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Overview of Shipping/Logistics/Courier Aggregators for Online Sellers in Detail

For every entrepreneur and working professional, the dream is to watch their e-commerce venture take off like a rocket. Every day begins and ends with the hope of a big breakthrough, a sudden influx of good news, and in the case of online merchants, that good news comes in the form of a sudden influx of orders. But as the age-old adage repeatedly warns us, “Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it.”

The dream comes true and you find yourself in a very short span of time handling a much higher volume of orders with the same resources you had before. And that’s just not going to cut it. So you need to find a quick source that will help you meet the rising demand with minimal effort on your part. Enter the logistics aggregator.

The major benefit of tying up with a Logistics or courier aggregator instead of independent courier partners is that it saves time and effort. While it is always more advisable to determine the right courier partners for you based on your shipping strategy and specific business requirements, a sudden surge in orders may not afford you the time you need for that.

A logistics aggregator allows you to tie up with multiple shipping companies quickly, with minimal effort and based on core needs like low costs and wide pin code reach. This will allow you to focus your time and efforts on independently integrating with courier partners, a necessity for any successful e-commerce business.

Shipping aggregators (also known as logistics or courier aggregators) are the 3rd party logistics providers (3PLs) that bring several different carriers on a single platform and provide eCommerce businesses quick access to eCommerce shipping companies in India. Shipping aggregators came into existence after the emergence of the eCommerce industry to provide them simplified pricing and payment plans on the basis of the number of monthly orders.

Easy selection of shipping partners, Quick access to huge Pan-India PinCodes, Different payment plans, value-added services (like cash on delivery, express or hyperlocal delivery, Same-day or next-day delivery, Real-time tracking of customers' orders), etc. are some of the key benefits of courier aggregators. In today's fast-growing technology world, selecting the best eCommerce shipping tracking software or platform for any organization is important.

You need to check in detail all the necessary criteria before finalizing the right aggregator for your eCommerce business. The below list of the top best shipping aggregators in India has been prepared after following an in-depth review and research process and checking all the necessary details.

What is an eCommerce Shipping or Logistics or Courier Aggregator?

Usually, Shipping aggregators (also termed as logistics or courier aggregators) are companies that tie-up with multiple courier companies preemptively to make the process of integrating with them faster for Ecommerce companies in India . Though some eCommerce aggregators have existed for nearly a decade, it was just a few years back that more of these companies began to crop up.

As more people in India turned toward the online shopping experience, e-commerce companies found themselves in need of a middleman to hold the wheel while they prepare for future growth. Courier aggregators play that role and help you sustain operations so you can focus on determining your long-term plan of action.

List of Top 10 Best Shipping/Logistics/Courier Aggregators in India for eCommerce Business (Online Sellers)

The eCommerce logistics market or industry makes use of two major types of aggregators: Shipping aggregators and transportation aggregators. There are numerous transportation aggregators spread out across the country that help carriers and other 3PL companies rent trucks for bulk transport of goods. 

Shipping aggregators, however, play a more operational role and assist e-commerce companies in tying up with 3PL companies and carriers. While there are some smaller aggregators that operate solely within certain locations, these 11 major aggregators operate pan-India.

No matter whether you have just started your online business, or you are an owner of a pre-existing eCommerce business; sooner or later you are going to choose a shipping aggregator to fulfill your customer's order. As of the start of 2022, this is an updated list of the top 10 best shipping or courier aggregators and shipping software in India for e-Commerce companies written in alphabetical order.

1. eCourierz Shipping Aggregator

eCourierz is a top-rated shipping aggregator in India that has been operating for half a decade. This is perhaps due to their varied reach. While they maintain relatively efficient serviceability, they are especially well known for successfully completing deliveries to foreign countries. A majority of their clients ship internationally at competitive rates and make use of the safety standards provided by them.

2. iThink Logistics Logistics Aggregator

iThink Logistics is quickly rising in the ranks as the star of the logistics aggregation industry. Most customers find their services to be exceptionally good given the reasonable shipping rates made available. They have a reputation for responding to escalations in a timely manner.

This shipping aggregator does not have a minimum volume requirement. They also charge for each shipment in accordance with certain parameters, instead of charging a monthly rate. Their NDR management provides regular updates and NDR reports.

3. Pickrr Courier Aggregator

Pickrr is a popular logistics provider in the e-Commerce industry currently. This is because they provide speedy delivery to even the most remote locations in India, which is their specialty. That being said, customers in metro cities frequently struggle with incorrect products being delivered and delayed deliveries.

