Ecommerce Shipping: Strategies, Solutions, Costs and Best Practice

1) Overview of eCommerce Shipping in Detail

When any of the 200 million online shoppers across the US places an order on a website, they likely do so with little knowledge of the journey their order is about to embark upon. With just a few clicks, your eCommerce company is assigned a quest to ensure this treasure you're selling reaches the customer.

Ecommerce shipping is essentially the muscle that works to make sure this journey goes successfully. However, with all the twists and turns that orders must face in their Odyssey-like passage, shipping companies must keep up with new challenges.

The muscle of any story must become stronger and smarter. Similarly, shipping solutions must become more effective and efficient to keep up with eCommerce needs.

2) What is eCommerce Shipping?

eCommerce Shipping is the entire process by which an order is confirmed, created, and fulfilled. This process has a multitude of minute and complex tasks that ensure the system functions in a streamlined manner. These tasks include everything from warehousing to last-mile delivery.

Ecommerce shipping companies must first handle stocking the inventory, creation, and manifestation of orders, generation of shipping labels, and order picking and packing. Only then does the long process of final delivery begins, which comes with its own set of tasks and challenges.

To enable a truly seamless delivery experience for customers, eCommerce service providers must rely on the latest trends in ecommerce shipping. This usually means the inclusion of advanced technology, better collection of data, and use of more strategic workflow.

3) What are the Different Stages of eCommerce Shipping?

The shipping industry has been around for a great many decades, being strengthened by global trade regulations. However, the e-commerce industry only began to develop in the US over the last 20 years.

As a result, shipping companies have had to up their ante to meet this steadily rising modern demand. Ecommerce retailers may provide similar services to traditional retailers, but the former offers quicker selection and convenience. For orders shipped through an eCommerce platform, there are essentially three shipping stages.

3.1) Order Receipt 

Receiving an order is a function that falls into two categories. The first is the receipt of the order on the ecommerce platform. This is when the customer makes their selection, enters their zip code details, and confirms their intent to purchase the order.

The second is the creation of the order with the concerned shipping partner. Shipping partners are selected on the basis of the respective delivery destination and previous delivery data. Once the shipping partner has been chosen, the order is created on the shipping partner platform.

3.2) Order Processing

After the order has been created on the shipping partner's platform, the shipping partner must process the order. The process of readying an order for pickup and delivery is called order manifestation.

It involves generating an Airway Bill (AWB) and shipping label. These enable the order to be tracked in transit for more streamlined shipping services. It may also include other laborious tasks required for shipment, like unstocking and packaging the order.

3.3) Order Fulfillment

The actual transportation of an order can be a complex process. This can be doubly so for cross-border shipments. Reaching a wider customer base is an important element in the growth of any E-commerce business.

So a big part of eCommerce shipping is ensuring vehicles are available, and orders can be tracked. Safety of the orders must also be ensured, with the help of in-transit storage facilities and customized services like temperature-sensitive transport.

4) What are the Different Types of eCommerce Shipping Methods and Strategies?

Ecommerce shipping services come in a wide range of shapes and sizes. This is what enables them to fit the needs of different e-commerce industries. Some products, like electronics or perishables, require super fast delivery to keep customers satisfied.

Other e-commerce services may be provided to customers across the world. Speed is typical of the essence when it comes to eCommerce shipping. That is why these logistics companies in the US employ many types of strategies, like those listed below.

4.1) Freight shipping

Freight shipping is the base of all eCommerce retailer shipping operations. It is the transportation of commodities from merchants to customers via air, land, or sea. Ecommerce freight shipping entails a great many specialized and customized services that can be utilized by different industries, from fashion to furniture.

4.2) Two-day shipping

This shipping service can be utilized by customers to request (or pay an additional fee) for delivery to be fulfilled within two days from a specified date. The calculation of this time frame can slightly differ depending on the delivery process followed by the eCommerce enterprise and its shipping partner in the US.

4.3) Same-day Delivery

In simplest terms, same-day delivery is a shipping service that enables customers to receive their orders within one business day or 24 hours. These types of deliveries typically are conditional, have a cut-off time, or are slot-based. For example, orders placed before 9 am may be delivered between 4 and 6 pm the same day.

