What is Oberlo?
Oberlo, until its recent closure, was an application of Dropshipping Key, revolutionizing the way e-commerce entrepreneurs managed their online stores.
Initiated in 2015 by e-commerce visionaries, Oberlo quickly gained popularity by making it easy to import products from AliExpress.
This service has allowed online store owners to dramatically simplify the dropshipping process, making adding and managing products more accessible and intuitive.
History and Foundation : Born from a vision of efficiency in e-commerce, Oberlo was designed to bridge the gap between suppliers and sellers, offering an optimized solution for importing products.
Mission and Objective : The application aimed to de-complexify dropshipping for entrepreneurs, making the management of their online store more fluid and less expensive.
As an essential tool, Oberlo has established itself as a solution of choice for the automation and simplified management of dropshipping.
However, with the closure of the extension by Shopify In November 2023, users looking to integrate dropshipping via AliExpress Should now turn to other alternatives available on the Shopify App Store.
Oberlo users
Oberlo is ideal for a wide range of e-commerce users, ranging from new entrepreneurs to established online store owners.
- Newbie Entrepreneurs: Perfect for those who are new to e-commerce and are looking to quickly launch their store without a big initial investment.
- Online Store Owners: Ideal for store owners who want to expand their product line without worrying about inventory management.
Oberlo offers a solution adapted to both novice and experienced entrepreneurs, allowing them to maximize their potential in e-commerce.
Features
1. Easy Product Import
Oberlo makes it easy to import products from AliExpress directly into your Shopify store.
- Product Selection: Access a wide range of products to integrate into your store.
- Shopify integration: Seamless synchronization with Shopify stores for simplified management.
This feature makes it much easier to add products, making Oberlo indispensable for effective online store management.
2. Order Automation
Oberlo automates the order process, simplifying sales management.
- Automatic Order Placement: Orders from your store are automatically sent to suppliers.
- Order Tracking: Easily track the status of each order, improving the customer experience.
This feature is crucial for saving time and optimizing sales operations, making the order management process more efficient.
3. Oberlo integrations
Oberlo offers key integrations with platforms like AliExpress and Shopify, making it easy to manage the store and sync products.
Customer Support
Oberlo offers robust customer support, including:
- Online Support: Fast and effective answers to all your questions.
- Educational Resources: Access to guides and tutorials to maximize the use of the application.
Oberlo's customer support is a major asset, offering useful resources and responsive support for an optimal user experience.
Pricing
Oberlo offers various pricing plans to suit the size and budget of your dropshipping business. Here is a detailed overview of these options:
Explorer Plan - Free
Oberlo's Explorer Plan is completely free and covers all the essential features for starting a small online dropshipping business with a catalog of 500 products or less.
This plan includes
- 500 products: Management of up to 500 different products.
- Unlimited orders: There is no limit on the number of orders per month.
- Daily Product Synchronization: Keep your inventory up to date.
- Inventory Update: Automatic monitoring of stock levels.
- Order Fulfilment in One Click: Simplification of the order process.
- Automatic pricing: Easy management of prices and margins.
- Automatic import of tracking numbers from AliExpress
- Sales Report: Monitoring of sales performance.
- Free Chrome Extension: To make it easy to add products.
- Dispute Management: Tools for managing customer disagreements.
Boss plan - $29.90/month
The Boss Plan, at $29.90 per month, is designed for larger online stores.
It offers unlimited order capacity and all the features of the Explorer plan, in addition to advanced features for growing businesses:
- 30,000 products: Large catalog for a diversified offer.
- Product Statistics: Detailed analysis of product performance.
- Variant Mapping: Advanced management of different product variants.
- Bulk orders: Optimization of volume orders.
- Real-Time Order Tracking: Better visibility on the delivery process.
- Affiliate Program: To expand your marketing network.
- Multiple Staff Accounts: Easy Management for Teams
- Captcha solver: Additional automation to save time.
- All Plan Explorer Features.
These pricing plans from Oberlo offer flexibility as your dropshipping business grows.
They provide access to essential tools for beginners, while offering advanced options for growing businesses.
Alternatives to Oberlo
1. Spocket
Spocket is distinguished by its selection of quality products and its focus on local dropshipping.
Features
- Products from Local Suppliers: Get access to unique, high-quality items.
- Easy integration: Compatibility with major e-commerce platforms like Shopify
Pricing
- Free trial: Discover the features for e-commerce without obligation.
- Subscriptions: Several price levels to follow your business.
Spocket is ideal for e-commerce entrepreneurs looking to differentiate themselves by offering quality products and supporting local suppliers.
READ MORE: Discover Spocket 100% Free
2. Printful
Printful offers a unique dropshipping solution focused on personalized and on-demand products.
