Here’s some food for thought—83% of online shoppers want to be in control (via regular customer support and communication from you) of their purchases throughout the entire process. Think about that.
Here’s the thing about holiday deliveries: Most customers are more demanding of updates and certainty—that their gifts will arrive on time. It’s the holidays! So, nail this post-purchase experience and your customers are likelier to shop again.
This post will help you get started. We’ll explore the six best eCommerce shipping solutions that can streamline your operations, and ensure your customers receive their orders with minimal (to no) hassle. These solutions are particularly beneficial for eCommerce businesses—helping manage shipping costs and improve customer satisfaction.
Challenges involved in order fulfillment
Order fulfillment is the process where your promise to the customer—fast, accurate delivery—meets the reality of logistics, inventory management, and communication. 60% of shoppers actually prioritize having an estimated or guaranteed delivery date displayed at checkout.
But the reality is despite your wanting this to be a perfect post-purchase experience for your customers, order fulfillment is challenging due to various factors. Let’s break down these common hurdles:
Fulfillment costs are getting more expensive
Picture this: You’re shipping a little widget. But the cost of getting it to your customer is twice the price of the toy. Holiday seasons can lead to surge pricing from carriers and increased labor costs—and they’re a threat to profitability.
To mitigate these high fulfillment costs, consider utilizing discounted shipping rates offered by various shipping software and services.
Poor visibility of stock levels leads to “phantom availability”
It’s when your system shows 50 units—but 20 are actually already allocated to other orders and five are damaged but not logged. So you’re overselling and underdelivering. This situation can lead to canceled orders, refunds, and dissatisfied customers.
Inventory mismanagement is plain disaster—can you imagine a customer placing an order only to receive a cancellation email because the product isn’t available?
Unforeseen traffic delays
Traffic delays (accidents, road closure, or unexpected congestion) might seem like a minor inconvenience, but for your businesses, they pose a major challenge. They can disrupt delivery schedules not to mention your operational efficiency too. The unpredictability of traffic makes it harder to guarantee on-time deliveries. If you offer fast shipping options like same-day or next-day delivery and you fail to follow through, you’ll be facing dissatisfied customers for sure.
Human error in order processing
Despite advancements in automation, manual interventions are still part of the eCommerce fulfillment process. But manual things are prone to errors, right?
From inputting incorrect shipping details or shipping label to picking the wrong items in a warehouse, these mistakes can damage the entire fulfillment process. In the fast-paced world of eCommerce, that equals negative reviews or lost trust—things no business can afford.
Consolidating orders from various sales platforms
Selling across multiple channels—your website, marketplaces like Amazon or eBay, and even social platforms like Facebook and Instagram—has become the norm. But while this omnichannel approach maximizes your reach, it also brings a challenge: keeping order management seamless and efficient.
Why eCommerce shipping solutions matter
To complete order fulfillment, your product needs to move from your end to your buyer’s through a well-structured eCommerce shipping process. And that’s where eCommerce shipping solutions game-change everything. Here’s how:
All aspects of your fulfillment process are optimized
From carrier selection and label generation to tracking and customer communication, centralizing these tasks is only possible with an eCommerce shipping solution. Good shipping software gives you complete visibility into your fulfillment costs. Customers will know exactly what they’re spending on shipping for every single order. Additionally, many eCommerce shipping solutions offer shipping discounts, helping businesses reduce overall shipping costs and enhance operational efficiency.
Manual shipping processes are prone to errors
When you’re handling orders manually, every step of the shipping process becomes a potential point of failure. Talk about mismatched shipping addresses and incorrect carrier selections. And let’s not forget the human toll: manually entering data for dozens (or hundreds) of orders? That could be better spent growing your business. Additionally, consider using shipping insurance to mitigate risks associated with manual shipping errors.
They provide a better customer experience
Customers expect speed, transparency, and convenience. The best shipping software for eCommerce helps you meet these expectations. Automated tracking updates, accurate delivery timelines, and branded notifications reduce “Where Is My Order?” (WISMO) inquiries and reinforce trust in your brand.
They hold everything together (if you’re juggling multiple sales channels)
Each channel has its own processes, rules, and customer expectations, and managing them all manually? Not ideal, really. Shipping software for eCommerce integrates with these sales channels and centralizes your orders. Plus it can also synchronize inventory in real-time, and streamline fulfillment. No more hopping between platforms—you get one dashboard to manage it all.