4.4) Overnight shipping 

Overnight shipping is another type of speedy shipping service, like same-day delivery and 2-day delivery. Overnight shipping essentially ensures that the order arrives the next business day after the order has been placed. It is similar to next-day delivery services.

4.5) Expedited shipping 

Expedited shipping is a shipping service offered by a range of shipping companies and third-party logistics. It essentially enables customers to select priority shipping services. These are speedier than the standard shipment services and allow orders to move from the pickup stage to delivery faster.

4.6) International shipping

Many eCommerce shipping companies operate globally, like FedEx and UPS. For e-commerce businesses that provide their services worldwide, this shipping service is a must-have. A well-equipped internationally operational shipping company will also be able to help navigate through customs regulations.

4.7) Eco-friendly shipping

Good eCommerce shipping services must be sustainable. Some shipping partners like to ensure sustainability while also offering convenience in deliveries. Shipping service providers like DHL provide eco-friendly delivery services. These shipping mechanisms are designed to reduce wastage and carbon emissions.

4.8) Hybrid shipping services

Hybrid shipping services are shipments that are streamlined with the help of multiple third-party logistics tools. For example, Tool A is used to pick up an order from a particular vendor or storage facility and transport and deliver it to a shipping partner like FedEx.

FedEx processes and ships it using a local courier service to handle last-mile delivery. Through a multitude of shipping service providers, hybrid shipping services enable faster and more cost-effective delivery if well-managed.

5) What the Shipping Process Entails in eCommerce or How Does eCommerce Shipping Works?

Ecommerce shipping is more than just a service. It is an assembly line of logistics functions that creates a bridge between you and your customers. Given the rate at which orders are placed online, this needs to be a quick-draw bridge. You can help keep orders moving by understanding how this mechanism works. It comes to the five major steps listed below.

5.1) Warehousing and Distribution 

Most customers want their orders fast, so stock needs to be available at a moment's notice. In case the stock is held by the supplier, certain shipping companies handle vendor pickup.

Other shipping companies offer storage facilities for inventory to speed up the delivery process. A variety of shipping services are available that enable better warehouse management and inventory management. These eCommerce solutions focus on improved connectivity between orders and shipping agents.

5.2) Order Creation and Manifestation

Order manifestation begins with order creation, which essentially logs the order information into the shipping partners' platform. This step is then followed by the generation of an AW (airway bill).

The AWB number acts as a unique identifier for each order and enables it to be tracked. The shipping label must then be printed with all relevant order details. After this, orders are packaged and assigned for pickup. Certain services, like shipping label creation and packaging, can be customized to improve brand awareness.

5.3) Order Transportation 

One of the major responsibilities placed in the hands of eCommerce shipping companies is to organize, arrange and manage the transportation of orders. This typically involves hiring, renting, or making use of an in-house vehicle or a fleet of vehicles.

For better tracking services, some shipping companies like Safe-Express, equip their fleets with GPRS-enabled devices to give real-time updates on vehicle location. In addition to this, the safety of orders can be further assured through a network of in-transit centers for the storage of cross-border orders.

5.4) Last-Mile Delivery

The final phase of the delivery process is known as last-mile delivery. It covers the progress of an order from the final transportation hub to the customer's location. This is the step that should ideally end with the order being handed over.

During the last-mile deliveries is when orders may typically encounter delays, become stuck shipments, or face issues with final delivery (maybe due to customer unavailability, address-related issues, or fake deliveries).

A good shipping company should be able to work in sync with the eCommerce company to ensure last-mile delivery is carried out successfully.

5.5) Reverse Logistics

For a truly well-rounded ecommerce shipping experience, a logistics partner must be ready to handle forward logistics and reverse logistics with equal efficiency. When orders are canceled or returned, they must go through a similar journey to reach the origin warehouse.

Only then can they be restocked and resold, thus ensuring minimal losses. To ensure the safety of returning orders, the ideal shipping solution should typically equip you to track and monitor orders on their reverse journey.

