ShipMonk transformed its EDI operations, cutting errors by 50%, reducing costs & onboarding trading partners 3x faster with Orderful's EDI platform.
ShipMonk, a rapidly growing third-party logistics (3PL) provider, had established itself as a leader in direct-to-consumer (D2C) fulfillment. But as they expanded into the business-to-business (B2B) space, new challenges emerged. Managing retail partnerships became increasingly difficult with their outdated Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) systems. ShipMonk relied on legacy EDI providers to handle EDI connections, but these solutions were slow, unreliable, and resource-intensive.
With no in-house EDI capabilities, ShipMonk faced mounting issues: integrating with new retailers took months, Advanced Shipping Notices (ASNs) weren’t consistently delivered, and errors went unnoticed until customers flagged them. This led to frequent chargebacks, frustrated partners, and potential customers questioning ShipMonk’s ability to scale. To manage these inefficiencies, ShipMonk had to dedicate three full-time developers solely to maintaining EDI connections—a costly and unsustainable approach.
"We never had any in-house EDI capabilities," explains Vojtech Hajek, Product Manager at ShipMonk. "We were using third parties because our partnerships were using them, so we built integrations on top. But the connections were causing a lot of pain because ASNs were never picked up from FTP, sometimes they were deleted. We had no reporting. If transactions failed, we were dependent on the merchant to call it out."
After evaluating several EDI solutions, ShipMonk chose Orderful for its modern, API-first approach and demonstrated ability to simplify complex EDI operations. The decision was driven by Orderful's strong technical platform, exceptional support team, and vision for modernizing EDI. Most compelling was Orderful's demo, which showed how EDI could be transformed from a business constraint into a strategic advantage. The platform promised not just to solve ShipMonk's immediate challenges but to provide a foundation for future growth in their B2B operations.
The Solution: Gaining Full Visibility and Control Over EDI
ShipMonk's search for a new EDI solution came at a crucial time in their business evolution. As they expanded their B2B operations, they needed more than just another EDI provider – they needed a strategic partner who could transform their approach to retail integration. After evaluating several options and conducting demos with 2-3 other platforms, ShipMonk found that Orderful's modern approach to EDI stood out.
"We were bought in by the idea they can do EDI better," explains Vojtek Hajek. "Orderful's demo helped us gain confidence that we could make EDI modern, digitized, and automated." This initial impression was reinforced by thorough due diligence, including the CEO's review of Orderful's funding and investors, confirming they were choosing a partner with staying power.
Several key features of Orderful's platform proved transformative for ShipMonk's operations:
Rules Engine
The rules engine became a cornerstone of ShipMonk's EDI operations, particularly for outbound transactions. "Without the rules engine, we wouldn't be able to do it efficiently," notes Hajek. The team is now expanding its use to inbound transactions, further automating their processes.
Visibility and Control
Unlike their previous solution, where transactions could disappear without trace, Orderful provided 100% visibility into all EDI transactions.
The Human Element: Support and Expertise
A crucial differentiator in Orderful's solution was their support team. ShipMonk highly rated Orderful's support, with Hajek noting, "Orderful’s support team was 100% ready to help with whatever, whenever we had questions." The support experience went beyond typical technical assistance:
Dedicated support from EDI experts who understood both the technical and business aspects
Proactive assistance during the initial implementation
Responsive problem-solving for any issues that arose
Continuous platform improvements and feature deployments
Educational Partnership
Orderful didn't just provide a platform; they helped ShipMonk build internal EDI expertise. Starting with "EDI 101" sessions with Orderful’s onboarding architects, combined with hands-on experience, ShipMonk's team developed a deeper understanding of EDI processes. This knowledge empowered them to make better decisions and challenge assumptions about EDI implementations managed outside of Orderful.
"We improved our process because we now understand EDI better thanks to seeing the actual X12 format and having visibility to go into the platform and learn about EDI. We can challenge our partner’s implementation decisions and make better choices," explains Hajek.
Platform Evolution
Initially implemented as a white-labeled solution, ShipMonk later decided to fully expose Orderful's platform to their merchants, responding to customer demands for greater visibility. This flexibility in deployment options demonstrated Orderful's ability to adapt to ShipMonk's evolving business needs.
The combination of modern technology, expert support, and educational partnership transformed what had been a business constraint into a strategic advantage. As Hajek puts it, "Connection time with Orderful feels like an investment into your knowledge and platform." This investment has positioned ShipMonk to handle their growing B2B operations.
The Results:
Results:
- 1-2 Days for Repeat Retailer Connections
3x More Connections for Same Resources
100% visibility into all EDI transactions
50% More Error Resolutions
30% Fewer EDI Resources Needed
The implementation of Orderful delivered immediate and measurable improvements across ShipMonk's EDI operations. Connection setup times dropped dramatically, with basic integrations now taking 2-4 weeks instead of the previous 3-6 weeks. For repeat retailers, the team can complete new connections in just 1-2 days – a process that previously took months.
"What really impressed us was how the speed improved with each new connection," notes Vojtech Hajek. "After the first few implementations, our team could complete new retail connections in just a couple of days – something that would have taken months with our previous solution."
The visibility improvements were equally dramatic. ShipMonk now has 100% visibility into all EDI transactions, and their error resolution rate has improved by 50%. "Before Orderful, we were often in the dark about transaction status," explains Hajek. "Now we have complete visibility into every transaction, allowing us to catch and fix issues before they impact our customers."
Despite the increased volume of trading partners, ShipMonk's team is operating more efficiently than ever. They're managing a significantly higher number of connections with the same resources, allowing them to focus on growth rather than maintenance. "We're doing three times more connections with the same resources," Hajek notes. "Orderful is 10x better than the closest alternative."
The platform's improved compliance monitoring has led to fewer chargebacks and better customer satisfaction. "Potential customers who previously doubted working with ShipMonk because of slow connection times are now confident in our ability to quickly establish and maintain EDI connections," says Hajek.
The transformation has positioned ShipMonk to handle increasing B2B volume while maintaining their high service standards. As they continue to grow, the scalability and efficiency of their EDI operations with Orderful provide a strong foundation for future success.
About Shipmonk
ShipMonk is where cutting-edge technology meets world-class fulfillment, all guided by our "merchant-first" core value. This allows us to enable high-volume, scaling DTC brands to stress less and grow more. We shipped over 40M packages in 2024, fueled by our 2,300-strong team and proprietary technology that gives merchants a unified view of their inventory, orders, and shipping across all sales channels. With strategically located fulfillment centers across the globe, dedicated "mom & pop" support at a global scale, and refreshingly transparent pricing, it's no wonder we've earned a spot on the Inc. 5000 for seven years running. We're not just keeping up with the future of fulfillment—we're building it.
