Table of Contents
- Introduction
- What is ShipHero?
- Shipping Software Features
- Fulfillment Services
- Pricing Model
- Onboarding and Customer Support
- Should You Choose ShipHero?
- Conclusion
- FAQ
Introduction
Shipping and fulfillment are at the heart of ecommerce, and finding a reliable solution to streamline these processes can make or break your business. As customer expectations grow, timely and accurate delivery becomes paramount. Enter ShipHero — a promising shipping and fulfillment solution that's increasingly gaining recognition among ecommerce players. While it may not have the instant name recognition of ShipStation, ShipHero stands out in several critical areas. In this comprehensive review, we'll delve into what makes ShipHero a noteworthy choice and cover everything you need to know about this service.
What is ShipHero?
ShipHero is a robust shipping and fulfillment platform tailored for ecommerce vendors. Originally conceived by Aaron Rubin in 2013, the platform was born out of Rubin's frustrations with the available shipping solutions for his lifestyle store. Over time, ShipHero has evolved from a dedicated Warehouse Management Software (WMS) into a multi-faceted solution offering both warehouse management and fulfillment services.
ShipHero aims to simplify the ecommerce fulfillment process, catering to various online marketplaces such as Amazon, eBay, Shopify, BigCommerce, and Etsy. The platform's integrated approach allows for seamless real-time inventory synchronization across these platforms, making it a compelling option for businesses looking to optimize their logistics operations.
Shipping Software Features
Multi-Channel Synchronization
One of ShipHero's standout features is its ability to connect multiple sales channels, including ecommerce giants like Walmart and Amazon, with your central warehouse. This synchronization happens in real time through cloud technology, ensuring that your inventory levels are up-to-date across all platforms. This capability simplifies the process of managing stock, thereby reducing the risk of overselling or stockouts.
Streamlined Workflows
Upon implementation, ShipHero provides users with streamlined workflows for managing orders. These workflows help your team swiftly transition orders from placement to picking, packing, and finally shipping. The system supports mobile picking, real-time carrier rate comparison, and bulk shipping, making the entire process more efficient.
Real-Time Analytics
To make data-driven decisions, ShipHero offers a suite of analytics tools. The Hero Board provides real-time insights into various aspects of your warehouse operations. Whether you're tracking order processing times, employee productivity, or cost of goods sold (COGS), these analytics can offer invaluable information.
Fulfillment Services
While ShipHero's warehouse management software is a significant asset, its fulfillment services bring additional convenience and efficiency to the table. The service aims to extend the efficiencies of your warehouse by allowing ShipHero to manage your inventory and order fulfillment process.
Easy Integration
Once your products are integrated into the ShipHero network, your inventory is distributed intelligently across multiple warehouses nationwide. This ensures quicker delivery times and cost efficiency for your customers. All you need to do is ship your products to a convenient warehouse location, and ShipHero takes care of the rest.
Modernized Fulfillment
The fulfillment process begins as soon as a customer places an order. The system transmits the orders to ShipHero's warehouses, where the picking, packing, and shipping operations are handled. You'll have full visibility into the status of each order, along with real-time reporting to help you manage inventory levels effectively.
PostHero Feature
PostHero is an innovative feature that allows you to track packages meticulously until they reach their final destination. This functionality is supported by data visualization charts and dashboards, making it easier for you and your customers to stay updated on delivery progress.
Pricing Model
ShipHero employs a transparent pricing model, which varies depending on whether you are using their shipping software, fulfillment services, or both.
Fulfillment Services
There are no setup, software, or onboarding fees for fulfillment services. The pricing includes pick, pack, box, and postage costs, and you'll need to ship at least 500 Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) orders per month to create an account.
Warehouse Management Software (WMS)
ShipHero’s WMS pricing is tiered based on the specific needs of your business. The Essential plan costs $499 per month, and more advanced features are available at a bespoke price point. Brand pricing and Third-Party Logistics (3PL) pricing packages are available, with 3PL pricing starting at $1,995 per month.
Storage Costs
Storage pricing is determined by the cubic volume of the items, starting at $0.65 per cubic foot. Extended shipping options are available for regions like Guam, Puerto Rico, Alaska, Hawaii, the Virgin Islands, and Greenland, with special shipping rates for these areas.
Onboarding and Customer Support
ShipHero excels in its customer service approach, especially with its thorough onboarding process. The onboarding starts with an introduction where you'll discuss your logistical pain points. From here, a series of steps are outlined to streamline your current operations, including warehousing, picking, packing, and shipping.
Specialist services are available if you need additional assistance, and user acceptance testing, validation, and troubleshooting are integral parts of the onboarding. This ensures you can quickly identify and resolve any issues that arise.
After onboarding, you can access 24/7 customer service support, making it easy to get help whenever you need it. Enhanced onboarding support is available for an additional fee, offering even more in-depth guidance.
Should You Choose ShipHero?
ShipHero is an excellent choice for ecommerce businesses at various stages of growth, especially those looking to streamline their shipping and fulfillment processes. Its extensive feature set, from multi-channel integration to real-time analytics, makes it a robust solution. However, the pricing might be a barrier for smaller businesses or those new to the ecommerce landscape.
Advantages
- Multi-channel synchronization reduces the complexities of managing inventory across different platforms.
- Real-time analytics provide actionable insights to improve operational efficiency.
- Transparent pricing structure makes it easier to anticipate costs.
Potential Drawbacks
- The entry-level pricing may be prohibitive for smaller businesses.
- A minimum requirement of 500 DTC orders per month may exclude new or smaller-scale operations.
- Learning curve associated with implementing a comprehensive system, despite the robust onboarding support.
Conclusion
ShipHero represents a compelling mix of capabilities for ecommerce businesses aiming to refine their logistics operations. With its multi-channel synchronization, real-time analytics, and transparent pricing, ShipHero delivers a comprehensive solution for modern ecommerce challenges. The initial investment may be steep, but the long-term efficiency gains make it a worthwhile consideration.
FAQ
Is ShipHero suitable for small businesses?
ShipHero targets ecommerce businesses of various sizes, but the monthly pricing and minimum order requirements may be challenging for smaller or newly established operations.
How does ShipHero handle international shipping?
While ShipHero primarily focuses on the U.S market, it does offer extended zone shipping for locations like Guam, Puerto Rico, Alaska, Hawaii, the Virgin Islands, and Greenland.
What kind of support can I expect from ShipHero?
ShipHero offers 24/7 customer service support, as well as comprehensive onboarding to help you get started. Additional support packages are available for a fee, providing even more in-depth guidance and assistance.
How transparent is ShipHero's pricing?
ShipHero prides itself on a transparent pricing model, which includes no hidden fees for setup or software within the fulfillment services. Storage and additional services are clearly outlined, helping you anticipate costs accurately.
What makes ShipHero different from other shipping solutions?
ShipHero differentiates itself through real-time multi-channel synchronization, extensive analytics tools, and a comprehensive suite of fulfillment services. These features combined offer a holistic approach to ecommerce logistics.
