Shipping Yourself Vs. Multicarrier Solution: Which is Better?

Are you of the belief that if you want something done right, then you have to do it yourself?

Sometimes this can be the case. But if you're running an ecommerce store and want to scale or oversee the logistics for your organisation, then there are not enough hours in the workday to process the dozens and dozens of orders you receive.

You might be worried about your suppliers negatively impacting your brand or don't want to get locked into rigid contracts with courier companies, which is why you've chosen to stick to sending parcels yourself. However, a multicarrier solution might be the answer you're looking for.

So which is better? Should you continue sending parcels manually yourself or investigate using a multicarrier solution? Let's find out!

The Benefits of Shipping Yourself

While it's a time-consuming task, shipping yourself has some benefits. You're in total control of all your fulfilment. You can go through all the courier companies' websites and choose which provider you want to use to send your parcel. You'll also be able to review every single address to ensure there are no errors resulting in return mail.

You're also responsible for keeping customers updated on the delivery status. You can opt to use the courier company's website via their postal tracking number. You'll just need to ensure you pass this on to every customer so they can self-serve.

The Disadvantages of Shipping Yourself

The biggest disadvantage of shipping yourself is the time involved in processing each individual order. Whether you're in ecommerce or logistics, you'll end up wasting hours on bureaucracy and manual processes. This takes you away from other tasks that can help you scale your business or excel in your position and make you eligible for a senior role.

You could look to employ additional staff to assist with processing these orders. But you'll need to weigh up if this is a good use of your budget or if this money is better spent on other areas of your business.

The Benefits of a Multicarrier Solution

Whether you've built your ecommerce store from scratch or secured a role in logistics at a corporation, it's more than likely that your business is your passion and not shipping. You would prefer to spend more time on the aspects of your company that can help it grow and achieve its objectives.

A multicarrier solution allows you to save time on shipping and more time on scaling. When you integrate your ecommerce platform or import orders via CSV, you can process large volumes of orders in minutes. You also immediately de-risk your business as you have access to multiple suppliers in one convenient location. If a service is unavailable or the delivery date is too far away, you can easily select an alternative without impacting your customers.

If you don't find that a multicarrier solution benefits your business, then you should engage with the customer support team. If you're still not satisfied, then you can always return to sending parcels manually. But you'll need to factor in the time commitments if you have grown your store or increased your capacity in the logistics department.

How to Start Using a Multicarrier Solution

Shipping easier has never been simpler. A multicarrier solution provides you with the top courier services, lowest prices, and even allows you to manage postal tracking notifications. It's a one-stop-shop for your fulfilment needs.

It's also cost-effective if you're using the Interparcel Shipping Manager. There are no subscriptions or fees to utilise this multicarrier solution. It's free for all our customers, integrates seamlessly with multiple ecommerce platforms, and makes it simple to upload a CSV. Head over to this page for the solution to all your shipping problems.