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ShippingTop 6 Software Solutions for Effortless E-Commerce ShippingE-commerce shipping is a crucial process for any e-commerce merchant who wants to optimize their business. It can make or break your customer satisfaction, retention, and loyalty.
However, shipping isn't easy. Up to 45% of e-commerce merchants find it challenging to meet their customers' delivery expectations. This is because shipping involves many steps, including inventory management, order processing, packaging, labeling, tracking, and delivery. Each step can have its own challenges like delays, errors, damages, or losses.
That’s why you need the right software solution to streamline your e-commerce shipping. A good software solution can help you automate and optimize your shipping processes, reduce costs and errors, and improve customer experience.
Best Software Solutions for Effortless E-commerce Shipping
We looked at each solution's key features, integrations, and unique selling points to help you choose the best one for your dropshipping business.
Shopify Shipping: Best Overall.ShipStation: Best for Multi-Carrier Options.Shippo: Best for Complex Customizable Integration.ShipBob: Best for Fulfillment Optimization.EasyShip: Most Flexible Shipping Pricing.Shiphero: Best for Inventory Management.
1. Shopify Shipping: Best Overall
ProsUser-friendly interface and dashboardDiscounted shipping rates with major carriersWide global network of fulfillment centersApp store with hundreds of easy integrationsConsOnly available for Shopify stores
Shopify Shipping is a built-in feature that comes with every Shopify plan. It lets you manage your shipping process directly from your Shopify admin, eliminating the need for third-party apps or services. You can print shipping labels, track purchases, and get discounted prices from major carriers including USPS, UPS, DHL, and others.
Shopify Shipping also links with the Shopify Fulfillment Network where you can manage your inventory, packing, and shipping, thereby providing fast and dependable delivery to your customers. Plus, the Shopify app store offers limitless integration possibilities with other solutions like dropshipping apps and order-tracking tools.
Offering a seamless and hassle-free experience for both beginners and advanced users, Shopify Shipping is easy to use, has a wide global network, and offers discounted shipping rates.
2. ShipStation: Best for Multi-Carrier Options
ProsRobust reporting and analytics toolsStreamlines your order management processCompare rates and delivery times of different carriersSupports over 40 carriers worldwideConsSome carriers may have limited features or integrations
ShipStation is a cloud-based e-commerce shipping platform that allows you to manage and ship orders from multiple sales channels with ease. Whether you sell on Amazon, Shopify, eBay, or your own website, ShipStation can help you automate your shipping processes and save time and money.
Because of ShipStation's multi-carrier support, you can compare rates and delivery times of over 40 carriers worldwide, including USPS, FedEx, UPS, DHL, and Canada Post. Finetune your shipping further with any of ShipStation's integrations for inventory management systems, payment gateways, marketing software, and accounting software.
ShipStation is a comprehensive and customer-friendly e-commerce shipping solution that gives you access to the best carriers, putting you on equal footing with competitors.
3. Shippo: Best for Complex Customizable Integration
ProsAccess to multiple carriers worldwideDiscounted shipping ratesAddress validation and trackingCustom branding and notificationsConsRequires technical skills to set up the API
Shippo can help you streamline your shipping process regardless of your shipping volume or business model. You can integrate Shippo with your online store, marketplace, or ERP system and access all your orders in one place. Shippo also offers a developer-friendly API that lets you customize your shipping workflow and automate tasks like label printing, tracking, and returns. With Shippo, you can save time and money on shipping and focus on growing your business.
Shippo lets you integrate with multiple carriers and platforms, choose the best rates and services for your needs, and personalize your customer experience.
4. ShipBob: Best for Fulfillment Optimization
ProsWarehousing and fulfillment servicesIntegrates with all major e-commerce platformsUses machine learning to optimize shipping timesTransparent and real-time tracking and reportingConsLimited control over inventory and fulfillment
ShipBob is a cloud-based platform that integrates with your online store to automate the entire shipping process from inventory management to order fulfillment.