Scaling becomes easier
Scaling an eCommerce business is about handling more orders, more efficiently. The best eCommerce shipping solutions adapt as you grow—whether you’re expanding into new regions, adding sales channels, or introducing faster delivery options.
The right shipping software can provide the tools to optimize carrier selection, reduce costs, and maintain workflow efficiency. Selecting the right shipping services is crucial for handling increased order volumes efficiently.
Key features to look for in shipping software for eCommerce
With all the benefits, it’s fairly clear that you need dedicated software for shipping and fulfillment in eCommerce. When choosing which one to use, look for the primary features below:
Can work with various shipping carriers
Multi-carrier integration allows you to select the best carrier for each shipment so you provide the best possible service to your customers. This is one of the most important features of eCommerce shipping software—it can work with various shipping carriers.
Include order management tools
It’s your responsibility to track and manage customer orders from the moment a purchase is made until delivered. These tools centralize order data and give you real-time visibility into your inventory levels, shipments, and customer interactions.
Integrate with all the platforms you sell on
Seamless integration with all the platforms you sell on simply means that your orders from all sales channels are managed in one place. And that’s crucial for omnichannel businesses! eCommerce shipping solutions that have this feature eliminate the risk of you overselling inventory, mismanaging order statuses, or creating delays in eCommerce shipping and fulfillment.
Automatically generate shipping labels
Manually creating labels is a prime spot for human error. Shipping software takes this task off your plate entirely. With automation, it pulls order details directly from your sales channels, matches them with the correct carrier and service based on predefined rules, calculates the shipping rate, and generates accurate labels instantly.
Order tracking and customer notifications
The post-purchase experience is just as important as the sale itself. Order tracking lets customers follow their shipments from dispatch to delivery. While customer notifications take this a step further by proactively delivering updates via email, SMS, or even branded tracking pages.
Top 6 eCommerce shipping solutions for growing businesses
We put together this list of the best shipping software for eCommerce so it’ll be easier for you to pick the one that can help your post-purchase experience.
1. ShipStation (best for those with high-order volumes)
ShipStation is one of the best eCommerce shipping solutions to simplify your management of parcels (even thousands!) every day. An ideal platform for eCommerce sellers, this handles everything from creating shipping labels to managing inventory and tracking orders across multiple carriers. With its detailed reporting capabilities, you can analyze shipping costs, inventory levels, and sales trends through intuitive charts and graphs.
Pros:
- Access to discounted carrier rates.
- Accurate shipping rates enhance customer satisfaction by ensuring transparent and fair pricing.
- Allows you to set custom rules that streamline your shipping process.
- Customizable fields so you can see information specifically the way you want.
- 180+ integration partners
Cons:
- Errors and glitches that can last hours.
Pricing: Starter plan that includes 50 shipments/month costs $9.99 monthly.
2. AfterShip (best for tracking and returns management)
AfterShip helps keep your team organized with the logistical needs of your eCommerce shipping. It provides real-time tracking updates that keep your customers informed every step of the way. Also, AfterShip offers an intuitive returns management feature that simplifies the return process for both merchants and customers.
What makes AfterShip unique is it lets you create a custom experience for your customers post-purchase. You can customize the tracking interface so it reflects your brand identity. Personalize everything from your store’s logo, colors, and URL—enhancing brand visibility during the post-purchase phase.
Pros:
- Supports 1,200+ carriers.
- User-friendly interface for both merchants and customers.
- Lets you create branded return portals.
Cons:
- Pricing can be quite high.
Pricing: Paid plan starts at $9month (billed annually) plus $0.08 per extra shipment.
3. Shiptheory (best for international shipping
Shiptheory simplifies shipping automation. You can create both simple and complex shipping rules that dictate how orders are processed (shipping destination, order weight, value, and product SKUs). With support for customs documentation and compliance, it’s an excellent choice for eCommerce international shipping.
With a centralized dashboard, you can connect to over 90 global carriers and effortlessly automate tasks like booking shipments and printing shipping labels. The best part? The dashboard is fully customizable, allowing you to adapt it to your unique workflows and streamline your entire shipping operation with ease.
Pros:
- Easy integration with major platforms.
- Real-time shipment tracking features.
- Advanced analytics and reporting features.
