Using WMS Integrations to Navigate Economic Shifts

The ideal WMS does not exis—.... Wait, maybe it does.  An integrated Warehouse Management System (WMS) and Transport Management System (TMS) that connect seamlessly with other business systems, providing the agility and visibility needed by 3PL operators, to respond to economic shifts is already here! 

As the logistics industry marches into yet another era of economic and market instability in the USA and global markets, there’s never been a better time to ensure your system is up to date and up to the challenge. 

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The power of integrated 3PL WMS systems

Integrated systems are essential to deliver valuable partnerships and reduce overheads with automated processes.

In late 2023, the CartonCloud Logistics Index Report found demand increases were driving logistics providers to seek out and build partnerships in order to outsource services and boost their own capacity to take on new business. 

The top actions to secure growth in logistics were voted as the ability to add partnerships, track orders and achieve inventory traceability, and to diversify revenue streams by offering new services — and these avenues for growth remain true today, especially in entering times of uncertain economic stability.

 “It’s a trend we’ve seen increasing over time, and it goes hand in hand with the intent to invest in technology,” said CartonCloud CEO Shaun Hagen.  

“This laser focus on partnerships and outsourcing has created a greater value, and awareness, of software integrations and software systems that support this flexibility and real-time data sharing," he said. 

So with tech a clear solution for many business growth plans, we asked hundreds of logistics providers what was the top hurdle inhibiting 3PL providers from getting the features they need to grow their business? 

What was the top thing preventing them from implementing the systems they needed to optimize operations and give more services to their customers? 

The answer was; time. The biggest resource that providers need back in their day, and also the biggest hurdle to getting the systems they need to do so— time to implement a new system, to import data, to train their staff.

The thing is, not all systems take ages to implement. Our powerful and intuitive integrated WMS/TMS is built by logistics people —for logistics people, and we’ve taken into account the features you need now, and what’s stopping you from getting them! The answer is clear: your new WMS/TMS system shouldn’t take you months to get up and running —which is why, with CartonCloud you can be up and running in hours! 

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Get the most from your warehouse integrations 

In this article, we look at how you can use your WMS integrations to your advantage, to reduce overheads and offer more to your customers. 

It’s not secret that an outdated, clunky or isolated system can lead to inefficiencies, delays, lost revenue and escalated operational costs — not to mention, frustrated teams and customers. 

For third-party logistics (3PL) providers, having a robust, integrated warehouse and transport management system (WMS/TMS) can significantly enhance performance by improving accuracy, reducing costs, and elevating service levels. Want to know more about our powerful warehouse management system integrations?

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CartonCloud’s powerful and flexible WM and /TMSallows you to integrate seamlessly with other critical business software, including accounting, e-commerce, transportation, and even large scale enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.

👀 Check out our Guide to 3PL WMS integrations here!

👀 Explore our CartonCloud x Shopify e-commerce integration here! 

Let’s dive into the nuances of 3PL WMS integrations and how you can use your integrated system to help plan for the future, and remain flexible to upcoming opportunities. 

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Using WMS Integrations to navigate change and economic disruptions 

CartonCloud’s integrated WMS/TMS gives growing 3PLs the tools they need to navigate economic shifts effectively — with  flexibility and forward planning, automated processes, and real-time data at your fingertips.

As a business owner, some things are out of your hands. Changes in global trade policies, natural disasters, or geopolitical events can disrupt supply chains, leading to delays and increased costs can turn any well formutated plan on it’s head and leave you feeling like you’re treading water.

With the right systems, you can remain flexible, utlilising a range of features, workflows and services to unlock new opportunities as they arise, or to pivot from old plans if they become outdated. How? 

• Your Integrated WMS/TMS systems provide real-time visibility into inventory levels, order statuses, and shipment tracking, allowing for proactive decision-making. 
• Seamlessly and securly integrate with platforms to unlock new services and revenue streams, such as e-commerce, warehouse storage or transport and offer more to your customers. (CartonCloud offers hundreds of out of the box integrations, a self-managed integrations marketplace, and thousands of other options through our public Zapier!)‍
• Business Intelligence can also be used to analyze historical data and current trends across integrated systems, logistics companies can identify patterns and predict future shifts in demand or supply chain disruptions.
• Seamless data flow enables secure and optimized partnerships, allowing you to expand your network to access additional services or outsource activities. 

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Fast access to fast results: One System, One Dashboard, One Login

By integrating your systems, you can simplify your own admin, reporting, and task management from one log in, ensuring data is seamlessly captured andshared in real-time, with accuracy.

You can streamline processes to expedite order fulfillment and enhance customer satisfaction — while making your own life easier too. Take our WooCommerce ecom WMS integration, or our CartonCloud x Shopify Self Managed e commerce integration for example. WMS integrations like these allow seamless data flow between the customer’s ecommerce store and their WMS, automating online store orders into warehouse orders, tracking order fulfulment, and streamlining invoicing as you sleep. 

Or, take our accounting integrations with Quickbooks, Xero, MYOB or your preferred accounting platform. Connecting the WMS/TMS with accounting software (e.g., Xero, QuickBooks) ensures that financial transactions are automatically updated, maintaining accurate and up-to-date financial records.

CartonCloud seamlessly integrates with various software platforms, including accounting systems like Xero and QuickBooks, and e-commerce platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce. These integrations synchronize logistics operations with other business processes, ensuring a unified and efficient workflow.

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Fast onboarding. World Class Support. Online Learning. 

What’s holding you back?  

If you feel like you’re too busy to fix your WMS issues, or too slammed to update your TMS software to gain the features you want — then think again! 🤗

With an average onboarding time of just 5-6 hours, we can have you up and running on your new and improved WMS faster — so you can start optimizing operations and reducing your unnecessary overheads sooner. 

Learn more about additional integrations available — ask our expert team about CartonCloud’s self-service integrations, out-of-the-box integrations, platform connections and world class customer support on your call. Our team of experts are here to answer all of your questions. 

We know transitioning to a new system can be challenging, and once again we’ve got you covered! CartonCloud offers comprehensive online learning resources, including tutorials, webinars, and documentation, to facilitate user onboarding and system utilization.

It doesn’t end there! CartonCloud’s world-class customer service provides ongoing support, assisting with everything from initial setup to troubleshooting and system optimization.

Next steps

Ask for a demonstration or software tour today! Our process is fast and straight forward — saving you time and helping you make the right decision to move your business forward. 

CartonCloud offers FREE, obligation-free software demos with our experienced team, to walk you trough the software features that apply to your business needs and workflows. We know your time is precious which is why we call before hand to ask you about your business needs, your current pain points or frustrations, and your growth aspirations — and then the demo is tailored to your needs, so you can explore exactly how our solution can help you scale and grow. 

Want to know more?

CartonCloud is created by logistics people for logistics people.

Get in touch with our friendly team today to book a FREE Demo at a time that suits you. See our software in action, talk to our experienced team about your operations and services, and find out how CartonCloud can help you revolutionize your operations with ease.