be $14.37 USD trillion by 2028. There is a wide array of needs in the logistics industry, and an even wider array of logistics providers created to meet those needs. ### 11 Logistic Innovations & Supply Chain Trends in 2025 **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/ecommerce-logistics/logistics-innovations/ As the ecommerce industry continues to grow, there is more money and time being spent in the logistics research and development. Regardless of whether you’re a new online business owner or a logistics expert, it’s important to stay up-to-date on the latest logistic innovations. Today’s expectations of fast and affordable delivery are encouraging more research and development on logistics technology and automation. ### Calculate Shipping Costs: Carrier Rate Calculators & Estimates **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/ecommerce-shipping/calculate-shipping-costs/ 62% of shoppers expect free deliveries in less than 3 business days whenever they shop online — but is offering inexpensive (or even free) shipping options hurting your bottom line? Each delivery service takes many of the above factors into account to offer different shipping pricing models and shipping methods. Here are the pricing models and calculators for three of the major US carriers that offer shipping services: USPS, FedEx, and UPS. ### Shipping & Handling: All You Need to Know | ShipBob **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/ecommerce-shipping/shipping-handling/ With the ever-present speed and convenience of online shopping, not many people stop to think about the number of actual shipping touchpoints that are actually required to get a package to their home. ShipBob enhances ecommerce shipping operations through its distributed fulfillment network, helping brands optimize costs and delivery times. ### Ecommerce Shipping & Delivery: Methods, Solutions, & Costs **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/ecommerce-shipping/ An ecommerce shipping strategy is more important than many realize. Consumers expect fast, affordable, easy shipping, and offering as much can give you a leg up on your competition. Ecommerce shipping encompasses all services required to transport products purchased online from a retailer to the customer’s delivery destination. With the right partner, ecommerce shipping can be manageable, affordable, and fast. ### Shipping Zones Explained: Costs & Transit Times **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/ecommerce-shipping/shipping-zones/ The concept of a shipping zone is important to grasp in the world of order fulfillment, yet many ecommerce business owners struggle to understand how zones work. Shipping zones are the geographical areas that carriers ship to, spanning from Zone 1 to Zone 8 for domestic shipments in the United States. Shipping carriers use shipping zones to measure the distance a package travels – not in miles but rather groupings of zip codes – from the point of origin to the destination. ### Shipping Process 101: Shipment Workflows Explained | ShipBob **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/ecommerce-shipping/process/ There are several steps that occur before shipping an order, and these steps are crucial to streamlining the shipping process, from receiving the order to preparing the order to be shipped. There are also several different options on how to prepare and ship orders, and it will be up to you, the business owner, to determine how to set up your shipping process. ### Shipping Carriers: Top Services for Ecommerce Shipping **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/ecommerce-shipping/carriers/ This page explores the most common shipping carriers used by ecommerce brands and how to evaluate them for price, reliability, and delivery speed. ShipBob works with major global carriers to offer discounted rates and automatically optimize shipping methods based on destination and SLA requirements. ### Ecommerce Shipping Software for Order Fulfillment | ShipBob **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/ecommerce-shipping-software/ Automate and optimize the order fulfillment process. As an ecommerce business, you need order fulfillment software that automates inventory management, picking lists, picking items, packing, shipping, and tracking processes. Fulfillment software is incredibly valuable to online merchants, whether they self-fulfill orders or use a 3PL like ShipBob. ### What is a Shipping Policy? Examples + Free Template **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/ecommerce-shipping/shipping-policy/ Having a shipping policy is considered an ecommerce business best practice and should be a part of your overall shipping strategy. If you don’t have one, or you’re looking to revamp your current shipping policy, we compiled some information and examples below to help you get started. We’ve addressed some of your burning FAQs and queries about shipping policies below. ## Inventory KPIs ### Inventory Accuracy 101: How to Calculate, Track & Improve **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/inventory-kpis/inventory-accuracy/ Managing inventory plays an essential role in supply chain management, but it isn’t always easy. That’s why retail businesses must consistently track inventory records at the SKU level. Inventory accuracy refers to the degree of alignment between actual physical inventory and recorded inventory levels. In most cases, it is the difference between what’s recorded in an inventory management system and what you have available for sale in a store, warehouse, or storage location. ### Inventory Management KPIs: Metrics, Formulas & Examples **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/inventory-kpis/ Maintaining proper inventory levels requires a delicate balance between having a lot of product on hand and having a little. Key performance indicators, or KPIs, are the quantifiable metrics companies use to gauge their progress toward a specific goal. ShipBob supports inventory management by providing real-time visibility, automated replenishment, and analytics to optimize stock levels. ### What is Safety Stock? Importance & How to Calculate (+ Formula) **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/inventory-kpis/safety-stock/ Avoiding an out-of-stock situation is critical for direct-to-consumer brands. Not only do you lose sales when you run