6) eCommerce Shipping Costs and Rates 

Giving customers a good delivery experience is all well and good, but at what cost? Given that profitability is the bottom line of every eCommerce venture, what you receive from customers should cover the costs of eCommerce shipping and then some.

You would accordingly have to set your prices, keeping in mind shipping costs. With that in mind, here's a quick guide to eCommerce shipping costs. It includes a few tips on how shipping costs are calculated and what factors influence them. You can also get an idea of how to reduce costs and the different types of shipping rates.

6.1) Calculating shipping costs

How shipping costs and freight rates are calculated can differ from one shipping company to another. Profitability is dependent on the cost of resources, and different shipping methods may use different resources.

Shipping costs can vary in accordance with factors like the date and time of delivery, order origin and destination, packaging and handling costs, and other shipping services as may be required. However, most shipping companies calculate shipping costs either on the basis of the weight of the order or its dimensions.

6.2) Dimensional weight

Dimensional weight (also known as DIM weight) is the volumetric weight of the order. It is calculated based on the cubic size of the order, i.e., by multiplying its dimensions (length x width x height).

Most established shipping companies like UPS and FedEx typically calculate both DIM weight and actual weight. Shipping charges are then levied on the higher number.

The only downside is that this can lead to weight discrepancies, especially in cases where the order dimensions are calculated after an order has been packed.

Regular audits into the manner in which rates are calculated can help you ensure that lightweight orders are handled by shipping partners that charge based on actual weight and not DIM weight.

6.3) Shipping zones

Shipping Zones can have an impact on costs levied on shipments. Shipping zones are distinctly designated by each shipping company based on their reach. A shipping zone essentially denotes a geographical region that can be reached by a shipping company.

Each shipping company can reach a multitude of shipping zones, which are typically classified as groups or clusters of zip codes. These zones are categorized based on the original location of the order to be shipped. So Zone A might be local and have a 50 km radius.

Zone B would have a radius of 51 to 150 km, while Zone C would reach 151 to 300 km and so on. A lower zone (like Zone D or E) may require more resources for efficient shipping and therefore result in a higher cost.

6.4) Shipping and handling

There are numerous additional costs that can come up in the process of order fulfillment and eCommerce shipping. Many of these costs are encompassed under the label shipping and handling costs.

These are the costs associated with the physical movement of individual orders. These can include loading and unloading charges, additional safety requirements, packaging of orders, and many other potential functions.

Each of these tasks may incur a separate cost which can be clubbed together under shipping and handling fees. 

6.5) Flat rate shipping

Some ecommerce shipping solutions offer flat-rate shipping. This basically means that shipping costs aren't levied based on order weight or destination.

It is a single shipping rate levied for all orders within a certain shipping zone, agreed upon by you and your shipping partners. You could then similarly offer your customers a flat shipping rate to cover the costs. 

6.6) Real-time carrier rates

Real-time carrier shipping rates are calculated in accordance with order dimensions and serviceability, as well as additional fees or surcharges. A popular eCommerce solution is a real-time shipping rate calculator, as it enables you to charge customers the exact amount spent on the shipment of their order.

6.7) Offering free shipping

A good chunk of customers is enticed by purchases that do not charge additionally for shipping. Ecommerce businesses can offer customers free shipping by reducing their shipping costs as much as possible. Multiple solutions and shipping tools can be utilized to bring these costs down.

Free shipping can be offered conditionally to maintain profitability. You can make free shipping available during certain periods of time, only on certain items, or only after orders of a specified value have been placed (e.g., on purchasing of items valued at Rs 500 or up).

6.8) Reducing shipping costs

Reducing shipping costs requires a three-pronged strategic approach. First, shipment volumes should be leveraged to negotiate more viable rates with shipping partners - a higher projection of order volumes gives you a greater scope for a reduced rate.

Second, Ecommerce shipping solutions and specific features should be selected that automate or simplify certain functions - for example, selecting a shipping partner that charges based on the actual weight for lightweight orders.

