You're Outgrowing ShipStation.OrderCup.
Now Your Warehouse Needs to Catch Up.
Moving to a WMS isn't just a software switch - it's an operational transformation. Here's the playbook to make it painless.
The uncomfortable truth
Let's Be Honest - This Part Is Hard
You didn't come to this page because everything's fine. You're here because your team is drowning in workarounds. You're printing labels in ShipStation, tracking inventory in spreadsheets, managing receiving with sticky notes, and somehow holding it all together with duct tape and tribal knowledge.
It works - until it doesn't.
The moment you cross 50 orders/day with 5-6x season spikes, the cracks become fractures. Mis-ships spike. Your best picker quits and takes half your process knowledge with them. A SKU count is off by 200 units and nobody knows when it happened.
ShipStation is an excellent shipping tool. But it was never designed to run your warehouse. There's no location management. No directed picking. No receiving workflows. No cycle counts. No accountability layer for who touched what, and when.
Moving to a WMS like Logentic solves these problems - but it also asks something of you: you have to change how your warehouse physically operates. And that's the part nobody talks about.
This page is that conversation.
Education
A WMS Doesn't Work in a ShipStation Warehouse
When brands come to us from ShipStation, they often expect Logentic to slot into their existing setup. But a WMS fundamentally changes the relationship between your software and your warehouse floor. Here's why:
Locations replace memory
In a ShipStation world, your team knows where things are. In a WMS world, every SKU lives at a scanned, named location - BIN-A3-02. The system directs pickers to it. You need to label every bin, shelf, and zone. It's a one-time setup cost that pays for itself within weeks.
Processes replace improvisation
ShipStation warehouses develop organic workflows. A WMS replaces these with defined, repeatable processes: receive, putaway, pick, pack, ship. Each step is validated with a scan. This feels slower on Day 1. By Day 14, it's significantly faster and nearly error-free.
Data replaces gut feel
ShipStation tells you what shipped. A WMS tells you how fast it was picked, who picked it, from which location, how long packing took, and where the bottleneck is. To capture this data, your team needs to follow the workflows - no skipping steps.
Roles replace chaos
In a ShipStation warehouse, everyone does everything. A WMS lets you assign roles and measure performance by function. This isn't about micromanaging - it's about knowing where your throughput is constrained so you can fix it.
Practical / Tactical
The 7 Operational Changes You'll Make
And why each one matters.
Start today - no software needed
The DIY Checklist: What You Can Fix This Week
You don't need to sign up for Logentic to start improving your warehouse. Here are 8 things your team can do right now with zero cost, zero software, and zero excuses.
Walk your warehouse with fresh eyes
Pretend it's your first day. Where would you not know where to find something? Those spots need labels.
Label every storage location
Use painter's tape and a Sharpie if you have to. Zone-Aisle-Shelf-Bin. Every spot gets a name. This is the single highest-ROI change you can make.
Create a receiving checklist
When a shipment arrives: who checks it in, against what document, where does it go, and who updates the count? Write it down. Tape it to the receiving dock.
Time your pick-pack-ship cycle
Pick 10 random orders. Time each step. You'll be shocked at where the time actually goes - it's almost never the picking.
Count your top 20 SKUs right now
Compare the physical count to whatever your system says. If more than 2 are off, you have an inventory accuracy problem that will only get worse.
Document your "tribal knowledge"
Ask your best warehouse person: "What do you know that nobody else does?" Write it all down. That knowledge shouldn't leave when they do.
Assign roles for one day
Instead of everyone doing everything, assign: one person receives, one picks, one packs. Run it for one full day and see what changes.
Photograph your returns pile
If you have an unsorted returns pile, photograph it. Measure it. That's unprocessed revenue. Set a rule: returns are processed same-day or next-day, no exceptions.
Done all 8? You're already ahead of 90% of brands we talk to.
These DIY improvements will make your Logentic onboarding dramatically smoother - your warehouse will already have the physical foundation that a WMS needs to work. When you're ready for the software layer, everything you've done here maps directly to the setup process.