out of a SKU, but you may also lose customers for good. Safety stock is the excess product you keep on hand in case of an emergency or supply chain failure that causes less than average inventory to be available. ### Stockout Costs: Causes + Tips to Prevent Stockouts **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/inventory-kpis/stockout-costs/ Ever been excited to come across the product you’ve been looking for online only to discover it’s out of stock? We’ve all been there. As a customer, it can be a huge letdown. For an ecommerce business, it’s a surefire way to lose revenue. Stockout costs is the capital lost from inventory that has become unavailable for the customer to purchase. When a customer cannot buy something because it is not in stock, the business loses money. This is especially detrimental to a business if there is no indication on when the item will be back in stock and available for purchase. ### Inventory Holding Costs: How to Calculate + Formula **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/inventory-kpis/holding-costs/ Inventory holding costs are a common fee businesses incur when storing inventory in a warehouse. They're the sum of all costs involved in storing unsold inventory and are calculated as part of the total inventory costs within a single supply chain. Costs include warehousing, insurance, labor, transportation, depreciation, inventory shrinkage, damaged or spoiled inventory, obsolescence, and opportunity costs. ### Inventory Turnover Ratio: Analysis, Formula & Calculator **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/inventory-kpis/inventory-turnover-ratio/ ShipBob analyzed average inventory turnover rates across thousands of ecommerce customers in our Inventory Turnover Benchmarks Report so brands can understand how inventory turnover — measured as a ratio of how many times inventory is sold and replaced — impacts their performance. Understanding the average inventory turnover is a critical measure of business performance, cost management, and sales. It's inversely proportional to days in sales inventory, and can be benchmarked against other companies in a given industry. ### What Is Dead Stock? Meaning, Issues, and How to Combat It **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/inventory-kpis/dead-stock/ Dead stock is inventory that is no longer sellable and will likely never sell in the future, oftentimes because it’s expired, obsolete, low quality, or out of season. Dead stock, usually stored in the warehouse, only refers to inventory that has never been sold, which excludes returns. Offloading dead stock is essential to maintaining healthy profit margins, but ecommerce brands are often challenged with inventory optimization as they grow their business. It’s often due to a lack of inventory management systems and processes that cause dead stock to accumulate over time. ### What is Inventory Shrinkage? Examples, Causes, & Fixes **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/inventory-kpis/inventory-shrinkage/ Inventory shrinkage is a common issue for retailers. It can lead to a drop in profits and require you to alter your accounting books, which will cost you even more time and money to fix. Inventory shrinkage is when actual inventory levels are less than recorded inventory levels. ### Backorder: Meaning, Causes, Minimizing & Managing Tips **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/inventory-kpis/backorder/ Backorders — an inconvenience in our gotta-have-it-now world. Just when you’re ready to pull out your credit card, you learn of an item’s backorder status. An item on backorder is an out of stock product that is expected to be delivered by a certain date once it is back in stock. If you run an ecommerce store, how do you improve inventory management and the overall customer experience by reducing backorders or handling them gracefully? We’ll walk you through that and more in this article. ### Inventory Analytics Guide: Methods & Key Metrics to Track **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/inventory-kpis/inventory-analytics/ Ecommerce inventory is an online brand’s most important asset. Inventory analytics refers to tracking metrics that gauge the movement and performance of your physical products. The ongoing assessment and evaluation of inventory provides the insights needed to optimize stock availability to meet demand while keeping storage costs to a minimum. ### Inventory Days on Hand: Formula + How to Calculate It **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/inventory-kpis/inventory-days-on-hand/ Inventory Days on Hand measures how long current inventory will last based on average usage or sales. This KPI helps businesses minimize stockouts while avoiding overstocking. ShipBob enables accurate tracking of this metric with real-time inventory visibility across fulfillment centers. ### Stock Availability: Benefits, Roadblocks & Ways to Improve **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/inventory-kpis/stock-availability/ Not knowing how much stock you have available at any time can lead to higher logistics costs and profit loss. Stock availability refers to knowing how much ecommerce inventory is in stock to meet customer demand. In today’s complex and dynamic retail environment, real-time stock availability management helps optimize inventory levels, reduce costs, and improve profitability. ## Inventory Management ### Warehouse Inventory Management Processes in 2025 **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/inventory-management/warehouse/ Managing a warehouse and your inventory is an ongoing cycle that never ends as long as you are running a business. Fulfillment centers positioned closer to where your end customers live. These sites support DTC and B2B order fulfillment and perform value-added services like kitting and retail display assembly. ### Retail Distribution: EDI Solutions from ShipBob **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/product/retail-distribution/ ShipBob’s retail distribution solution gets your products where they need to go for both large and small retailers, without the complex pricing structure or minimum contract requirements. Whether you leverage an EDI integration or input orders manually, we’re set up to fulfill orders efficiently, sparing your team the heavy lifting. ### ShipBob's Product: Tech, Fulfillment Services, & Warehouses **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/product/ ShipBob is a full-stack fulfillment platform. We use our proprietary software across our fulfillment network for a cohesive experience. Orders are automatically sent to our warehouses, where inventory is picked, packed, and shipped to your customers. Connect your store and send us your products to start automating your fulfillment with ShipBob. ### Grow Global with ShipBob - ShipBob **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/product/grow-global/ No matter where you are in your global expansion journey, ShipBob can help you achieve your international goals with cross-border and in-country solutions, including a physical presence on 3 continents. Scalable global fulfillment network ShipBob’s fulfillment centers are located around the world and allow you to speed up transit times and benefit from in-country delivery to avoid duties and import taxes. ### Maximize Sales with ShipBob's Amazon Fulfillment Suite **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/product/amazon/ Understanding the options for selling on Amazon can be overwhelming, especially when trying to determine the right strategies for your business. As the world’s leading ecommerce site, Amazon provides unmatched exposure for your products to a wide audience. As your omnichannel fulfillment partner, ShipBob is equipped to amplify this advantage through several Amazon-specific solutions. ### Omnichannel Fulfillment - B2B Fulfillment **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/product/omnichannel-fulfillment/ Want to outpace your competitors? ShipBob’s portfolio of B2B and DTC solutions let you stay ahead and scale your business. With ShipBob as your omnichannel fulfillment partner, you’ll find more time in your day as we navigate the complexities of retailer compliance and consumer expectations for you. ## Third-Party Logistics (3PL) ### 11 Best 3PL Shipping Companies in 2025 **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/3pl/companies/ Partnering with a 3PL offers a range of benefits for ecommerce brands looking to scale. The problem is knowing which 3PL company is best for your specific needs. Here’s how several 3PL companies stack up against one another at a glance. ### 3PL Software For Fulfillment & Warehousing **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/3pl/software/ Whether you’re a direct-to-consumer brand or work in the B2B ecommerce space, having an optimized order fulfillment process to stay ahead of the competition is critical. The term 3PL software refers to the technology a 3PL provides merchants. 3PL software allows online businesses to outsource fulfillment while maintaining control over their logistics operations. ### 3PL Fulfillment Process: The Journey of an Online Order **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/3pl/fulfillment-process/ If you’re considering working with a 3PL, what goes on in a fulfillment center may seem like a black box. But the fulfillment process doesn’t have to be a mystery, nor should it be! Depending on the 3PL, the scope of services offered varies greatly. Some offer basic pick, pack, & ship services, while others offer kitting & returns management. Here are the primary 3PL fulfillment processes even the most basic 3PLs follow. ### 3PL vs 4PL: What is a 4PL & How They Differ From 3PLs **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/3pl/vs-4pl/ While researching fulfillment providers, you will likely come across two different terms: ‘3PL’ and ‘4PL’. While 3PLs are much more common, both terms relate to the outsourcing of fulfillment and ecommerce logistics services, so it’s important to understand the difference between the two. Fourth-party logistics (4PL) providers, also called lead logistics providers (LLPs) are a type of logistics company that takes on some of the same roles as third-party logistics (3PL) providers while also having more accountability and responsibility in the process. ### 3PL Distribution - ShipBob **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/3pl/distribution/ The size and reach of a 3PL’s distribution network is more important for an ecommerce business than one might think, as it directly impacts your business’s shipping costs, 2-day capabilities, and scalability in the future. 3PL distribution refers to when an ecommerce business outsources distribution (that is, the processing, fulfillment, and shipping of orders) to a third-party logistics company. ### 3PL Services: How Do Third-Party Logistics Work? **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/3pl/ If you are an ecommerce business owner, order fulfillment is an integral part of your operations. As your business grows, you may find that fulfilling customer orders in-house is no longer feasible. Third-party logistics (or 3PL) refers to the outsourcing of ecommerce logistics processes such as inventory management, warehousing, and fulfillment to a third-party business. 3PL providers allow ecommerce merchants to accomplish more, and equip them with the tools, infrastructure, and processes to automate retail order fulfillment. ## Warehouse Management ### What is Warehouse Management? Process, Benefits, & Tips **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/warehouse-management/ Proper warehouse management is what will determine how successful a business will be. Warehouse management refers to the process of executing, monitoring, and optimizing warehouse operations. ShipBob operates scalable warehouses with advanced technology and process optimization to support fast-growing ecommerce businesses. ### Warehouse Safety 101: Checklist & Examples **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/warehouse-management/warehouse-safety/ In 2019, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the transportation and warehousing worker injury rate was 4.4 per 100 full-time workers. So how does an ecommerce warehouse protect employees as they move quickly from the inventory shelves to the warehouse picking and packing stations? In this article, we discuss ecommerce safety guidelines and tips to keep your warehouse staff safe and productive. ### 7 Warehouse Optimization Techniques: Benefits + Examples **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/warehouse-management/warehouse-optimization/ Your ability to receive, store, and ship products efficiently can not