Plug-and-play carriers in Starshipit: how to start shipping sooner

Learn how you can access plug and play carrier options right from the Starshipit dashboard and get shipping in just a few clicks. If you're concerned about not meeting carrier volume requirements, this is the best place to start.

When you’re trying to start shipping, the last thing you need are roadblocks. You don’t want to be getting into complex negotiations with carriers or working out long-term commitments. Worst of all, you really don’t want to have to wait around for carrier representatives to get back to you!

This is where a plug and play carrier is the best option. These carriers plug directly into Starshipit and you can create an account and start shipping immediately. That’s right – no pesky volume requirements!

In this article, we'll dive into how you can harness the power of plug and play carriers with Starshipit and look at some top options including Australia Post MyPost Business, Aramex MyFastway, and more. Say goodbye to complicated onboarding processes and volume commitments – it's time to supercharge your shipping.

What is a plug and play carrier?

In this guide, plug-and-play means a carrier option with a relatively direct online account setup. Eligibility, payment methods, minimum volumes, discounts and service availability can differ by carrier, account and country.

Typical setup features to look for:

💳 Pay by credit card

📊 Check minimum volume requirements by carrier

💰 Volume-based discounts

🔒 Review contract, fee and surcharge terms

In contrast, a traditional carrier that would not be considered “plug and play” would require you to speak to one of their sales representatives directly prior to being able to ship using their services.

Carrier options for Australian retailers

Australia Post MyPost Business

One of the most popular options for Australian retailers, Australia Post MyPost Business is quite easy to set up and offers several cost-effective delivery options.

MyPost Business also offers a clever savings band feature. Basically, you can access higher savings as you spend more on shipping (and move up the five savings bands). The higher the savings band, the more you can save on domestic and international sending.

• 💳 No credit card required for setup
• 📊 No minimum parcel quantities

Key benefits with Australia Post:

• ⭐ MyPost Business savings bands increase as eligible account spend grows

Aramex

Aramex is another top choice for Australian retailers seeking straightforward and efficient shipping solutions. Aramex stands out with their free additional services, making them an excellent option for businesses of all sizes.

• 📊 Minimum purchase and usage requirements may apply
• 🔒 Aramex Australia says its pricing has no hidden fees or charges

Key benefits with Aramex:

• ⭐ Free packaging services
• ⭐ Free pick-up services

FedEx

FedEx offers a cost-effective shipping solution for Australian retailers with their "Ship More, Save More" program. FedEx Australia offers eligible account discounts through its Ship More, Save More, with rates based on current terms and account eligibility. Like our other plug & play carriers, FedEx does not require minimum shipping volumes and provides discounts for credit card payments and standard business accounts.

• 📊 Check current FedEx Australia account eligibility

Key benefits with FedEx:

• ⭐ FedEx discounts vary by account type, service and monthly spend and payment terms are subject to current program terms
• ⭐ Free FedEx Express packaging

Carrier options for New Zealand retailers

My NZ Post Business

For New Zealand retailers, My NZ Post Business is a simple and reliable shipping option backed by the country’s national carrier. It’s designed with small to medium businesses in mind, offering ease of access and a range of flexible features to help streamline your delivery process.

• 📊 Commercial rates and pay-as-you-send options
• 🔒 Check current NZ Post account terms before choosing a service

Key benefits with My NZ Post Business:

• ⭐ Access to competitive domestic and international rates
• ⭐ Nationwide pick-up available (conditions apply)
• ⭐ Easy label printing and tracking through the online portal
• ⭐ NZ Post’s extensive delivery network and trusted brand recognition

Aramex

For New Zealand retailers, Aramex can be a practical plug-and-play carrier option through aramexConnect. The platform supports sending mode, wallet payments, single label printing, printer compatibility and manifest imports, with domestic, international, returns and delivery-choice services available.

Key benefits with Aramex:

• ⭐ Free aramexConnect account setup
• ⭐ Wallet functionality for pay-as-you-send shipping
• ⭐ Single label printing without buying books of labels
• ⭐ Bulk consignment import
• ⭐ Delivery choices including Authority to Leave, Signature and Secure PIN services

FedEx

New Zealand retailers also get to experience flexible and efficient shipping solutions provided by FedEx. FedEx New Zealand promotes account-based shipping discounts, subject to current terms and eligibility.

• 📊 Check current FedEx New Zealand account eligibility

Key benefits with FedEx:

• ⭐ FedEx New Zealand discounts are subject to current terms and eligibility
• ⭐ Free FedEx Express packaging
• ⭐ FedEx New Zealand discounts vary by account type, service and eligibility
• ⭐ FedEx New Zealand payment terms are subject to current account eligibility

Carrier options for USA retailers

FedEx

FedEx account rates and promotions vary by market, account type and shipping profile.

• 📊 Check current FedEx account eligibility

Key benefits with FedEx:

• ⭐ FedEx account rates and promotions vary by market, account type and shipping profile
• ⭐ Free FedEx Express packaging
• ⭐ FedEx discounts vary by account type, service and eligibility
• ⭐ FedEx payment terms are subject to current account eligibility

USPS (via EasyPost)

USPS, when accessed through EasyPost, offers U.S. retailers a highly reliable and flexible shipping solution that streamlines the logistics process. EasyPost is a third-party service provider that enables the seamless integration with USPS to enhance accessibility and simplify the use of USPS shipping services.

EasyPost says USPS discounted rates are available with no volume minimums or contracts.

