3PL Shipping Tracking Software: A 12-Point Requirements Checklist

3PL shipping tracking software should show every client's orders, boxes and carriers on one screen, flag problems as the carrier reports them, and bill each client for the work done. If a tool can't do those three, it isn't built for a 3PL.

We run a 3PL and ship our own brands' orders too. Below is the checklist we'd use to score any tool, ShipGenius included. Print it, score each vendor 0–2 per line, and anything under 18 of 24 isn't ready for multi-client work.

The 12-point checklist

Visibility

1. One screen across clients. Every order, box and carrier for every client, filterable by client. No switching accounts.
2. Exceptions on the shipment. When a carrier reports a delay or failed delivery, it shows on the shipment and alerts whoever subscribed to it.
3. Tracking pushed back to the store. Tracking numbers sync to the client's store on their own, so their customers don't email you.

Per-client rules

1. Carrier rules per client. Client A ships USPS only; client B uses its own UPS account for heavy boxes. Set once, applied on every order.
2. Bring-your-own carrier accounts. Clients with negotiated rates can keep them. (ShipGenius: Plus and up.)
3. Box and packout checks. Weight and dimension checks before the label prints, so the DIM weight surprise shows up before the invoice does.

Money

1. Billing from the work done. Invoices built from labels, picks and storage, not a spreadsheet at month end.
2. Label price before you buy. You see the rate before you commit, every time.
3. Clear pricing for you. No surprise platform fees. ShipGenius Core and Plus have no monthly fee. You pay for labels, not software.

Clients

1. Client portal. Each client sees only their own stock and orders.
2. Stock that matches the shelf. Live counts per location, so a low SKU shows up before it routes orders to the wrong building.

Growth

1. No migration later. The same account should take you from labels to OMS to warehouse to 3PL.

Four numbers to track every month

• Cost per order fulfilled
• Time from order received to shipped
• Billing accuracy (invoices that match the work)
• Inventory accuracy (screen count vs shelf count)

If any drift for two months running, that's where your tool or your process is failing.

Where ShipGenius fits

ShipGenius 3PL runs unlimited client brands from one dashboard, with a client portal, automated billing and warehouse management. Store connections: Infoplus today, Shopify and Squarespace coming soon. See the 3PL solution.

Not a 3PL yet? Run the 400-label audit first, or read when to outsource to a 3PL. Shipping only your own store's orders? See how to choose shipping software by order volume.

FAQs

What is 3PL shipping tracking software?

One system a 3PL uses to track orders, shipments, stock and billing for every client in one place.

Do I need a WMS too?

If you run more than one location or a lot of SKUs, yes. ShipGenius includes warehouse management on the 3PL tier.

How do I compare vendors?

Score each one on the 12 points above. Ask for a demo using one of your real clients' orders.