We are breaking new ground: Our JTL-Fulfillment Network (JTL-FFN for short) is starting today as an open beta in a completely revised version. Anyone who has followed the release of JTL-Wawi 1.5 closely will have noticed that the interface to the network has already been created in this version. And “JTL-FFN 2.0” was also announced by JTL founder Thomas Lisson at this year’s JTL-Connect. But what new features does the new version bring? And what advantages does the platform offer you? We reveal all this in the following article:
JTL-FFN - briefly explained
Efficient order processing, a professionally organized warehouse and fast logistics are essential for success in online business. If you don’t want to take care of warehouse and logistics management yourself, you can also remove your processes from stock to professional service providers. And this is exactly where our JTL-Fulfillment Network comes into play: On this platform, you can quickly and easily find a suitable fulfillment service provider or offer services for online retailers yourself. You can find more information on our landing page about removing from stock and fulfillment listings for retailers.
In the communication between fulfillers and retailers, JTL-FFN acts as cloud middleware, which ensures that the respective systems of the retailers and fulfillers receive the correct and relevant data for them. This means that the connected systems no longer communicate directly with each other, but via the JTL-Fulfillment Network. The data communication works almost in real time, so that you constantly receive up-to-date stock and status information on all your processes and can react quickly.
Why we have revised JTL-FFN
As you know, JTL-FFN has been in closed beta for some time now. During this phase, we held intensive discussions with participating merchants and fulfillers in order to tailor our fulfillment solution even better to your needs. Your experiences from productive operations were therefore the main input for the development.
It was important to us that “JTL-FFN 2.0” works as an open system: This means that not only retailers and fulfillers who use our ERP JTL-Wawi should be able to use the network. To this end, we have added a Rest API to JTL-FFN. This means that third-party systems can also dock onto the network and only need to ensure that FFN is integrated into their existing solutions using the API.
For developers who are helping you integrate a third-party system, we have also summarized all processes in our detailed fulfillment API developer documentation.
The most important innovations at a glance
What you should be most interested in are the new features that JTL-FFN brings with it in its revised version:
Improved user experience
First of all, we have tweaked the front end to improve the user experience of the portal. This includes both purely visual improvements and technical fine-tuning. For example, we have completely revised and optimized the search and filter criteria to make it even easier for you to find the right bearing and the right filler in future.
More security in Amazon Seller Fulfilled Prime
The most important new function that merchants and fulfillers alike have been waiting for is Amazon Seller Fulfilled Prime. The new JTL-FFN enables direct and automatic communication with the Amazon API, so that you no longer have to manually search for and send labels. However, if you have previously transmitted your Amazon access data to your fulfiller to create shipping labels, this is no longer necessary in our new network. All you have to do as a retailer is enter your credentials in the FFN portal.
If your fulfiller receives your sales order from Amazon in the future, JTL-FFN will automatically send the data you have stored to the online marketplace. The appropriate label is then created there and sent back to the portal, where your fulfiller can access it.
New shipping type mapping
The next major innovation should be of particular interest to you as a fulfiller: Thanks to our new shipping method mapping, you no longer have to worry about sales orders with unknown shipping methods. And this is how it works:
As a fulfiller, you maintain your listing of shipping methods in JTL-Wawi as you wish. You then specify which merchant may use which of the shipping methods you have approved. This means that retailers will only see the shipping methods that you as the fulfiller actually allow them to use, which gives you more control.
As a merchant, you must now map your shipping methods to those of the Fulfiller, otherwise JTL-FFN will automatically select a standard shipping method.
Integrate any ERP system via the Rest API
As already mentioned, one focus of “FFN 2.0” was to realize a use with and without JTL-Wawi. Any ERP system that enables data exchange can now be connected to the portal via a Rest API. In future, you will no longer have to worry about whether your fulfillment system is compatible with your own. A technically functioning collaboration is guaranteed at all times via the Rest API.
However, the advantage of using JTL-Wawi is obvious: with our ERP system, we can guarantee you fast and uncomplicated onboarding. In addition, our seamlessly connectable warehouse management software JTL-WMS provides fulfillment companies with the best conditions for offering fulfillment at a very high level. In particular, the comprehensive billing system integrated into JTL-Wawi makes it very easy to invoice fulfillment service providers.
Numerous advantages for retailers AND fulfillers
Our completely revised JTL-Fulfillment Network offers a lot of advantages for both merchants and fulfillers. We have compiled a few of the most important ones for you here:
Advantages for retailers
Advantages for fulfillers
Start as a retailer, grow as a fulfiller
Our JTL-Fulfillment Network allows you to switch flexibly between the roles of “merchant” and “fulfiller”. What does that mean? For example, if you started as a retailer, you can also offer your services as a fulfiller at any time. Because you may realize that you still have free storage space that you would like to make available to other retailers. In this case, simply add your second role via your customer center account and you can present your services to the community as a fulfiller.
Switch from the old to the new system now
We will shut down our old portal on October 31, 2019. You must therefore have migrated to the new JTL-FFN by then. The best way to do this is to contact your fulfillers directly, who should coordinate the migration with us. This is because all merchants assigned to a fulfiller must be migrated to the new system at the same time.
As a fulfiller, please send your migration request directly to: info@jtl-software.de
How the registration works
To be able to use JTL-Fulfillment Network, you first need an account in our Customer Center. Once you have completed your registration there, click on “JTL-Fulfillment Network” in the dashboard and then select your role – i.e. whether you want to use the FFN as a merchant or a fulfiller.
Are you already an existing customer of the fulfillment portal? Then you can access it directly via fulfillment.jtl-software.com and select your role there.
We have compiled our detailed documentation to show you what your first steps in the new portal will look like and how you can, for example, search for a suitable filler, make an inquiry or offer your storage space to dealers.
You want to get started right away and convince yourself of the advantages of our new JTL-Fulfillment Network? Then click here, please:
