Category: Ecommerce

Simplifying T-Shirt eCommerce through Virtual Warehousing

Posted on by Brad Baecker

The T-shirt business, like any other eCommerce venture, needs an efficient system to track inventory, monitor production stages, and fulfill orders in an accurate yet timely manner. SKULabs, an all-in-one inventory management and order fulfillment solution, has emerged as an invaluable tool for companies that sell T-shirts via eCommerce by using virtual warehouses to represent different stages of production. No matter what method you use to manufacture, whether it’s plastisol, ink / laser jet, or dye sublimation, there’s no need for costly manufacturing software that can be an overkill both on the wallet and functionality. 

Virtual Warehouses?

A virtual warehouse can be used as a digital representation of the different stages of production in an inventory management system. These stages may include intake and housing of raw materials, printing and production of the shirt, items sent for quality control, and ultimately advertised inventory to your sales channels. The primary advantage of using virtual warehouses is the ability to track inventory levels and the flow of goods across different stages without the need for spreadsheets or other costly softwares. With the proper setup, virtual warehouses can streamline operations, improve visibility, and boost overall efficiency.

Organizing Raw Materials

The journey of a printed T-shirt begins with your raw materials. This can include items such as blank T-shirts, dyes and prints, or actual raw materials such at cotton and threads depending on the level of manufacturing you choose to undertake. By utilizing SKULabs’ virtual warehouse workflow, eCommerce businesses can have a clear and organized view of their raw material inventory. This helps companies to maintain visibility on their production items, know how much they have in stock, where each one of them is in the production line, and even get automated reports when raw materials are running low in stock. This helps you maintain optimal stock levels, reduce waste, and prevent mismatches in quantities needed to create final products.

Tracking the Printing Process

The printing phase is where creativity comes to life as designs, logos, and other graphics are transferred onto the fabric. This process can occur in various locales – within your city, across your state, or even within distinct sections of your warehouse. Regardless of the location, SKULabs empowers eCommerce businesses to monitor the progress of the printing stage with ease. With this tool, companies can keep tabs on the quantity of printed T-shirts, the availability of different colors and sizes, and even gain real-time insights into items at various stages of production. As a result, businesses gain a transparent view of their production timeline, enabling them to better prioritize orders and optimally allocate resources.

Monitoring Quality Control

After the printing stage, T-shirts undergo quality control to ensure that they meet the required standards. With SKULabs’ virtual warehouse feature, eCommerce businesses can track the number of items currently in the quality control stage and ensure that only high-quality products reach the customers. This not only helps in maintaining a positive brand image but also reduces returns and exchanges due to quality issues.

Managing Advertised Inventory

Once the T-shirts pass quality control, they are ready for sale. SKULabs, with an ever evolving product, allows eCommerce businesses to manage their finished products across multiple sales channels with granular control of advertised stock through highly customizable stock rules. By using virtual warehouses in combination with sales channel connected warehouses, businesses can have a unified view of their production cycle as well as their available and advertised stock to avoid overselling or underselling. This helps in meeting customer expectations, reducing cancellations or costly returns, and improving overall customer satisfaction.

Seamless Order Fulfillment

SKULabs delivers a seamless order fulfillment process that can transform the operational landscape for your T-shirt printing business. By navigating its user-friendly interface, companies can easily track the entire order journey from initiation to delivery, ensuring a smooth and efficient workflow. SKULabs’ powerful system automatically updates inventory counts, mitigating the risk of errors and inventory discrepancies. This leads not only to swifter order processing but also to reduced costs related to inventory management and handling. Embracing SKULabs’ highly customizable platform allows eCommerce businesses to heighten customer satisfaction, increase operational efficiency, and ultimately propel sales growth.

Connect with SKULabs Today

Don’t get monkeyed’ out of your hard earned cash by overpaying for processes that you do not need!

Chat with one of our experts today

Schedule a meeting or give us a call at 1800-243-2986 to learn more.