only save you money but also improve a customer’s experience with your brand. The thing is, warehousing and order fulfillment can get complicated. An increasing number of SKUs, manual processes, and outdated warehouse systems all contribute to creating bottlenecks. Warehouse optimization is the strategic process of improving the efficiency, productivity, and accuracy of warehouse operations. The objective is to minimize costs, maximize throughput, and enhance the customer experience through a combination of improved warehouse layout design, technology integration, process reengineering, and employee training. ### Warehouse Labor Management: Systems, Tips, & Examples **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/warehouse-management/warehouse-labor-management/ Your ecommerce business can’t run without an amazing team of warehouse workers. These individuals carry out daily tasks – like managing inventory, picking products, and packing orders – and you depend on them to get orders out the door. Warehouse labor management is the process of strategically aligning your labor resources to your operational requirements to improve business results. It often involves the use of a warehouse labor management system to maximize employee utilization, improve productivity levels, and reduce costs. ### 7 Warehouse Inspections You Need to Carry Out **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/warehouse-management/warehouse-inspection/ A warehouse inspection, sometimes referred to as a warehouse audit, involves a list of documented processes that must be followed to ensure employee safety, inventory security, and optimized workflows and procedures. In this article, we discuss why warehouse inspections are important and the difference inspections worth carrying out. ### What is Slotting? Definition & 3 Benefits of Warehouse Slotting **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/warehouse-management/warehouse-slotting/ There’s always an opportunity to optimize your warehouse for faster, more accurate warehouse picking. As your ecommerce business and product lines grow, you’ll likely focus on putting your inventory in empty spaces without considering where to store it optimally. Many established and growing eCommerce businesses use slotting to improve picking performance, optimize warehouse space, and reduce inventory managementand warehousing costs. In this guide, you’ll learn what slotting is, how to implement it, and why it’s beneficial for your business. ### What is Waveless Picking? Ecommerce Guide + Examples **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/warehouse-management/waveless-picking/ There is no one-size-fits-all approach to ecommerce fulfillment. Traditional methods like wave or zone picking aren’t ideal in every scenario. When the goal is to get an ecommerce order shipped out as quickly as possible, some picking strategies may be slow or inefficient. Waveless picking is an order fulfillment method where orders are continuously pulled and processed in real-time, rather than being grouped into “waves” or “batches” as in traditional wave picking. This approach prioritizes dynamic, ongoing allocation of orders, ensuring that there’s minimal downtime or waiting periods between tasks in the fulfillment center. ### Warehouse Receiving: Process + How to Improve (Solutions) **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/warehouse-management/warehouse-receiving/ How a business receives inventory at a warehouse will impact other areas of the retail supply chain, including inventory management, picking, packing, and shipping. Warehouse receiving is the first step of the ecommerce fulfillment process and refers to the process of delivering, unloading, and storing ecommerce inventory in a warehouse or fulfillment center. A well-established warehouse receiving process can help make inventory management and fulfillment easier, cost-effective, and more efficient. ### Warehouse Management System (WMS) Guide: Types & Benefits **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/warehouse-management/warehouse-management-system-wms/ Managing staff, inventory, orders, and shipping can be a lot to juggle manually. A warehouse management system (WMS) is a type of software that monitors and controls daily operations in a warehouse. WMS software helps ensure inventory is received, stored, picked, packed, shipped, and replenished in the most efficient way possible. ### 23 Warehouse KPIs and Metrics to Improve Performance **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/warehouse-management/warehouse-kpis/ Fast fulfillment starts with proper warehouse management, which determines how efficiently you receive, track, and store inventory in a way that gets customers orders out the door faster. By failing to monitor key KPIs, it will be hard to optimize your warehouse and make improvements accordingly. In this article, learn how to track warehouse performance by monitoring the right KPIs. ### Optimize Your Inventory with Warehouse Putaway **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/warehouse-management/warehouse-putaway/ To avoid inventory management disasters and ensure great efficiency and accuracy in inbound and outbound logistics, consider investing in warehouse putaway. By intelligently moving inventory to an optimal warehouse location, you unlock leaner warehouse management. Putaway in warehouse is a crucial aspect of warehouse management, which involves several processes starting with warehouse receiving and ending with ensuring that inventory is stored in the right warehouse locations. But, it is much more than just moving the inventory from point A to point B. ### Warehouse Capacity 101: Calculate & Increase Storage **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/warehouse-management/warehouse-capacity/ How do you choose a warehouse that has optimal space for growth, so you don’t outgrow it too fast — or never fully grow into it and end up paying for more than you need? For ecommerce, warehouse capacity refers to the amount of available space for storage, inventory preparation, and order fulfillment. ## Warehouse Operations ### Inventory Storage Solutions & Systems for Ecommerce **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/warehouse-operations/inventory-storage/ Storing inventory is a necessary part of running any business that sells physical goods. The