Running an e-commerce business on multiple platforms can be challenging, but Linnworks makes it easier. Linnworks is a cloud-based platform that brings all your sales channels, orders, inventory, and shipping into one place. This multi-channel management software will provide real-time inventory updates, automated order processing, and insightful reports at one station.
In this article, we will discuss:
- What is Linnworks?
- How does Linnworks work?
- Key features of Linnworks
- Benefits of Linnworks
What is Linnworks?
Linnworks is a cloud-based software platform designed to simplify and automate various aspects of e-commerce operations for sellers. It serves as a comprehensive solution for managing multiple sales channels, order processing, inventory control, and shipping logistics from a single, unified system.
If you are selling through multiple platforms, such as Amazon, eBay, Etsy, and many more, then you need to create listings, manage inventory, and process orders and shipments for each platform. If you try to do it manually, it’ll be so complicated. You need more time and energy to do the same task for every item over and over.
Here, Linnworks provides you with a better solution. You can manage all of your sales channels on a single, centralized platform.
How does Linnworks work?
Linnworks is a cloud-based inventory management software for e-commerce businesses. It covers almost everything you need. It is one of the best-known tools to manage your multi-channel e-commerce business. It tackles the complexities of multi-channel selling. It also centralizes your inventory data, automates order fulfillment, and provides real-time stock visibility.
If you are selling a product on Amazon, eBay, Etsy, or Shopify, then you need to create separate listings for these four marketplaces. And if you try to track and manage your inventory, then it’ll be a big headache. And your overall operation will become so complicated. The best medicine to remove all these pains is Linnworks.
If you are a complete beginner on Linnworks after login this is how it looks. We have been using this for a long time so there are many products and things are visible. But in your case, it will be blank.
Key features of Linnworks
Some interesting features on Linnworks make the e-commerce life of a seller easy. There are some major features given below:
1. Import products
You can import all of your products into Linnworks and manage everything from here. You have to follow some easy steps to import your product.
Firstly, we need to include all of our product data in an Excel sheet. Here, we keep the headlines like SKU, title, barcode, price, etc. You can name them according to how you understand them. But remember, you must add the location information.
After completing the Excel file, you must save it in CSV format.
Now log into your Linnworks account. Then go to settings and click on the import data.
Now, write a name for your inventory and select “inventory” for the import type. Then click next.
From the new dashboard, click on “Add a file from the computer”.
Then upload the CSV file we’ve created for our products. Then click next.
Now, customize your column mapping. This will link up the CSV file with Linnworks. Your data will show on Linnworks the way you customize this section. Then click Run Now. And your products are uploaded.
Whenever someone buys my item from any of the platforms, Linnworks will automatically update its inventory. So, it will save time updating them manually.
2. Channel Integration
Channel integration is another important process in Linnwork. This process will integrate sales channels into Linnworks. You need to integrate a sales channel to list your product on that marketplace.
With this, you can integrate most of the sales channels, such as Amazon, eBay, Etsy, Jet, Magento, Shopify, and many more. It allows you to easily manage and sell across those marketplaces. Linnworks is like your one-stop workstation. You can keep all of your inventory in a centralized location and sell it on different marketplaces. It will increase efficiency and productivity.
Now let’s see how you can integrate your sales channel into LinkedIn.
After logging in to your Linnworks account, go to settings, then click channel integration to move forward.
From the channel integration dashboard, click on the “Add New” button.
We are going to show the process for Amazon. So on the search bar, type Amazon. Here, two options came after typing. If you want to integrate Amazon Vendor Central, then select this. But we are going to integrate our seller’s central account. So, click the add button right next to it.
Now write an integration name and select a marketplace. Then click on the Step 2 button to move forward.
Now it will require your authorization of your seller’s central account. So, click authorize with Amazon. Then give your proper credentials. And your Seller Central will be integrated with Linnworks.
Now you know how to integrate channels in Linnworks. You can add other channels like eBay, Etsy, Shopify, and many more with the same process. It’s very simple and easy to handle.
Now we will see how to list products on the marketplaces after integration.
3. List products on the marketplace in Linnworks
In Linnworks, you can create listing templates that contain all the necessary information about your products, such as titles, descriptions, prices, and images. This template helps ensure consistency across your listings.
For example, if you want to list your product on Amazon, From your Linworks dashboard, go to settings, and from the configurators, click on Amazon.
Then click the “add new” button from the top right corner.
Now fill this window by giving details like name, size, category, and subtype. Then click on the save button. Now you have created an Amazon configurator.
Choose a name that will help the configurator be recognized easily when creating the listings. It can also help to differentiate between groups of listed items that are similar. You can edit the name of your configurator, but not the category.
Then, provide your shipping details here in the shipping tab. Then, you have to select the attributes for your Amazon listings and select the Amazon category that can be used for this configurator from the browse nodes. You need to select your variation attributes as well if you want to list variation items on Amazon. If you want to list a single item, then there is no need to do anything in the variation tab. And last, select your fulfillment type here if you need it.
Your configurator is now ready to create listings on Amazon. Now, go to the Linnworks Inventory tab. Now search for the item that you want to list on Amazon, click the right button in this column, hover over Create listings on Amazon, and then select the configuration you have just created.
Then your listing will be created. This way, you can easily create an Amazon configurator, list items using the configurator, and start selling.
4. Inventory Import
If you run out of stock, then you need to import inventory into your stock. The process is the same as importing products. You need to prepare an Excel file for this. But this time you will enter your new inventory data and then save it as a CSV file.
Then upload the file the same way we did before. Then, Linnworks will automatically update the inventory data that you provided.
5. Order processing and order management
In LinnWorks, order management is also easy. You can check your new orders, which need to be processed, and also your old orders.
To check new orders, click on Orders, then go to the Open Orders page. Here you will find all order-related information.
You can process your order from here. If you want to print your shipping label, invoice, pack list, and other related things, you can do so from here as well. You can also change your shipping service if you need to.
If you want to track your shipment, you need to go to the “processed order” from the Order option.
Then right-click on the order that you want to track. Then hover over “view,” then click View Details.
A new page will open. Here you can see the delivery details of that particular order. Now find the “Tracking Link” on this page. And click on it.
Automatically, it will redirect to a new page. Here, give your reference number to track your delivery.
Conclusion
To sum up, sellers don’t need to waste time checking listings by jumping from one channel to another. Linnworks has made doing e-commerce easier. A lot of sellers have already discovered the benefits of a more efficient, automated approach with Linnworks. Now, you have a good overview of Linnworks and have learned how to do some tasks with this tool. If you are already using Linnworks for your business, then let me know your experience in the comments.
If you need any help with e-commerce platforms, feel free to let us know in the comment box or email us at the following email address: info@ecomclips.com
To learn more about Linnworks or e-commerce marketplaces, please check out our other blog. Also, you can check out our YouTube videos as well.