Features
- Customization on Demand: Offer unique and personalized products.
- No Stock Management: No stock investment required.
- Shopify integration
Pricing
- No Upfront Fees: Only pay for what you sell.
- Flexible pricing: Costs based on products and customizations.
Printful is the perfect solution for creative brands looking to offer a unique experience to their customers, with a flexible dropshipping model and no need for inventory.
READ MORE: Get Started with Print On Demand with Printful
3. Dropified
Dropified is a dropshipping platform offering advanced functions for efficient online store management.
Features
- Order Automation: Automate orders to save considerable time.
- Easier Product Search: Access a wide range of products to diversify your offer.
Pricing
- Free plan: Access to basic features.
- Premium Plan: Advanced options available for a monthly fee.
Dropified is presented as a robust alternative to Oberlo, offering additional tools for a rich user experience, particularly suitable for entrepreneurs looking to further automate their dropshipping process.
These Oberlo alternatives each offer distinct advantages, whether in terms of automation, quality products, or personalization.
The choice between these options will depend on the specific needs and goals of your e-commerce business.
How do I get started with Oberlo and Shopify?
Getting started with dropshipping with Oberlo and Shopify is a relatively simple process, ideal for entrepreneurs who want to start a successful online store quickly:
1. Creating Your Shopify Account
The journey starts with creating your Shopify account, the first step towards realizing your entrepreneurial dream. Shopify offers a user-friendly and robust platform that is ideal for building a professional online store without extensive technical knowledge.
- Shopify registration: Go to the Shopify site and create an account.
- Choosing a Name: Select a unique and memorable name for your store.
Once your Shopify account is set up, you're ready to start the online selling journey.
READ MORE: Open a 100% free account with Shopify
2. Installing Oberlo on Shopify
Installing Oberlo is a critical step that connects your Shopify store to the vast and varied world of dropshipping products.
- Access to the Shopify App Store: Once connected to Shopify, navigate to the App Store.
- Oberlo Search: Use the search bar to find their Oberlo app.
- Installing Oberlo: Install the app and connect it to your Shopify store.
This powerful alliance between Shopify and Oberlo is the engine that will propel your store to success.
3. Oberlo Setup
Customizing your Oberlo store is an exciting moment where you can bring your business vision to life.
- Product Selection: Explore the Oberlo catalog to choose products to sell.
- Customizing Sheets: Edit descriptions, prices, and images to suit your brand.
- Definition of Margins and Pricing: Establish sales prices taking into account the desired profit margins.
After carefully choosing and customizing your products, your store is almost ready to shine.
4. Customizing Shopify
Customizing your Shopify store is an opportunity to unleash your creativity
- Choosing a Theme: Select a Shopify theme that matches your brand aesthetic.
- Design Customization: Adjust colors, fonts, and layout to create an engaging user experience.
- Add Essential Pages: Create pages like “About,” “Contact,” and “Privacy Policy.”
Your custom Shopify store is now a reflection of your brand and vision.
5. Setting up Payment and Shipping Methods
Good payment management and a clear shipping policy are essential to gain customer trust and encourage repeat purchases.
- Payment Setup: Integrate payment solutions like PayPal or Stripe.
- Shipping Settings: Determine shipping zones and corresponding rates.
These configurations are crucial for establishing the credibility and reliability of your online business.
6. Launch and Promotion
A well-thought-out marketing strategy is essential to attract visitors and convert them into loyal customers.
- Test: Check that everything is working properly, from browsing to completing purchases.
- Marketing Strategies: Use digital marketing, social media, and SEO to attract customers.
- Analysis and Optimization: Track your store's performance and make continuous improvements.
Remember, online success is based on constant evolution and adaptation to market trends and customer needs.
By following these steps, you can quickly launch your dropshipping store with Oberlo and Shopify, taking advantage of an intuitive platform and a wide range of products to sell.
FAQs
How easy is Oberlo to use?
Oberlo is designed to be intuitive and easy to use, even for anyone like e-commerce beginners.
Is Oberlo Compatible with Platforms Other Than Shopify?
Currently, Oberlo is primarily designed to integrate with Shopify.
How does Oberlo handle returns and refunds?
Oberlo makes it easy to manage returns and refunds in coordination with AliExpress suppliers.
Final Verdict
Oberlo stands out as a powerful tool for dropshipping, offering ease of use and seamless integration with Shopify. Although primarily focused on this platform, its automated features and excellent customer support make it a preferred choice for any e-commerce entrepreneur. Alternatives like Dropified, Spocket, and Printful offer additional options, but Oberlo remains an undisputed leader in its field.
