5 Questions to Ask When Selecting the Best 3PL Software in 2024

Posted by:

Kristina Mustenikov

Do you find yourself seeing SKUs, barcodes and stock reports when you close your eyes?🫣

The fast-paced world of a 3PL warehouse demands a 3PL software that can handle it all – from managing multiple clients to tracking countless SKUs, the right 3PL software is essential. When searching for the best 3PL warehouse management software, you need to be sure to find the features that meet the needs of your operations.

You may need to integrate with multiple client systems, or handle a range of products and unique SKUs. Each 3PL warehouse is different, and you want to make sure your software provides greater accuracy across your unique workflows and customer requirements.

The first step to successful 3PL operations is selecting the best 3PL software that’s tailored for your specific needs. Each of your unique 3PL workflows require access to unique features, scalability and flexibility, tracking and accuracy.

This blog will guide you through the best 3PL software must-haves, from top-user ratings, to essential features, so you can better focus your search on a 3PL software solution that will help you scale and take on new business. 🚀

We know you want to have the right tools for the job, in the hands of each team member — and you want to get up and running as fast as possible!

To achieve this, you need to ask these 5 key questions that will help you to find the best 3PL software for your business.

Here are the top 5 questions you should ask yourself when searching for the best 3PL WMS software.

Is it a Top-rated 3PL Logistics Software?
Is your WMS easy for your team to pick up and go?
Will it keep your warehouse team accurate on the move?
Can you seamlessly integrate your 3PL WMS with other systems?
Can you save hours of admin with Automated Rates and Invoicing?

Let's dive right in.

1. Is it a Top-rated 3PL Logistics Software?

To answer this, first let’s start with the basic question, what is a 3PL warehouse management system and why is it important for your business? A 3PL WMS optimizes operations, reduces errors, and enhances efficiency, allowing you to ultimately deliver top-notch customer service to your clients.

The best way to start your search for the best 3PL software is to turn to industry leaders voted best of breed by users.

‍Why? User-ratings are key to understanding the benefits that a 3PL software can offer your business. They not only reveal first-hand insights on reliability and implementation speed, but also can help to narrow your search. This means faster decision-making, so you can make a smooth transition with a trusted 3PL software solution quicker.

With hundreds of positive user-ratings, CartonCloud been ranked as a top user-rated 3PL management software, earning a spot in:

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One thing you should look for in your search for the best 3PL software is exceptional customer service and speedy onboarding – remember, you want the right tools for your team, but you also need to get up and running in hours, not months!

Take it from Brendan Tate, Group General Manager at CRL Express, who has been with CartonCloud for over 10 years:

“Their cloud-based setup and implementation process are incredibly straightforward, making it the easiest I've encountered. What truly sets them apart is their support, onboarding and an advantage of month-to-month contract option, providing flexibility that's rare in the industry…

Their dedication to user support is unmatched, ensuring our queries are promptly addressed. Overall, I highly recommend CartonCloud for anyone seeking a reliable, innovative solution with unparalleled customer service.” - Brendan Tate, Group General Manager, CRL Express

See more why our customers are loving CartonCloud here.

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2. Is your WMS easy for your team to pick up and go?

Having a feature-rich software is probably a top item on your checklist for the best 3PL software, but it's also just as important to have a simple, user-friendly system that your team can easily navigate without extensive training. Remember, you want all the right features, but you also need fast results! Your team needs to be able to pick up your software and go!

This comes down to intuitive workflows, designed by experts in the industry. CartonCloud is designed by logistics people for logistics people, bringing simplicity to our powerful design to take the headaches out of your day.

Simplicity in design means faster onboarding and higher productivity for your entire team. CartonCloud takes those handy features like barcode scanning, and makes it easy to use. Jimmy Skodras, Vice President of Operations and Logistics at Rockstar 3PL, explains his experience using CartonCloud:

“The system is very simple to use. It's very well thought out, and anybody who's been in warehousing or has been involved with warehousing in their careers will totally see the benefits of having CartonCloud.” - Jimmy Skodras, VP of Operations Rockstar 3PL

A user-friendly interface makes it easy for your team to quickly adapt to a new WMS. With CartonCloud, you don’t have to put a pause on your warehouse operations – you can hit the ground running in as little as 5-6 hours! Plus, our dedicated support team is here to guide you every step of the way.

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3. Will it keep your warehouse team accurate on the move?

Accuracy at every step. Navigating a whirlwind of customers, products, and SKUs is made easy when you have an app equipped with barcode scanning. With just a quick scan, your team can manage all aspects of your inventory with confidence—from stock put-away to picking and packing.

Barcode scanning is essential for your 3PL because it allows you to precisely and efficiently manage all of your different customer inventory while reducing picking errors. That’s why when looking for the best WMS software for 3PLs, it needs to include barcode scanning.

Why use Barcode scanning?

Ensures the stock you are picking is accurate
Helps you track your items in real-time
And gives you instant visibility into inventory levels, order statuses, and stock movements.

With CartonCloud’s WMS, your barcode scanner can pair directly with our mobile app, allowing your team to view, access, and fulfill orders right from their smartphone. Plus, you can effortlessly scan in new inventory, assign it to specific locations, and verify warehouse locations and stock for picking, all on the go!

Check out easy it is to use CartonCloud’s mobile app while completing a wave pick using barcode scanning:

4. Can you seamlessly integrate your 3PL WMS with other systems?

Having the best 3PL software that can integrate seamlessly with different systems is your secret weapon to juggling multiple customers and services with ease and accuracy.

Your clients may use various ERP, TMS, or eCommerce platforms such as Shopify and WooCommerce, and having the ability to smoothly integrate into each system means you can eliminate tedious manual data entry, reduce errors, and offer tailored solutions to each client effortlessly. When your software communicates with your clients' systems, you can focus on what you do best—running a top-notch 3PL warehouse!

Lexington Logistics does just that when it comes to 3PL integrations, making it their very first step when onboarding a new client.

“When we onboard a client, the first part of that is to ensure we have CartonCloud set up, to ensure their integration is spot on.

Once we have everything connected, [our customers] actually don’t need to touch what we do or how it operates — we’re able to integrate our systems together to a complete, autonomous process.” - Deanne Luke, Founder, Lexington Logistics

What does great look like in WMS integrations? CartonCloud is designed to work with different client systems, including one or two-way integrations for accounting, eCommerce, transport, and route optimization software. With CartonCloud you also have the ability to create your own integrations through public API and Zapier connections. Learn more on how to use 3PL integrations for your growing warehouse here.

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5. Can it save me hours of admin with Automated Rates and Invoicing?

Software that takes care of your tasks in the warehouse is one thing, but the best 3PL software should also tackle your admin and accounting work for you!

3PL billing software captures and automates billable services, such as storage or pallet handling fees. CartonCloud on the other hand, simplifies both billing and admin tasks. Without lifting a finger, CartonCloud will simplify invoicing, billing, and rate calculations, giving you hours of valuable time back into your day.

All you have to do is load your rates once and let the magic happen! With automated rate calculations, you can streamline everything onto a single invoice. By connecting your accounting software like Xero, MYOB, and Quickbooks, you can generate invoices and send them directly to your customers via email. It's that easy! 🙌

Ready to Get Started?

Choose CartonCloud and experience the difference that the best 3PL software can make for your business. Contact our team to book your FREE Demo tour and see our powerful Warehouse Management System in action.

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