Whistl 3PL integration

One of the working tactics to reduce a supplier’s costs and allow him to focus on the more strategic business tasks is to withdraw the stock-related questions. This is usually done by means of 3PL integrations, for which the third-party logistics provider is required. In the case of Whistl 3PL solution building, Patternica bridged the integration between Linnworks and Whistl, which laid the basis for creating the automated fulfilment center.

As the UK’s second-largest postal delivery service, Whistl would need to think closely about a lot of logistics nuances, such as warehouse ownership and management, goods placement, hiring of employees, handling electricity cuts, paying salaries, and more. Instead of this stock-related troubleshooting, the company expressed the wish to concentrate on opening new stores and scaling their business. For this aim, they hired Patternica to automate and optimize their delivery service through the 3PL logistics integration so that all the logistics duties are placed on the 3PL transport partner’s shoulders.

This third-party integration example illustrates how the smooth flow between Linnworks and Whistl can result in saved time and money for the client. Namely, Whistl transformed into a convenient pick-and-pack functionality, which actively serves UK customers’ needs. In terms of business benefits, the company won time for more critical tasks, such as implementing new ideas for business development. Plus, they considerably reduced costs by optimizing the warehouse and delegating the stock-associated routine to the logistics third party. Finally, cost reduction allows the company to invest resources in new stocks and business expansion.

To implement Whistl & Linnworks 3PL integration, Paternica involved one Project Manager and one Developer. This small team of experts spent about 1.5 months fulfilling the task since the client’s approval. It’s explained by the complicated code and post-code requirements on the client’s side, on the one hand, and Patternica’s profound expertise in building API integrations (Linnworks, Shopify, Amazon, etc.), on the other. From now on, we’re ready to proceed with similar business requests even more quickly.

Working on this project, we expanded our knowledge of building API integrations for complicated systems and elaborate code requirements under the hood. As the code wasn’t written on our side, we needed to spend much time in one-to-one meetings to do the code and post-code troubleshooting. Overall, this experience taught us that it’s not always an API specifics that might require the most significant part of discovery time but sometimes the field requirements to code.

Hugo & Hudson is the popular retail provider of premium-class dog clothing, accessories, and beds specifically designed to reflect the latest UK fashion trends. Created by two dog owners, this brand focuses on innovation, high quality, and modern design to provide pet families with a mix of care, comfort, and style.