Pickrr offers discounted rates depending on the volume of orders being handled per month. Less than 1000 orders per month have a shipping cost of Rs.29 per order. For 1000 to 5000 orders, the price is Rs.26 each and for greater volumes, it is Rs.22 per order. It is also integrated with Shopify, Unicommerce, Magento and a few other major marketplaces.

4. Rocketbox Shipping Aggregator for eCommerce

RocketBox is another eCommerce aggregator that works with few courier partners, yet maintains serviceability across a large number of areas. Their most well-liked feature is their rate calculator that has enabled e-commerce businesses to determine their profit margins in advance.

Alongside its competitors like Ship Rocket and iThink Logistics, Rocketbox also maintains an AI-driven recommendation engine to allocate the appropriate courier partner for each shipment. They are often lauded for the transparency of their billing system and unified tracking mechanism.

5. ShipDroid L ogistics Aggregator for eCommerce

ShipDroid doesn’t have as wide a reach as many of its competitors as it has integrated with fewer courier partners. However, it has remained a popular aggregator because of its account management system and dashboard, which enable e-tailers to efficiently analyse their sales and get real-time tracking for orders.

Shipments can be made via air, rail or road with this courier aggregator, in accordance with their automatic allocation engine. They have no minimum requirement on the number of orders placed through them per month, which makes them an excellent and cheap option for smaller e-commerce companies.

6. ShipKaro Courier Aggregator for eCommerce

ShipKaro is the next company in this list of top 10 best shipping aggregators that provides extremely reasonable rates for bulk orders and drop shipping. However, despite the fluidity of their shipping operations, their returns management system leaves much to be desired.

This particular aggregator has a standard rate of Rs.32/500 gms. While they’re Individual plan is free, it does not allow for bulk order uploads or analytic reports to be provided, and it limits the number of carriers you can use. The Business Plan and the Enterprise Plan, priced respectively at Rs.1499/month and Rs.2999/month, offer a wider range of services and access to courier partners.

7. ShipRocket International Shipping Aggregator

ShipRocket is currently among the largest shipping aggregator in India. Customer reviews indicate that the tracking platform enables ease of operations and the dashboard covers an exhaustive list of parameters for analysis. However, some have made complaints regarding customer service being unresponsive and prolonged delays in COD reconciliation.

ShipRocket provides customers with 3 payment plans depending on the serviceability, marketplace integrations and support required. The first is the Lite plan which offers single integration at Rs. 29/500 gms. The most popular is the Professional plan, the going rate for which is Rs. 23/500 gms and offers multiple marketplace integrations as well as international shipping. For those e-commerce companies that have customer requirements, the Enterprise plan is made available.

8. ShipYaari eCommerce Aggregator

ShipYaari is another major aggregator for eCommerce shipping that takes the cake in terms of trust and customer loyalty, largely because they are equipped to handle large volumes of orders at competitive prices. That being said, many customers have been disappointed by the lack of communication with the customer support team, despite having made multiple modes of communication like via phone, email and WhatsApp.

As mentioned above, Shipyaari offers not only fast delivery and COD but express COD as well. They are integrated with 7 different online marketplaces, including Amazon, Shopify , Magento and Woo-Commerce. They offer an Advanced Plan and a Pro-Plan at Rs.2120 and Rs.4235 respectively which give you access to all range of their services. For infant companies, their Start-Up plan comes at no initial cost.

9. Shyplite Aggregator for eCommerce Companies

Shyplite provides easy and efficient shipping-aggregation services at relatively low prices. They are often lauded by customers for their extremely receptive and effective customer support team, as well as their AI (Artificial Intelligence)-generated recommendation engine. With Shyplite, you are charged per shipment based on factors like shipment size, weight, and delivery location.

10. Silver Arrow Shipping or Courier or Logistics Aggregator

Silver Arrow Logistics makes use of advanced AI-driven technology to enable use of RFID tags in logistics. These tags make use of radiofrequency tech to supply real-track tracking data to both the aggregator and e-commerce companies. Silver Arrow uses I0T (Internet of Things) to determine possible safety risks during transportation and, like many other aggregators, uses AI to allocate orders to appropriate carriers.

11. Vamaship

Vamaship is the last courier aggregator in this list and provides easy access to courier partners that have a wide reach, and through quick and inexpensive onboarding. However, Vamaship is not known for efficiently communicating with their courier partners or for fulfilling remittance cycles within the required time frame.

