As the number of online stores grows by the day, their business booms. More orders are realized and hence the need for Shipstation. Shipstation is third-party web-based software. It is integrated with eCommerce platforms, such as WooCommerce, Shopify, and the like. This is to assist online retailers in shipping and order fulfillment. The software handles order imports, customer communication, as well as batch label creation. Using its multi-channel capabilities, it can support many users and warehouses.
Shipstation beats other platforms in many ways. The one that stands out from all other benefits is that it makes the whole process much easier and faster. They have a wide range of ways to reach their customer service. Customer service is responsive and dependable. The software may sometimes have a few setbacks, such as downtime, bugs, or being slow. But nothing is perfect. But, the interface is easy to use and friendly. Also, they are affordable. This is just a leading edge on Shipstation. This article is a Shipstation review aimed at giving you an in-depth analysis of the software—all you need to know about it.
How Does It Work?
In this Shipstation review, you will find that the software, through integration to your online marketplace, consolidates and retrieves order information. It also applies preset shipping preferences to each order according to the specification. It is then processed and printed into a customized label and packaging slips. It then automatically updates the stores with shipping status and tracking information. This is done in real-time, and hence communication and reporting are prompt.
It also allows you to import your orders from over 60 market places.
Below is an illustration of what you can do with Shipstation, beyond the above.
How Much Does it Cost?
Not only does Shipstation support large businesses. But small businesses are not left behind. They provide a 30-day trial period. After this, your subscription will start being charged. They have made their prices affordable for everyone, as shown below.
Whichever plan you choose, Shipstation gives you a stamp.com account. Also, USPS discounts. Furthermore, you can link your own FedEx, DHL, UPS, and other carrier services. You also get customer support.
Shipstation Trial Program
The software offers its users a one-month free trial. After this period, then you can pick a plan that best suits your needs. These plans, as shown above, are chargeable per month. The plans can be changed to an upgrade or downgrade. The free trial program gives you access to all Shipstation’s features. The features are;
- The platform’s supported shopping carts and market places
- Reporting
- Administrative controls
- Shipping carriers and fulfillment
- Order management
- Printing and shipping
- Automation
- Customization
- Adding more users
Does Shipstation Work with Shopify?
Shipstation easily integrates with Shopify as well as other platforms.
How to Integrate Shipstation with Shopify
You do this by adding Shipstation to Shopify. In the Shopify app store, look for Shipstation. Having found it, add it. There, your Shopify account had been integrated with Shipstation.
What Are the Major Benefits of Using Shipstation?
Efficient management of your orders. The software takes care of the small tasks, thereby saving you much required time. All orders are managed in one interface. It integrates with all major e-commerce channels. You can add as many sales channels as you would like in your account. You do not have to spend your money looking for other solutions. This is because everything you need for the management of orders is in a single place.
Shipstation connects you to a more extensive customer base. Whether you are a small business or large enterprise, it also connects you to countless sales channels as compared to its competitors. The software gets orders from all your channels automatically. Additionally, they are linked to more than 100 sales channels. This includes market places, stores, and shopping carts. Here is a list of all the platforms supported. They have developed a mobile application compatible with both Android and iOS. The app enables you to do everything on your tablet or smartphone on the go.
Access to many carrier services. Ecommerce merchants can also fully use exclusive discounts. Carrier integration is also available in Shipstation. The discounts are available to all merchants regardless of the monthly amount spent. Shipstation offers more than 40 carrier services. They are available for merchants in the UK, USA, Canada, and Australia as shown below;
- USA – FedEx, USPS, DHL, and UPS
- UK – FedEx, Hermes, DHL, Royal Mail, FedEx, and UPS
- Canada – Canada Post, Purolator, DHL, and UPS
- Australia – Australia Post, Sendle, DHL and UPS
- Allows customers to add their preferred carriers.
In case the carrier service you prefer isn’t among those supported by the software, you can add it manually. There is no charged fee, the process is smooth, and once you are done, you are ready for delivery.
What Features Does Shipstation Have?
Shipping. Managing many channels enables you to integrate many carriers than doing it manually, which is tiring. Also, it has made a stride integrating with other mailing companies. Such as FedEx, Royal Mail, UPS, DHL, Hermes, Canada post, and fulfillment by Amazon (FBA). Some of the features include:
- Browse rates of different couriers using the Shipstation browser to find the best services suited for you.