storage needs will vary from business to business, based on sales volume, product attributes, and locations sold. Inventory storage solutions are systems that help businesses store, manage, and track inventory. These systems typically involve physical equipment, such as racks, shelves, pallets, and bins. ### Warehouse Operations: 7 Different Types & How to Improve **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/warehouse-operations/ In an ecommerce business, a warehouse serves as a central hub to connect customers to the products they’ve ordered. As such, your warehouse operations play a vital role in the quality of service and experience that your customers will enjoy. It’s one of the most fundamental parts of your supply chain, making it crucial to optimize. Warehouse operations refer to the set of processes that take place within a warehouse to ensure the safe storage and smooth flow of goods. These processes help to ensure that goods are seamlessly received in the warehouse, stored in safe and appropriate locations, and then processed for shipping when needed. Warehouse operations consist of processes such as receiving, put-away, storage, picking, inventory management, packing, and shipping. ### Warehouse Order Packing 101: Processes, Materials, and Tips **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/warehouse-operations/order-packing/ The order packing process is very important, because how items are packed has a huge effect on the customer’s delivery experience. To make sure your orders are packed well, your brand will need an efficient packing process. Efficient order packing is essential for ecommerce businesses for two reasons: it improves warehouse productivity, and enhances the customer experience. ### ShipBob’s Outsourced Fulfillment Services | 3PL **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/product/outsourced-fulfillment/ Give your customers better delivery, and scale your business faster with ShipBob’s outsourced fulfillment solutions. Our fulfillment solutions help you optimize for time and cost, use the delivery experience to beat customer expectations, and own more of the customer relationship. Orders are automatically sent to our warehouses, where inventory is picked, packed, and shipped to your customers. ### ShipBob's Integrations, Apps, and API - ShipBob **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/product/apps-api/ Activate consistent and elevated customer experiences across multiple sales channels and use more of the tools you love with seamless connectivity to your fulfillment dashboard. We partner with the leading commerce technology solutions to help grow your business smarter, faster, and stronger than ever before. ### ShipBob Logistics - End-to-End Transportation and Logistics **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/product/logistics/ ShipBob offers end-to-end transportation and logistics solutions that simplify inventory movement without increasing overhead. Whether leveraging their WMS in your own warehouse or using white-labeled 3PL support, ShipBob helps reduce supply chain complexity through a unified fulfillment platform. ### Inventory Tracking: Definition, Importance & How-to Guide **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/inventory-management/inventory-tracking/ In an online economy dominated by massive retailers like Amazon, meeting your customers’ expectations is crucial. A big part of that is how long it takes you to ship items. Inventory tracking means monitoring which SKUs a business has in its possession, the location of the inventory, and the quantities available. The ability to track inventory levels in real-time is an important part of the supply chain and critical for ecommerce brands that wish to truly scale successfully. ### Inventory Optimization 101: The Techniques You Need To Know **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/inventory-management/inventory-optimization/ To offset common inventory issues, it’s important to keep a close eye on your inventory and know how many units of each SKU you have at any given time. Fortunately, there are several solutions to optimize inventory and reduce risk. ### The Business Guide to Inventory Revaluation: 2025 Edition **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/inventory-management/inventory-revaluation/ The ecommerce landscape is full of change. Whether it’s supply chain disruptions, fluctuations in demand, or even just shifts in the exchange rate, it can feel like no two days are the same. Inventory revaluation is the process of updating your recorded inventory costs to reflect changes in your inventory’s value. ### Retail Dropshipping: EDI Solutions from ShipBob **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/product/retail-dropshipping/ Test the digital waters of retail dropshipping before moving to brick-and-mortar stores. By selling your products directly on retailers’ online platforms, not only do you meet more customers where they already shop, but you also benefit from the retailers shouldering the customer acquisition costs. ### Improving Your Procurement and Logistics Management **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/ecommerce-logistics/procurement-logistics/ In ecommerce, optimizing for fast fulfillment and shipping is a major focus. Procurement logistics refers to the process of sourcing goods for a business. This may include purchasing inventory directly from a manufacturer or coordinating the purchase of various raw materials from suppliers to then be assembled into finished goods. ### Warehouse Wave Picking: Guide, Benefits, & Use Cases **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/warehouse-management/wave-picking/ The picking process is one of the most vital aspects of your warehouse operations – but it’s also one of the most complicated. Wave picking (also called cluster picking) is a picking strategy that involves picking multiple orders in a single trip through the warehouse storage shelves. ### Inventory Visibility: 8 Benefits to Your Supply Chain **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/inventory-management/inventory-visibility/ Managing and maintaining healthy inventory levels across your supply chain network can be a full-time job. Inventory visibility refers to the ability to view and track inventory in real time, and gain insights into exactly how many units of