Best Shipping Software Platforms for E-commerce in 2024
By Abhishek Sebin on
Are you an e-commerce business owner struggling to improve your post-purchase customer experience? If handling a flood of support tickets and managing frustrated customers due to delayed shipments feels overwhelming, then this blog is for you.
Picture this: you're constantly dealing with customer complaints about order status and managing delivery delays. These issues not only take up your precious time but also erode customer trust, making post-purchase interactions a headache.
That's exactly why your e-commerce business needs reliable shipping software. When you're juggling everything from marketing to after-sales service, an efficient shipping solution can take the pressure off and help you streamline your operations, keeping your customers happy and your business running smoothly.
Shipping is crucial for any business, directly affecting customer retention and satisfaction. In this blog, we'll discuss the criteria for selecting the best shipping platforms and introduce the top shipping software for e-commerce in 2024.
But first, let's take a look at what e-commerce shipping software is and how it benefits businesses.
What is E-commerce Shipping Software?
E-commerce shipping software is a tool designed to automate and simplify the entire shipping process for online businesses. It handles tasks like creating shipping labels, comparing carrier rates, tracking shipments, and minimizing errors that can occur during fulfillment.
In e-commerce, shipping refers to the process of moving goods from the seller to the buyer, involving steps like order confirmation, product packaging, labeling, and transportation. For small and medium-sized online businesses, shipping is crucial, as it directly impacts customer satisfaction, profitability, and business success.
Why Shipping Software Matters for Your E-commerce Business
With the rapid growth of e-commerce, implementing efficient shipping strategies is essential. A notable 24% of online shoppers abandon their carts due to slow shipping times, highlighting the need for a seamless delivery experience. Prioritizing shipping efficiency helps businesses reduce order abandonment, improve customer satisfaction, and avoid negative feedback.
For businesses that do not have a shipment tracking system, a reliable and affordable option like Postship, which offers a free plan for the first 100 orders a month, could be a great start.
With the right shipping software in place, businesses can significantly enhance their shipping process, reducing errors and improving customer satisfaction. To help you make an informed choice, we've compiled a list of the top 5 e-commerce shipping software platforms that can streamline your operations and elevate your business.
Let’s get right into it!
Top 5 E-commerce Shipping Software Platforms
PostShip
Postship is a comprehensive post-purchase experience platform designed to help small and medium-sized online businesses transform order tracking and returns management into revenue-generating opportunities.
This transformation could be the key to creating an effortless customer experience that increases brand loyalty. By unifying these critical post-purchase interactions, Postship enables merchants to enhance customer satisfaction, recover lost revenue with order returns, and boost their overall sales. It would benefit SMBs looking to create a robust and loyal customer base.
Key Features
1. Order Tracking
- Unique branded tracking page optimized for conversion, resulting in a 10-15% revenue increase. The tracking page showcases related products to encourage additional purchases. Plus, the platform offers multi-carrier integration and shows different carrier information on one page as a branded experience. All of this is available in one click!
- Real-time order tracking updates and branded notifications to keep customers engaged.
- Automated surveys and review requests to turn satisfied customers into brand advocates.
- Shipping analytics to optimize operations.
2. Returns Management
- Intelligent system that promotes order exchange discounts and store credit options within returns management, helping keep funds within the business.
- Ability to tailor unlimited return rules to maximize profitability.
- Transforms the returns process from a cost center into a revenue generator by converting 50% order returns into revenue.
3. Instafeed Integration
This feature allows for AI-integrated customization of Instagram feed and gallery in less than 60 seconds. It can be added to the website to drive sales by tagging products, with an eye-catching design using AI prompts.
It showcases user-generated content with enhanced visual appeal and drive interactions from shoppers. Available with an intuitive dashboard for styling and configurations.
4. Shoppable Videos
A video gallery with Tik Tok Shop-style short videos, Instagram reels, and other user-generated videos. This integration enhances the product page and engages customers in innovative ways.
Pricing
- Free for the first 100 orders a month.
- Basic plan: $6 - $39 (300 - 2000 orders a month).
- Premium Plan: $55 - $449 (3000 - 50,000 orders a month).
- Enterprise Plan: Custom with API integration (more than 100,00 orders).
You can contact our fantastic team to get a quote for the Enterprise plan. Schedule a demo call with the PostShip team today!
