# End-to-end shipping integrations – Send, track and return In this article we’ll cover what ecommerce shipping integrations do, why they’re important, how to choose the best software and how to start integrating it. Canonical URL: https://starshipit.com/blog-content/end-to-end-shipping-integrations-send-track-and-return **Summary:**_ End-to-end shipping integrations connect sales channels, couriers, tracking and returns so send, track and return workflows run from shared order data. Choose tools that improve rate accuracy, delivery visibility, efficiency and customer communication across the full shipping lifecycle after checkout._ Say you’re running an eCommerce store. It’s going well, but the order fulfilment admin is starting to get overwhelming! Now’s the time to start looking at eCommerce shipping integrations. A shipping integration software works with your existing eCommerce platform (like [Shopify](/shopify-shipping-integration), WooCommerce, Etsy) and automatically creates things like courier labels, order sheets and customs documents. It can **drastically reduce human error** while improving your customer purchasing experience, all while saving you money, time and stress. In this article we’ll go through what [eCommerce shipping integrations](/blog-content/the-best-ecommerce-store-integrations) do, why they’re so important for scaling your online store, how to choose the best software and how to start integrating it as soon as possible. ### What is eCommerce shipping? You probably already have an eCommerce platform where customers can make a purchase (e.g. Shopify, Cin7, Squarespace). **eCommerce shipping solutions take care of processing the order, getting it ready to be shipped, and keeping the customer updated with parcel tracking.** [eCommerce shipping](/3-ways-to-simplify-your-ecommerce-shipping-solutions) includes basically every step from when a customer hits “buy” to them receiving the product in one piece. It covers things like: - Receiving and confirming orders - Creating labels - Picking and packaging orders from shelves/inventory - Sending tracking updates to customers - Processing returns You might be doing this manually yourself as you grow. With a shipping integration platform, shipping is automated and streamlined and reduces errors whether you do it from your home office or through a third-party fulfilment center. ### What does an eCommerce shipping integration connect? A useful shipping integration passes order details from your eCommerce platform into your shipping workflow, then sends fulfilment and tracking details back. Your team has a clearer process from checkout to dispatch, while customers receive more accurate updates after purchase. ## Connect orders to a clearer dispatch workflow ### Simplifies the delivery process Integrating shipping directly into your eCmmerce platform [simplifies delivery](/3-ways-to-simplify-your-ecommerce-shipping-solutions) for you and your customers. From your end, it means that picking and packing orders, creating labels, and choosing the right courier is organised automatically. It also means that your customer can keep track of their order without you answering hundreds of emails per week. ### Real-time tracking Shopify shipping tracking helps both you and your customer. 27% of customers expect parcels to arrive before 48 hours if you promise “fast” delivery, and 40% would expect it by 48 hours. Giving customers the ability to track their own parcel in real-time will reduce the number of inquiries you get and show them how fast you are getting parcels to them. If you deliver, you are building trust and repeat customers! ### Accurate shipping prices Charging a flat rate for shipping could be costing you thousands over time. Shipping integrations give customers accurate data based on their address, order size and other factors. This means no surprises for them and accurate postage for you. This is especially important if you have both local and international customers. As well as ensuring your bottom line is met, giving customers a range of options means they can choose a shipping price based on their budget. Blanket prices might be seen as steep! For example, Starshipit shows a range of prices that integrates directly with your different couriers to ensure customers get the best price. ### Lower shipping costs For around 70% of consumers, convenience and free shipping are the biggest online shopping incentives. Using shipping integration platforms usually means that you can either negotiate a lower, more accurate rate with your couriers, or give customers the option of free shipping if they meet a spend threshold. It is all about reducing barriers for your customers to buy from you. Customer service and order admin can take up a lot of precious time without shipping integrations. Automatic shipping can reduce jobs like: - Organising returns - Quoting customers for shipping - Copying and pasting addresses - Logging into multiple courier platforms - Calling to book pickups - Responding to “where’s my parcel?” inquiries The more efficient your admin process is for shipping, the happier your customers (and your schedule!) will be. ### Increase overall efficiency eCommerce shipping platforms can help you save time, and therefore money. For example, Starshipit saves hours of time spent on manual labour by automatically generating packing slips, shipping labels and manifests. If you ship internationally too, no problem! Starshipit can automatically handle your customs documentation for you. Say hello to free time in the evenings again! ### Steps to picking the best shipping app for your eCommerce store Shipping isn’t one size fits all- and neither are eCommerce