This eCommerce logistics aggregator handles both forward and reverses logistics. In fact, another specialized service they offer is QC (quality check) for returning orders to ensure the correct and undamaged item has been handed over. They provide website integrations with 4 major e-commerce CMS, including Shopify and Magento.

When Do E-Commerce Companies Need a Courier or Shipping or Logistics Aggregator?

With the fast growth of the eCommerce industry in the early 21st century, the requirement of a reliable shipping and logistics aggregation platform came into existence. Although eCommerce Aggregators in India have some disadvantages in the long run, for the early growth of any type of eCommerce business, the importance of choosing a top-rated logistics and courier aggregator becomes a necessity.

For an eCommerce company, when monthly order exceeds a limit (say 500+), then to fulfill this customer requirement, tying up with the best shipping aggregator becomes crucial. An eCommerce company needs a logistics and courier aggregator software or platform to solve these problems:- Multi-carrier management, shipping & courier API, fast quick access to customer order information, shipping charges, different types of payment options, quick selection of best eCommerce courier services provider companies in India.

How to Choose the Best Logistics/Shipping/Courier Aggregator for Your eCommerce Company?

But, much like with courier partners, pricing and reach are only the starts of your needs. We’re going to run you through an exhaustive list of possible criteria to consider when choosing a courier aggregator, based on your needs. These include:-

1) Number of courier partners

Every logistics aggregator is integrated with multiple courier partners. That’s what makes them a quick and easy solution when faced with a wave of orders to fulfill. So if more courier partners are offered by an aggregator, it makes selecting a few easier. It is important to also keep in mind that some courier aggregators prefer to choose the most reputable courier companies to carry out services. 

This comes with an upside and a downside. On the upside, an aggregator with fewer but highly reputed shipping partners will ensure that base shipping services are carried out efficiently. However, the downside is that you may miss out on less popular carriers that offer more niche services that is vital to the growth of the business.

It’s also worth noting that your relationship with a carrier will be dependent on the aggregator's relationship with them. So if that relationship goes south, your business could potentially be affected. Nonetheless, if your main goal is first to simply fulfill orders and expand later, an aggregator with a number of courier partners tied up will make your job easier until you can integrate with multiple courier partners directly. 

2) Serviceability

The best way to up your order inflow is to open yourself up to newer, bigger and better markets, crowded with different demographics that could all benefit from the product/service your company offers. So when you look at a shipping aggregator, it’s important to see what range of pin codes they serve. That isn’t to say an aggregator that services more areas will necessarily be what you need.

If you have a well-established base in major metro cities, then a Logistics aggregator may give you the opportunity to fulfill orders more efficiently in tier-1 and tier-II cities. Depending on the partners they’re tied up with, some may offer a greater or more varied range than others. This requires clarity on your part as to which regions require greater serviceability.

3) Shipping rates

One of the major reasons why most e-commerce businesses opt for Logistics aggregators is because they sometimes offer low rates for fulfilling shipments. While this does mean transport costs to the courier companies tied up with an aggregator may be reduced, additional fees can arise in other areas or for other services not encompassed within the base fees.

These hidden costs can be for any number of things, including charges for COD (cash on delivery) coverage or fuel surcharges. The key is to be aware of your needs and the costs within which all those needs must be encompassed, hidden costs included.

4) COD (cash on delivery) Coverage

Despite many attempts to push India into a new age of cashless transactions, the majority of Indian residents still prefer to use COD when making online purchases. This can be for a number of reasons. Some prefer to use COD to establish a sense of trust with a new e-commerce business, or online shopping. Others may have a fear of fraudulent transactions occurring or their financial information being stolen.

Either way, offering COD payment is the best way to ensure you don’t lose out on a whole array of end-users. Some courier aggregators may list COD coverage as a distinct service with a separate fee. Further, not all courier partners tied up with an aggregator may offer COD so it’s vital to check the same. In case your volume of COD orders is on the higher end, you can look for an aggregator that highlights it as one of the main services offered.

5) Delivery Speed

The average customer wants to receive their order within 3-5 days. In certain industries, however, faster delivery may still be required. Numerous online businesses are trying to expand their services to offer hyperlocal delivery , as well as SDD (same-day-delivery) and NDD (next-day-delivery). Not all courier partners will be equipped for these types of express deliveries, and most offer them in specified areas.

