I could use some advice from Shipworks users/employees/consultants out there. I've downloaded the product,which looks great, but I'm just not seeing the benefit of using Shipworks in my environment. It improves some functions, and slows others, the net impact being neutral to slightly negative. Maybe I'm not understanding the product, or maybe I'm just not the target market. In any case, I'd appreciate any feedback on my process, the software, etc.
FWIW, we're a small, relatively low volume shipper that stocks our inventory, sells direct (no MOTO) and on ebay, and ships via UPS & USPS.
Our process:
- Print packing slips/invoices with UltraBatch (mm 4.24)
- Pick and pack.
- Export orders with Generic orders export.
- Run a script to download orders.
- Open WorldShip & Endicia
- Place on scale, Key enter order number, affix label, repeat.
- Run a script to upload orders to Order Status Manager.
Where Shipworks makes improvements:
- eBay orders (big ++).
- Invoices look nicer
- Now have data import capability
- Tracking numbers exported to eBay.
- One software console, scale, and printer vs two.
- Integrated backorder/partial shipment tracking vs.manual process.
- Customer history.
Where Shipworks makes it worse:
- Order processing much slower. Several steps vs.enter #
and print (non-ebay).
- Worldship and Shipworks do not work together because of scale contention.
- Cannot flag/reprocess already shipped order.
- Cannot move orders between batches.
- Cannot capture funds on pre-auth orders.
- Cannot figure out data export for Order Status Import (MM4.24)
- SMTP email via gmail broken (fix seems to have been promised for years now)
Bottom line, there are some features that I really like/want because they would improve our processes notably. But it seems that for every one I find that improves it, I find another that degrades it. Is that your experience as well? I know I've focussed on what doesn't work for me, but this is NOT a bash Shipworks thread. If I'm missing something in SW, I would love to find out, buy the product, and streamline my processes. On the other hand, if I'm barking up the wrong tree, that would be good to know as well.
All comments positive, negative, and personal are welcome. Thanks in advance.
FWIW, we're a small, relatively low volume shipper that stocks our inventory, sells direct (no MOTO) and on ebay, and ships via UPS & USPS.
Our process:
- Print packing slips/invoices with UltraBatch (mm 4.24)
- Pick and pack.
- Export orders with Generic orders export.
- Run a script to download orders.
- Open WorldShip & Endicia
- Place on scale, Key enter order number, affix label, repeat.
- Run a script to upload orders to Order Status Manager.
Where Shipworks makes improvements:
- eBay orders (big ++).
- Invoices look nicer
- Now have data import capability
- Tracking numbers exported to eBay.
- One software console, scale, and printer vs two.
- Integrated backorder/partial shipment tracking vs.manual process.
- Customer history.
Where Shipworks makes it worse:
- Order processing much slower. Several steps vs.enter #
and print (non-ebay).
- Worldship and Shipworks do not work together because of scale contention.
- Cannot flag/reprocess already shipped order.
- Cannot move orders between batches.
- Cannot capture funds on pre-auth orders.
- Cannot figure out data export for Order Status Import (MM4.24)
- SMTP email via gmail broken (fix seems to have been promised for years now)
Bottom line, there are some features that I really like/want because they would improve our processes notably. But it seems that for every one I find that improves it, I find another that degrades it. Is that your experience as well? I know I've focussed on what doesn't work for me, but this is NOT a bash Shipworks thread. If I'm missing something in SW, I would love to find out, buy the product, and streamline my processes. On the other hand, if I'm barking up the wrong tree, that would be good to know as well.
All comments positive, negative, and personal are welcome. Thanks in advance.
Comment