How to use WMS Software for E-commerce

What if your WMS software already held the key to e-commerce success?

That’s right — within your existing warehouse workflows are powerful e-commerce features designed to manage fast-moving online orders, boost picking accuracy, and keep your team operating at full speed! With the tools you currently have on hand, you can diversify your revenue streams and take full advantage of your WMS software benefits.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through exactly how to use WMS software for e-commerce and fully unlock the revenue potential of your CartonCloud system step by step with specialized industry workflows — so you can turn the system you already use into an even greater growth engine.

See how to get more from your WMS software and start saying yes to e-commerce clients today!

TL;DR? See the top WMS software features you need to use in your operations so you can take on e-commerce clients with ease.

Q: What is the difference between traditional and e-commerce fulfillment?

A: Traditional 3PL fulfillment usually means shipping large, bulk orders — like pallets of stock, or wholesale goods — and most often is shipped out to retailers or distribution centers. These orders are fewer in quantity, more predictable, and tend to come with higher margins. For e-commerce on the other hand, it’s all about managing hundreds (or even thousands) of smaller, fast-moving orders — and shipping them directly to a customer’s doorstep. That means your warehouse needs to run faster, smarter, and with razor-sharp accuracy to keep up with demand and meet customer expectations.

Using CartonCloud’s WMS software, you already have the tools to take your operations online and tap into the e-commerce space (no matter the industry niche you specialize in).

Understanding key differences in e-commerce & bulk fulfillment:

• Higher order volumes, placed more often: Instead of a few large shipments, with e-commerce you’ll be dealing with a constant flow of small orders that need to be picked, packed, and shipped out quickly — often 100s or 1000s of orders a day!
• Smaller per-order margins: E-commerce is designed to deliver low-cost fulfillment, so each e-commerce order will only deliver a small ROI on storage and handling fees, meaning efficiency and volume is key to profitability.
• Direct-to-door delivery: With orders sent straight to a customer’s home or drop-off location, you will need to consider shipping integrations like national couriers like FedEx or USPS or shipping partners like StarShipit.
• More complex order types: E-commerce is a broad term that can cover a range of diverse workflows! Think single items, multi-SKU orders, product bundles, promotional offers (2 for 1, etc) and occasional kitting or customization depending on your industry niche. You need to ensure you have specialized workflows and customizable charging to ensure your operations can remain streamlined, accurate, and profitable.
• Speed: With same-day or next-day delivery expected by most end-customers, your warehouse pick and pack needs to be fast, in order to get the orders out the door, to your delivery partners.
• Value-added services: Depending on your niche, customers may expect value-added services like custom packaging, labeling, or other white glove handling.
• Tight inventory control: You’ll need SKU-level accuracy and real-time stock visibility — especially if your customers rely on up-to-date availability in their online storefronts.
• Replenishment: Inventory restocking can be a game changer for e-commerce, enabling you to use pick faces for fast-moving goods, and replenish these locations using larger, bulk storage for just-in-time incoming orders to prevent any stockouts.

Q: Who uses WMS software?

A: WMS software is crucial for small and medium-sized 3PL businesses that need to manage the fast-paced demands of e-commerce fulfillment. When selecting a WMS, it’s important to consider both your team’s needs and your customers’ expectations.

Your WMS software should be intuitive and easy for your team to learn and use, while also supporting the seamless onboarding of new customers. Look for customizable workflows and features that can accommodate various inventory types, as well as being able to provide your customers with real-time visibility of their order status from start to finish with an online portal.

Q: What does success for e-commerce look like?

A: If you want to crush it in e-commerce fulfillment, there are a few must-haves for success. First off, it’s all about being able to handle high volumes of small orders — fast. Your customers expect their orders to be picked, packed, and on the road in record time, and they want to see and track exactly where things are at every step.

That means your fulfillment setup needs to be built for speed and accuracy, with SKU-level tracking and real-time order visibility available. On top of that, you'll need the right e-commerce integrations and workflows to keep orders flowing from start to finish. We look at how to optimize your operations for e-commerce success through the specialized warehouse system software uses for e-commerce in this blog. 

Q: How can I use my WMS for e-commerce?

A: Your WMS can be a powerful tool packed with for managing your e-commerce operations. When you understand the full range of warehouse system software uses, you can manage e-commerce from start to finish with ease.

CartonCloud is equipped with many WMS software benefits that let you run your entire 3PL from one platform, fulfilling e-commerce and bulk, B2B side by side. Take a look at how to make this work for you with a WMS for e-commerce.

CartonCloud WMS software benefits for end-to-end e-commerce fulfillment:

1. Connect directly to online stores like Shopify, so orders flow into your CartonCloud WMS software automatically — no manual data entry needed.
2. Start fulfillment instantly with live order syncing, allowing your team to pick, pack, and dispatch as soon as the order comes in.
3. Use e-commerce workflows like Split Pick and Pack, Pick to Tote, or Replenishment to handle large volumes quickly and accurately.
4. Boost accuracy by pairing mobile devices with Bluetooth barcode scanners and the CartonCloud mobile app for fast, error-free order picking.
5. Simplify shipping with label printing, live tracking updates, and carrier integrations — or automate consignment creation through CartonCloud’s built-in TMS.
6. Automate rate cards and invoicing by calculating charges in your CartonCloud WMS software to generate and send invoices through accounting platforms like Xero, MYOB, or QuickBooks.

Instantly Sync Online Orders with your WMS for E-commerce

In e-commerce, speed and accuracy are everything. When your customers are selling through online platforms like Shopify, you need order details to hit your system the moment a purchase is made — so your team can get straight to fulfillment. 

CartonCloud’s Self-Managed Shopify Integration automates your online orders directly into your WMS software! 

How does it work? Every order placed on your customer’s Shopify store is automatically synced into your CartonCloud WMS software. This keeps your inventory levels accurate and ensures orders can be processed quickly.

Once an order is fulfilled, CartonCloud sends out a confirmation and any available tracking or carrier details straight back to Shopify — so your customers can keep their end-customers informed with dispatch updates and tracking information effortlessly.

This makes scaling your business — locally or globally — easy. For Australian-based 3PL TNS Logistics, they are able to service their clients located in Toronto Canada thanks to CartonCloud’s Shopify integration.  

“The integration process allows clients from all over the world to send orders to us live, which ensures same-day dispatch, which is really important for our clients." — Matthew Norton, Commercial Manager, TNS Logistics

Key Takeaways

• Venturing into the e-commerce space is easy with CartonCloud’s all-in-one WMS platform, which lets you manage e-commerce fulfillment alongside your traditional operations. This enables easy scaling, the ability to offer more services, and the opportunity to explore new revenue streams, all without the complexity of managing multiple systems.
• CartonCloud is loaded with WMS software benefits that help you keep up with the fast-paced world of e-commerce — with features like real-time inventory tracking, automated order processing, and smooth integrations with online storefronts, you can fulfill orders quickly and accurately.

Want to know more?

Our team is ready to help you explore all warehouse system software uses with the CartonCloud mobile and web app. Book a free demo today and see all the WMS software benefits for your business!