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By: Maggie M. Barnett, Esq., COO of ShipHeroDespite everyone’s best efforts, the strain from COVID-19 is not diminishing. And it seems as though it will spill over into the holiday season. Oh good. (That was sarcasm.)There’s been a lot of news lately about carriers and the challenges they’re facing, as well as how some larger brands are handling this challenge. There’s also been discussion about how these supply chain disruptions could easily get passed along into 2022 and 2023. The intent of this article is not to make anyone panic, but it’s important to level-set expectations and understand where things stand in the eCommerce space.
According to data from the Port of Los Angeles, the time it takes a shipment to travel from China to the U.S. has increased 83% over pre-pandemic numbers. That’s an additional 73 days. And in retail, that is an eternity. There’s also been reports of materials shortages. The chip shortage affecting the auto industry is the splashiest one, but now toy manufacturers are raising their hands to say that a shortage of resin is impacting their ability to make toys and get them to suppliers and retailers. So, not only are manufacturers and retailers finding it difficult to get product from China and other countries to the US and into their warehouses, now there are shortages that could prevent those products from being created at all.
Another recent development this week was news that large corporations like Home Depot and IKEA are willing to spend big bucks to charter cargo carriers in order to ensure delivery. This has resulted in some organizations also purchasing their own shipping containers (which are also facing a shortage). As demand for charters has increased, so has the cost. Larger companies can afford to pay these exorbitant fees, but of course, smaller eCommerce retailers cannot. Plus, eventually the additional cost will have to be passed on to the consumer somewhere. There is very little chance that these companies will see these additional fees as just “the cost of doing business.” This could lead to inflation that for the most part has stayed relatively steady throughout the pandemic.Chartering cargo planes has also become trendy for larger companies. Overall, the pressure to receive goods in time for the holidays is real. Shipping containers full of sellable merchandise won’t do the retailer any good, if it’s still sitting in a port halfway across the world when Christmas rolls around.
A labor shortage combined with a supply chain shortage is a recipe for disaster, and we seem to have just yelled, “Bingo!” With companies, including carriers like FedEx still struggling to hire, packages are now taking even more circuitous routes to get to their destinations. FedEx Ground recently reported that around 25% of all of their shipments are being re-routed to different distribution centers to offset the labor shortage. Currently, FedEx estimates they are working with around 65% of the staff they need.The United States Postal Service is set to levy surcharges to retail customers in an effort to deliver the mail on time. With horror stories in 2020 of people not receiving holiday gifts until January or February, the post office is enacting additional charges in an effort to get things delivered on time.
It’s been said often enough since March 2020 - everything we have experienced, whether personal or professional has been unprecedented. The 2021 shipping carrier crisis seems to be another item to add to the list.Anecdotally, consumers in general are really starting to feel the effects of empty shelves. Earlier in the year, missing or understocked products were the exception. Now, people are noticing more and more items missing. Everything from sports drinks to Steam Fresh bags to canned goods to chicken wings have been running in short supply. While the USDA says there is currently not a nationwide food shortage, the pinch of low inventory is being felt by more consumers than earlier in the year. And the haunting look of empty shelves doesn’t help to quell consumer anxiety.These shortages could lead to more consumers shopping earlier for the holiday season, choosing to snap up gifts and items they need instead of waiting for a sale or promotion. However, it’s still too early to tell if this is a trend that will bear out. As with many things surrounding the pandemic, we are in wait-and-see mode.
The best advice for any eCommerce retailer right now is not to panic. Stock the products you can get; use your historical reporting to make a list of SKUs that drive revenue. Focus on the things you can control, like warehouse efficiencies, employee satisfaction and shipping, and do your best to let go of the things you can’t (like cargo ships sitting in the Pacific Ocean). With so much uncertainty surrounding us, focusing on yourself and your organization is the key to success.If you’re new to ShipHero Fulfillment, please schedule a meeting today with our experts to learn more about how we can help you get your orders picked, packed, and delivered with our fulfillment service. No setup fees - simply pay as you go. ShipHero works to ensure that organizations invest in the solutions that match their needs, to improve productivity, revenue, and success. Click HERE to Schedule a Meeting Today Maggie M. Barnett, Esq., COOShipHeroAbout the author: Maggie M. Barnett, Esq., is the COO of ShipHero. She is responsible for planning and executing the overall operational, legal, managerial and administrative procedures, reporting structures and operational controls of the organization. Barnett’s greatest strengths are leadership, risk mitigation, change management and a passion for business transformation. She is known for her expertise in delivering operational excellence and an ability to provide guidance and mitigating risk. Her leadership of ShipHero is grounded in a servant mentality, always doing the right thing for our stakeholders. Her passion for ShipHero comes from the ability to drive operational excellence throughout the organization impacting the lives of our employees, customers, and partners.Follow Maggie on Twitter&LinkedIn.