You can store your products in one or more of ShipBob's warehouses across the US and Canada, and ShipBob will pick, pack, and ship your orders to your customers using the best carrier and service level for each order. By using machine learning, ShipBob analyzes your shipping data and gives insights on how to optimize your shipping strategy and reduce shipping costs.
ShipBob is a comprehensive and scalable fulfillment partner that automates your shipping process and tracks relevant data to help you improve logistics.
5. EasyShip: Most Flexible Shipping Pricing
ProsAccess to over 250 shipping solutionsTransparent and competitive shipping ratesSave costs by showing you the best shipping optionsAutomates label generation and printing processConsMay charge extra for some features depending on your plan
EasyShip is a web-based shipping platform that connects e-commerce sellers with global couriers. With EasyShip, you can easily compare and choose the best shipping option for your orders, based on price, delivery time, and features. You can also automate the total shipping process, from label generation to customs clearance, and send branded tracking emails to your customers.
Plus, EasyShip helps you save money on shipping by offering exclusive discounts from over 250+ shipping partners, including USPS, FedEx, DHL, and UPS.
EasyShip is suitable for businesses of all sizes and niches because it offers a wide range of shipping options and features, allowing you to choose options that easily fit your budget.
» Follow these steps to calculate your shipping costs
6. Shiphero: Best for Inventory Management
ProsFast and accurate picking and packingReal-time inventory managementLive tracking and notificationsAdvanced reporting and analyticsConsRequires compatible hardware
Shiphero is an e-commerce platform that offers both a warehouse management system (WMS) and a fully outsourced fulfillment service. As an inventory management solution, Shiphero lets you control your stock levels, allocate orders, set replenishment levels, and perform cycle counting. You can also create kits and bundles, track expiration dates, and manage serial numbers. With Shiphero, you can streamline your warehouse operations and reduce errors and costs.
Shiphero is a reliable and scalable e-commerce shipping software that can handle your inventory management needs.
What to Look for When Choosing the Best Software Solution for E-commerce Shipping
There's no software that can suit every e-commerce store perfectly. The best choice will depend on your store's specific needs, goals, and budget. Here are some factors to consider when comparing different software solutions for e-commerce shipping:
Ease of use: How user-friendly is the software? Does it have a clear and intuitive interface? Can you easily set up and manage your shipping options, labels, and tracking?Customization options: How much control do you have over the look and feel of your shipping process? Can you customize your shipping rates, zones, and methods? Can you create branded labels and packing slips?Integrations: How well does the software integrate with your e-commerce platform and other tools you use? Can you sync your inventory, orders, and customer data? Can you automate your workflows and streamline your operations?Scalability and shipping volume: How does the software handle your current and future shipping volume? Does it offer discounts or incentives for high-volume shippers? Can it support multiple warehouses and fulfillment centers?Customer support: How responsive and helpful is the support team? Do they offer 24/7 assistance via phone, email, or chat? Do they provide training and resources to help you get started and troubleshoot issues?Cost: How much does the software cost per month or per year? Are there any hidden fees or charges? What are the benefits and drawbacks of each pricing plan?
» Discover more shipping benchmarks and insights for your e-commerce store
Optimize Your E-Commerce Shipping With BeProfit
Partnering with the right e-commerce shipping solution can help you streamline the logistics side of shipping. But you need an effective way to measure shipping performance and how your current shipping process is influencing your profit. Profit analysis dashboards like BeProfit can help you to:
Stay updated with shipping costs reportsIntegrate shipping data from different sourcesManage multiple shipping profiles from one dashboard
Shipping5 Expert Tips to Reduce Shipping Costs for Your E-commerce StoreShipping costs can make or break e-commerce stores, especially small businesses. For customers, shipping is an important aspect of the overall online shopping experience since fast and inexpensive delivery often drives customer retention and loyalty.
According to a Baymard study, 48% of cart abandonment is due to high shipping costs, and 22% is because of slow delivery times. This can hurt profitability and make it difficult for businesses to compete with big online retailers, like Amazon.
So, let's see how you can help lower shipping costs for your e-commerce store.