Cons:
- Overwhelming at first.
Pricing: Shiptheory’s pricing starts at £19 per month, billed annually.
4. ShippingEasy (best all-in-one shipping and marketing solution)
ShippingEasy is an easy-to-use software to do all your shipping from one place—while also offering marketing tools. It’s the ideal choice for small to medium-sized businesses prioritizing user-friendliness and a streamlined shipping experience.
ShippingEasy goes beyond basic shipping, offering built-in email marketing tools to help businesses nurture customer relationships post-purchase. This means you can run marketing campaigns (cart abandonment emails, newsletters, and even holiday sales included) directly from the platform.
Pros:
- Helps keep track of stock levels while managing shipments.
- Allows you to send targeted messages using its powerful segmentation.
- User-friendly for technically challenged users.
Cons:
- It has some customer support limitations.
Pricing: Paid plan starts at $19.99/mo.
5. parcelLab (best for enhanced post-purchase communication strategies)
parcelLab redefines the post-purchase experience by going big on customer engagement rather than just logistics. It empowers you to keep your customers informed after they’ve clicked “buy.” With tools that deliver proactive updates via email or SMS, parcelLab ensures customers are always in the loop about their order status and delivery timelines. This thoughtful communication turns delivery updates into a seamless, branded experience.
This software is all about crafting personalized experiences that keep your customers happy throughout their delivery journey. By leveraging automated messaging, it takes the lead in proactively updating customers about their order status, delivery timelines, and any unexpected delays. Plus, with fully white-labeled communications, your brand stays front and center. Emails and order status pages are hosted on your domain so every touchpoint feels consistent and professional.
Pros:
- Analytics tools let you track engagement metrics and refine your communication strategies over time.
- Branded notifications at every stage of the delivery journey.
- Has a simple and easy-to-navigate user interface.
Cons:
- Limited searching function.
Pricing: Contact them directly for specific quotes.
6. Shipsy (best for intricate logistics needs)
Shipsy is an AI-powered e-commerce shipping software that handles complex shipping needs—both domestic and international. It offers a comprehensive suite of features, including warehouse management, transportation management, and last-mile delivery solutions perfect for complete visibility and control over the entire shipping process.
Its AI-driven logistics enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of supply chain operations through advanced analytics and automation. AI algorithms analyze historical data, traffic patterns, weather conditions, and other factors to predict accurate delivery times. This helps you manage customer expectations and plan deliveries more effectively.
Pros:
- End-to-end logistics management platform.
- Provides real-time visibility into shipment statuses.
- Low-code integrations.
Cons:
- May require significant initial investment.
Pricing: Custom pricing, inquire directly for tailored quotes.
Additional strategies for effective eCommerce shipping and fulfillment
To further help you elevate your shipping and fulfillment game, here are some actionable strategies tailored for eCommerce business owners like you.
Train your team
Your eCommerce shipping solution isn’t just for your fulfillment team. Equip your customer support team with the knowledge and training to navigate the platform effectively. When your support reps can access order statuses, track shipments, and troubleshoot issues directly within the software, they’ll resolve customer queries faster and more accurately. Result? Happier customers and fewer escalations.
Have a backup plan for the holidays
Shipping delays are inevitable. During peak seasons like the holidays? Triple the risk. So prepare by diversifying your carrier options and negotiating backup agreements with secondary carriers. Also, consider temporarily increasing staff or outsourcing fulfillment to handle the surge in orders.
Anticipate the future, let the data do the talking
Predictive analytics is a powerful tool for optimizing shipping operations. Analyze historical data to forecast peak demand periods, anticipate shipping delays, and plan carrier capacity. For example, if you know a product category spikes in demand during a specific season, you can preemptively stock inventory closer to key markets to minimize shipping costs and delays.
Create smooth and hassle-free holiday deliveries for amazing customer experiences
Shipping and fulfillment are important touchpoints between your customers and your brand. By leveraging the right eCommerce shipping software(and implementing the strategies listed), you can optimize operations, and delight your customers—especially during the holidays.
But shipping is just a piece of the puzzle of exceptional customer service. Amplify the benefits of your shipping strategy by ensuring a seamless and satisfying experience for your customers. At LTVplus, that’s our specialty. Book a call and let’s discuss how we can help. Reduce churn, and drive repeat business now.
