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By: Aaron Rubin, Founder & CEO of ShipHero
It’s hard to look at the 2021 holiday season without seeing the cloud cast over it by COVID. While there had been some hope just a few months ago that life might go back to “normal” by this holiday, the chances are there will still be daily challenges to living a normal life.
This means your customers are going to keep many of the shopping habits they adopted in 2020. Taking those lessons (read our blog about this topic HERE) into 2021 has given eCommerce retailers a solid framework for how to think about Black Friday Cyber Monday and the holiday season in general when it comes to planning and preparing.
However, what are five concrete things you can do to incorporate recent changes and capitalize on them? Let’s review some tactics you can make into actionable goals to help propel your holiday 2021 sales upward.
Aside from the regular prepping you would do for the holidays (hiring more employees, ordering more packing materials, checking for carrier surcharges, etc.), here are five ways you can specifically prepare that you might not have thought of.
People use their mobile devices to not only shop for themselves, but to browse for gifts for friends and family. According to a study done by AdWeek, 45% of holiday shoppers last season stated that they discovered a product or gift via social media. Also, it is estimated that social eCommerce will account for 11% of all retail eCommerce next year, which adds up to $474 million. Obviously, with numbers like these, it’s easy to see how your social channels can be lucrative. Make sure you’ve done your due diligence in regards to retargeting, keyword research and creative. If there was ever a time during the year to take extra steps with your social media strategy, it’s definitely the next 4-5 months. You also have enough time to do some testing of keywords and retargeting in August and September, before you commit your full holiday social media spend.
It’s estimated that when shoppers begin their shopping search online, only about 4% of them are actually ready to buy. And in 2019 online shopping cart abandonment was measured at almost 70%. This means that remarketing and following up on abandoned carts could become a key holiday season strategy.
Being top-of-mind is the quickest way for customers to discover you. You’ll want to run brand awareness campaigns starting as soon as possible (which can also tie into your social media strategy) and keep those ads running through Q4. Following up with these same shoppers if they leave behind full, but abandoned shopping carts is another key strategy. And you don’t necessarily have to send a discount code to entice them to finish their purchase. Sometimes, just a friendly “you forgot to check out” will net you the sale.
Last year, more than 40% of shoppers stated that they started shopping earlier for the holidays than the year before. So far, there’s been no evidence to contradict this behavior. Black Friday Cyber Monday (BFCM) has even expanded to Cyber 5 to include Thanksgiving as one of the main holiday shopping mainstays.
Early shoppers will be looking for helpful tools like gift guides, promotional offers and personalized recommendations very soon. Start working on this content now and make sure your team is aligned on timing and goals.
On the flip side of this coin is the management of your returns process. Make sure that you have a strong and easy-to-understand returns policy and that it is well-communicated before, during and after purchase, especially if you have different policies for items purchased on sale or promotion.
A proliferation of “buy now, pay later” payment vendors have flooded the market in the past 18-24 months. If you haven’t yet partnered with one of these vendors, it might be time to do so. Even Apple Pay recently entered the mix with their Apple Pay Later functionality. It’s also been shown that having a diverse range of payment options lowers cart abandonment. Find out how feasible it would be to expand your payment options on your site.
Take a look at your big sellers for this year, as well as predictions for holiday 2021, and talk to suppliers now about stocking up on these products. Remember that supply chain issues are still plaguing the industry. Also, examine ways that you can leverage your warehouses and in-store inventories to fill orders faster even as people start shopping earlier and earlier.
You more than likely have been speaking with your suppliers throughout this unprecedented time, but it might be a good idea to spend a few extra minutes getting a feel for what they are experiencing in their day-to-day business. Having as much information and forewarning as you can will go a long way toward making you more prepared.
While death and taxes are a fact of life, so is the holiday season. Make sure you’re leveraging all of your institutional knowledge, past experiences and eCommerce expertise to prepare - maybe even over prepare - for the holidays. Follow these steps and you’ll be on the road to more eCommerce success.
Schedule a meeting today with our experts to learn more about our warehouse management software built for ecommerce brands & 3PLs looking to run their best warehouse and how 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
Aaron Rubin, Founder & CEO
About the author: Aaron Rubin is the Founder & CEO of ShipHero. He is responsible for planning and executing the overall vision and strategy of the organization. Rubin’s greatest strengths are leadership, change management, strategic planning and a passion for progression. He is known for having his finger on the pulse of ShipHero’s major initiatives, his entrepreneurial spirit, and keen business acumen. His leadership of ShipHero is grounded in providing excellent customer service that drives improved business operations. His passion for ShipHero comes from the culture and his ability to have an impact on the lives of employees, customers, partners, and investors.
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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 like Extensiv, Deposco, or Logiwa, 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. Legacy providers like Extensiv, Deposco, or Logiwa 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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