Third, key problem areas that result in heavy losses, like a high RTO% or increased number of stuck shipments, need to be independently addressed. An eCommerce shipping solution that offers an effective NDR workflow can reduce the number of losses incurred by failed deliveries and actively improve customer experience.

7) eCommerce Shipping Partners and Companies

Learning about the inner workings of eCommerce shipping is just the first stage of preparation for your online business. Now that you've understood what you might encounter on your way, the next step in the process is to understand whom you might encounter.

While there are numerous shipping companies spread across the country, there is a handful that is considered favorites for the e-commerce industry. These are the top 10 eCommerce shipping partners and companies utilized across the United States. 

7.1) UPS

UPS is a world-renowned shipping company that provides services to over 220 countries and territories worldwide.

The international logistics firm was established in 1907, just after the end of World War I when it began delivering letters for Post Office rations systems across America with its horse-drawn vans; now they have transformed their fleet to vehicles such as trucks and even planes.

With more than 500 thousand employees working round-the-clock every day (and night), this organization processes 4 billion packages annually which are shipped all around our globe.

7.2) USPS

The USPS is a government-owned agency that offers logistics and postal services in the USA. It has over 600,000 employees across 50 states! In 1971 it was established by founding legislation passed under President Nixon's administration to provide an independent service for Americans while being fully self-funded through fees collected on all addresses delivered within its territory - this makes them one of the biggest logistics companies around.

USPS offers many services, including the ability to send packages throughout America and even internationally. They provide tracking for services for packages and also have value-added offerings like insurance or signature confirmation before delivery.

7.3) DHL

DHL has been a big player in the eCommerce logistics industry in the US since 1969. To enable the most efficient eCommerce shipping solutions, DHL makes use of a well-connected network of distribution centers.

This also enables them to provide environmentally friendly delivery services with minimal wastage of resources. It employs almost 400,000 people, operates in over 200 countries, and processes roughly 2 billion packages each year. It offers freight services, last-mile delivery, 3PL solutions, and a variety of related shipping and logistics services.

7.4) Aramex

Aramex is a leading international shipping company that was founded in 1982. With a reach of over 220 countries throughout the world, coupled with its 17000 strong workforces, it is one of the largest shipping services providers in the world.

It offers traditional transportation services along with several 3PL services like warehousing, insurance, and co-packaging solutions. Further, it offers expedited shipping services as well as international shipping solutions. 

7.5) Schneider Logistics

Schneider Logistics is one of the largest logistics providers in North America, managing a fleet that numbers over 9 thousand units.

The company has been around since 1935 and currently employs 15 thousand people to help with their daily duties. In addition, they own 180 facilities across every continent.

It offers a wide range of shipping solutions that can be tailored to your needs. It offers LTL or FTL service, intermodal logistics for heavy shipments at great distances away from major hubs, bulk transport solutions, and more.

7.6) XPO Logistics

XPO Logistics, a leading freight transportation solutions provider based in the US with headquarters set up shop right here on American soil. Founded back in 1989, it currently employs over 42 thousand people to serve a 50K+ customer base across 756 cities in 20 countries. It provides surface transportation solutions.

It provides logistics services such as LTL, FTL, and drayage to businesses across North America while also allowing them option for outsourced operations via its managed service offering that helps with cross-border commerce or global freight forwarding needs among other things.

7.7) FedEx

FedEx has been a leader in logistics and shipping since 1971. It reaches more than 220 countries across the globe. It manages an average of 12.5 million packages every single day and employs more than 600,000 people. 

It's known for its express shipping services as well as specialized handling for eCommerce service providers that deal with heavy, light, fragile, high-value, or dangerous goods.

7.8) C. H. Robinson

H Robinson, named after its founder Charles Henry Robinson, operates in the US and was founded more than 100 years ago with a headquarters currently located in Minnesota. It manages 19 million shipments per year for its 105k customers through its 16 thousand employees.

The company is one of the most popular freight shipping services in the US. It offers international air, ocean, and surface shipments with full truckload (FTL), full container load(FCL) as well LTL and LCL solutions! It also provides supply chain management, 3PL, last-mile, delivery, warehousing, and more.