» Find out how to keep track of your e-commerce business expenses
1. Negotiate with Shipping Carriers
Negotiations with shipping service providers can help reduce shipping costs for your e-commerce store through payment options like volume discounts.
To negotiate effectively, you can try these practical tips before you calculate shipping costs:
Research carrier pricing to find the best shipping method for your business needsLeverage shipment volume for better discountsMake sure the carrier doesn't adjust other factors in exchange for discounts, such as extending delivery times or reducing service qualityBuild strong relationships with carrier account managers to try and get better dealsBe willing to switch carriers if better rates can be obtained elsewhereKeep up-to-date with carrier pricing and rates to ensure that negotiations are effective and relevant
By implementing these tactics, you can reduce shipping costs and increase conversion rates and profitability by providing quality shipping services to your customers.
Easily Track Profits And Shipping Expenses
To help keep your business performance in shape, monitor your expenses and profits all from one convenient dashboard.
Get up-to-date customizable data reports on shipping expenses and store profitsBuild shipping profiles and tailor them to your store's needsAccess your data from anywhere using a desktop or mobile device
BeProfit allows you to keep an eye on all your e-commerce store's shipping and sales metrics, making it easier for you to maintain your budget and spot your most profitable products.
2. Optimize Your Packaging
Factors such as package weight and dimensions may affect flat-rate shipping costs. This can, in turn, hamper conversions if the rate is higher than what most customers are willing to pay.
To optimize packaging for lower shipping costs, you can try these steps:
Choose the right box size to minimize extra space and weight in your package Use lightweight materials such as bubble wrap or air cushions to protect your items without adding unnecessary weightQualify for fixed flat-rate shipping by using carrier-provided packaging that meets specific size and weight requirementsReuse packaging whenever possible to save material costs and reduce wasteGet free packaging from select carriers such as USPS, UPS, and DHL
3. Use a Third-Party Shipping Platform
Third-party platforms can streamline shipping operations, offering a wide range of carriers to better your chances of finding optimal shipping costs that match your needs.
When selecting the best third-party shipping platform for you, here are some tips:
Choose a platform that offers pre-negotiated discounted rates with shipping carriers to help reduce costsEnsure the platform provides access to multiple shipping carriers, granting flexibility and the ability to compare ratesLook for a solution that seamlessly integrates with your e-commerce store, simplifying the shipping processEvaluate the costs associated with using or subscribing to the platform, ensuring it aligns with your budget and offers value for money
Let's look at an example.
Shopify Shipping is a comprehensive shipping solution that can help you save money, improve your shipping efficiency, and provide a better shipping experience for your customers.
Shopify Shipping can help reduce shipping costs and streamline your shipping operations in the following ways:
Get the best Shopify discount shipping rates and multiple carrier options that can ship internationallyManage shipping from one dashboardEasily track packages and safeguard them with insuranceSave time and costs with seamless bulk shipmentsCut costs and delivery times with hand-delivery options
4. Offer Free Shipping Strategically
Recent Statista research reveals that 68.2% of global consumers are more likely to buy online if they're offered free shipping. So, introducing free shipping can help add value to customers, encouraging more conversions and customer loyalty.
However, you should carefully consider how this can increase your overall shipping costs.
Here are some tips to balance this strategy with your shipping budget:
Set a minimum order amount to encourage customers to increase their average order value (AOV)Limit free shipping to specific products or product categories to control costsInclude shipping in the item price to offset the costs associated with free shipping
5. Consider Alternative Shipping Methods
Alternative shipping methods can be a creative way to lower your shipping costs, depending on your business's size and delivery reach. If done well, you can help boost sales with competitive and dynamic pricing, all while focusing on customer experience.
Some methods you can try include:
Offer in-store pickup to your local customers to eliminate the need for carriers or external transportation costsConsider doing your own local deliveries, especially for nearby customers. This can be a cost-effective way to process shipments, especially for small items or orders. It can also improve customer relationships and engagement.