What you'll need
Recommended Hardware & Total Budget
A WMS is only as good as the hardware it runs on. Here's the exact equipment we recommend for a standard warehouse setup - all available on Amazon and Uline.
| Function | Equipment | Vendor | Est. Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Picking | iPad + Protective Case Recommended for performance and app compatibility | Amazon | $450 - $600 |
| Picking | Mobile Barcode Scanner Bluetooth handheld, pairs with iPad | Amazon | $50 - $150 |
| Packing Station | Mini PC (Windows) Runs the packing verification workflow | Amazon | $250 - $400 |
| Packing Station | Desktop Barcode Scanner USB wired, scan-to-verify at pack station | Amazon | $50 - $100 |
| Packing Station | Thermal Label Printer 4x6 shipping labels, no ink needed | Amazon | $150 - $300 |
| Storage | Chrome Mobile Shelving Adjustable shelves, easy to reconfigure | Uline | $150 - $300 /unit |
| Storage | Storage Bins Multiple sizes for different SKU profiles | Uline | $3 - $15 /bin |
| Picking | Picking Bins (5 colors) 1 color per mobile shelf for route picking | Uline | $10 - $25 /bin |
| Storage | Location Labels Barcode labels for every bin location | Uline | $30 - $80 /roll |
$1,000 - $1,800
Per packing station
$500 - $750
Per picking device
$2,000 - $5,000
Total estimated setup
Uline tip: Contact your Uline Account Manager for volume discounts on shelving, bins, and labels. Savings of 10-20% are common on bulk orders.
Color-coded bins: Order 5 different bin colors (1 per mobile shelf) for route picking. This lets pickers visually identify which shelf an order belongs to - dramatically faster than reading labels.
Note: Logentic is not affiliated with any of the products recommended above. These are simply what we've found works best across hundreds of warehouse setups.
The first 30 days
What the First 30 Days Actually Look Like
Week 1
Prepare
- Audit your current warehouse layout
- Label all storage locations using the naming convention guide
- Export your SKU catalog and location data
- Assign team leads for each warehouse function
Week 2
Configure & Train
- Set up Logentic with your locations, SKUs, and workflows
- Connect your Shopify store and sales channels
- Run training sessions for each role (receiving, picking, packing)
- Process test orders through the full workflow
Week 3
Go Live (Supported)
- Run live orders through Logentic alongside your current process (parallel run)
- Daily check-ins with the Logentic ops team
- Identify and resolve friction points in real time
- Transition fully off ShipStation by end of week
Week 4
Optimize & Prove It
- Review pick speed, pack accuracy, and throughput data by team member
- Run your first full inventory cycle count and compare to expected counts
- Adjust bin locations based on velocity (fast movers to prime spots)
- Dial in automation rules for order routing and splitting
- Establish your ongoing cycle count cadence
- Share early wins with your team - the data builds buy-in faster than any pep talk
Resource Library
Everything Your Team Needs - Ready to Print, Post, and Use
We built the SOPs so you don't have to. Download, customize with your company name, and put them to work on Day 1.
Warehouse Mapping & Labeling Guide
How to name, label, and organize your bin locations for WMS compatibility
Inbound Receiving SOP
Step-by-step process for receiving POs, scanning items, and directed putaway
Pick Methodology Decision Tree
How to choose between single, batch, and wave picking based on your order profile
Pack Station Setup Guide
Physical station layout, scan-verify workflow, and common error scenarios
Cycle Count Procedures
Daily count schedule templates, variance thresholds, and investigation workflows
Returns Processing SOP
Receive, inspect, grade, restock/dispose workflow with decision criteria
Warehouse Roles & Responsibilities
Role definitions, training checklists, and performance benchmarks by function
Team Training Deck
Training guide for warehouse staff on the new WMS workflows
Go-Live Readiness Checklist
Everything that needs to be true before you flip the switch
KPI Dashboard Template
Track pick rate, pack accuracy, order cycle time, and inventory accuracy from Day 1
Data Migration Playbook
How to export your ShipStation data, clean your SKU catalog, and import inventory into Logentic
First 30 Days Troubleshooting Guide
Common friction points, error messages, and fixes your team will hit during the transition
Click any resource above to download the branded PDF, or grab them all at once.
