Operating a third-party logistics operation means juggling a number of purchasers, complicated billing buildings, tight SLAs, and fixed strain to develop – all on the identical time. A generic warehouse administration system wasn’t constructed for that type of complexity.
What separates a 3PL-specific WMS from normal warehouse software program comes down to some issues: multi-client structure, automated shopper billing, and customer-facing portals that give your purchasers real-time visibility into their stock.
That’s why selecting the best WMS issues a lot for 3PLs. The fallacious system creates guide work, slows down shopper onboarding, and turns billing right into a weekly headache. The precise one turns into the operational spine that permits you to tackle new enterprise with confidence.
This text breaks down the 5 finest warehouse administration programs constructed for 3PL suppliers. Every answer was evaluated on its function set, scalability, ease of use, and the way properly it handles the precise calls for of multi-client success.
What to Search for in a 3PL WMS?
Earlier than evaluating platforms, it helps to know what separates a powerful 3PL WMS from one which simply checks the essential containers. These are the standards that matter most while you’re managing success for a number of purchasers:
- Multi-client stock administration that retains every shopper’s inventory separate and trackable with out guide workarounds
- Automated billing and invoicing tied on to warehouse exercise – receiving, storage, choosing, and delivery
- Consumer-facing visibility portals that give your clients self-service entry to stock ranges, order standing, and reporting
- Integrations with ecommerce platforms and carriers so you possibly can connect with Shopify, Amazon, FedEx, and others with out customized growth
- Scalability throughout warehouses and order volumes as your operation and shopper base develop
If a WMS doesn’t cowl these out of the field, you’ll spend extra time constructing workarounds than operating your enterprise.
The 5 Finest Warehouse Administration Techniques for 3PLs
1. Extensiv – Finest for Rising and Mid-Market 3PLs
Extensiv was constructed by individuals who really ran 3PL operations, and that reveals in each a part of the product. It’s often cited because the best warehouse management software for multi-client success, overlaying the total workflow – from receiving to invoicing – in a single system.
On the middle of the platform is the 3PL Warehouse Supervisor, which handles stock monitoring, order administration, and choosing and packing automation by means of SmartScan. However what units Extensiv aside is every part round that central module.
The Billing Supervisor automates invoicing based mostly on precise warehouse exercise, so that you’re not manually calculating storage charges or decide expenses on the finish of every month. The shopper portal provides your clients real-time visibility with out requiring your group to drag stories on demand. And the Community Supervisor helps multi-warehouse and even 4PL operations from a single dashboard.
Extensiv connects with over 500 platforms by means of its Integration Supervisor, overlaying most main ecommerce marketplaces, buying carts, and delivery carriers.
The outcomes again this up. Averitt lower labor prices by 25% after implementing the platform. APS Success generated $250K in new enterprise inside a single quarter – largely as a result of sooner onboarding allow them to say sure to extra purchasers, extra shortly.
Pricing begins at roughly $100-$1,000 per 30 days (relying on the scale of your enterprise), which places it properly inside attain for rising 3PLs on the lookout for the best WMS they’ll get with out the enterprise price ticket.
2. ShipHero – Finest for Ecommerce-Targeted 3PLs with Excessive Order Volumes
ShipHero is an end-to-end WMS that leans closely into ecommerce success. In case your shopper base is generally DTC manufacturers delivery small parcels at excessive quantity, this platform deserves a detailed look.
Its strongest options embrace batch choosing workflows, real-time price buying throughout carriers, and customized reporting that offers you operational visibility at each the warehouse and shopper degree. Multi-client help is inbuilt, so you possibly can handle separate inventories and billing for every account with out toggling between programs.
The trade-off is pricing. ShipHero begins at round $1,995 per 30 days, which is a steeper entry level than most mid-market choices. For top-volume operations the place service price optimization and choosing velocity immediately have an effect on margins, that funding pays for itself shortly. For smaller 3PLs nonetheless constructing their shopper base, it might be extra system than what’s wanted proper now.
3. Deposco – Finest for Mid-Market 3PLs Scaling Towards Enterprise
Deposco is a cloud-native platform that makes use of machine studying to optimize labor allocation and predict demand patterns. It’s aimed toward mid-market 3PLs which can be rising quick and want a system that scales with out turning into a bottleneck.
One standout function is shopper onboarding velocity – Deposco claims new purchasers might be arrange in as little as two hours. For 3PLs competing on responsiveness, that type of turnaround is an actual benefit. The platform additionally integrates properly with main ecommerce channels, and its site-based pricing mannequin might be extra predictable than per-transaction billing as your volumes improve.
The consideration right here is implementation complexity. Deposco requires a extra concerned setup than SMB-focused instruments, so in case your operation continues to be small and simple, a lighter platform could also be a greater place to begin.
