How Does Magento Fulfilment Work in 2024?

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Frustrated with fulfilment? Delays and errors can cost you loyal customers. Nearly all online shoppers (85%) say a bad delivery experience would stop them from buying again.

Efficient order fulfilment in e-commerce is key.

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Are you using Magento for your e-commerce store? This guide dives into Magento order fulfilment and the benefits of partnering with a third-party logistics (3PL) solution like Bigblue. Learn how to create the best customer experiences, ultimately boosting your conversion rates and fostering brand loyalty.

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1. What is Magento e-commerce?

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Magento, a top CMS e-commerce platform owned by Adobe, powered over 267,000 online stores globally in 2022, making up roughly 0.9% of all online retailers. However, it's crucial to differentiate between two versions:

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CMS Adobe Commerce (previously Magento Commerce) Magento 2 Open Source Cost Paid Free Target Audience Larger Businesses Wider range of businesses Features More advanced Basic Support Dedicated support Community support Hosting Hosted by Adobe Self-hosted — Adobe Commerce (previously Magento Commerce) vs Magento 2 Open Source

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But what about logistics and fulfilment?

While Magento itself doesn't directly fulfil orders, it integrates with various fulfilment providers to streamline the process.

Here's a breakdown of the pros and cons of using Magento for order fulfilment:

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Pros:

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Effortless automation: Magento automates tasks like sending order details to your fulfilment provider, saving you time and minimising errors. This translates to faster order processing and happier customers.

Seamless scaling: Grow your business and easily expand fulfilment capabilities.
Real-time inventory: Magento seamlessly integrates with your fulfilment provider's system, offering real-time stock visibility.

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Cons:

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Setup complexity: This may require technical expertise, especially for smaller businesses.
Magento's learning curve: Takes time and effort to master the platform's features, compared to simpler e-commerce platforms.

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2. Partner with a 3PL for your Magento website

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While Magento is a powerful e-commerce platform, managing order fulfilment in-house can become a burden as your business grows. Partnering with a 3PL provider can offer several key benefits for your Magento store, allowing you to focus on core business activities like marketing and product development.

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Here's why partnering with a 3PL can be advantageous:

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2.1 Enhanced efficiency and scalability:

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Streamlined operations: 3PLs handle various aspects of fulfilment, including warehousing, picking, packing, and shipping.
Scalability: 3PLs have the infrastructure and resources to handle fluctuating order volumes, ensuring smooth operations during peak seasons like Black Friday or periods of rapid growth (after appearing on a TV show like Dragons’ Den for example).

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_{Bigblue Tips}_{Never run out of stock again! Stay on top of your}_inventory_{with Bigblue.
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Running out of stock can hurt your business and disappoint customers. Bigblue helps you avoid this by:

- Real-time inventory tracking: Know exactly how much you have of each product at all times.
- Optimised forecasting: Plan your supplies based on your actual sales data, not guesswork.
- Easy management: Everything you need is accessible on your Bigblue dashboard.}

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2.2 Cost savings:

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Economies of scale: 3PLs leverage their existing infrastructure and negotiate bulk shipping rates, potentially offering you lower costs than you could achieve on your own.
Reduced overhead: You avoid the costs associated with maintaining your own warehouse, hiring and managing warehouse staff, and investing in equipment and technology.

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2.3 Improved customer satisfaction:

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Faster delivery: 3PLs often have strategically located fulfilment centres and warehouses, allowing them to offer faster delivery times and meet customer expectations.
Enhanced tracking and visibility: Most 3PLs provide real-time order tracking, allowing you and your customers to monitor order progress and delivery status.
Reduced errors: 3PLs have experience and expertise in handling orders accurately and efficiently, minimising the risk of errors and ensuring customer satisfaction.

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_{Bigblue Tips}_{At Bigblue, we want you to focus on what you do best, not the hassle of shipping and returns.

We've built a cutting-edge solution packed with features to take care of the}_{logistics for you}_:

-_{Personalised tracking}_{: Keep your customers happy with branded tracking emails and pages.
- Real-time ETAs: Show your customers exactly when to expect their orders, right on your product page.
-}_{Effortless returns}_{: Manage both B2C and B2B returns with our portal, even offering a printerless option for added convenience.}

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2.4 Expertise and technology:

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Fulfilment expertise: 3PLs stay up-to-date on the latest fulfilment trends and technologies, allowing them to offer efficient and cost-effective solutions.
Advanced technology: Many 3PLs utilise automation, Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), Transportation Management Systems (TMS), and other advanced technologies to streamline operations and improve accuracy.

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3. Partnering with Bigblue for your Magento store

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Bigblue can be easily integrated with Magento to handle your order management and shipping from start to finish. You will be able to focus on more important tasks like growing your business and providing the best shopping experience to your clients!

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We currently offer seamless integration with Magento, enabling quick connection to any Magento store through our API. This integration facilitates the exchange of product, order, and inventory information, among other data.

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Our process is designed to be transparent and effortless. We automate everything from stock allocation to delivery notifications, ensuring peace of mind for you and your customers.

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3.1 3 easy steps to get integrated with us:

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3.1.1 Integration

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You connect your Magento store to Bigblue through our extension or API. This allows real-time data exchange between the two platforms.

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3.1.2 Order processing

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When a customer places an order on your Magento store, the order details are automatically sent to our system.

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Bigblue keeps you updated on your inventory levels in real-time. This helps prevent stockouts and ensures accurate order fulfilment.

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3.1.3 Order fulfilment

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We receive the order details, locate the items in our warehouse, pick and pack them, and then ship them to the customer.

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3.1.4 Tracking and updates

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Both you and your customer receive tracking information and updates on the order's status throughout the fulfilment process. You can easily find all the information on our dashboard!

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Now you're equipped with the knowledge to unlock the full potential of Magento's powerful platform. Remember, efficient order fulfilment is crucial for a thriving e-commerce business. By understanding the advantages and considerations of using Magento for fulfilment, and exploring the benefits of partnering with a 3PL like Bigblue, you can ensure a smooth and successful journey for both you and your customers.

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Ready to prioritise growth and delight your customers? Bigblue offers a seamless integration with your Magento store, streamlining every step from order placement to delivery. We handle the logistics, so you can focus on what you do best – running a thriving business.

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Contact us today and let Bigblue be your trusted partner in e-commerce success!

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Frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know.

What is Magento eCommerce?

Magento eCommerce is a versatile platform for building online stores. It provides tools for product management, order processing, and customer engagement. With robust features and customisation options, it caters to diverse business needs.

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How to process an order in Magento?

To process an order in Magento, log in to the admin panel, navigate to Sales > Orders, review and edit details if necessary, invoice the order for payment capture, create a shipment with tracking information, mark the order as shipped, and update inventory levels.

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What are the stages of Magento order?

Magento orders typically go through several stages: pending, processing, complete, and closed. In the pending stage, the order is placed but not yet processed. Processing indicates the order is being prepared. Complete signifies successful fulfilment, and closed means the order is finalised.

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What are the fulfilment process flows in the Magento Order Management System?

In Magento Order Management System, fulfilment processes involve receiving orders, processing payments, managing inventory, picking and packing items, shipping, and updating order statuses. These flows ensure efficient order fulfilment and customer satisfaction.

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