- Ship faster using the in-built scanner; it is easier for users to view orders without hassles.
- Printing allows your business to print as many labels as possible.
- Shipping documents are easily generated.
- Scan documents to print/verify – enables users to scan documents. They can either print documents or verify that the products and the documents are in alignment.
- Communication with customers is vital to any business. With Shipstation, you get to tell your customers about the progress of their orders.
Order management is seamless. You can import orders from over 70 channels and manage them in one platform. Shipstation uses the already preset shipping preferences. It also adds carrier services and creates shipping labels for each order. Finally, it assigns a shipping status and a tracking number for each order. Some of the features you will find in Order management include:
Order Management Reporting
- Reports. The data is pulled from the orders that have been imported. Also, Order from orders that have been manually inputted in the Shipstation.
- Product reports. The data is usually pulled from specific order records. It can also be from orders included in product returns.
- Shipment reports. The data is often pulled from the specific shipment record in the Shipstation.
Imports and Management Orders
- Order tags are useful in marking orders by creating unique identifiers.
- Alerts. The in-built alert capability enables users to get notifications when a certain threshold has reached, and there is action needed.
- Edit orders when the details have changed.
- Combine orders. Orders going to the same shipping address can be combined using Shipstation. This can be done while still maintaining the integrity of the orders.
- Split orders. You can split orders from a single shipment going to different locations.
- Filter orders. This function allows users with easy navigation. Also, to view only orders with the selected criteria.
Branding helps you to customize your packages to a more personalized theme. It also enables you to create a good experience for your customers. Here are the features you will find in branding:
- Tracking page. This enables the customers to be redirected to your Shipstation tracking page instead of the couriers tracking page.
- Returns into new sales. Shipstation understands that customers want a platform that makes it easy for them to return packages. They have hence streamlined this process for them.
- Emails. Sellers have the option of customizing their mails to include their logo, contacts, or social media links.
- Returns portal eases the process in which customers can return products instead of engaging the customer care agents.
- Packing slips include the items contained in each package. And since it’s printed from the Shipstation, it’s easy to add your logos. You can also have personalized thank you messages for the customer.
Inventory management is mainly categorized into two:
Inventory and stock management. To any seller, inventory management is vital. With Shipstation, you can easily track your inventory levels. You can also create alerts, and the good thing is that you don’t have to be there. You can do it remotely. Below are the features:
- View stock levels in real-time
- Pick and pack faster through customization of packing slips to include inventory location.
- Deallocate stock for deactivation.
- Set inventory alerts in real-time to ensure no stock-outs.
- Divide stock to orders awaiting shipment.
- Manage inventory even when you are far away from the warehouse.
Inventory management reporting is key in providing insights into how much stock you have. This helps for more efficient forecasting.
- The low stock report shows all products with low levels and needs replenishing.
- Out of stock shipments
- Audit and status report when stock has been altered.
Integration with other e-commerce sites, all your shipment and order fulfillment needs are satisfied. Shipstation is able to integrate with more than 70 marketplaces. You are hence covered in whatever platform you are using.
In case the site or platform you are using does not integrate with Shipstation, an API (Application Programming Interface) is available. The purpose of it is for you to create a connection. The connection will be essential to get data from Shipstation. You can also enter data into the software. With the API you can;
- Generate shipping labels
- Manage shipment and orders
- Retrieve shipping rates
Additionally, you can also opt for the (CSI) Custom Store Integration. This one is best while importing orders while working with an unsupported store. With Shipstation CSI, you will be able to integrate any store into Shipstation directly. This can be done by building a custom store API.
Other features include;
- Allows concurrent label printing and packing slips.
- Computerized shipping options have pre-established rules, and that helps with order filtering.
- Integrations available for USPS, DHL, UPS and FedEx account
- Orders can be retrieved from sales channels automatically.
- Personalized information on tracking as well as email confirmations.
- Printing up to a bunch of 500 orders at a go
- Calculation and comparison of shipping rates is made in actual time
- One-click processing of returns
- Available tools for reporting on products, shipping costs, etc.
Customer Service
There are a variety of ways to reach customer care and get your concerns sorted. Customers can contact them via email or Shipstation knowledgebase. Live webinar and the community forum are also available. You can as well reach them via their social media platform. Such are; Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Depending on the plan you are on, you are able to reach them differently, unlike the other customers. But, most platforms are accessible to all, despite the plan. Below is a complete overview of how you can access support;
- Community forum – available to all
- Help center – has images and articles that act as a guide around the site.
