Logistics automation for 3PLs
Logistics automation for 3PL and fulfilment warehouses
I build the software a fulfilment warehouse runs on between the WMS and the carriers: returns intake, carrier investigations, cutoff planning, sorter checks and seller support. Every system on this page is in daily use at a Dutch 3PL.
Also available in:NederlandsDeutsch
In short
Harshil Lakhani is a freelance logistics automation developer. He builds custom software for 3PL and e-commerce fulfilment warehouses: AI returns scanning, automated carrier claims, carrier cutoff and SLA planning, parcel sorter accuracy monitoring and seller support portals. The systems connect to ChannelDock, carrier portals, Gmail and Freshdesk, and run in production at a Dutch fulfilment company.
- Logistics systems in production
- 7
- Carriers integrated
- 8+
- Orders a day supported
- ~3,000
- Interface languages
- NL / EN
Scenarios I automate
The warehouse problems these systems solve
Each scenario below comes from real floor and support work. Every one links to a case study that shows how it was built.
Returns pile up on the bench
Workers search for the order behind every parcel by hand. Bundles, repeated EAN lines and returns already booked by Bol or Amazon cause duplicates and mistakes.
A photo of the label is read by AI, matched to the right order and return, and the items are counted by barcode scan. Unclear parcels go to an exceptions shelf instead of guesswork.
Read the AI returns scanner case studyCarrier investigations live in inboxes
Lost, damaged and undelivered parcels need evidence, carrier emails, follow-ups and seller updates. Cases get lost between Gmail threads and spreadsheets.
Sellers raise an investigation in a portal, the system sends it to the right carrier, classifies each reply and keeps the seller and the support team in sync until a credit is booked.
Read the 3PL investigation automation SaaS case studyCarrier portals with no API
Some carriers only accept claims through a customer portal. Staff copy the same order data into web forms all day.
A browser automation service fills in the portal, uploads the evidence, returns the ticket number and checks the ticket for replies, so the claim workflow stays automatic end to end.
Read the carrier portal automation bot case studyMissing the evening carrier cutoff
Managers only see that the backlog is too big when it is too late to add pickers. SLA mails to carriers are sent by hand, or twice, or not at all.
A live board compares the open pick queue with the pick rate and the time left to cutoff, advises how many pickers to add, forecasts the order inflow and sends each carrier SLA mail exactly once.
Read the warehouse cutoff planning board case studyParcels sorted into the wrong carrier lane
A mis-sort is only noticed when a carrier rejects the parcel or a customer complains about a late delivery.
Every sorter scan is checked against barcode rules for the expected carrier lane. Managers get an hourly accuracy report and can see which lanes and carriers cause errors.
Read the parcel sorter accuracy monitor case studySeller support spread over too many tools
Agents switch between the support inbox, WhatsApp, the order system and spreadsheets before they can answer one seller question.
One operations platform brings tickets, orders, investigations, credits and tasks together, with AI reply suggestions that an agent always reviews before sending.
Read the 3PL fulfilment operations platform case studyStaffing and tasks managed on paper
Supervisors track attendance, breaks and task assignments on paper or in Excel, which makes reporting slow and unreliable.
QR badge scanning on warehouse tablets, live task assignment and a wall-mounted TV view give supervisors real-time staffing data and exportable reports.
Read the warehouse operations dashboard case studyWhat you can hire me for
Logistics automation services
Custom 3PL software
Internal tools, portals and dashboards built around how your floor and support team actually work, not around a generic template.
WMS and ChannelDock integrations
Order, shipment and returns data pulled from your WMS or ChannelDock and pushed back after each action, with rate limits and retries handled.
Carrier claims and email automation
Investigations routed to the right carrier by email or portal, replies classified automatically and sellers updated without manual forwarding.
AI in warehouse workflows
Label reading, document parsing, ticket classification and reply drafts with Gemini or OpenAI, always with a human check where money or customers are involved.
Floor and planning tools
Scanner kiosks, cutoff boards, schedule builders and sorter monitoring that work with Zebra scanners, tablets and wall screens.
Support after launch
Monitoring, fixes and new features as your volumes, carriers and sellers change. Every system is documented and handed over.