7.9) Kuehne + Nagel

Kuehne+Nagel is an international shipping and logistics service provider with significant operations throughout North America. It has more than 80 thousand employees working in around 109 countries on five continents and a customer base of over 400,000 companies.

The company is a world-class logistics service provider that offers freight forwarding services globally. The firm's vast ocean transportation network and expertise in providing various types of shipments make it an admired name for companies within every industry, including those who need help with customs clearance or supply chain management.

7.10) J. B. Hunt

B., or Hunt Transport as it's more commonly known, is the largest logistics company in America with over 12 thousand trucks and 24000 employees across its network.

The platform provides surface transportation solutions for customers all around the US including Arkansas where they're headquartered. It offers a variety of services that are designed to meet the needs and preferences of both customers who specialize in intermodal logistics, as well those looking for more general delivery solutions such as expedited order processing or specialized offerings like temperature-controlled shipping.

8) How to Choose the Best eCommerce Shipping Company or Partner in the US?

We mentioned earlier that there are numerous eCommerce shipping companies in the US. There are a large number of companies that e-commerce service providers can choose from when it comes to shipping partners.

Given how much reliance your business has on your shipping partners, the selection process can be a little overwhelming. That's why it's important to have a strategy for narrowing down your options.

These criteria can help you quickly sort through them and identify the right shipping partners for you.

8.1) Area of Operation

First things first, you need to make sure that the shipping solutions you're looking at have the resources to reach your customer base. This is based on the average number of monthly orders you receive and the zip codes you need to service.

8.2) Terms of Service Level Agreement

When you enter into a relationship with a shipping partner, it's one defined by a contract, more specifically, a service level agreement. This contract lists out the costs involved and the range of shipping services that must be provided, failing which penalties are designated.

8.3) Cost of Shipping  

At the end of the day, your goal is to make a profit. This means that the amount you spend on shipping should be outweighed by the value of the services. This value can be measured by the benefits they offer your business and your customers.

For example, if a majority of your customers prefer COD (cash on delivery), a shipping partner with a fast COD reconciliation system is a must.

8.4) Delivery Speed  

Customers are looking to get their orders at faster speeds and cheaper rates. Your customers may prefer scheduled delivery, slot-based delivery, express delivery, etc. Based on the services you need, you can narrow down your ideal shipping.  

8.5) Delivery Authentication

A frequent problem eCommerce enterprises encounter is fake deliveries. These situations end in customer phone calls asking why the order has been marked as delivered without actual delivery. Some shipping partners offer automated systems to confirm delivery via proof of delivery systems.

8.6) Delivery Mechanisms

Every shipping partner will have a unique delivery mechanism. This is the process and combination of resources they use to ship orders regularly. Understanding what makes an eCommerce-shipping company in the American landscape unique lets you select one that has the services you need.

8.7) Specialised Shipping Services

The eCommerce industry has a wide variety of products and services, reaches a varied range of locations and customers, and has many different requirements.

Shipping companies offer a range of specialized services like secured delivery, insurance, fast delivery, customized packaging, etc. These services can make or break your business, depending on the industry.

8.8) RTO handling

A high RTO% is the bane of every eCommerce business. Reducing that number is a task that must be actively pursued. A shipping partner that works consistently to help reduce that number is always preferable. They may do so either through the employment of the latest tech or efficient workflows.

8.9) Technology

Many of the features and services that an eCommerce business needs to ensure efficient shipping is technology-enabled. From API integrations to AI-based analytics, a tech-savvy partner is one that gives you a more exhaustive range of services.

9) What are Different Types of Services Offered by eCommerce Shipping Partners?

We've spent a lot of time discussing the need for eCommerce shipping services and which companies provide them. But what exactly are these shipping services?

A big part of e-commerce shipping is comprehending the variety of tasks that need to be carried out to fulfill orders. These are the bulk of essential services that any eCommerce company will need from a shipping partner. 

9.1) Warehousing & Storage

Many shipping companies maintain multiple warehouses and storage units for eCommerce inventory. This enables better distribution of goods across greater distances and ensures orders can be picked up for delivery quicker.

