1. Introduction to Multi-Carrier Shipping Software
Every eCommerce business starts off small but eventually finds itself needing at least 2-3 carrier partners to manage order fulfillment. Managing multiple carriers, on the other hand, is a task of its own that requires the help of a Multi-Carrier Shipping System. With over 100 million users switching to online shopping, the market has been flooded with opportunities for growth and expansion. However, growth comes at a price. And the price of fulfilling 2,000, 10,000, or 20,000+ orders a month is maintaining and monitoring your relationship with international and regional carriers.
The traditional approach to assessing the shipping performance of carriers required eCommerce businesses to track their orders from each respective courier company’s platform. To avoid this messy hassle, most online retailers across the globe put their faith in shipping aggregators and other more advanced multi-carrier shipping solutions.
Logistics/Shipping Aggregators allow quick basic integration with specified Shipping APIs based on predetermined contracts. These eCommerce Aggregators ensure that APIs work with 100% accuracy and reduce manual processes.
They’re effective services for young businesses with lower order volumes. For larger companies, multi-carrier integration platforms offer greater solutions, with more flexibility and space to develop independent relationships with shipping partners.
These systems handle more complex Shipping and Courier API integration and make use of the latest tech to give you the most efficient shipping solutions and to give your customers the best shipping experience. In this article, we’ll be running you through some details of the best multi-carrier shipping systems and how you can select the ideal system. You can take the help of these below listed best multi-carrier shipping software solutions for your online eCommerce business.
2. Top 10 Best Multi-Carrier Shipping Software for eCommerce Business [2022 Updated List]
Multi-carrier shipping software can help e-commerce businesses manage and perform a wide variety of shipping functions. They make use of a variety of tech-enabled shipping solutions like AI-driven engines and eCommerce Shipping API integrations to enable order creation, track orders, manage NDRs, optimize returns and perform numerous other functions. However, each multi-carrier shipping system has its own set of specialized services and operational advantages.
The first step to understanding and selecting the best integration system for you is to be aware of the best ones out there. With that in mind, these are the top multi-carrier shipping systems in eCommerce.
2.1) ClickPost Multi-Carrier Shipping Software
ClickPost is a top-rated premier SaaS platform that handles multi-carrier shipping operations of both domestic and international shipments. It provides easy integration with 150+ shipping partners and most major online marketplaces and store platforms, like Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce, Amazon, Etsy, eBay, and more.
Features:
- ClickPost provides its customers with a single API to integrate with the various different order creation APIs. With this API, ClickPost can print labels and process the order for dispatch.
- ClickPost's easy WMS enables customers to maintain their supply chain and inventory.
- Order creation, Waybill and shipping label generation, and pickup are all pushed by the same API integration.
- ClickPost provides automated carrier allocation based on metrics like shipment type. delivery time, specific shipping needs of customers, etc. Alternatively, users can also choose their preferred carrier or compare carriers.
- ClickPost's dual push-and-pull APIs, tracking shipments using API integrations to get real-time tracking information from shipping partners.
- API integrations are also set up to enable efficient returns and NDR management , in addition to shipping partner performance analyses. With ClickPost's easy process of return management customers can also print return labels at home for a specific carrier and save time.
- The NDR Management protocol of ClickPost auto-resolves failed deliveries based on the respective causes.
Pros: ClickPost is a favorite amongst the ecommerce industry players for providing the fastest carrier integrations, enabling you to go live in just 24 hours with any carrier. ClickPost also provides 24/7 tech support as well as an easy-to-navigate dashboard.
Cons: ClickPost is known for providing a great experience with large order volumes. However, it is not well suited for SMBs and is better for companies scaling up.
2.2) Aftership Multi-Carrier Shipping Software
A Hong Kong-based logistics startup company, Aftership provides its parcel shipping and transportation management system software on a global scale. It offers integration with 600+ global carriers and numerous different commerce stores like Magento and Shopify.
It is best known for providing automated tracking services via package tracking API integration. With Aftership, users can track shipments, notify customers on their phones and emails and simplify the shipping process with complete control. It helps in tracking shipping partner performances. Aftership currently serves 10,000+ global eCommerce customers.
2.3) FreightPop Multi-Carrier Shipping
FreightPop, like ClickPost, was founded in 2015. However, this startup began its journey in California and now operates globally. It is one of the largest transportation and supply chain management software across the planet and is tied with 300+ international shipping companies.
FreightPop provides a range of integrated shipping services including export and import with an ERP or WMS. It similarly uses tech to amplify eCommerce enterprise auditing capabilities to find freight discrepancies by tracking orders and invoices. Freight Pop helps users in reducing costs and transit time.
2.4) MetaPack Multi-Carrier Shipping Software
MetaPack is a parcel shipping and supply chain management software service based out of London that operates both nationally and internationally. It offers eCommerce businesses across the UK and other countries an opportunity to ship packages with 400+ carriers.