Case studies
Logistics systems in production
OpsDesk AI | Fulfilment Operations Platform
A 3PL logistics automation case study covering seller operations, support, order investigations, credits, analytics and warehouse workflows.
Read the 3PL fulfilment operations platform case study
3PL Automation SaaS | Investigation & Seller Operations
A 3PL automation SaaS for seller investigations, carrier email updates, evidence uploads, case tracking and Freshdesk workflows.
Read the 3PL investigation automation SaaS case study
AI Returns Scanner | Label Reading & Returns Intake
An AI returns scanner for a Dutch 3PL. Workers photograph the label, Gemini reads it, and the return is matched and booked in ChannelDock.
Read the AI returns scanner case study
Shift Board | Carrier Cutoff & SLA Planning
A live 3PL cutoff planning board: pick backlog vs carrier cutoffs, picker deficit advice, order forecasts and per-carrier SLA emails sent exactly once.
Read the warehouse cutoff planning board case study
Warehouse Operations Dashboard | Real-Time Workforce Control
A real-time warehouse operations dashboard for staffing, task assignment, attendance, activity history and operational reporting.
Read the warehouse operations dashboard case study
Sorter Monitor | Parcel Sorter Lane Accuracy
A webhook service that checks every parcel sorter scan against carrier barcode rules, catches mis-sorts and emails hourly lane accuracy reports.
Read the parcel sorter accuracy monitor case study
Carrier Portal Bot | Claims & Ticket Automation
A browser automation bot that opens, tracks and closes parcel claim tickets in a carrier partner's portal that has no API, for a Dutch 3PL.
Read the carrier portal automation bot case studyIntegrations
Carriers, platforms and tools I have connected
These integrations run in production. If your stack is different, the same patterns apply to most WMS, carrier and helpdesk APIs.
- Carriers
- DHL (NL, DE, International)PostNLbpostDPDEvriColis PrivéBring
- Commerce and WMS
- ChannelDockBolAmazon
- Support and communication
- Gmail APIFreshdeskWhatsApp (Twilio)Slack
- Data, AI and hardware
- FirebaseGoogle Sheets and DriveGoogle GeminiZebra scannersParcel sorter webhooks
How we work
From a warehouse problem to working software
- 01
Map the workflow
We walk through the process on the floor or in the support inbox, list every exception and agree what a good result looks like.
- 02
Ship a small working slice
The first version solves one painful step end to end, so your team can use it within weeks instead of waiting for a full platform.
- 03
Connect your systems
The tool is connected to your WMS, carriers and helpdesk, with logging, retries and duplicate protection built in from the start.
- 04
Measure and extend
We track errors, handling time and missed cutoffs, then extend the system to the next process that is worth automating.
Questions
Logistics automation questions
3PL automation is software that takes repetitive work out of a fulfilment warehouse. Typical examples are returns intake, carrier claims, cutoff planning, sorter checks and seller support. It sits next to your WMS and carriers, moves data between them and flags exceptions for a person to decide on.
Start with the process that costs the most hours or causes the most errors every day. In most 3PLs that is returns handling, carrier investigations or seller support emails. These have clear rules, high volume and a direct effect on credits and customer satisfaction.
Yes. I have built production integrations with the ChannelDock API for orders, shipments and returns. The same approach works for other WMS and order platforms that offer an API: read the data, act on it, and write the result back with retries and rate-limit handling.
Yes. When a carrier only offers a customer portal, a browser automation service can log in, submit claims with evidence and check tickets for replies. I built one for a carrier portal on Freshdesk that runs as a small API the rest of the system calls.
AI does the reading and drafting, people make the decisions that matter. Label reading and ticket classification run automatically, but anything unclear goes to an exceptions queue, and AI reply drafts are always reviewed by an agent before they are sent.
A focused tool, such as a returns scanner or an SLA alert, usually takes a few weeks to reach daily use. A full operations platform grows over several months, released in small working parts so the team benefits early.
Yes. My current logistics work is for a Dutch 3PL that ships with Dutch, Belgian, German, French and UK carriers. Interfaces can be built in Dutch and English, and I work remotely with teams across Europe.
Have a warehouse process that needs automating?
Tell me which process slows your team down, which systems are involved and how many orders or returns you handle. I will reply with a practical first step.
Discuss your project