9.2) Choice of Transport

One of the main functions performed by shipping companies is maintaining or providing access to transportation. The shipping partner may have their own fleet of trucks or can rent or hire the same on a regular basis. Another common mode of transportation is by flight.

9.3) Express Delivery

Speed is of the utmost importance for more customers now, who have become used to the speed and convenience of online shipping. Most shipping partners offer ranges of speedy delivery, like next-day delivery, same-day delivery, scheduled delivery, and hyperlocal delivery.

9.4) Secured Delivery

Secured delivery is not something that every business necessarily needs, but it can be helpful for reducing potential damage to orders in transit. Some shipping companies specialize in providing security and insurance services, which can be especially helpful for eCommerce companies dealing with high-value and fragile goods.

9.5) NDR management

A good NDR workflow can make a huge difference when it comes to dealing with delivery exceptions like failed deliveries. Failed deliveries can occur for a variety of reasons, and a good NDR management system can help address these delivery exceptions specifically. 

9.6) Temperature Controlled Transit

Many eCommerce companies deal with products that may need to be contained in specific temperatures. Some shipping companies provide transportation options that enable the temperature to be controlled to ensure products aren't damaged in transit.

9.7) Reverse Logistics

Reverse logistics is an extremely important part of shipping services as many items can get lost or stuck during the return journey. Returns are a recurring part of eCommerce shipping and can occur if a customer requests it as a result of RTOs. A good system for reverse logistics can ensure returned orders are available for restocking and resale.

10) eCommerce Packaging

eCommerce Packaging is another of the major shipping services provided by almost all shipping companies. However, not all shipping companies provide the same packaging services.

A few shipping partners can provide specialized packaging services that enable your brand to be better displayed and your orders to be safely transported. Here's a breakdown of the most common types of packaging.

10.1) Customised packaging

This is a specialized service offered by shipping companies that can let you give customers a unique packaging experience. A well-designed box that prominently displays your brand or products can help push cross-sales and bring back customers.

10.2) Weather-Resistant Packaging 

A damaged order is an undeniable loss for any business. Shipping companies like Blue Dart offer weather-resistant packaging, usually wrapped in plastic or protective materials that ensure orders stay intact, regardless of rain, snow, or heat.

10.3) Eco-friendly packaging

This is a more niche packaging service offered by a few shipping services providers in the US. For eCommerce service providers that pride themselves on reducing their carbon footprint, this kind of packaging can be a huge boon. It lets customers know that you are consciously reducing the harmful effects of wastage.

11) Shipping Labels and Insurance

Shipping labels and insurance are two services provided by nearly every shipping company. They can have a huge impact on your bottom line as they both affect overall losses. Let's take a closer look at these two major functions performed by eCommerce shipping partners.

11.1) Shipping Labels

At the core of eCommerce shipping services are tasks related to the creation of shipping labels. Shipping labels are of immense importance as they contain all the order information and customer information.

An inaccurate shipping label can result in lost orders, stuck shipments, delayed deliveries, and numerous other potential losses. A tech-enabled system for shipping labels can help ensure the accuracy of data and faster processing of information.

11.2) Shipping insurance

For eCommerce businesses that deal in high-value or fragile items, shipping insurance is a must. In cases where an order has been damaged, broken, or lost, customers would have to be reimbursed for the value of the order. Shipping insurance may increase shipping costs but reduce overall losses on frequently damaged orders.

12) How to Track Shipments and Returns in eCommerce?

Shipment tracking is the core mechanism of any good eCommerce delivery experience. With thousands of orders being shipped on a daily basis, tracking shipments is integral to order management and customer experience.

Tracking shipments enables you to better understand the quality of services provided by shipping partners, monitor performance over time, and initiate enhancements.

One of the most effective ways to track shipments (in both forward and reverse logistics) is through the use of the best eCommerce shipping tracking software. This software should essentially serve the three main purposes listed below in addition to optimizing the numerous other tasks.