» Want to make changes? Learn how to improve your order fulfillment process
Manage Your E-Commerce Shipping Costs Like a Pro
Now that you have ideas to help trim your shipping costs for better profits and customer satisfaction, you should keep an eye on shipping analytics to take it one step further. Rates and carrier surcharges can fluctuate throughout the year, so using industry shipping analytics can help you adapt your own rates and costs accordingly.
Plus, with BeProfit's intuitive platform, you can track your store's shipping expenses' efficiency and overall profitability in real time. This way, you can analyze problem areas and make informed shipping budget and strategy changes, all to help boost your revenue metrics.
ShippingTop 6 E-Commerce Platforms For Effortless DropshippingDropshipping is a secret superpower for e-commerce sellers. By outsourcing procurement, storage, and shipping to a third-party supplier, merchants can take advantage of low startup costs, a wider selection of products, and reduced operational costs.
About 23% of all online orders in 2017 were delivered through dropshipping models—and that number will be much higher today. The global dropshipping market was valued at $155.6 billion in 2021, with a predicted Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 27.1% for the next ten years.
So, if you're looking to start a dropshipping store, you need to partner with the right e-commerce platform to make sure your operations are as smooth as possible.
Best E-commerce Platforms for Dropshipping
Below, we look at the most popular dropshipping platforms for e-commerce businesses and compare their key features, unique selling points, and integrations.
Shopify: Best OverallWooCommerce: Most Affordable and FlexibleBigCommerce: Best for Scaling Your Dropshipping StoreMagento: Best for Complex Dropshipping StoresSquarespace: Best for Marketing Your Dropshipping StoreWix: Best for Startup Dropshipping Stores
1. Shopify: Best Overall E-commerce Platform for Dropshipping
ProsEasy to use24/7 support teamMultiple payment processing optionsConsPlatform lock-inCharges commissions on every order
Shopify is one of the most popular platforms for e-commerce businesses with a current 10% market share. Its extremely user-friendly interface and drag-and-drop editor sets a low barrier to entry, so sellers can build a dropshipping store without the hassle of coding. A variety of customizable themes and templates means it's easy to build your brand identity and stand out from competitors.
Shopify's best feature is arguably its app store, giving you access to over 8,000 apps that can seamlessly integrate with your store—and over 400 of these apps are dedicated just to dropshipping. No matter your niche or specific needs, Shopify can offer an app to manage store design, inventory, orders, customer engagement, and more.
Shopify provides the most comprehensive dropshipping solution for e-commerce retailers. Its range of customizable features and integrations makes it ideal for both beginners and established players in e-commerce.
» Head-to-head comparison: Discover whether Shopify vs Wix is better for dropshipping
2. WooCommerce: Most Affordable and Flexible E-commerce Platform for Dropshipping
ProsSeamless integration with WordPress100% customizableSupports multiple payment methodsFree to download and useConsWordPress reliantLacks built-in SEO optimization features
WooCommerce started as a WordPress plug-in in 2008 but grew to currently hold the biggest market share in e-commerce platforms. As the natural option if you already have a WordPress setup, WooCommerce has complete access to the entire library of WordPress extensions. You can add almost any functionality to your dropshipping store and the platform can grow with you.
Best of all, the WooCommerce plug-in for WordPress is open-source and free to download, making it a cost-effective solution for smaller dropshipping businesses.
WooCommerce is a cost-effective and flexible solution for e-commerce sellers that requires little technical know-how to set up and use.
3. BigCommerce: Best E-commerce Platform For Scaling Your Dropshipping Store
ProsRun multiple stores using one accountNo transaction feesProvides web hosting servicesSecurity featuresConsYearly sales threshold (depending on subscription plan)
BigCommerce is the ideal solution if you're looking to scale up your dropshipping operation in the long term. There are four subscription plans for BigCommerce: Standard, Plus, Pro, and Enterprise. Each ascending tier comes with a greater list of features to match your growing needs.
Plus, BigCommerce has a solution specifically for dropshipping. This functionality can help you streamline your front- and backend, improve SEO, enhance your customers' experience, and manage products, prices, orders, and inventory. Robust built-in analytics can help you monitor growth and integrations with different marketing tools can give you a competitive edge.
