Scalable document generation and invoice printing are essential for growing e-commerce businesses, especially on platforms like Shopify and BigCommerce. BAS Part Sales uses Printout Designer, a solution built on top of PDF Generator API, to turn document workflows into a fully integrated part of their operations. By combining API driven document generation with an intuitive drag and drop editor, the team can design, customize and manage documents without custom development while maintaining full control over data, structure and output.
BAS Part Sales is an aircraft salvage company that specializes in turning retired airplanes into sellable parts while operating a large scale BigCommerce store with more than 168000 SKUs. In an industry where online sales are still uncommon, the company has built a unique e-commerce model that reaches customers in more than 100 countries worldwide.
“We ship to customers across more than 100 countries each year, often reaching multiple countries in a single day. That level of e-commerce activity is still very uncommon in our industry.”
Unlike most competitors, the company has fully embraced online sales, offering everything from smaller aircraft components to high value parts for business jets through its online store. This makes BAS Part Sales one of the few companies in the aviation industry operating at true e-commerce scale.
A key part of making this scale work is invoice printing, with the printed version playing a direct role in warehouse operations.
The Challenge: BigCommerce invoice limitations at scale
As order volume increased to hundreds of shipments per day, BAS Part Sales outgrew the native BigCommerce invoice functionality.
“The native print invoice function worked for a long time and then it just died.”
At the same time, the team needed better ways to handle customer communication, especially in situations where clear documentation was essential.
“We had a refund and the customer was furious that we could not print a document showing what we refunded.”
Operationally, access to the right data was just as critical.
“The bin picking number is critical. Without it, our shippers have to go digging through the system.”
For a warehouse spanning 175000 square feet, this information is essential. Without direct access to this data in the document, fulfillment becomes slower and more dependent on manual checks.
The Solution: Printout Designer for flexible invoice printing
BAS Part Sales implemented Printout Designer to build a reliable and scalable invoice printing workflow tailored to their operations. Instead of relying on limited native functionality, the team gained full control over how documents are generated, structured and used within their workflow.
Using customizable templates, dynamic data and an intuitive drag and drop editor, the team created documents that combine customer facing information with internal warehouse requirements.
“The invoice tells our team exactly where to go. They print it and move.”
Each invoice is designed to include:
- bin picking number for precise warehouse navigation
- product reference information to support item identification
- structured layout aligned with internal processes
- consistent branding across all documents
By bringing operational data directly into the document, the team removed the need to switch between systems during fulfillment.
The flexibility of Printout Designer also allows the team to create multiple invoice versions for different warehouse locations and use cases.
“I can build it exactly the way I need it to look so that the customer gets a document that makes sense.”
Customer focus at scale
Even with hundreds of daily orders, BAS Part Sales maintains a strong focus on customer experience.
“Every order gets a handwritten thank you note and candy stapled to the invoice.”
Each shipment includes a printed invoice that is not only functional but also part of the overall customer interaction. This approach allows the team to keep a personal touch, even as order volume continues to grow.
Beyond the core e-commerce workflow, BAS Part Sales has also expanded its digital ecosystem with the launch of its mobile app, which has now been downloaded in over 90 countries.
Together, these touchpoints reflect how BAS Part Sales connects warehouse operations, digital tools and customer communication into a single e-commerce experience designed for scale and reliability.
Supporting a complex e-commerce operation
BAS Part Sales operates a unique business model that combines large scale inventory with detailed product handling.
“We have more e-commerce people than airplane mechanics because getting this inventory online is a full time job.”
To support this, the company uses Printout Designer not only for standard invoices but also for advanced use cases such as:
- printing refund receipts
- displaying salesperson contact details based on internal notes
- adapting documents to different order types and workflows
This level of flexibility allows the company to extend BigCommerce capabilities without changing their core systems.
The Impact: Faster fulfillment and full document control
With Printout Designer, BAS Part Sales established a stable and scalable approach to BigCommerce invoice printing.
“It solved a real BigCommerce problem.”
The warehouse team can now rely on printed invoices as a primary operational tool, reducing the need to search for information in the system and enabling faster order processing.
“They print the invoice, go straight to the shelf and get the part. We are not burning daylight trying to figure it out.”
As a result, documents are no longer just outputs from the system, but an active part of the fulfillment process.
At the same time, the company maintains full control over document design and structure, ensuring that every output meets both operational and branding requirements.
Conclusion
BAS Part Sales turned invoice printing into a core part of their operational workflow. By using Printout Designer, they created a reliable system that supports fast warehouse processing, clear communication and consistent document output at scale.
What started as a workaround for platform limitations has become a key component of how the company operates and scales its e-commerce business.