12.1) Order management

Your eCommerce business may have a daily order volume that can range between 10 and 1000 orders. The higher your volume of orders, the more shipping partners you'll need. With shipping software, you can view all orders with all carriers from a single platform.

This saves you the trouble of toggling between shipping partner platforms just to check the status of a single order. All orders are displayed with their unique identification number in a unified view and segregated based on their delivery status.

12.2) Tracking eCommerce shipments

Shipment tracking has numerous benefits. The first and foremost is a better customer experience. Customer anxiety can be reduced when they see that orders are on the move and are aware of any delays that occur.

A good shipment tracking software uses the latest tech solutions to ensure tracking updates are provided in real-time. The eCommerce courier and shipping tracking system also helps monitor the delivery performance of shipping partners.

You can then determine which key functions are in need of what improvements. Shipment tracking help in determining optimal routes, reducing delays, and addressing NDRs.

12.3) Managing eCommerce returns

A certain number of orders end in returns, whether customer-initiated or as a failed delivery. Tracking orders during their return journey is absolutely vital to ensuring the safety of an order.

When a customer returns an order, the value of that order becomes a loss for your business. However, losing that order in the return journey can result in an unnecessary double loss.

A shipping tracking software can process returns as new orders. Thereby giving it access to the same tracking facilities as orders being delivered to customers. The goal is to ensure the order reaches the origin warehouse to be resold.

13) eCommerce Shipping Integrations and APIs

In order to provide shipment tracking mechanisms to ecommerce businesses, shipping software makes use of various technologies. The most common are API integrations.

An API (application programming interface) acts as a facilitator for the flow of information and instructions between two programs (like an ecommerce platform and a shipping partner platform).

These integrations are installed and maintained through shipping software for a variety of purposes. The most prevalent are listed below.

13.1) Estimating Delivery Dates

Customers like to make informed purchases. Knowing when an order will arrive can greatly influence their interest in purchasing the order. The EDD API integration uses the customer's delivery address and past shipping data to accurately determine the estimated delivery date (EDD) and display it on the ecommerce platform.

13.2) Order Processing

After an order has been placed, it needs to be processed by the shipping partner in order to begin its journey. The faster this process is completed, the sooner the order can make its way to the customer.

There are different API integrations that come into play here. There is one that creates the order in the carrier's platform, and then another that generates the AWB. API integrations also push shipping label creation and assignment of delivery agents.

13.3) Order Tracking 

Because of the role API integrations play in helping platforms send data to each other quickly, they are a key component of order tracking. API integrations work to consistently pull real-time tracking updates from shipping platforms.

They then send them instantaneously to eCommerce partners and their customers. Pull API integrations are most common for enabled shipment tracking. However, using Push API integrations as well ensures greater consistency-accuracy.

14) eCommerce Shipping Solutions in the US (United States of America) with ClickPost

There are several complexities that have to be addressed when it comes to e-commerce shipping.

Preparing a comprehensive shipping strategy is the first step to growth for any business. As an eCommerce shipping management software, ClickPost can help you achieve the goals envisioned in your strategy.

ClickPost provides quick and easy integration with over 120+ shipping partners in the US. Integration with storefronts like Shopify & Woocommerce and online marketplaces like Amazon is a simplified task.

Not only are orders managed through a uniform, user-friendly interface, orders can also be monitored, categorized, and tracked in real-time.

ClickPost makes use of pull and push API integrations to make sure your customers receive up-to-the-minute order status notifications. ClickPost works tirelessly to keep updating and upgrading its features.

This is to give you access to AI-driven carrier recommendation engines, AI-enabled analytics, and exception management. You are enabled to integrate with all order processing APIs through single ClickPost shipping and courier API integration.

Convert failed deliveries into successful ones quickly and easily using its NDR Management workflow. This system addresses NDRs with issue-specific queries to customers and fast transfer of delivery data. While automation and optimization of delivery mechanisms are a focus, customer experiences are also enhanced using personalized communication.

ClickPost understands the need to grow regularly and improve with the help of data science and machine learning. To learn more about the features we offer and how they can help you, reach out to us for a demo of our product and insights on the tech-fueled shipping industry.