Posted in Ecommerce, Inventory Management, Small Business

The Fine Line: Customer Service or Customer Support

Posted on by Brad Baecker

Finding the right software solution for your eCommerce business can be a daunting endeavor. Every business has its unique challenges and requirements, and finding a platform that meets expectations is challenging enough in itself. At the top of the list, and a common denominator for every search is always access to support. Its not only about the amount of support, but the quality of support from your software of choice that are key factors in making your decision and final commitment. When shopping for a new IMS / OMS software, don’t be afraid to ask questions. What can I expect for support on this quoted plan? Are there additional fee’s for support or onboarding? Is it same day support, or most importantly… Is it outsourced?

Recognizing this, SKULabs‘ in-house support has meticulously crafted its approach to prioritize customized customer service over traditional customer support. Rather than offering a generic solution, SKULabs delves deep into the intricacies of each account and it’s individual settings to not only get the right answer, but the right answer for you.

This granular attention ensures that users aren’t just given standard answers, but receive guidance tailored to their particular setup. The result? Solutions that truly resonate with the distinct needs of every client. By honing in on the specifics of each account, SKULabs guarantees more precise, efficient, and effective assistance, elevating your overall user experience. Dive into the SKULabs support module and witness a nuanced approach to customer interaction that truly understands your business. Along side of this unique approach, we have partnered with some of the best B2B support interfaces available today. Don’t just settle for email based support most platforms offer, when SKULabs offers some of the most advanced and highly rated support tools in the industry!

Unlike most of our competitors, we do not charge any extra fee’s for our support or onboarding, and all customers have access to live chat support, email support, phone support and emergency line support, no matter what plan you sign up for!

Top Rated Support Interface

Integrating powerful messaging and automation for self serve and live chat provides a SKULabs direct channel of engagement for customers across support, onboarding, and consultation. SKULabs works with great passion to provide knowledge, tools, experience, and a winning solution for warehouse management processes.

Intercom, an integral partner in our support services, recently announced their biggest ever launch with more than 20 new features built to ensure providing prompt & personal support. Ranging from artificial intelligence organizational tools, to new and robust ticketing systems to facilitate an efficient and easy to use support module. Partnering with solutions that are constantly implementing the latest technology and striving to stay ahead of the curve gives SKULabs the competitive advantage over the other contenders, and the reason why our support is highly praised on big platforms such as Shopify!

Improved Support Experience

When SKULabs clients engage with our support specialists via our messenger-based chat platform, they are privy to tailored responses that align with their company’s unique organizational and warehousing workflows, ensuring a response that is both relevant and in tune with the current operations. This method is a marked improvement over conventional email-based ticketing mechanisms. Rather than attempting to summarize an entire process challenge into a single email and await a response, customers find it much easier to express the issue and converse to bring out the true nature of the inquiry. Our platform allows the seamless exchange of data such as screenshots, technical documentation, imagery, videos, CSV data sets, and even direct access to synchronous screen-sharing sessions via Google Meets. This often results in a better experience, faster results, and a more on-point solution.

Improved Onboarding Process

At the heart of our live chat support is not just any ordinary chat function, but a robust framework manned by a dedicated team of warehouse management professionals and industry experts. Their primary role extends beyond merely resolving queries; they’re committed to ensuring a seamless onboarding experience for every client. We understand the stress and anxieties of small business start-ups, to top of the industry companies looking to change IMS platforms. There will always be a fear of a learning curve, and many times a hard deadline for implementation. No worries, we got your back! We are one of the few companies that do not charge any onboarding fee’s, yet are here to help you at every step of the way!

Interestingly, the concept of “onboarding” as we define it, is not a one-time process. As most of our esteemed customers would attest, the dynamics of warehouse management and fulfillment are constantly evolving. New challenges emerge, fresh solutions are designed, and innovative capabilities are rolled out with the overarching objective of streamlining and enhancing operations. In such a fast-paced environment, the need for ongoing adaptation and learning is paramount. And that’s where our live chat support truly shines.

Whether it’s guiding clients through basic initialization procedures or assisting them in implementing intricate multi-warehouse systems using our advanced shipping rules, our support platform is engineered for clarity, precision, and efficiency. Our team is trained to not just provide answers, but to engage in meaningful dialogues that encourages clients to ask questions, read articles, and equip themselves with the knowledge and tools needed for the long haul. It is not only about offering solutions, but in empowering our customers to harness the full potential of the software, while ensuring they are always at the forefront of industry best practices.

