How to Easily Run Your Bulk B2B & E-Com Business Side by Side
As a 3PL operator, did you know that your next big revenue stream could start with just one aisle of warehouse racking, a few totes, and a trolley tucked in the corner of your warehouse?
It’s really that simple, and you can have your new e-commerce operations up and running in days, with CartonCloud’s fast-to-onboard WMS. We’ll help you get the right workflows and integrations in place to turn that under-utilized warehouse space into your 3PL’s next big profit driver!
TL;DR: If you’re running bulk warehousing, you already have 90% of the foundation for high-volume e-commerce fulfillment. In this blog, we’ll show you how to transform even a small area of your warehouse space into a high-volume e-commerce hub and use your CartonCloud WMS to run both B2B bulk and e-com side by side, from one platform.
Q: Can I run e-commerce and bulk fulfillment from the same warehouse?
A: Yes — you can easily manage both bulk/ pallet-in pallet-out distribution and e-commerce fulfillment from the one warehouse. Many 3PLs and warehouses are using CartonCloud’s WMS to manage both bulk B2B orders and fast-moving e-commerce shipments side by side. CartonCloud’s built-in automations for rate cards, invoicing, direct integrations with online storefronts, and high-volume pick and pack workflows make it easy to run your entire 3PL from one platform — without adding extra admin work.
Q: How should I set up my warehouse to support e-commerce fulfillment?
A: You don’t need to invest in expensive infrastructure to get started in e-commerce fulfillment — just make smart use of the warehouse space and tools you already have! A few racks and a tote trolley are often all it takes to create a small e-commerce zone within your existing warehouse.
Start by dedicating a specific area for online order pick and pack (like an unused office room or corner of the warehouse). We recommend setting up dedicated pick faces (quick-access storage locations for fast-moving e-commerce SKUs), so your team can pick orders faster, replenish them easily from bulk storage, and ensure your high-rotation products are always ready to go during peak periods. Your pick faces can be created with simple shelving and boxes labelled with pick bin labels.
Learn more about how to optimize your warehouse for multi-channel e-commerce here.
Q: Do I need new software to start offering e-commerce fulfillment?
A: CartonCloud’s WMS software is equipped with everything you need to manage e-commerce fulfillment with ease, including:
- Seamless e-commerce integrations with online storefronts like Shopify, so orders flow directly into your WMS in real time and are ready for picking right away.
- High-volume pick and pack workflows, including Pick to Tote and Pack Screen, so your team can process hundreds of small orders quickly, accurately, and efficiently.
- Smart shipping automations with carrier integrations and instant label generation, allowing your team to dispatch orders faster and with fewer errors.
- Real-time inventory tracking across all sales channels, ensuring stock levels remain accurate and overselling is prevented.
- Automated invoicing that automatically applies and syncs rate cards and ad hoc charges directly with your accounting software like Xero, QuickBooks, or MYOB.
You can simply add e-commerce operations alongside your bulk workflows within CartonCloud, without needing to implement any new software. Learn more about how to use WMS software for e-commerce here.
Q: How long does it take to set my 3PL up for e-commerce?
A: Setting up your 3PL warehouse for e-commerce is quick and straightforward with CartonCloud! Once your online store integrations are connected, your system can start processing live e-commerce orders immediately.
Let’s walk through how to get started below!
You’re Closer Than You Think
A few small tweaks here, a quick setup there — and just like that, your 3PL is ready to start serving e-commerce clients in no time (now that’s what we call an easy win!).
Think about it — you’ve already got everything you need:
✅ CartonCloud’s integrated WMS and TMS;
✅ A skilled team;
✅ And the warehouse space to make it happen!
That’s the hard part done. Now it’s just about putting what you’ve got to work.
Here’s how to kick things off:
- 1. Create a small, dedicated space for e-commerce - Set aside a section of your warehouse to function as your “e-com hub” with a few racks, totes, and a trolley. This gives your team a defined area to handle smaller, direct-to-customer orders without disrupting your B2B workflows.
“We’ve seen so many 3PLs easily transform unused space in their warehouse into a mini e-commerce hub. All you need is some totes, a trolley, and you’re set.” — Olivia Trankina, North American Operations Manager, CartonCloud
- 2. Onboard your clients by integrating with their online storefronts — Ensure all new orders appear automatically in your system as soon as they’re placed so your team can pick and pack and their order straight away.
- 3. Choose the right workflow for each order type - Whether you’re processing large batches of identical products or multi-item bundles, choosing the right workflow can ensure your picking process stays streamlined no matter the order volume. In CartonCloud, there are several top workflows for e-commerce (which we will break down below!).
- 4. Automate your shipping and billing - With CartonCloud’s carrier and accounting integrations, you can automatically generate labels, update tracking, and send invoices as soon as orders are complete.
➡️ For more warehouse space setup and workflow tips, check out Chapter 2 in our E-commerce Smooth Operators e-book.
Unlock New Revenue with E-commerce with our Free E-book
Want the full step-by-step guide? Download The Smooth Operator’s Playbook to learn how to smoothly add e-commerce to your bulk operations with ease.