In addition, to express delivery, international delivery, and shipping labels, it provides pick-up and drop-off services at over 350000+ facilities scattered across the globe. The main service this system provides is a simplified viewing platform for all parcel shipments across multiple shipping partners. As a global eCommerce logistics provider, services are also provided to help with customs clearance.
2.5) Narvar Multi-Carrier Shipping Solution
Narvar , alongside FreightPop, is a California-based company providing an integrated parcel shipment system across North America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region, operating in 38+ countries. Integrations with 800+ carriers enable the creation of shipping labels and order tracking services. One of Narvar’s more unique services is its Concierge facility, which allows an eCommerce store to select a designated Concierge center near them for pickups and drop-offs, in accordance with the shipping partner employed for each respective order.
2.6) Pickrr Multi-Carrier Shipping App
Pickrr is one of the most popular parcel shipping aggregators that ease the shipping process. It is integrated with 10+ major shipment carriers and multiple leading storefronts like WooCommerce, Magento, and Shopify. As an integration platform, it allows the selection of multiple carriers in accordance with pin code serviceability, pre-existing data, availability of distribution center and more. Shipping rates are pre-negotiated to ensure affordability.
Pickrr offers 3 payment plans, based on order volumes. For order volumes of less than 1000/month, Rs.29 is charged per order, Rs.26/order for 1000-5000 orders/month, and finally Rs.22/order for 5000+ orders/month. It can help online stores save money on order fulfillment.
2.7) Shippo Multi-Carrier Shipping Software
Shippo is yet another California-based parcel shipping and supply chain software company that operates primarily in the United States, though it also handles global shipments and international delivery. As a globally operational service provider, it can aid in import and export documentation. Shippo software provides easy management of orders through automated shipping labels and packing slip creation.
It also enables online businesses to provide their customers with a single-view tracking page to receive real-time delivery updates on their packages, as well as automated notifications informing them when their respective order has been picked up or is out-for-delivery.
2.8) ShipRocket Multi-Carrier Shipping Platform
ShipRocket is another courier aggregator and, much like Pickrr, it is amongst the most popular in the country currently. It is tied up with 16+ carriers, serving over 26,000+ pin codes across the country. In addition to easy storefront integration and international delivery, it also offers fast shipment delivery services like hyperlocal delivery, speedy COD remittance, and NDR management.
Its foremost feature is to provide a single viewing platform for all orders being handled by various integrated shipping carriers, in addition to a custom tracking page for customers to view their order status. ShipRocket also offers 3 payment plans depending on serviceability, integrations required, and volume of orders. It offers some of the best shipping rates in the industry.
2.9) ShipStation Software for Multi-Carrier Shipping
ShipStation is another SaaS (Software as a Service) company that operates in numerous countries across North America, Australia, and Europe. In addition to multiple shipping company integrations, it also enables businesses to integrate with virtual marketplaces like Etsy and Walmart as well as selling channels and storefronts like Shopify and Squarespace.
ShipStation also offers multiple payment options (more than 3), designated based on the volume of orders, starting at $9 for 50 orders/month ranging up to $159 for 10,000 orders/month. In addition to inventory management services and customized packaging, ShipStation also offers integration with accounting software like QuickBooks to help maintain profitability.
2.10) Veeqo eCommerce Multi-Carrier Shipping Integration
Veeqo is a multi-carrier delivery system that was launched in the UK in 2013 and maintains specialty services in inventory management. It does this by synchronizing inventory tracking across various different marketplaces and selling channels like Magento and Shopify.
This software enables regular stock appraisals to be carried out which promote and automate inventory forecasting and other inventory management services. The goal of these services is to ensure the availability of stock to fulfill any order at any given point of time. In addition to inventory management services, Veeqo also provides a single platform for viewing all orders across multiple partners.
3. How to Select the Best Multi-Carrier Shipping Solutions for Your eCommerce Businesses?
Now that we’ve narrowed down the list of multi-carrier shipping software to the best ones across the globe, each eCommerce business still has to complete the task of selecting its ideal courier partner. This can be a difficult job as each multi-carrier shipping system has its own specialization and provides different services across different regions as mentioned above. So listed below are the specific criteria you would need to review to determine which delivery partner is right for you.
3.1) Serviceability of Multi-Carrier Shipping Software
Serviceability, in this instance, refers to the area of operation for each multi-carrier shipping system. This criteria essentially requires you to have a precise understanding of which regions your business serves and compare that to the different areas reached by the respective shipping system. Some may operate globally but may have a lower capacity or fewer shipping partners in your selected regions. This criterion can help you narrow down your choice of the shipping system.
3.2) Shipping Costs of the Multi-Carrier Shipping Software
The bottom line of any business is profitability. Reducing the amount of money spent on order fulfillment is a great way to maintain profitability but shipping services cannot be compromised just to reduce costs.
The right multi-carrier software will be one that provides you with the best serviceability and services at the most affordable price. Aggregators and some software offer pre-negotiated overall shipping rates. Other multi-carrier platforms allow you to negotiate your own rates with carrier organisations and charge a nominal fee for use of the software.