each SKU are in stock at each location, and where it’s stored within a warehouse or fulfillment center. ### Guide to Inventory Control Management **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/inventory-management/inventory-control/ Ecommerce businesses that take advantage of real-time supply chain data will reduce costs, improve customer satisfaction, and ultimately take a proactive approach to inventory control. Inventory control is the process of optimizing inventory storage to ensure a business has the ideal inventory levels needed to fulfill customer orders on time. The goal of inventory control is for brands to keep only the necessary units on hand without spending too much money upfront or sacrificing customer satisfaction. ### Real-time Inventory Management Benefits for Ecommerce **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/inventory-management/real-time/ For both supply and demand purposes, real-time inventory management is a critical component of running a successful business. Real-time inventory management involves implementing technology that enables the ability to track, view, and manage inventory levels throughout the ecommerce supply chain on demand. ### International 3PL | Global Third-Party Logistics Company **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/3pl/international-3pl/ Looking to sell more across the globe? An international 3PL operates multiple fulfillment center locations in different parts of the world. A 3PL’s international fulfillment network is powered by the same fulfillment technology, which allows merchants to expand their geographic reach while still managing their entire supply chain from one dashboard. ### Warehouse Order Picking Guide: Solutions for Ecommerce **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/warehouse-operations/warehouse-order-picking/ Warehouse picking is a key component of a successful fulfillment operation. While it might seem straightforward, the picking process is nuanced. From choosing which picking system will work best for your business to learning how to measure picking efficiency, there are many considerations. ### Inventory Forecasting: Benefits, Methods & Best Practices **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/inventory-management/inventory-forecasting/ Poor inventory forecasting can have a slow, less obvious impact on your business, silently chipping away at your margins, reputation, and customer satisfaction levels. Inventory forecasting is the process of calculating the inventory needed to fulfill future customer orders based on how much product you predict you will sell over a specific period of time. These estimates take historic sales data, planned promotions, and external forces into account to be as accurate as possible. ### ShipBob's Customization Suite: Branded Unboxings & Touches **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/product/customization-suite/ A custom branded experience can influence purchasing decisions, generate social buzz, and boost customer loyalty and retention. Creating an unforgettable unboxing experience with ShipBob’s Customization Suite will help your brand stand out from the competition and leave a lasting impression. ### The Best Inventory Management Software (+ How to Choose) **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/inventory-management/software/ The hunt for the right inventory management software for your business can be tedious. While free trials are available, you don’t want to get roped into paying for a tool that doesn’t have the functions you need to succeed. Here’s why having the right system is essential, plus how to choose the best inventory management software (or IMS) for your ecommerce business. ### Warehouse Labeling: Best Practices for Ecommerce **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/warehouse-management/warehouse-labeling/ In the same way that a map without labels is nearly useless, a warehouse without labels is nearly unnavigable. Your warehouse workers need to be able to find the right items and retrieve them in as little time as possible, and warehouse labeling provides everyone with an effective way to quickly identify and locate products. ### Logistics Operations Management (2025 Ultimate Guide) **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/ecommerce-logistics/logistics-operations/ An ecommerce logistics operation is the backbone of an ecommerce business and it plays a vital role in driving sales and preparing for future growth. The strength of your operations impacts the ability to meet customer demand. This makes it very important to implement an ecommerce logistics strategy with the right processes, technology, and logistics infrastructure in place to ensure you’re able to deliver a quality product to your customers. ### Powered By: ShipBob’s White-Labeled Solution for 3PLs **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/product/powered-by/ Modern logistics infrastructure as a plug-in to your existing operations. ShipBob’s technology is intuitive and incredibly easy to use. Compared to other WMS options that we have used for the direct-to-consumer fulfillment side, ShipBob’s technology is as good as it gets. ### Inventory Management Guide: Types & Methods in 2025 **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/inventory-management/ Managing inventory strategically has never been more important, and it only gets more challenging as you grow in both product development and units sold. Inventory management is the management and monitoring process of a company’s stocked goods. Inventory management is vital for supply chain management in online, omnichannel, and brick-and-mortar businesses, and includes ordering and restocking inventory, storing inventory, adjusting frequency, order quantity, and inventory forecasting for the final point of sale. ### ShipBob Freight for Inbound & Outbound Shipments **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/product/freight/ ShipBob Freight enables businesses to move goods between suppliers, warehouses, and distribution centers with speed and reliability. With support for both inbound and outbound B2B shipments, this solution simplifies freight logistics for retailers and brands operating at scale. ### Retail Logistics: Definition + Tips To Optimize Logistics for Retail **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/ecommerce-logistics/retail-logistics/ Having furniture delivered to your home, curbside pickup, and ordering clothes online are all forms of retail logistics. Retail logistics involve all the inbound and outbound processes that result in the flow of finished goods from a business to the end user. The optimization of a solid retail logistics strategy is key to operating a sustainable direct-to-consumer (DTC) retail business. ### Lot Tracking for Inventory Management Explained **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/inventory-management/lot-tracking/ There are several ways to organize and track inventory, and one the most common ways is to use lot tracking. Lot tracking is a system used to trace parts or ingredients associated with a group of products back to a manufacturer or supplier. Lot tracking is also used to organize inventory by production or expiration date. ### Inventory Placement (IPP) - ShipBob **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/product/inventory-placement/ Having the ability to reduce shipping costs through distributed inventory is probably the difference between profitability and unprofitability for most businesses in the DTC space – so the fact that ShipBob’s network enables brands to do it so easily is a huge differentiator. ### Warehouse Maintenance: Daily Checklist for Ecommerce **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/warehouse-management/warehouse-maintenance/ Much like how a clean kitchen is easier to cook in, a well-maintained warehouse is an efficient warehouse. When your warehouse space is clean and free of clutter and safety risks, processes run smoothly with minimal disruptions. As a result, you promote operational efficiency and boost your bottom line. ### Top 3 Logistics Service Providers (LPS) for Ecommerce **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/ecommerce-logistics/logistics-service-provider/ While self-fulfillment and self-shipping are cost-effective strategies during the beginning stages of a business, this is not a scalable solution in the long run. Discover how to find the best mutual fit for your fulfillment needs. A logistics service provider, also known as third-party logistics (3PL) provider, is a company that specializes in offering services to help manage the supply chain including warehouse management, order fulfillment, and shipping orders. There are several great logistics providers on the market, but it’s important for ecommerce businesses to take the time needed to find the right logistics provider that will go above and beyond to meet and exceed the business’s needs. ### Shipping Logistics 101: Optimizing Your Shipping & Logistics **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/ecommerce-logistics/shipping-logistics/ Shipping logistics refers to all the inbound and outbound logistics involved in transporting finished goods as they move through your supply chain, from first-mile delivery and drayage to end customer shipments. This article discusses what shipping logistics entails and how to optimize your shipping strategy for your business. ### Logistics Centers 101: The Different Types of Facilities Explained **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/ecommerce-logistics/logistics-centers/ Logistics centers play a key role in supply chain optimization as they determine how well you distribute inventory and how efficiently you fulfill orders. Discover how to find the best mutual fit for your fulfillment needs. ### What is Logistics Management? How To Improve Your Logistics **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/ecommerce-logistics/logistics-management/ Ordering, storing, and tracking inventory. Processing orders. Picking, packing, and shipping orders. Logistics management refers to the planning and managing of inbound and outbound logistics, as well as reverse logistics — the three major areas that make up the ecommerce supply chain. ### What Is Distribution Logistics? Definition + Guide **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/ecommerce-logistics/distribution-logistics/ Between making a sale and delivering a customer order, distribution logistics play a critical role in the ecommerce supply chain. Distribution logistics refers to the activities and processes involved in physically distributing goods to a location. ### Top Logistics Companies for Ecommerce Businesses in 2025 **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/ecommerce-logistics/logistics-companies/ Behind every package that arrives on a customer’s doorstep is a trustworthy logistics company (or several) that partner with companies to support their ecommerce supply chain. This article delves deeper into the best players in ecommerce logistics, what distinguishes them from their competitors, and the key features you should look for in your next logistics partner. ### Digital Inventory 101: The Top 5 Systems & 4 Best Practices **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/inventory-management/digital-inventory/ Digital inventory refers to the ability to oversee real-time inventory activity. One customer explained: "I used to have to pull inventory numbers from three places every day and move all the disparate data into a spreadsheet. ShipBob has an analytics tab in their dashboard with all of this information, which is great for end-of-month reconciliations." ### ShipBob 2-Day Express Shipping: Coverage Across the Contiguous US **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/product/2-day-express/ With ShipBob, you get 2-day shipping coverage across 100% of the contiguous US, even from just one fulfillment center, while allowing you to still own your brand, data, and entire customer experience. You can also display 2-day shipping badges and estimated delivery dates on top ecommerce stores to further increase conversions and boost sales. ### Ecommerce Logistics Guide | ShipBob **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/ecommerce-logistics/ As the ecommerce industry grows, the logistics of getting orders to customers has become more complicated — especially with the novel coronavirus impacting entire ecommerce supply chains. This post goes into the details of how ecommerce logistics work, how it differs from brick and mortar retail, how to offer better shipping options, and why outsourcing fulfillment logistics has become commonplace for ecommerce businesses. ### How to