From Repetition to Relevance

One of the paramount aspects of effective customer support is recognizing and mitigating redundancies. This is especially the case with repetitive questions and common topics. At SKULabs, we’ve not only acknowledged this issue but have instituted measures to address it proactively. With Intercoms smart features, we can generate support articles on our FAQ’s, or utilize their built in A.I. features to corroborate and itemize long and drawn out tickets to get a timeline of included important events.

Another unique selling point of our support system is its collaborative nature. Rather than operating in silos, our SKULabs support team adopts a unified approach when addressing customer challenges. This collective approach ensures that when a query or issue is presented, it isn’t isolated; instead, it’s meticulously investigated and addressed by a cohesive unit and in some cases, reviewed by a specialist on the team so that we can ensure you the best possible answers and solutions for your inquiries.

As our esteemed customer, this translates to a significant saving in time and effort for you. No longer do you need to reiterate and explain your issue every time you communicate with a different team member. The essence of your conversation, the challenges highlighted, and the solutions discussed are meticulously documented. This evolving record then serves as a vital tool in ensuring continuity in the support provided.

Every interaction you have through chat becomes part of a growing narrative about your specific needs and the challenges you’re encountering. When any SKULabs support member engages with you, they do so with a holistic understanding of your previous interactions, ensuring that the support provided is not only timely but also contextually relevant. This system optimizes the support experience, ensuring that solutions are not just accurate, but also personalized and on-point. Often you might be asked by our team to start a new ticket when an unrelated inquiry comes up on your original one to ensure each topic is treated with equal relevance.

Organization is Key!

Rapid Assistance through Our Extensive Support Library

Upon entering a query into our live chat, the system immediately suggests curated help articles for prompt resolution to numerous queries. Our sophisticated messaging algorithm scans our extensive library of support articles to offer relevant information, potentially addressing your concerns even before connecting with our live support team. For frequently posed questions, our support documentation often delivers answers in mere seconds.

Simple & Effective Support Management

No more long typed explanations trying to get every word into an email support ticket. By conversing with our support team we can ask the right questions to get to the heart of the issue, and come to a relevant solution.

We feel support services provided to our customers are crucial to their business successes, and that communication is what elevates us beyond our competitors. Careful attention into the details, feedback, and solutions provided, come from our expert product team who specialize in warehouse management, order fulfillment, and inventory management challenges.

Connect with SKULabs Today

Now is the perfect time to discuss how we can help you migrate from your outdated inventory management platform with lackluster customer support!

Chat with one of our experts today.Schedule a meeting or give us a call at 1800-243-2986 to learn more.

Posted in Ecommerce, Inventory Management, Small Business, Warehouse Management

Vital Components for Running an eCommerce Electronics Store

Posted on by Brad Baecker

In the fast paced and ever-evolving world of online sales, running an eCommerce electronics business can be akin to solving a complex puzzle. With an array of products and countless variables to keep track of, from single items to bundles or even assembled products, effective inventory management becomes paramount. Adding to the complexity is the necessity for serialization – the need to track individual stock keeping units (SKU) in your inventory yet needing unique identifiers to differentiate them. Additionally you will be selling many items individually as well as combined, such as built PC’s for example. Keeping up with these demands without a robust, capable software solution can lead to operational inefficiencies, poor customer service, and potentially, a loss in revenue.

Welcome to the world of SKULabs, an all-in-one inventory management and order fulfillment platform designed to power your eCommerce electronics business with industry leading efficiency and control. Through its sophisticated features like serialization and managing assembled products, SKULabs is poised to become your trusted partner in navigating the challenging terrain of eCommerce. In this blog, we’ll deep dive into the nuances of these two features and explore how SKULabs can be your key to unlocking sustained success in the bustling electronics market.

Serialization: Order attribution with secure single-use-only verification

Serialization is a standout feature of SKULabs that allows individual tracking of items using unique identifiers, a crucial requirement in the electronics market.

