Supply chain issues are still a searing headache for many e-commerce retailers. To better handle these “uncertain times” (and not go completely mad), many e-commerce businesses have turned to digital tools for new competitive advantages that can help offset supply chain challenges.
One tool that has grown in popularity is shipping software. This particular software is becoming standard for most e-commerce businesses because the secret is out: it is a game-changer.
To help you decide if shipping software is worth your time and investment, this blog will go over how the software works, potential benefits, features, and more.
Can shipping software help you too? Keep reading to find out!
What Is a Shipping Software?
Shipping software makes it possible to connect to e-commerce marketplaces and helps the order fulfillment process run more smoothly by eliminating shipping errors.
How It Works
Shipping software integrates with your current e-commerce software to retrieve orders as they are placed. The software also uses connections with shipping companies (like USPS) to determine the shipping costs for all orders. So, a process that usually takes a nice chunk of time with multiple platforms and clicks of the mouse is now simplified and centralized into one platform.
A Look At Potential Benefits
When you use an e-commerce shipping software, some of the benefits that you can experience are:
- Print shipping labels and packing slips easily
- Create picking lists for warehouse workers to gather products efficiently
- Get quality control during the fulfillment process
- Save valuable time
What’s the Bill?
A shipping software usually follows a Software as a Service (SaaS) framework. This means that costs for the software are generally monthly instead of a one-time payment.
You can also expect the software to be priced at certain levels based on variables like the number of orders shipped out per month or users. However, it should be noted that each “step up” in pricing also has additional benefits like advanced features.
Potential Savings with Shipping Software
Good shipping software (like Zenventory) will include access to discounted rates with USPS that are far lower than retail over-the-counter rates at the post office. These discounted rates can be up to 40% off the retail price. So, the potential savings can sometimes be well worth the cost of shipping software.
Features in Reliable Shipping Software
If software is not reliable, it is not worth your time. So, to help you with your search, here is a list of features present in a reliable shipping software …
Easy to Use
Software that is difficult to use will never be used for very long. We have all slowly walked away from something that ended up being more complicated than initially thought. While there’s always a learning curve with something new, you should consider how intuitive the software will be for the rest of your team to learn and adopt in their day-to-day process.
Strong Integrations
Not having to copy data from one place to another manually is a major advantage of shipping software. Therefore, a strong list of integrations to the platforms you use is a key feature to look for when you are making your decision. Your shipping software should connect with your e-commerce site, shipping carriers, and any third-party marketplaces where you sell your products, like Amazon.
An important note about integrations is to make sure they are reliable. Data should transfer seamlessly between your software systems without errors.
Reports
Analytics are awesome. They can help you make informed decisions. Reporting tools can help you immensely with seeing where your customers are buying from and what shipping cost they are okay with spending. These insights can be a huge help when evaluating your business.
Support
When issues or questions come up, you shouldn’t have to struggle to get help. Not being able to reach a customer service rep or not having direct contact with technical support is incredibly frustrating.
If a company offers a trial period, I urge you to test out a company’s support to make sure you can easily get help if/when you need it.
How should you check out a company’s support? Here’s a list of things you can (and should) test before you decide to move forward with a software:
- Is there a phone number to call?
- How long is the hold time?
- How quickly do they respond to emails?
Conclusion
Shipping software has become a game-changer for many companies, and I hope you now have a better idea of how shipping software can help you. If you think that shipping software is the missing tool in your e-commerce toolbox, one last - and critical - factor I recommend you keep in mind is that shipping software should make your life easier, not harder.