3.3) Business Priorities
Whether you’re choosing a parcel shipping company or a multi-carrier system, you need to have a strategy ready. This lets you know what your business needs to focus on, which areas need improvement, and how various challenges need to be faced. It's also good to assess what kinds of shipments you ship regularly.
Some carriers work better with small parcel while others work better in bulk. Keeping these in mind, you can determine which are the most important services you need and what price you can pay for them to maintain profitability. For example, if managing returns is an area your business has struggled with, ClickPost would be an ideal fulfillment system as it provides a streamlined dashboard for handling and customizing return requests.
3.4) NDR Management
A non-delivery report or NDR is a notification received by the courier when a delivery attempt has failed. It is used to understand the reasons for failure so the customer could be contacted with possible solutions to the issue.
A delivery may fail for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to, incorrect address, incorrect contact information, unavailability of the customer, miscommunication, fault of the carrier, and more. A multi-carrier shipping software must be able to manage NDRs in order to make all possible attempts to make the delivery successful and eliminate the need for RTOs and save money.
3.5) Ease of access
The point of multi-carrier parcel shipping software is to facilitate the management of orders and the shipping process. To justify the need for the software, one of the most important features it must include is simplification.
A shipping software must be able to collect and collate all relevant information and present it to the user in a concise manner, thereby making the process much less time-consuming. It must be able to standardize various features and terminologies across multiple partners and present such data in an organized fashion. Such software is expected to have an uncomplicated dashboard with access to multiple features from a single location.
3.6) Returns management
Managing product returns in eCommerce is a stressful and unfortunate activity. The process involves repeating all actions in reverse order and incurs two-fold shipping costs. However, the process can complicate things further, and often cause loss or damage to the returning product resulting in additional losses.
A shipping software must be selected after analyzing the returns management system it offers. It should be able to monitor and manage the complete life-cycle of the returning order. The software may also be used to enable consumers to place return orders through a webpage or application with branded UI without any hassles.
4. Final Conclusion
Making use of the latest technological advancements is the only way for any eCommerce business to survive in this increasingly competitive market. But no business can do it all alone. When your store grows to the point where you have to put your faith in multiple parcel shipping partners, an added layer of security is needed to ensure there aren’t too many cooks in the kitchen spoiling the broth.
Multi-carrier integration systems work to address a wide variety of parcel shipping management issues that may arise as your business scales up. Such software provides tech-enabled solutions that optimize delivery mechanisms and maximize order fulfillment, while at the same time allowing your business to focus on expanding.
5. FAQ's on Multi-Carrier Shipping Software
1. Which is the best Multi-Carrier Shipping Software?
E-commerce enterprises use multi-carrier shipping systems to handle and perform a wide range of parcel shipping activities. The top names on the list for the finest Multi-carrier shipping software are 1) ClickPost, 2) Narvar, 3) Aftership, 4) ShipStation, and 5) Shippo.
When it comes to post-purchase customer experience and visibility tracking, ClickPost and Narvar are the greatest options. If you're searching for shipping operation optimization, While ShipStation and shippo specialize in cost-effective logistics.
2. How to choose the best Multi-Carrier Shipping Software?
These four considerations will make the criterion for selecting the best Multi-Carrier Shipping Software much clearer. First is the platform's serviceability, which refers to both its operating territory and the maximum amount of orders it can handle. Second, compare all of the software's logistics services and returns management systems to your business's requirements.
The third thing to consider is the software's visibility or the speed with which tracking notifications are received and communicated with clients. Finally, there's the cost. The platform's price should reflect all of the platform's benefits, including the variety of services. And lastly, direct communication with the partner itself. Though it's not a prerequisite, you will find that having an open channel for communication always helps matters in the long run.
Software
|
Founded in
|
Headquarter
|
Founder
|
Employees
|
Location Served
|
Revenue
|
ClickPost |
2015 |
India |
Naman Vijay, Prashant Gupta |
100+ |
United States |
$2.4M |
Aftership |
2011 |
Hong Kong |
Teddy Chan, Andrew Chan |
120+ |
United States |
$7.5M |
FreightPop |
2015 |
USA |
Kurt Johnson |
50+ |
The U.S.A. |
$4.3M |
MetaPack |
1999 |
London, UK |
Marcin Wójcicki, Patrick Wall |
200 |
USA |
$46.4M |
Narvar |
2012 |
USA |
Amit Sharma |
312 |
United States of America |
$38.6M |
Convey |
2013 |
USA |
Carson Krieg, Jenny Bebout, Dan Bebout and Rob Taylor |
100 |
The United States (USA) |
$14.5M |
Shippo |
2013 |
The U.S.A. |
Laura Behrens Wu Simon Kreuz Max Diez |
260+ |
The United States of America |
$64.4M |
ShipRocket |
2013 |
India |
Saahil Goel |
250+ |
U.S.A./USA |
$83.3M |
Veeqo |
2013 |
UK |
Matt Warren |
75 |
U.S.A./USA |
$8.7M |