Inside the e-book, you’ll discover:
- What sets e-commerce fulfillment apart from traditional B2B — and why you’re already closer than you think.
- How to integrate with online storefronts for instant order flow.
- Proven workflows for common e-com order types, from single-SKU flash sales to curated subscription boxes (and more).
- Tips to tailor workflows for specific industries like food & beverage or health & medical.
- How to automate shipping, tracking, and customer updates with ease.
- Effortless invoicing setups that keep your cash flow smooth.
- Real-world success stories and best-practice checklists to inspire your growth.
- Expert answers to the most common e-commerce fulfillment questions.
Grab your free copy today to get started!
Instantly Receive Orders with Integrations
A big part of e-commerce fulfillment success comes down to automation — especially when you’re managing high volumes of online orders.
CartonCloud connects directly with storefronts like Shopify, WooCommerce, and Amazon, so new orders appear in your WMS the instant they’re placed. This means your team can start picking right away — keeping up with customer expectations for same-day or next-day delivery.
For Core Logistic Services, this real-time integration means they can process incoming online orders immediately and get products out the door faster.
“When you order a product online from one of our customers, that order gets sent directly to us in real time. Our staff can receive that, pick the order right away, and we ship it off same day.” — Cass Strunk, Founder, Core Logistic Services
Connect your clients’ storefronts in just minutes! Using CartonCloud’s Self-Managed Shopify Integration, you or your client can get everything synced up in a few quick steps. At Lexington Logistics, this is one of the very first steps when onboarding a new e-com customer.
“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
➡️Check out Chapter 3 in our e-book to learn how to connect your WMS with Shopify in a few simple steps!
High-Volume E-commerce Pick & Pack Made Easy
One of the main differences you’ll find between bulk B2B and e-commerce is the sheer number of order volumes you will be dealing with. The smaller per-order margins in e-commerce mean that efficiency is key to profitability (and why you want to be able to process as many orders as possible, in the shortest amount of time!).
There are several top e-commerce workflows in CartonCloud that make picking and packing for high-volume orders easy — however the right workflow depends on the type of orders you are working with.
For identical single-item orders
This order scenario is common when a customer undergoes a flash sale or major product drop or peak sales periods (like Cyber Sale season) where hundreds or thousands of orders all contain the exact same product.
Recommended Workflow: Use CartonCloud’s Split Pick & Pack Wave to quickly search and filter all single-item orders in CartonCloud and then collect them in one pass.
For single-item, multi-SKU orders
In this scenario, you may get a large volume of single-item orders, however they may be for a different SKU variation (like color or size), such as a phone case in a different design.
Recommended Workflow: Repeat CartonCloud’s Split Pick & Pack Wave as above to pick your orders, then use Pack by SKU to scan the products barcode and pull up the first unshipped order that requires that item.
For multi-item or bundled orders
There are certain instances when you’ll get an order that includes multiple different products, like for a subscription box or kit.
Recommended Workflow: Use CartonCloud’s Pick to Tote. This workflow is to be used in conjunction with a tote trolley that has a set of around 30 totes. While picking, each order is placed in its designated tote, making it ready to pick up and start packing.
Once you have your orders picked, CartonCloud’s Pack Screen feature makes it easy to pack orders faster and with greater accuracy.
Watch Vincent pick and pack an order using Pick to Tote and Pack Screen in the warehouse below!
➡️See Chapter 4 in our e-book for a detailed workflow breakdown for each order scenario.
Automating Shipping & Invoicing
Here’s the beauty of offering e-commerce alongside your B2B operation — you barely have to lift a finger! Once your shipping and accounting integrations are connected, CartonCloud takes care of the rest, from label printing to invoicing.
“[CartonCloud] helps us to print shipping labels, get them on the right boxes and send them out the door. It really is just an end-to-end software.” — Cass Strunk, Founder, Core Logistic Services
Here’s how CartonCloud keeps everything running smoothly:
- Automatic label generation: CartonCloud integrates with major carriers and shipping platforms — like Shippit, StarShippit, and MachShip (just to name a few); allowing you to print labels in bulk and prep orders for dispatch without any delays.
- Live tracking updates: Tracking details are sent straight to your clients’ storefronts and carriers, keeping end-customers informed automatically.
- Smart invoicing: Rate cards and ad hoc charges are applied automatically — generating invoices as soon as an order is completed.
➡️ Ready to master the final steps? Flip to Chapter 6, “Delivering Delight — Shipping & Tracking to the Customer’s Doorstep,” and Chapter 7, “Effortless Invoicing,” in our e-book for easy-to-follow checklists and step-by-step integration guides!
Key Takeaways
- You already have everything you need to add e-commerce services to your B2B operations. With just a few small tweaks — like setting up a simple e-commerce zone and adding quick-access pick faces — you can start offering e-commerce fulfillment right away.
- Automation does the heavy lifting. Once your storefront, carrier and accounting integrations are connected, CartonCloud takes care of the rest — syncing online orders, generating shipping labels, and automating invoices in real time.
- Efficiency is the key to high-volume success. CartonCloud’s optimized workflows like Pick to Tote and Pack Screen make high-volume e-commerce fulfillment fast, accurate, and easy to scale alongside your B2B operations.
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