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TikTok Shop is discontinuing "seller shipping" on February 25, 2026, a move that will halt fulfillment for any 3PL using non-integrated legacy technology. ShipHero's WMS is fully integrated and approved to support TikTok Shop’s new logistics requirements, allowing you to generate compliant labels and avoid a total operational lockout. By migrating to ShipHero before the deadline, 3PLs can eliminate onboarding fees and ensure their clients’ businesses remain active and profitable.
Starting February 25, 2026, TikTok Shop is officially discontinuing "seller shipping" (also known as "bring your own label") for all U.S. local sellers.
This means your clients can no longer use their own carrier accounts for TikTok orders.
As their 3PL, you will be unable to generate labels unless your WMS is directly integrated with TikTok’s new ecosystem. To keep your clients' businesses running, you must transition them to TikTok Shop Logistics Services through a verified partner.
ShipHero can keep your 3PL orders flowing from February 25 onwards.
If you are running your warehouse on legacy systems, you are at risk of a complete TikTok Shop lockout. Your fulfillment—and your revenue—will simply stop that day.
TikTok's latest policy creates a massive bottleneck for 3PLs using legacy technology.
To help 3PLs transition quickly and stay compliant, we are waiving all onboarding fees for new customers who join ShipHero before February 25.
There are only 6 approved ERP/WMS providers globally that meet TikTok’s new integration standards. ShipHero WMS is on that list. Most legacy WMS providers are not currently approved. To avoid a total operational blackout for your clients, you must move to a verified partner like ShipHero.
No. Starting February 25, TikTok will discontinue seller shipping. All shipping must go through TikTok Shop Logistics Services.
No. You can still manage fulfillment from your own 3PL warehouse using ShipHero’s direct integration, which pulls the required TikTok labels and logic directly into your existing workflow.
You will lose the ability to generate shipping labels for any TikTok Shop order. This will result in immediate fulfillment backlogs, client dissatisfaction, and potential loss of contracts.
Yes. ShipHero is the only U.S. based WMS currently supporting these requirements, allowing 3PLs to continue shipping without interruption.
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TikTok Shop is introducing mandatory logistics changes that will stop fulfillment for unprepared sellers on February 25, 2026.
ShipHero's WMS is fully integrated and approved to support TikTok Shop’s new logistics requirements, ensuring your orders keep moving without interruption. By switching to ShipHero before the deadline, brands can maintain compliance and eliminate onboarding fees during this transition. Here’s everything brands need to know to continue fulfilling orders.
Starting February 25, 2026, TikTok Shop will discontinue "seller shipping" for all U.S. local sellers. This means you can no longer use your own carrier accounts to generate labels for TikTok orders. To stay compliant and keep selling, brands must transition to TikTok Shop Logistics Services.
Relying on legacy systems like Extensiv, Deposco, or Logiwa puts your business at risk of account suspension and shipping delays that kill customer loyalty.
If your current WMS or 3PL is not integrated with TikTok Shop Logistics Services, you will face a total fulfillment blackout on that date. Failure to adapt to these changes risks shipping delays that kill customer loyalty and can lead to account suspension on the platform.
For brands onboarding on or after February 9, 2026, these restrictions are already in effect.
ShipHero has done the due diligence and has built a direct integration to ensure that merchants can fulfill TikTok Shop orders themselves while remaining fully compliant with TikTok’s new label requirements.
To help brands and 3PLs transition quickly and stay compliant, we are waiving all onboarding fees for new customers who join ShipHero before February 25.
Currently, there are only 6 approved ERP/WMS providers globally that meet TikTok’s new integration standards. ShipHero WMS is on that list. If you are using legacy providers like Extensiv, Deposco, or Logiwa, they are not currently approved to support these specific TikTok Shop requirements. To avoid a total operational blackout, you must move to a verified partner like ShipHero before the deadline.
