Trying to nail your Shopify shipping game? Awesome! A big puzzle lots of direct-to-customer (DTC) brands wrestle with is this: when using a 3PL partner, should you set up just one fulfillment location in Shopify, or create multiple ones? Getting this right is key for speedy shipping, saving cash, and keeping your customers happy. Let’s dive into which strategy might be best for you!
Why Might Just ONE Location in Shopify Be Enough?
So, how smart is your 3PL partner with handling orders and inventory? At Waredock, we aim to make life way easier. We use clever routing tech, meaning we strongly recommend setting up just one Waredock location in your Shopify store. Why does this simple approach rock?
Basically, when an order pops into our system, Waredock automatically figures out the best warehouse (closest to the customer, with the item in stock) to ship from. Our system handles all that routing magic behind the scenes. You don’t need to fiddle with complex rules inside Shopify. Once the order ships, we zap all the details right back to Shopify.
This setup gives you two huge wins:
- Super Simple: Forget stressing over which Shopify location setting matches which physical warehouse. We handle it!
- Grows With You: As you expand – maybe adding retail partners or other sales channels – this simple setup scales easily. No need to rebuild your whole fulfillment logic later.
Okay, But When Would I Need MULTIPLE Locations in Shopify?
Now, not all 3PLs have that kind of integrated brainpower. If your 3PL partner runs their warehouses more like separate islands (they don’t automatically share info or stock levels), then yeah, setting up multiple locations in Shopify might be necessary. This puts you in the driver’s seat, telling Shopify which warehouse should probably handle which orders. It’s a way to manually manage inventory across different spots and try to avoid stockouts or sending orders from too far away.
Imagine you have stuff in warehouses in Hamburg and Stockholm, but your 3PL can’t automatically pick the best one. In that case, you’d likely need to create two distinct locations within Shopify itself. Shopify would then use its own (less sophisticated) logic to try and route orders based on location and what it thinks is in stock at each spot. Be warned: this definitely means more hands-on work and careful watching from your end!
What About Growing My Business Later?
At Waredock, we’re always thinking bigger picture. Many online sellers eventually branch out beyond just their website, maybe selling in stores or dealing with complex orders via EDI. If your whole system relies on managing multiple distinct locations within Shopify, scaling up smoothly can get tricky and might require extra development work down the road.
That’s why we champion the single Waredock location setup in Shopify. Our platform is built not just for today’s e-commerce orders, but to easily handle your growth. Adding new sales channels? Opening more physical warehouses? Our system takes it in stride without you needing to reconfigure everything in Shopify.
So, One or Many? What’s the Final Verdict?
Figuring out whether to use one or multiple locations in your Shopify setup is crucial for growing smoothly. The “best” answer really depends on how your 3PL operates.
- If your 3PL (like Waredock!) has smart, integrated routing, one location in Shopify is simpler, more efficient, and scales better.
- If your 3PL’s warehouses operate independently, you might need to manage multiple locations in Shopify yourself, but be ready for more manual effort.
Choosing wisely helps streamline shipping, cut costs, and delight your customers. With the right strategy (and partner!), you’ll be set to conquer customer expectations and keep things running like clockwork.
Here at Waredock, we focus on making logistics easy so you can build your brand. Whether you’re starting out or scaling up, we’re here to make fulfillment feel seamless.
Ready to simplify your Shopify fulfillment? Chat with Waredock today and see how we can help you win the shipping race!