- Phone – for those on the Enterprise plan only
- Live chat- for those on the silver plan going up.
- Social media – they are available to all, on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Blog- their blog is updated on a regular basis for news and the best approaches in shipping.
- Videos and pre-recorded webinars – on the site, there are short videos on how- to. They can help you know your way around the software.
- Email – for all customers.
Security
Shipstation guarantees you total security. This is by allowing you to have different features available to employees as per your restrictions. You can also limit the platform. In such a way that only the features you permit are the ones accessible by the employees.
The software as well complies with policies and standards of the PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard). It also complies with EU-US Privacy Shield Framework. Moreover, for each admin page, HTTPS encryption is given.
Shipstation Pros and Cons
Pros
- I found out that Shipstation has a user-friendly interface that is also easy to use.
- Their customer service is friendly, dependable, and quite responsive.
- Are known to confirm the shipping addresses and delivering accurately
- A Shipstation review reveals that it offers exceptional solutions for label printing.
- Their USPS rates are best.
- I found the dashboard easy to use. One that I, as a customer, can personalize. This makes organization easier for every user.
- Integrates with many sales channels and all major carrier services
- Shows delivery status making it easy to keep track of the goods.
- They are affordable in terms of cost.
- Automation makes the fulfillment process much faster.
Cons
- They could add discounts for the shipping rates for carriers.
- Barcodes are not fully functional. Notably, the USPS barcodes sometimes fail.
- I found that Shipstation had some features that are redundant.
- Does not automatically show new orders unless one refreshes the page
- The software lacks shipment templates that would make work easier, especially in instances where the samples are the same, but the addressees are different. Users complain that in such a case, then you will have to input the order details manually.
- The Android mobile application can be improved to perform at a maximum. I could only create labels, but I had to do the rest from my PC.
- Shipstation review also revealed several technical issues like being slow, bugs, and downtime.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Is it possible to ship numeral boxes having the same label?
It is possible. For a shipping order with many packages, print several labels for it. This identifies them as non-identical packages but a similar order.
How is a shipping label created in Shipstation?
The process of creating a label in Shipstation is pretty straightforward. It involves four steps as below;
- In the orders grids, choose an order
- Tap on the “create label” button
- The system will ask from the carrier, your label
- You can now either view your label or even print it.
- How is a printer added to Shipstation?
- You will need first to install Shipstation Connect for Windows
- On the upper right side, locate the ‘Account Settings’
- Tap on printing from your left, then pick Shipstation Connect
- Tap on ‘install Shipstation for windows’
- Lastly, tap install from the window that pops up
Aside from the monthly plan charges, are there any more fees.
Except for premium integrations only. Other than that, a customer is not charged any more fees, aside from the monthly charge. But, insurance and postage fees are incurred by the customer.
Is it possible to ship freight with Shipstation?
At the moment, the software is not able to offer services for Less than truckload (LTL) or full truckload (FTL). It can only work with small parcels. However, only in particular circumstances is this possible via FedEx and USP.
Which should I pick between an API and CSI integration?
The custom store will enable you to pull information about an order from a source. The software later pushes tracking information once the order has been shipped into the software, to the custom store. For the CSI, most of the work is done by the software.
API offers more features, but on the contrary, more work is done by the developer.
Is COD (Collect Payment on Delivery) allowed with Shipstation?
Payment at the time of delivery is allowed with this software. However, ensure you have a carrier and a service that is agreeable to COD. At the moment, COD is only allowed by FedEx and UPS.
How safe is my data in the software?
Shipstation ensures security for your personal data. We are the EU-US Privacy Shield Framework, certified. The EU-US Privacy Shield Framework is a forerunner of the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation). Needless to say, Shipstation had met many data protection regulations that are in line with the GDPR. Interestingly, this was even before it came into place.
Conclusion
The world is turning into a smaller village as the days pass by. It is now easier to access goods from any part of the world. This has enlarged the customer base for businesses. Whether you are a large, medium, or small enterprise, Shipstation is a good shipping option for you. Despite a few manageable hitches, this software beats its competitors.
This is by ensuring exceptional service. This is achieved by being the fastest and most straightforward shipping solution available. We hope that this Shipstation review will be a useful guide for you. Especially when looking for credible and affordable shipping solutions.