AfterShip Vs. ShipStation

1) Introduction

Shopping online has become increasingly popular, because of the convenience and variety it offers buyers. However, one issue that online retailers face is the complexity of shipping management. This post discusses two of the best e-commerce shipping software - AfterShip and ShipStation. 

There are many factors to consider when shipping products, such as package size and weight, delivery location, shipping method, and cost. Fortunately, software solutions like ShipStation and AfterShip can help automate the shipping process. They can optimize routes, calculate costs, and track shipments in real-time.

Let's learn more about these two competitors and find out which one's best suited for your business.

2) About AfterShip

AfterShip is an automation and tracking solution for shipping operations. It was established in the year 2012 in Austin, Texas, where it is currently headquartered. It is a major shipping software developer working with more than 10,000 throughout the world.

AfterShip employs more than 200 people who are distributed across the globe. It processes an average of 6 billion packages annually. It offers integrations with more than 900 shipping and logistics companies. It is also integrated with more than 30 applications and platforms such as Shopify, Magento, and Woocommerce. 

AfterShip offers the following solutions:

• AfterShip: It allows businesses to track orders and extend those capabilities to customers through branded pages, it helps deliver notifications about the status of orders and provides estimated delivery dates to consumers while placing an order. It also provides performance analytics for shipping operations.
• AfterShip Returns Center: It allows businesses to manage their reverse logistics, create a branded page for placing returns, and even set rules for returning products. It also provides a system that can manage the refund process while also providing analytics to gauge performance. 
• Postmen: It offers several integrations with carriers that help businesses manage their orders, receive real-time rates, generate shipping labels, and more. 

Features of AfterShip

• AfterShip’s flagship offering is its tracking service which helps businesses improve the visibility of their shipments. It also offers regular updates on the status of the shipment and provides actionable insights.
• It helps businesses create branded pages for customers to track orders.
• It enables the delivery of notifications to customers.
• The platform offers a multi-carrier management system to businesses.
• It offers real-time shipping rates while accepting orders.
• It helps businesses to predict the estimated date of delivery for their orders.
• It offers a platform to handle returns and even lets businesses build a branded returns page.

Pros:

• AfterShip has one of the best tracking services in the market.
• Superb user-friendly interface and easy integrations with other e-commerce management software like Klaviyo, etc.
• Customizable tracking widget offers quick access to customers.

Cons:

• AfterShip integrating with the platform can be a hassle. Clients often complain about bugs in integrations. 
• All of its subscription plans are on the pricier end.
• Customer support is lacking sometimes.

3) About ShipStation

ShipStation is an order management and automation platform for eCommerce businesses. It was founded in 2011 and operates out of its headquarters in Dallas, Texas.

It offers a host of solutions to its clients in the online selling industry enabling them to manage shipping, processing, and fulfillment services through a unified platform. ShipStation serves more than 100,000 businesses. It is integrated with more than 34 selling channels and 84 shipping companies throughout the world. 

ShipStation’s offerings are as follows:

• Order Management:  This solution allows businesses to use multiple digital storefronts and marketplaces, handle order management and generate reports. It also allows businesses to automate several processes.
• Shipping:  This solution allows businesses to compare shipping rates, generate labels and create order whole batches. 
• Branding: This solution can be used to improve the post-purchase experience of customers. It enables the creation of branded pages and shipping.
• Inventory Management:  This solution allows users to check stock levels, set alerts for shortages of items, and allocate stock. 

Features of ShipStation

• ShipStation allows users to create tags, alerts, and filters to manage orders.
• The platform helps businesses automate their order management processes.
• The platform enables real-time comparison of shipping rates. It allows users to choose the ideal shipping partner for a particular order.
• It allows businesses to create branded pages to track or return their orders. It can also be used to send customers tailored notifications and generate branded shipping labels.
• The platform allows businesses to manage their orders on a unified platform, providing stock-level reports and allocation capabilities.

Pros:

• The platform is popular for offering cost-effective shipping management solutions.
• Comparatively cheaper shipping rates.
• ShipStation's order management is great and absolutely code-free. 

Cons:

• Some add-ons provided by the platform need further development. 
• ShipStation's UI needs drastic improvement. All shipping processes slow down because of bugs and glitches.
• Some users complain about ShipStation's low customer service. The ShipStatus status loading page is not in real-time.

4) Do I Need Shipping Software like AfterShip or ShipStation for my Ecommerce Business?

An efficient shipping process is essential for any e-commerce business. Shipping software helps streamline the shipping process with automated solutions and specialized tools. With these tools, you can easily track, manage, and monitor orders.

Plus, shipping software can help you save time by automating tedious tasks such as preparing labels and documents, calculating shipping costs, and more. Ultimately, investing in good shipping software will help reduce costs, increase efficiency in order fulfillment, and make your life easier!

5) Key Differences Between AfterShip and ShipStation

AfterShip and ShipStation are two of the most popular shipping tools used by ecommerce businesses today. Both can save time and money, but they excel in different aspects. 

AfterShip is a tool to monitor shipment status and automate delivery notifications, while ShipStation is an order management platform that specializes in creating customized labels and arranging the most cost-effective shipping methods. With ShipStation, businesses have to manually import their orders and customer information from other platforms to the ShipStation dashboard while AfterShip does it automatically.

Their pricing plans also differ significantly. ShipStation offers 6 subscription plans starting from 9.99 USD per month for 1 user to 229.99 per month for 10 users. AfterShip's offerings are pricier than ShipStation's, starting from 11 USD per month. It also offers a custom plan for enterprise customers who can pick and choose the services they like depending on specific needs.

5) Alternative Shipping Solution to ShipStation and AfterShip

With the ecommerce space rapidly expanding, it is integral that online companies are equipped with the easiest and most efficient shipping solutions. Apart from logistics platforms like ShipStation and AfterShip, there are several alternatives. One such ShipStation and AfterShip competitor is ClickPost.

ClickPost offers all of the features provided by the above-discussed companies but with enhancements like automated carrier allocation based on key metrics, real-time tracking access and updates, stringent SLA norms, and more.

It offers a streamlined user interface for a more intuitive customer experience, providing an effective way to view, compare and track shipment deliveries with ease. With ClickPost leading the charge in terms of convenience and cost-effectiveness, you can be sure your supply chain operations are running smoothly.

6) Conclusion

Deciding on shipping software is an important step for any eCommerce business. AfterShip and ShipStation are two of the most popular shipping software options available. They both offer a variety of features that can benefit businesses of all sizes.

While ShipStation is cheaper than AfterShip, it also lacks some of the features offered by it. ShipStation can be an excellent alternative for small businesses with fewer e-commerce needs. Brands looking to sort their post-purchase customer experience through branding and other personalized features must go with Aftership.

We hope this detailed discussion helps you find the perfect shipment management software for your business. All the best!