Outgrowing a Shopify store capability
It is quite possible and nowadays commonplace, that a fast-scaling business may be outgrowing Shopify store capabilities. It is also evident that using a motley of standalone specialized apps, does not help but only compounds the problem. This is palpable when they have multiple stores/users and use local business solutions that do not integrate well with the stores. They also start feeling the need for greater flexibility in shipping options and inventory tracking to respond better to order fulfillment.
A Shopify store is a great enabler as a front end, but a need is felt for advanced capabilities in product, pricing, and shipping at the back end to survive in the highly competitive space.
Time to fulfill orders is critical, and these businesses now typically need better capability for product listing and inventory management capability as well as the last mile delivery.
This problem is more noticeable when an ecommerce business serves both B2B (Business to Business) and B2C (Business to Consumer) domains and handles multiple entities.
Efficient shipping needs automation with shipping labels, according to the shipping partner, and where the inventory automatically gets adjusted in real time. This generally does not happen using multiple specialized apps with Shopify and has to be done via spreadsheet data. This only increases order fulfillment time and may lead to lost sales commitments, that could not be completed due to inaccurate inventory data in real time.
A lot of them end up using not so capable ERP solutions that handles shipping but, is not able to talk to the Shopify store in real time. There are obvious connection issues between the Shopify store and this business solution that regularly need resolution. Orders for purchase are also needed to be uploaded to the business solution that has only a semblance of integration with Shopify.
You can actually avoid this manual quagmire.
The ideal solution that integrates with Shopify
Shipping needs of growing Shopify stores
Ideally, an ecommerce solution that integrates with Shopify should be able to integrate automatically with the shipping partner solutions for packing/shipping label as per their criterion.
An automatic invoicing when an order is shipped (accounts receivable) or automatic billing/supplier invoices linked to receipt once a PO (Purchase Order) is sent and goods are received.
Order details should be automatically updated in Shopify and the business software in real time when products are shipped or goods are received.
In shipping, partial shipments should also be an option with automatic shipping of available items based on stock. It would also be useful if multiple orders can be shipped in a batch via leading shipping integrators.
Product features needed for a growing Shopify store
The product inventory should automatically get updated after shipping at the POS (Point of Sales) interface as well as relevant data points.
The Product features should be able to tackle both inventoried, and non-inventoried products as services or kits. Products and sub products with variants should be easily possible after set up and integration with Shopify. All this should be possible with easy import and export of data files rather than manually entered.
There should be options for products in lots or batches including options for tracking expiry dates of perishable products. Serial numbers for products like consumer durables, or appliances should be a feature for better product tracking and identification.
Some products have sub products with variants, and the product features should be able to tackle this level of complexity.
As the store scales, it should have the option to migrate to a version of the software with the BOM, (Bill of Materials) product capability for products and the ability to handle multiple stores seamlessly. Furthermore, the BOM consumptions in terms of raw materials, and labor should be automatically reflected in COGS (Cost of Goods Sold). The BOM should be easily integrated with a work order and a bill, and have the capability to receive and sell in different UOM’s that can be customized based on sales needs. BOM capability should be able to track supplier inventory and costs per PO.
Pricing features needed for a growing Shopify store
In pricing, discounts should be possible to import from a Shopify discounts app to the solution. Pricing features should be able to tackle multiple customers with different price lists and discounts. It should be able to push retail price lists set up in the support software to the Shopify store automatically, with different levels of pricing. For B2B customers, it should be able to create and send wholesale price lists. Pricing options for reselling based on supplier and customer needs should be possible easily.
Invoices, orders, and packing lists should be possible in major languages across regions based on the customer needs. Taxes should be easy to assign to invoices and to customers with report generation. Tax calculations product wise, should be a possibility and be done automatically.
Some Shopify stores need the option to hide VAT (Value Added Tax) details from a customer and feel the need for customization in this regard.
Supply Chain features needed for a growing Shopify store
Warehouse movement should be easy to track product wise and easy tracking of inventory transfers with real time updating of inventory data possible across locations.
The solution should be able to talk and make changes with Shopify in real time across all product, pricing and shipping data points as business activity happens. Order details should be automatically updated in the Shopify store after shipping, rather than manually.
When receiving orders based on a PO, inventory figures should automatically get updated.
The time for this software to begin talking with Shopify should be a matter of minutes.
Accounting Capability
Any business software needs comprehensive accounting capability to be relevant as a comprehensive solution.
Essential capabilities include ACH transfers from banks, bank/credit card statements & reconciliation, printing of tax reports and a fixed asset module in the General Ledger.
In the accounting set up, customization must be possible in all relevant company, taxes, sales data points based on client needs.
Other necessary features
There should be configurable dashboards based on permissions and additional customization should be possible with easy custom coding on the software.
Versa for Ecommerce and Shopify
Versa does all this and much more.
Our multi award winning capability speaks for itself:
https://www.versaclouderp.com/press-and-awards
To experience it first hand, you could sign up for a free trial here:
https://www8.versaclouderp.com/trial_signup/personal_step
Initially, Shopify pushes data to Versa in a matter of minutes. However, Versa also capable to push data to Shopify in real time after proper set up.
There are easy support options with a comprehensive knowledge base to guide you and Versa is just a call away.
If your business needs are growing beyond a small ecommerce store, watch how our Infinity edition can grow with you forever.
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