BigCommerce is useful for dropshipping businesses looking to scale up because of its built-in features, responsive customer support system, and dropshipping-specific functionality.
» Discover the best dropshipping apps to help you increase your bottomline
4. Magento: Best E-commerce Platform for Complex Dropshipping Stores
ProsFlexibility for customizationRange of SEO optimization featuresFree and paid versions are availableConsSteep learning curveRequires hosting services
Magento, now Abobe Commerce, is an open-source software and can be customized to meet very specific requirements, making it suitable for niche or complex dropshipping businesses. By working with a third-party developer (or coding yourself), you can shape your website down to the smallest detail. An array of compatible third-party apps fill in any holes left in the design.
Magento can specifically help you streamline order and inventory management to make sure your stock levels are accurate and orders are on time. Finally, its advanced SEO capabilities help to put you at the front of the pack.
Between its customizable features, variety of third-party apps, and committed customer support, Magento simplifies dropshipping for e-commerce sellers.
5. Squarespace: Best E-commerce Platform to Market Your Dropshipping Store
ProsAttractive designsUnlimited storage and bandwidthBlogging and content creation toolsConsClunky website editorSlower load times
SquareSpace is the best website-building tool for image-conscious and market-driven dropshipping brands. SquareSpace offers a diverse range of customizable templates to help you solidify your brand online. Its many third-party extensions mean you can easily integrate with relevant functionalities.
However, Squarespace's most attractive tool is its marketing package. Easily drive traffic to your dropshipping store through email campaigns, unique social media content, videos, blogs, and built-in SEO tools to measure it all. Plus, by integrating with different social media platforms, your customers can buy directly from your Instagram and Facebook pages.
Squarespace helps you create a visually stunning dropshipping website and share your brand with your customers via its extensive marketing arsenal.
» Manage your marketing costs: Here's how dropshippers can optimize their ROAS and lower breakeven point
6. Wix: Best E-commerce Platform for Startup Dropshipping Stores
ProsEasy to useAffordable pricing plansEmail marketing capabilitiesConsStorage limits for free plansInability to switch design templates
Wix makes it easy to enter the dropshipping space, especially if you're a startup. Building a website on Wix is extremely easy because of its drag-and-drop design templates. It also has a library of over 300 app integrations, allowing you to add features to your website without coding expertise. Plus, you can improve your website’s SEO rankings and reach customers through email marketing tools.
Finally, if you're on a budget, Wix has various affordable pricing plans that can satisfy your needs and your pocket.
Wix offers a comprehensive toolkit for dropshipping startups or e-commerce novices, including affordable pricing, customizable templates, multiple integrations, and marketing tools.
» Consider these dropshipping apps for e-commerce beginners
What Should You Look For When Choosing the Best E-commerce Platform for Dropshipping?
Every e-commerce business will have its own needs when choosing a dropshipping platform. Below is a list of factors to consider before making this critical decision:
Ease of use: You won't get much use out of a platform that you don't understand, so choose one you can comfortably navigate.Customization: If your dropshipping store has any specific design requirements, make sure your chosen e-commerce platform offers a high degree of customizability. Third-party integrations: The more integrations the e-commerce platform offers, the better your chances of getting the functionalities you need to make your dropshipping store successful.Scalability: If you plan to grow your dropshipping store in the long term, partner with an e-commerce platform that grow with you from the start.Customer support: E-commerce issues are unfortunately unavoidable, so stick with an e-commerce platform that can help you resolve any problems efficiently.Cost: Choose an e-commerce platform that fits within your budget, but also offers sufficient value for the price.
Optimize Your Dropshipping Operations With BeProfit
A dropshipping solution can ease a lot of logistical headaches for e-commerce retailers. Using technology to measure the performance of your dropshipping processes can significantly increase their efficiency. Profit-tracking apps like BeProfit allow e-commerce sellers to:
Track profits in a dropshipping storeManage multiple e-commerce storefronts from one dashboardIntegrate ad platforms to track marketing campaigns