• 📊 EasyPost says USPS discounted rates have no volume minimums
• 🔒 EasyPost says USPS discounted rates have no contracts
• 💰 Access to USPS Merchant Discount Pricing through EasyPost

Key benefits with USPS:

• ⭐ Additional services, such as signature required or authority to leave on delivery

How to prepare for long-term shipping success

The plug and play carriers we outlined earlier are a great place to start. But what about when your business starts to take off? There will come a time when you’ll want to bring on other carrier services.

If you’re not sure how to do this, we’ve put together a step-by-step guide on how to set up your own carrier accounts how to set up your own carrier accounts, including how to negotiate rates and connect them to your shipping workflow.

Here are some triggers to look out for which may signal it’s time to bring on additional carriers:

• Order volumes starting to climb: Starting to see those order numbers tick up, week after week? This is a good sign that it may be time to sit down with a carrier representative and go through the options for your business. Typically, carriers will be happy to negotiate with you and figure out pricing based on your volumes.
• You want to offer additional delivery options: Whether it’s on-demand delivery options with Uber Direct or an extensive list of delivery options with DHL, integrating with other carriers can expand your offering to customers, which can be great for your business.
• International expansion: If your business is eyeing international markets or already shipping globally, it might be time to explore carriers with a strong international network. Look for carriers experienced in cross-border shipping, as they can offer competitive rates and reliable delivery services. Hint: Check out Starshipit’s international shipping features too!
• Specialised needs: As your product offerings diversify, you might need carriers that specialise in handling specific types of goods, such as perishables, dangerous goods, or oversized items. Choosing carriers with expertise in these areas can ensure your shipments are handled with care and compliance.
• Seasonal fluctuations: If your business experiences seasonal spikes in sales, having a variety of carrier options can help you manage increased shipping volumes efficiently. Some carriers specialise in handling peak seasons effectively.
• Sustainability initiatives: If sustainability is a priority for your business, explore carriers with green shipping options or carbon-neutral services (like DHL). This aligns with growing consumer preferences for eco-friendly choices.

Remember: It’s a good idea to regularly evaluate your carrier options as your business evolves.

Why you should manage your carriers using shipping automation

We’ve looked at some of the different carrier options, and how you might approach your own carrier strategy, but what about the other side of the equation: Shipping solutions?

Typically, eCommerce businesses will use a shipping automation solution to simplify everything to do with shipping. This means printing labels, importing orders, assigning them to carriers and much more.

Let’s set the scene, Sally has just recently started a new online store, selling glass garden ornaments, which she designs and creates herself. She’s got fans of her business all over Australia, from Sydney all the way out to rural Western Australia.

While she’s got access to a number of carriers to service her coastal customers, her rural customers are a bit trickier. That’s why Sally uses Starshipit. She’s integrated Australia Post MyPost Business for all her urban deliveries, and she uses a local delivery company for her rural Western Australia deliveries.

Now, all her orders come into Starshipit, and she’s set up shipping rules to assign orders to the right carriers, based on customer location. Sally doesn’t have to lift a finger, and she can trust that her orders will go out with the right carrier!

What to know about shipping solutions and carrier aggregators

Within the world of shipping automation solutions, there are two main types: shipping aggregators and so-called shipping enablers (like Starshipit).

Carrier aggregators

Carrier aggregators are all-in-one shipping solutions that on-sell freight. They provide carrier rates from a set list of carriers. This means the aggregator marks up the carrier price for shipping and then “clips the ticket” on each order you ship, which can sometimes result in higher costs.

In practice, this means that while there is less to think about when it comes to shipping, you can only pick from a small selection of carriers and must accept the prices the aggregator provides for you. Additionally, using aggregator services may mean you miss out on building direct relationships with individual carriers. Having those direct relationships can be valuable if you ever need assistance or want to negotiate better rates directly with carriers.

In summary, here some of the key reasons to avoid aggregators:

• 📈 Marks up the pricing on carrier rates, then clips the ticket.
• 🚫 Restricted by the carriers it partners with.
• 🏷️ Ranks carriers in order of price, not reputation.

Carrier enablers (Starshipit)

Carrier enablers provide shipping solutions where you can integrate with any carrier you like and use your own carrier rates. This means you have the choice of using plug and play carriers like we’ve outlined in this article, as well as integrating your own carriers using the more traditional negotiation process. Basically, you have full control over your shipping costs as your business needs change.

Carrier enablers also have relationships with carriers which you can use to your advantage. In many cases, enablers can send you directly to a carrier rep to start the negotiation process, instead of going in blind.

Next steps

And that’s a look at the world of plug and play carriers, seamlessly accessible from the Starshipit dashboard, offering shipping in just a few clicks.

If you’re worried about meeting carrier volume requirements, these carriers are the best starting point.

Key takeaways:

• 🚚 Plug and play carriers, like the providers mentioned in this article, enable instant setup and shipping, with no pesky volume requirements to hinder your progress.
• 🍂 As your business grows, consider triggers like climbing order volumes, the need for additional delivery options, international expansion, specialised shipping requirements, seasonal fluctuations, and sustainability initiatives. These cues can guide you toward integrating more carriers into your strategy, ensuring your shipping options evolve with your business.
• 🤝 While exploring carrier options, don't forget the importance of shipping solutions. Carrier enablers, such as Starshipit, offer you the flexibility to integrate any carrier of your choice, use your own carrier rates, and even connect with carrier representatives for better negotiations. This approach grants you full control over your shipping costs and allows you to build valuable relationships with carriers.

By harnessing the potential of plug & play carriers and leveraging the right shipping solutions, you can supercharge your shipping operations, delight your customers, and lay the foundation for long-term shipping success.