No. Starting February 25, TikTok will discontinue seller shipping. You must use TikTok Shop Logistics Services.
You can use Fulfilled by TikTok (FBT) to store and ship items through their network, switch to one of the six approved ERP/WMS systems, or use ShipHero's direct integration.
You must use TikTok Shop Logistics Services, but with ShipHero, you can still manage the fulfillment from your own warehouse using TikTok’s required labels and logic.
This connection type will not support the new label requirements. You must switch to a direct TikTok Shop connection within ShipHero to avoid fulfillment interruptions.
Yes. ShipHero is currently the only U.S. based WMS that supports these requirements, allowing our customers to continue shipping without interruption.
Imagine running a warehouse where orders are picked quickly, inventory is accurate, and all operations run smoothly without any errors or delays. Thanks to Artificial Intelligence, this can now become a reality with ease.
AI is transforming warehouse management by enhancing efficiency, intelligence, and the ability to meet the rapid demands of today’s eCommerce-driven market.
ShipHero is pioneering this revolution with its AI-powered warehouse solutions, setting new industry benchmarks. This article explores ShipHero’s AI Picking feature, highlighting how it’s transforming warehouse management and enhancing operational efficiency.
The integration of AI technologies, including machine learning, robotics, and predictive analytics, is revolutionizing warehouse operations, driving significant improvements in efficiency, accuracy, and overall performance. These innovations are optimizing processes across various areas, from inventory management to order fulfillment. Below are the key benefits of AI in warehouse management.
A combination of AI technologies is shaping smarter warehouse systems to help revolutionize warehouse management.
ShipHero has taken AI integration to the next level with its AI Picking feature, designed to significantly improve warehouse efficiency. This feature automates the picking process, reducing the reliance on manual labor and enhancing productivity in ways that were once thought impossible.
Let’s dive deeper into how ShipHero’s AI Picking works and the advantages it offers.
AI Picking optimizes warehouse operations in two key ways:
The AI Picking feature delivers a wide range of benefits:
The transformative power of AI extends far beyond just picking. AI is also revolutionizing other aspects of warehouse management, driving improvements in operational efficiency, inventory management, and safety.
AI automates tasks, reducing errors and increasing speed. Automated sorting and real-time inventory tracking ensure accuracy, while real-time monitoring helps managers adapt and ensure timely deliveries.
AI plays a vital role in maintaining accurate inventory levels. By leveraging predictive analytics, AI can forecast demand and optimize stock levels, helping warehouses avoid both stockouts and overstock situations. This leads to better inventory management and fewer disruptions in supply chains.
AI-driven systems can monitor warehouse conditions to ensure safety and compliance with industry regulations. These systems can analyze warehouse data and predict potential hazards before they occur, proactively reducing risks and ensuring a safer working environment.
AI technologies are playing a transformative role in the supply chain and logistics sectors by improving efficiency, reducing costs, and enhancing decision-making.
These intelligent systems effortlessly manage supply chain processes by using data to optimize operations, predict trends, and automate routine tasks. This ultimately reshapes everything, from how goods are moved to stored and delivered.
The future of warehouse management looks promising with greater automation and efficiency, but future warehouse digitization brings challenges, such as high upfront costs and the need for skilled personnel.
AI-powered drones, autonomous robots, and IoT integration are smart warehouse technologies that are revolutionizing warehouse operations. Drones will deliver goods quickly, while robots automate sorting and transportation, thereby reducing the need for manual labor.
IoT and AI integration will enable real-time monitoring and optimization of operations. Smart technology in warehouses is leading to fully automated systems that are faster, scalable, and need minimal human input.
While AI offers immense benefits, businesses must also consider certain challenges. High initial investments in AI technology, data security concerns, and the need for skilled personnel are just a few of the hurdles that must be addressed.
However, with a strategic approach, companies can eliminate the challenges and embrace AI’s full potential to boost accuracy in picking and improve overall warehouse operations.
AI minimizes error by automating tasks like inventory tracking, order picking, and sorting, ensuring greater accuracy and efficiency.
Yes, AI-driven predictive analytics can predict demand, track inventory levels, and improve supply chain efficiency by forecasting needs with greater accuracy to help businesses stay ahead of trends and market fluctuations.
AI solutions are becoming more cost-effective thanks to cloud-based services and subscription pricing models. These options make AI technology more accessible to small businesses, allowing them to take advantage of its benefits without large upfront costs.
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