What to Look for in a Shipping Platform

A shipping platform is one of the most vital tools for ecommerce owners and logistics managers.

Without one, you would need to visit dozens of courier websites to try and find the best deal to send your parcel. It means copying and pasting address details as well as inputting package dimensions over and over again. You could waste your whole day on this task.

A shipping platform makes your life a lot easier. The right software can help you compare courier services, find the best prices, and easily ship bulk orders or one-off deliveries.

But how do you find the right shipping platform? Before signing up for one of these essential services, make sure they include all of these vital features.

Choice of Courier Services

The first feature you want to look out for is the number of courier services available on the shipping platform. It’s not only about the volume of suppliers. It’s ensuring you have access to recognisable and reliable providers that won’t negatively impact your brand or make your job as a logistics manager harder.

You’ll want to see logos for courier services like TNT, Couriers Please, and DHL, as well as other recognisable brands. You also want to know the options they have available, such as express shipping. This will be handy if you need to send a parcel urgently or during the ecommerce peak sales season.

Multiple Software Integrations

A shipping platform should help you save time sending parcels and other manual processes. To find the right courier service, you shouldn’t have to copy and paste details to bring up a price to ship a package. Instead, you’ll want to look for the ability to integrate your platform with the shipping software.

Look for a shipping tool that will integrate with multiple ecommerce platforms. It could be Shopify, eBay, or WooCommerce. The more options, the better. If you choose to scale to other providers, you’ll want them to be available in the software. Alternatively, you should be able to upload a CSV file. The easier it is to send a parcel, the more time you will save.

International Shipping Options

You might not be considering sending parcels overseas at the moment. But maybe one day you will. Due to the time it takes to research shipping platforms, you don’t want to do it again when you’re ready to take your business to the next level or your organisation partners with international clients.

It should be just as easy to ship a parcel overseas as it is domestically. Ideally, it should be the same process, no matter where your package goes. You’ll also want it to meet your budget expectations. Get some quotes from the shipping platform’s website to gauge how much it will cost you to send a parcel to places like the USA and UK.

Quality Customer Service Support

One of the most underrated features of a shipping platform is the customer service support. Issues can happen from time to time, and you might need assistance to overcome them. You also want to be able to chat with experts in the software so you can get the most value out of the product.

Find out what customer service support options are available and if they suit you. For example, do you prefer using live chat over calling a call centre?

It’s also worth looking into the reputation of the customer support team. Do they come highly recommended? Have they been nominated for any awards? Knowing this can give you the confidence you’ll get the help you need.

Cost to Use the Shipping Platform

A shipping platform should be designed to make your life as an ecommerce owner or logistics manager easier. It shouldn’t be software that makes a big dent in your profit margins. You don’t want to pay for the courier costs, plus the ability to utilise the tool's features.

You’ll want to locate a shipping platform that is free to use and lets you only pay for the shipping. This doesn’t mean sacrificing on features. You still need an excellent selection of couriers, multiple software integrations, international shipping options, and customer service support. You should also be entitled to other inclusions like customisable tracking notifications.

Start Shipping Easier

It’s unlikely that you got into ecommerce or logistics to spend your days shipping parcels. Instead of constantly copying and pasting data into courier websites, find a shipping platform that gives you time back in your day to spend on the parts of your job that matter to you. Fortunately, you don’t have to look far.

Interparcel’s multicarrier shipping solutions provide you with access to Australia’s most recognisable courier services, one-click integrations with popular ecommerce platforms, the ability to ship parcels overseas easily, and a highly recommended customer service team. It’s also free to use. You only pay for the shipping. Find out how you can get started here!