Why we built this
We Didn't Just Build Software. We Ran the Warehouse.
Logentic wasn't born in a lab. It was forged inside Spaceful, our 3PL that processed over 1 million orders for 60+ Shopify brands over 3.5 years. We physically received shipments, labeled bins, picked orders, packed boxes, and dealt with the 4pm carrier cutoff panic - every single day.
We built the software because no off-the-shelf tool covered the gaps we saw in the market. We've managed warehouses across Quebec and Ontario - from 50 orders a day to 5,000+ during peak season. We've lived the 3am inventory reconciliation. We've trained new hires who quit after a week because there was no process to follow.
That operational pain is why Logentic exists. Every feature, every workflow, every SOP in this playbook comes from real warehouse floors, not whiteboards. When we tell you to label your bins a certain way, it's because we've tested six naming conventions and know which one breaks at scale.
1M+
Orders fulfilled
$250M+
GMV processed
99.95%
On-time, in-full
60+
Brands served
Operators first
Our founding team ran fulfillment operations for 3.5 years before writing a single line of code. The product is shaped by warehouse reality, not software assumptions.
Battle-tested SOPs
Every SOP in this playbook has been implemented in real warehouses with real teams. They're not templates - they're proven workflows refined across 10M+ order lines.
We still walk floors
Our ops consulting team visits client warehouses regularly. We don't just sell software - we help you physically reorganize, retrain, and re-launch your fulfillment.
Implementation Support
Need Hands-On Help? We'll Do It With You.
The resources above give you everything to self-serve. But some brands want someone in the trenches with them.
Self-Guided
Best for: Teams with existing ops leadership who just need the tools and structure.
- Access to the full SOP and resource library
- Logentic onboarding walkthrough with a dedicated success manager
- Async support via chat and email during your transition
- Access to the Logentic knowledge base and video tutorials
Guided Implementation
Best for: Brands shipping 200-1,000 orders/day that want expert guidance without a full engagement.
- Everything in Self-Guided, plus:
- 3x live video sessions with a Logentic ops consultant
- Custom warehouse mapping plan based on your facility photos and SKU data
- Pick methodology recommendation tailored to your order profile
- Priority support during your first 30 days
Full-Service Ops Consulting
Best for: High-growth brands (1,000+ orders/day) making a serious operational leap, or teams without a dedicated ops manager.
- Everything in Guided, plus:
- On-site or virtual warehouse audit with layout redesign recommendations
- Custom SOP development tailored to your specific products, team size, and facility
- Staff training sessions (live, role-specific, with Q&A)
- 60-day post-launch optimization engagement
- Dedicated Slack channel with the Logentic ops team
Add-On: Warehouse Design & Optimization
Moving to a new facility, or want to redesign your current one while you're making the switch? This pairs well with any tier.
"We cut fulfillment errors by 90% in the first month and improved pick and pack speed by 62%. Logentic is a no-brainer."
90%
Error reduction
62%
Faster pick & pack
3x
ROI in 90 days
FAQ
Questions We Hear From Every Ops Team
Ready to make the switch?
Book a Free Discovery Call
In 30 minutes, we'll audit your current workflow, identify quick wins, and build a custom transition plan for your warehouse. No commitment, no pitch deck - just real ops talk.
Trusted by brands across Canada
Your Warehouse Is Ready to Grow. Let's Make Sure Your Operations Are Too.
Whether you're doing 200 orders a day or 5,000 - the transition from a shipping tool to a real WMS is the single biggest operational upgrade you'll make. We've built the playbook, the SOPs, and the support system to make it happen without the chaos.
Or just explore Logentic