Reduce Shipping Costs: 11 Tips for Small Businesses **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/ecommerce-shipping/reduce-shipping-costs/ Shipping isn’t cheap. This guide shares 11 cost-saving strategies for ecommerce brands, from packaging and dimensional weight adjustments to selecting optimal carrier rates. ShipBob supports brands in gaining visibility and consistency in shipping spend through smarter logistics execution. ### International Logistics for Ecommerce Explained **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/ecommerce-logistics/international-logistics/ International logistics can involve complex coordination across borders, from customs and duties to last-mile delivery. This article explores key strategies for simplifying global ecommerce fulfillment. ShipBob helps brands scale globally by centralizing inventory and shipping processes for smoother international operations. ### Guide to Lead Logistics Providers (LLPs): Pros & Cons **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/ecommerce-logistics/lead-logistics/ There are many logistics providers available for ecommerce brands, including 3PLs that integrate warehousing, software, and shipping. This guide explains how ShipBob stands out by combining ease-of-use with advanced fulfillment infrastructure, helping brands scale efficiently without high overhead. ### Omnichannel Fulfillment Guide: What It Is & How To Do It **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/ecommerce-fulfillment/omnichannel-fulfillment/ One of the most predominant shifts in the last decade has been the need to realign retail fulfillment to the changing needs and demands of the consumer. ShipBob enables true omnichannel fulfillment by supporting B2B retail distribution, direct-to-consumer ecommerce, and integrations with major marketplaces and platforms. ### Pick & Pack Warehouse Fulfillment: What is Pick & Pack? - **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/ecommerce-fulfillment/pick-pack-fulfillment/ Order fulfillment involves a complex series of interconnected processes related to receiving and shipping orders. One of the first and most important processes in order fulfillment is picking and packing. In a warehouse, pick and pack fulfillment is the process that occurs after an order is placed from an online store. Warehouse picking is when you use a picking list to find & retrieve the proper quantities of each product from its respective location in the warehouse. Packing is the placing of the items into the proper box, along with the appropriate packing materials and documentation before the package is labelled and shipped to the end customer. ### International Fulfillment: Global Ecommerce Fulfillment Services - **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/ecommerce-fulfillment/international-fulfillment/ Ecommerce opens up a world of possibilities. You can reach consumers from across the globe and get your products to those who would have never had access to them back in the days of exclusive brick-and-mortar retail. ShipBob customizes its fulfillment approach by aligning technology, warehousing, and shipping with each business’s unique product mix and delivery goals. ### Fulfillment Costs 101: How to Calculate & Reduce Fulfillment Costs **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/ecommerce-fulfillment/fulfillment-costs/ In an ecommerce supply chain, fulfillment is where the magic happens. The faster orders can be fulfilled and shipped, the happier your customers will be. But fulfillment comes with a cost, and the process isn’t as simple as picking and packing boxes. This article covers the different line items associated with fulfillment and how to easily calculate fulfillment costs. ### Kitting & Assembly Services For Ecommerce Brands **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/ecommerce-fulfillment/kitting-assembly/ Kitting and assembly is one piece of an ecommerce fulfillment strategy. When done correctly, it can save you time and money, and get orders shipped to customers quicker. ShipBob supports ecommerce brands with value-added services like kitting, enabling bundled products and custom packaging at scale. ### Dropshipping Guide: Pros & Cons + Alternatives **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/ecommerce-fulfillment/dropshipping/ In a world dominated by large retailers like Amazon, online merchants have to get creative if they hope to keep up. One of the most popular ecommerce methods that online merchants have praised is dropshipping. ShipBob has helped many dropshippers transition and get started with a 3PL once they’ve proven out their product concept by dropshipping. ### Subscription Box Fulfillment Services Explained | ShipBob **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/ecommerce-fulfillment/subscription-box-fulfillment/ Ecommerce is all about convenience: Customers expect to receive what they want when they want it without having to leave the comfort of their homes. ShipBob offers subscription box kitting and fulfillment services, supporting recurring shipments with consistent branding and packaging control. ### Outsourced Fulfillment Services Guide: How & When To Outsource **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/ecommerce-fulfillment/outsourced-fulfillment/ Fulfillment is one of the most important (and most complicated) aspects of running an ecommerce business. As customer expectations continue to shift, both the complexity and the pressure increase for ecommerce brands to meet demand and keep up. Outsourced order fulfillment refers to hiring a third party to manage some or all aspects of the order fulfillment process, including storing inventory, packaging items, and shipping orders. Third party logistics companies, also known as 3PLs, provide all of the services required to truly outsource your fulfillment. ### In-House Fulfillment Challenges for Scaling Ecommerce in 2025 **URL:** https://www.shipbob.com/ecommerce-fulfillment/in-house-fulfillment/ If you’re an entrepreneur launching an ecommerce business, you might find yourself doing it all, from product development to fulfilling and shipping orders. In-house fulfillment is when an ecommerce business manages the order fulfillment process (including inventory management as well as picking, packing, and shipping orders) themselves, rather than outsourcing fulfillment to a third party.