Having the ability to track SKU’s or items such as serial numbers, IMEI’s or batch/lot numbers to reference repairs or returns will guarantee a high level of operational organization and accountability. This is incredibly vital for various reasons:

1. Warranty and Returns Management

When it comes to electronics, warranties and returns are inevitable. With serialization, you can easily trace back an item to its specific sales data, enabling you to handle warranty claims or manage returns more efficiently. This ultimately leads to improved customer satisfaction, a vital factor in the highly competitive eCommerce space. When a customer calls in or an item has been returned for repair or replacement, simply scan or type the serial number into SKULabs and we will bring up the order and all of the customer information in which that specific serial was attached. This helps answer many questions, such as when was this item purchased? It it still under warranty? Were there any important notes on this order specific to this customer at the time of purchase?

2. Product Authenticity and Theft Deterrence

The electronics market is rife with counterfeit products. By using unique identifiers, you can reassure your customers about product authenticity. It also deters theft and fraud, as each item can be traced back to its origin, making it easier for you to maintain the integrity of your inventory.

3. Detailed Product History

With the ability to track products individually, SKULabs lets you create a detailed history for each product, including its source, purchase date, and make notes for any repairs or modifications it has undergone. This gives you unparalleled insights into your inventory and aids in making data-driven decisions. SKULabs offers a way to quickly export serial numbers in bulk for third-party reporting requirements and be able to answer “What serials shipped out today?” quite easily. You can confidently rely on reports such as the unscanned serials report to identify when serialized products leave the warehouse without a serial number scan to prevent mistakes, or you can completely prevent items from being verified on orders until a serial number is entered or scanned. SKULabs options are customizable and can be tailored to many different use-case scenarios.

Serial numbers can easily be added to items when receiving or they can be updated in bulk via a simple CSV import. 

Kitting: Selling multiple products under one SKU/Barcode

In the electronics eCommerce industry, product bundles are quite popular. Whether it’s a game console packaged with popular games or a smartphone paired with essential accessories, consumers often prefer kits that provide a complete solution. The kitting feature in SKULabs allows you to create and manage these product bundles with ease. Additionally you might sell pre-assembled products such as a custom built computer for example. You might even have multiple variants of this build with higher ram, storage, graphics etc. This is where SKULabs takes ownership and will simplify this for you.

1. Simplified Inventory Management

You are empowered to sell all of your items individually as well as in completely built kits, and a single scan of a barcode is all it takes to add or deduct inventory for every component item in your kits!. This helps simplify inventory management, as you don’t have to track each item separately. When a kit is sold, the system automatically updates the inventory of the individual items.

2. Enhanced Sales Opportunities

Kitting is a proven strategy to increase average order value and boost sales. It offers customers a more convenient shopping experience, often at a discounted rate compared to purchasing items individually. SKULabs makes the creation and management of these kits a breeze. Have a slow moving product? Bundle it with your most popular items to start moving that inventory!

3. Reduced Shipping Costs

By shipping multiple items together as a kit, you can reduce your shipping costs. This not only lowers your operational expenses but also allows you to offer competitive prices, giving you an edge in the crowded eCommerce electronics market.

With its unique features like serialization and kitting, SKULabs is indeed an excellent choice for your eCommerce electronics store. It offers a comprehensive solution that not only simplifies inventory management and order fulfillment but also provides opportunities to enhance sales and improve customer satisfaction.

Choosing SKULabs is choosing a future where your business operations are streamlined, your customers are happier, and your growth potential is maximized. Ready to see how SKULabs can power your eCommerce electronics store? Let’s take this journey together!

Connect with SKULabs Today

Now is the perfect time to discuss how we can help you properly keep track of your various products for your online electronics store.

Chat with one of our experts today.Schedule a meeting or give us a call at 1800-243-2986 to learn more.

Posted in Ecommerce, Inventory Management, Small Business

Streamlining eCommerce Vape Store Operations with SKULabs

Posted on by Brad Baecker

The e-commerce landscape has grown exponentially in recent years, presenting exciting new opportunities for niche markets such as vape stores. However, as these ventures scale, managing inventory and fulfilling orders efficiently can become increasingly complex. A reliable solution to these challenges is SKULabs, a top-rated inventory management and order fulfillment platform. This robust tool can revolutionize your eCommerce vape store, fostering productivity and facilitating growth.