ShipStation
ShipStation is a cloud-based shipping and order fulfillment platform designed to help e-commerce businesses manage and streamline shipping processes. It integrates with over 100 selling channels automated tasks and offers significant shipping discounts.
Key Features
- Automates shipping tasks like order importing, label printing, and tracking updates.
- Integrates with major carriers (UPS, USPS, DHL, etc.) and marketplaces.
- Provides branded tracking and return portals.
- Rate shopping for the best carrier prices.
Pricing
Plans start at $9.99 per month, offering different price ranges based on shipment volume.
Shippo
Shippo is a scalable shipping tool that provides API or application interfaces to power logistic workflow. Integrating with over 40 global carriers and dozens of store platforms, Shippo has its business with hundreds of brands and offers tools for creating shipping labels, tracking packages, and managing returns.
Key Features
- Multi-carrier support
- API integration for developers
- Bulk label printing
- Shipping rate comparison
- Branded tracking and return management
Pricing
- Free plan with limited features.
- Paid plans start at $19 per month for advanced functionality. Pricing also varies for API users.
AfterShip
AfterShip's tracking platform allows businesses to monitor shipments in real-time across 1,190 carriers worldwide. The tool aims to enhance customer experience by offering order tracking, estimated delivery dates, and opportunities for repeated sales.
Key Features
- Branded tracking packages
- Delivery notifications
- Detailed analytics
Pricing
- Free plan available with limited features.
- Paid plans start at $9 per month for advanced tracking and customization.
Easyship
Easyship offers shipping choices worldwide at pre-negotiated rates with discounts. It helps businesses integrate with various E-Commerce platforms and provides access to more than 250 courier services.
Key Features
- Shipping automation and label generation
- Shipping rates comparison
- Global warehouse and fulfillment solutions
- Duties and tax management for international shipments
Pricing
Free plan with limited features. Paid plan starts at $29 per month.
Now you know the different shipping software that can be employed for improving your shipping efficiency and revenue. Let’s look at the different criteria for selecting the right software for your business right below!
How to Choose the Right Shipping Software for SMBs
Integration with E-commerce Platforms
You must ensure the shipping software integrates with your existing e-commerce platform. Also, check how it integrates with other business tools, like inventory management systems, as this is crucial for maintaining efficient operations and data consistency.
Cost Management and Discounted Rates
Cost management is vital for profitability. Look for shipping software that offers discounted shipping rates through partnerships with carriers. Evaluate the pricing plans of these software packages and choose one that fits your needs and budget.
Customer Service and Returns Management
Excellent customer service is essential for addressing any shipping-related inquiries or issues. Choose shipping software that provides strong customer support options, including live chat, email, and phone assistance.
Likewise, a solid return management feature simplifies the process for both you and your customers. Prioritize applications that allow easy generation of return labels and tracking return shipments.
User Reviews and Reputation
It is better to research all the features the software offers, its user reviews, and the reputation it has built over the years. A well-reviewed software solution is often indicative of quality and reliability.
Choosing the right e-commerce shipping software depends on your operational needs and customer expectations. Take the time to evaluate different options and consider trial periods to find the best fit for your business.
Consider solutions like PostShip, known for its branded interface and reliable customer support. Schedule a demo with us!
Identifying the right shipping software won’t be possible without understanding the real-time benefits they offer. We have some of the most notable benefits of e-commerce shipping solutions listed below.
Ecommerce Shipping Software Benefits
Automates Logistics Tasks
Shipping software takes care of repetitive logistics tasks such as generating shipping labels, packing slips, and other essential documentation. This automation not only reduces the need for manual labor but also significantly cuts down on the likelihood of human error during data entry.
By integrating shipping software into their operations, businesses can manage all shipments with just a few clicks, freeing up valuable time to focus on other aspects of their business.
Additionally, automating the order and shipping process ensures that customer details and orders are accurately input and verified. This greatly reduces the risk of order discrepancies, incorrect shipments, and delays, enhancing the overall customer experience.
For instance, an e-commerce store selling electronics uses shipping software to automatically verify customer addresses and generate shipping labels in seconds, preventing issues like undelivered orders due to incorrect shipping details.
Improves Customer Satisfaction
With real-time order tracking and timely updates, shipping software enhances customer service by keeping them informed throughout the delivery process. This leads to increased customer loyalty and repeat orders, as businesses can meet the rising demand for fast and reliable deliveries.