4. Logiwa – Finest for Excessive-Quantity Success and B2C/B2B Hybrid 3PLs
Logiwa is a cloud-native WMS constructed for high-volume success, with a powerful concentrate on ecommerce at scale. In case you’re operating each B2C and B2B success out of the identical warehouses, Logiwa’s flexibility is value contemplating.
The platform offers real-time stock syncing throughout a number of warehouse areas, AI-powered success optimization, and automatic choosing and packing workflows. Its integration library is broad, connecting to many of the platforms and carriers that 3PL purchasers sometimes work with.
The place Logiwa is perhaps greater than you want is in smaller or easier operations. The platform is designed for quantity and complexity, so when you’re operating a single warehouse with a handful of purchasers, it’s possible you’ll not get full worth from what it presents.
5. Manhattan Energetic WM – Finest for Enterprise 3PLs with Complicated, International Operations
Manhattan Energetic WM sits on the high of the market as a Tier-1 enterprise WMS. It runs on a microservices cloud structure and delivers weekly updates with zero improve downtime – a mannequin Manhattan calls “steady supply.”
The platform integrates transportation administration and distributed order administration immediately into the WMS, which is beneficial for 3PLs managing complicated, multi-leg provide chains. It additionally helps superior automation and robotics integration, and at the moment serves over 1,700 clients throughout 50 international locations.
The trade-off is price and complexity. Manhattan Energetic WM carries premium pricing and a extra concerned implementation course of. For giant-scale, international 3PL operations, that funding is sensible. For mid-market operators, it’s seemingly extra system than most will want.
3PL WMS Comparability Desk
How one can Select the Proper 3PL WMS?
The precise WMS is determined by the place your operation is as we speak and the place you’re headed. Right here’s a fast framework to match your state of affairs to one of the best match.
In case you’re a rising mid-market 3PL that wants quick shopper onboarding and automatic billing with no large upfront funding, Extensiv is probably the most full match at an inexpensive value level.
In case your purchasers are largely DTC ecommerce manufacturers and also you’re delivery excessive volumes of small parcels, ShipHero or Logiwa will provide you with the success velocity and service optimization you want.
In case you’re scaling quick and wish predictable prices as quantity grows, Deposco’s site-based pricing and ML-powered optimization are value evaluating.
And when you’re operating a big enterprise or international operation with complicated provide chains and superior automation necessities, Manhattan Energetic WM has the depth to match that scale.
In each case, begin by mapping your present shopper combine, order volumes, and development trajectory. Then match these towards the strengths of every platform somewhat than shopping for based mostly on function lists alone.
Wrap Up
Selecting a WMS as a 3PL isn’t the identical as selecting one for a single-brand warehouse. You want a system that handles the complexity of a number of purchasers, automates the billing that might in any other case eat up your group’s time, and scales as you deliver on new enterprise with out forcing a painful platform migration down the street.
The 5 platforms right here every serve a special section of the 3PL market properly. Your most suitable option comes all the way down to your dimension, your shopper combine, and how briskly you intend to develop. In case you’re a mid-market 3PL prepared to maneuver previous spreadsheets and guide processes, beginning with a demo from Extensiv is a stable first step.
FAQ
What makes a WMS “3PL-specific” in comparison with an ordinary warehouse administration system?
A 3PL-specific WMS is constructed round multi-client structure from the bottom up. Which means separate stock monitoring per shopper, automated billing based mostly on warehouse exercise, and customer-facing portals – options that normal warehouse software program sometimes doesn’t embrace with out heavy customization.
How a lot does a 3PL WMS price?
Pricing varies broadly relying on the platform and your operation’s dimension. Entry-level 3PL WMS choices like Extensiv begin at round $599 per 30 days, whereas platforms like ShipHero begin at $1,995 per 30 days. Enterprise options like Manhattan Energetic WM use customized pricing based mostly on scope and deployment complexity.
Can I change WMS platforms with out disrupting my purchasers?
Sure, nevertheless it requires planning. Most fashionable WMS suppliers supply migration help and parallel operating durations. The secret’s mapping your present workflows, testing integrations earlier than going reside, and speaking timelines clearly together with your purchasers all through the transition.
How lengthy does it take to implement a 3PL WMS?
It is determined by the platform and the complexity of your operation. Some programs like Deposco can onboard particular person purchasers in as little as two hours. Full platform implementation sometimes ranges from a couple of weeks for cloud-native instruments to a number of months for enterprise programs like Manhattan Energetic WM.
Do I would like a 3PL-specific WMS if I solely have a couple of purchasers?
Even with a small shopper base, a 3PL-specific WMS saves time on billing, retains stock organized by shopper, and makes onboarding new accounts sooner. In case you plan to develop, beginning with the best system early avoids a painful migration later.