shipping integration platforms. Primarily, it is important to find a shipping service that takes care of deliveries from end to end and that integrates seamlessly with your existing eCommerce platform. Here are a few tips to find the best shipping app for your eCommerce store. ### Evaluate the shipping integrations that work with your eCommerce store To make your life easier, it is best to choose a shipping platform that integrates with your existing ecommerce platform. As an example, you might be taking orders on Shopify, and then copying and pasting the customer address into the DHL website to send it overseas. This might result in wrong addresses, undercharging for postage, or spending a lot of time manually creating labels. A Shopify shipping integration app connects directly to your online store. When someone makes a purchase, it will automatically calculate the correct shipping, and then download the order sheet and labels for you. Magic! ### Find out which region the shipping integration was first designed for Most shipping integration apps can be used globally. However, if you find yourself chasing up customer support a lot, having one that is locally based will probably suit your business more. Before choosing the best ecommerce shipping software for you, you should ask questions like: - Where are most of your orders coming from? - Where is your business based? - Can they help me if parcels get lost by couriers? For example, Starshipit specializes in Australisian and UK carriers, so would suit ecommerce businesses based in Australia, NZ or the UK. ### Shipping app versus freight aggregator Some shipping integrations are freight aggregators (freight forwarder) which means they manage the shipping on your behalf using a selection of couriers. With an aggregator you could end up with worse courier rates because they “clip the ticket” each time. Starshipit is purely a software provider (SaaS) which means you can bring your own shipping accounts with you and manage the mix of carriers that best suit your business. If you have negotiated great rates with your courier partners, you can simply bring your account with you and enjoy the benefits of a full shipping integration that offers live rates at check-out, branded tracking and shipping notifications, address validation to reduce delivery errors, and speedy label printing. Think seconds, not minutes to fulfil an order. ### Calculate the time saved and value-added from automation Every business investment has a financial cost versus a time cost. How much does it really cost you to manually do shipping labels? How much is your time worth? When you are looking at the pricing of shipping tracking apps, take the average number of orders you get per week and time yourself putting together orders versus how much you pay per hour to fulfil them. How much could you be saving by automating it? Example: 100 orders per week at 8 mins per order = 800 mins or 13.3 hours @ $25 per hour = $333.00 per week. For a plan that allows up to 4000 shipments per month, it is only $80 per month. That's a savings of $253.00 of your time, as well as reducing delivery errors and customer complaints when deliveries go awry due to incorrect delivery addresses. ### Phone your onboarding manager to help you get set up quickly and correctly Shipping platforms should offer free onboarding. This is a great way to get your automation set up quickly and error-free. At Starshipit, customers are provided with a dedicated Customer Success representative to assist with all things shipping automation. You can reach out for support at any stage, from the initial set-up through to optimisation and any day to day queries you may have. ### Integrating your ecommerce store with your shipping software The next step is to start integrating shipping software into your ecommerce store. Depending on which software you choose, it will integrate seamlessly as a plugin without any website dev. Once a customer places an order, the shipping software will: - Give your customers live, accurate shipping calculations before they place an order - Get a notification of an order - Automatically allocate the order to one of your courier providers (e.g. DHL for international, Aramex for local) - Let you run everything from your ecommerce platform (e.g. if you have Shopify and Starshipit, you would only need to run Shopify) - Keep customers updated on their order Starshipit talks directly to your eCommerce platform so every time a customer buys something from your online store, their order is automatically imported into Starshipit. From here, you can bulk-print shipping labels, complete shipping documentation, and auto-correct invalid addresses. Order fulfilment gets to be that easy with a shipping integration app! ### Take home message If you are overwhelmed by order fulfilment and your eCommerce business is growing steadily, shipping integration is the next step! By integrating shipping directly into your eCommerce platform, you can reduce errors, improve customer experiences, and give yourself back valuable time. Looking for the best eCommerce shipping app to start with? Starshipit offers end to end shipping solutions and integrates directly with your existing online store and courier providers. Order fulfilment has never been so simple! ## Shipping integration FAQs ##### What should I check before choosing shipping integration software? Check that it supports your eCommerce platform, the carriers you use, your warehouse workflow, tracking requirements and return process. Before launch, also confirm who owns rate setup, how exceptions are handled and what happens when an order needs manual attention. ## Ready to start automating?