Shipping software, like PostShip, provides a branded order tracking page with multi-carrier integration, allowing consumers to access and track multiple orders with a single click, offering a seamless experience.
- A case in point: An online clothing retailer uses PostShip to offer customers real-time tracking through a branded page. This ensures customers are always in the loop about their order status, leading to higher satisfaction and fewer support inquiries.
Scalability
As businesses grow, shipping software can scale alongside them, accommodating higher shipping volumes and more complex logistics. This allows businesses to handle bulk orders with improved efficiency and minimal manual intervention.
Shipping software is designed to manage the increased complexity of larger operations while maintaining high efficiency, ensuring smooth scaling without operational bottlenecks.
- Take, for example, a rapidly growing e-commerce business that uses shipping software to handle thousands of daily orders, enabling seamless delivery without disruptions as the business expands.
Optimizes Shipping Costs and Timelines
Shipping software helps businesses save money by offering discounted shipping rates, reducing overhead costs, and automating shipping tasks. It enables merchants to focus on other areas of their business while ensuring that shipping is handled efficiently.
Many platforms provide discounted rates and manage the entire shipping process, from order placement to delivery, reducing the merchant's involvement and improving overall timelines.
- Consider how an online seller leverages shipping software to compare discounted rates across multiple carriers, cutting costs while ensuring quicker deliveries, resulting in both time and cost savings.
Integrates with Existing Systems
Shipping software can integrate with other e-commerce platforms, CRM tools, and inventory management systems, improving operational efficiency by ensuring seamless communication across different systems.
For example, PostShip manages the entire process, from order tracking to integration with various carriers and delivery systems, ensuring businesses can run their operations smoothly.
Multi-Carrier Integration
Many shipping software solutions offer multi-carrier integration, allowing businesses to compare shipping rates and delivery times from various carriers on one platform. This enables informed decisions on the best carrier for each shipment.
Shipping platforms like PostShip provide an integrated solution for comparing rates and delivery options across multiple carriers, offering flexibility and cost-effectiveness.
An e-commerce home goods store utilizes multi-carrier integration to select the most cost-effective and timely shipping options for each order, ensuring the best balance of savings and delivery speed.
Now that you have learned about the different e-commerce shipping software, it is also essential to know what factors determine which one is best for your business.
Growing Demand for Efficient Shipping Solutions
As e-commerce continues to boom, businesses are facing increasing pressure to meet customer expectations for fast, reliable, and transparent shipping services. Efficient shipping solutions are becoming essential to keep up with the growing demands. Several key factors are driving this shift toward more effective shipping strategies, which we’ll explore below:
Exponential growth of E-commerce Industry
The rapid growth of the e-commerce industry has reached $6.3 trillion in 2024. This surge in online purchases has led to a significant increase in shipping volumes, making it essential for businesses to adopt shipping solutions capable of handling the heightened demand efficiently.
Advancement of Technology
Modern-day wonders like artificial intelligence, automation, and the Internet of Things (IoT) are revolutionizing shipping operations worldwide. These technologies enable real-time tracking of deliverables, predictive analytics, and process automation.
For instance, Amazon uses AI-bots to optimize their supply chain, while tools like PostShip automate tracking and provide real-time delivery updates, improving both efficiency and transparency.
Sustainability Considerations
With growing concerns about environmental sustainability, businesses are prioritizing eco-friendly shipping practices. Companies are adopting measures like using alternative fuels and optimizing logistics routes to reduce their carbon footprint.
Supply Chain Resilience
Many businesses invest in risk management solutions and diversify their sourcing strategies to stay prepared for unforeseen disruptions. PostShip's integrated platform can aid this preparation by enhancing order tracking and return processes.
Before we wrap up, it is important to understand that choosing the right e-commerce shipping software can reduce costs, streamline your operations, and enhance customer satisfaction. Let’s read the summary below!
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right shipping software is crucial for e-commerce businesses, especially as the industry continues to grow. The platforms we've listed offer a range of features to streamline logistics, improve customer satisfaction, and drive long-term success. Whether you're a small business or scaling fast, the right software can enhance order management, tracking, and overall efficiency.
If you're looking for a reliable, scalable option, PostShip’s free plan offers everything you need to get started, including a branded tracking page to boost customer loyalty. Ready to explore more? Book a demo today!