Vape industry

SKULabs: Your eCommerce Solution

SKULabs is a comprehensive, multi-channel inventory and order management platform designed to streamline online business operations. With its extensive feature set, it’s a one-stop solution that helps eCommerce store owners manage inventories, process orders, ship products, and create purchase orders efficiently.

Streamlining Inventory Management

Managing inventory can be a daunting task, especially in a specialized market like vaping, where you need to keep track of various e-liquids, devices, coils, and other accessories. SKULabs simplifies this process significantly. It lets you sync your inventory across various sales channels, ensuring accurate and updated stock levels. Its robust system prevents overselling by automatically updating your stock across all platforms whenever an order comes in or a fulfillment is made. 

What’s more, SKULabs allows for easy SKU mapping and barcode scanning, facilitating the quick and accurate picking of items all the way down to replenishment of stock. It also generates actionable insights through its advanced analytics, helping you understand sales trends and make informed inventory decisions when it is time to reorder stock.

Efficient Order Fulfillment

Fulfilling orders is another critical aspect of an eCommerce business. With SKULabs, you can batch and route orders, print shipping labels, and dispatch packages with ease. Additionally, its integrated shipping feature supports all major shipping carriers, allowing you to provide the best delivery options to your customers.

The software’s pick and pack feature is a game-changer, eliminating shipping errors and ensuring that your customers receive the right products every time. While scanning barcodes during the packing process, you can verify that each order is correctly filled, reducing costly returns and increasing customer satisfaction.

Enhancing Customer Service

Excellent customer service is the cornerstone of any successful eCommerce business. SKULabs enables real-time syncing of orders, ensuring that reserves are made on each one helping you to avoid costly overselling which can lead to unhappy customers. With its set of highly configurable shipping rules, orders can be prioritized to ensure you are hitting those target ship dates to not only keep your sales channels happy but also enhancing your customer service and fostering customer loyalty.

Improved Reporting and Analytics

Data-driven decision making is key to scaling any eCommerce business. SKULabs offers detailed reporting and analytics features, allowing you to track sales trends, best-selling products, and overall business performance. These insights can be instrumental in improving your product offerings, pricing strategies, and marketing efforts, propelling your vape store towards growth.

inventory management

In Conclusion

SKULabs is an all-in-one solution that takes the guesswork out of managing your eCommerce vape store. From simplifying inventory management to streamlining order fulfillment, enhancing customer service, and providing actionable insights through robust analytics, SKULabs is a comprehensive tool that can revolutionize your eCommerce operations. Whether you are a small business looking to scale or an established vape store aiming to improve efficiency, SKULabs is a powerful ally in your eCommerce journey.

Remember, as the vaping market continues to evolve, staying on top of your operations and providing exceptional customer service will be crucial in staying competitive. By leveraging a tool like SKULabs, you can ensure that your eCommerce vape store is well-equipped to meet these challenges head-on.

Harness the power of SKULabs, and take your eCommerce vape store to new heights!
Talk to one of our experts to see how we can help streamline your vape store today! Or you can  give us a call at 1-800-243-2986.

Posted in EcommerceTagged

Choosing the Right Shopping Cart Solution for Your Needs

Posted on by SKULabs Team

Best shopping cart software
For most ecommerce retailers, one of the first steps to a successful launch is choosing the right shopping cart platform to host your store. If you’ve started this search already, you’ve likely seen a lot of options out there that may work for you. The myriad of carts out there will generally advertise the same concepts: responsive themes, fast performance, search engine optimization, etc.

Ecommerce has grown very rapidly since it was introduced in the late 90s. Year after year, online retail grows in market share and more sellers want a piece of the action. Due to the ever-increasing demand of aspiring ecommerce merchants, there are more shopping carts to choose from than ever. How can someone new to the industry know which platform is right for their needs?

Continue reading “Choosing the Right Shopping Cart Solution for Your Needs”

Posted in Ecommerce