Through a logistics aggregator, you can tie up with multiple shipping companies that offer the same in different areas as per your needs. Some aggregators even specialize in express delivery.  Again, it is a question of determining to what extent you need this particular service, i.e., hyperlocal, SDD or NDD, and what are the most viable costs for the same.

6) Efficiency in Tracking

When we talk about efficiency in tracking, we have to remember that the majority of shipping partners and logistics aggregators do maintain systems to enable e-commerce businesses to track their orders with multiple partners.

That being said, how efficient their tracking systems are is a different question. Visibility of orders is something that is granted when an aggregator makes the optimal use of resources, more specifically, when they have advanced tech capabilities.

eCommerce Courier & Shipping API integrations can make the process of getting automated updates on the status of an order a quicker more streamlined process. So it’s important to scope out their delivery tracking capabilities prior to signing up with an eCommerce aggregator.

7) Remittance Cycle

As any successful entrepreneur would know, it is vital to have money in the bank at any given point in time. So when tying up with an aggregator, the remittance cycle they follow is an incredibly important factor. Companies like ShipRocket and iThink Logistics have an ordinary remittance cycle of 7 days, while other aggregators maintain a 14-day remittance period. A longer remittance cycle can be useful as it acts as a form of financial insurance.

However, it can also potentially affect your income flow. And in case your business is still in the earliest stages, having money in the bank on a more frequent basis may be a greater priority than the security of receiving a higher sum at a later date. In the instantaneous and fast-paced world of e-commerce, the difference between 1 week and 2 weeks can be monumental.

8) RTO%

A higher volume of orders is always a wonderful thing but it also likely means a side-by-side increase in RTO’s. A crucial mission that every e-commerce business is on is reducing their overall RTO%.

Some aggregators tie-up with top eCommerce shipping partners or companies that are equipped to handle delivery exceptions and make multiple attempts to successfully complete failed deliveries. A few aggregators may even maintain their own NDR management systems, which can play a major role in bringing down delivery exceptions.

9) NDR Management

As mentioned in the previous paragraph, NDR management plays a massive role in reducing RTO%. While courier partners may have their own system for handling delivery exceptions, an aggregator with good technological capabilities would likely be more effective. The goal is for Non-Delivery Reports to be communicated to your business as soon as a delivery exception is reported. Accordingly, the customer can be contacted to determine the cause of failed delivery.

This not only gives the courier partner the information they need to complete the delivery but can also give you insight into how to reduce the likelihood of delivery exceptions. For example, if the cause of the failed delivery is because the buyer was frustrated by the long delivery period, and numerous other similar cases have occurred in that locale, express delivery may be a helpful tool to reduce delivery exceptions in that region. 

10) Security and Insurance

Some aggregators offer the option to insure products and orders prior to transit, so in case of any damage to the item, the value of the order will not be lost. How this particular service offered by Logistics aggregators should be prioritized is largely dependent on the industry and products being shipped by each individual e-commerce company.

For any online merchant dealing in high-value or fragile goods, this would be considered at the top of the list. Insurance especially is a necessity in cases as it can ensure business avoids taking a double hit for the delivery exception, i.e., loss of the value of the order and then loss of the item which was damaged in transit. The value of the item can still be recovered.

Some aggregators tie-up with shipping partners that offer an added level of security and protection for orders during shipment. This can come in the form of vehicular insulation or more trained delivery professionals who are equipped to handle products more carefully. While it may not be a priority in certain industries, it can still be helpful in ensuring that no products are damaged during transport.

Related Article:- List of Top 10 Best Magento Shipping Extensions for eCommerce Businesses

Final Concluding Note

When your eCommerce business reaches a certain order volume, higher than 1000 orders per month, it means you're entering the big leagues. However, this also means you need greater resources, i.e, multiple shipping partners, to ensure all orders are fulfilled. In these initial phases of managing high order volumes, courier, logistics, and shipping aggregators can help simplify your work.

You can choose the right courier partners based on serviceability and enjoy pre-negotiated shipping rates. However, your choice of the aggregator is as important as your choice of courier partner as they will maintain control over your supply chain.

Different aggregators offer different delivery services, like fast COD reconciliation and efficient NDR management, that can help boost your business to the top of the charts or unwittingly bring it down to the bottom of the ladder. Looking at the list of India's top 10 best logistics or courier aggregators , you get a clearer view of the right aggregator for you.