5 Logistics Tools for eCommerce

Everything related to shipping, inventory and warehouse management, or customer order tracking represents a vital part of the business. However, we are not aware of just how relevant it is until we start managing the logistics challenges of our eCommerce.

 

Investing in the right tools can change our lives, or at least make our daily routine simpler and more efficient, while greatly improving the user experience.

 

You might be wondering: what are these softwares? Pay attention, as we ae about to tell you.

There are quite a few solutions on the market, each with its features, complexity, integration capability, and, of course, price.

 

Below, you will find a list, which is not exactly a ranking, because any of the logistics tools for eCommerce that you will see in this article is really good. The difference in choosing one over another lies in what your business needs from it.

Let´s start with a European tool, specifically Italian. This is somewhat surprising in a market traditionally dominated by Americans and Asians, but finding local providers in logistics is more common. This, which may seem anecdotal, actually has the advantage of being developed by people who know our market well.

 

Qapla’ has been available in Spain for some time and has established itself as one of the best logistics tools for eCommerce. Mainly due to the number and quality of features it incorporates:

 

Pricing starts at €49 per month (tracking + marketing) going up to €99 in the most complete versions.

Probably the most well-known of all shipping and logistics tools for eCommerce and, why not say it, one of the most complete that can be found.

 

Sendcloud allows carrying out the whole process, from picking to delivery, including tracking each order and managing returns. In fact, it can go even further, as it has a shipment coverage system, so your shipments are insured against loss, damage, or theft.

 

Another great advantage is that its massive shipping volume allows to negotiate with carriers more advantageously, so you will amortize your investment from the start.

 

When we talk about investments, it is logical to discuss the monthly cost of Sendcloud:

 

We start with a Lite plan of €23 per month to which you must add €0.09 per label or, in other words, per managed shipment (the shipping cost is logically separate).

 

If you opt for the Premium version with all the features, the price goes up to €138 per month plus €0.07 per label.

 

It offers a lot, but it is true, it has to be paid for. The pay-per-label increases the investment significantly at the end of the month.

Another company that can say it does more than just manage labels is Awipik. From its headquarters in Valencia, it offers a logistic solution that could be called integral.

 

Awipick offers storage in its facilities, management of orders integrating their software with what you use in your eCommerce, handling, and also takes care of the final delivery with a complete tracking of each shipment.

 

Their services are divided into three main areas:

 

As such a tailor-made service, they do not have established plans. Contact them if you want them to make you a proposal.

An alternative to Awipick, with a similar positioning and business model, would be Adock. That is, more than a logistics tool, it is a comprehensive outsourced logistics service that, obviously, has its corresponding tools.

 

They offer the possibility to receive goods, integrate with client platforms, manage orders at the logistical level, do the picking and, finally, manage delivery to the final customer.

 

One of the keys to this business model is when we talk about "integrating with client platforms," as Adock works in 3 very distinct lines:

 

If you want to know the price of their service, you will have to contact their commercial team for a personalized proposal.

To conclude, we move from more to less (in terms of features, not quality).

 

Packlink Pro is the business version of the popular shipping management service.

 

Therefore, we are not going to hire a fulfillment company with warehouses and the like, but if you have your warehouse or you have a volume of shipments that does not yet justify the investment in a platform like that, you might be interested in the Packlink service that manages your shipments and has negotiated rates with the main carriers in Europe.

 

That is what it offers: using a single platform to carry out all your shipments.

 

This allows to import all pending orders, choose the most convenient option in each case, and track more easily from one place.

 

Regarding prices, you can use the platform for free with their Free plan (obviously paying per shipment) or use the Plus version, which has a cost of €25 and expands the service with more platform integration, exclusive services, customized emails…