Australian retailers are gearing up for a significant increase in spending during the end-of-financial-year (EOFY) sales, with expectations to exceed the previous year's expenditure by AUD $800 million. In response, ShipStation has unveiled new features designed to streamline shipping processes and enhance the overall customer experience for businesses across the country.
David Boyer, ShipStation's Vice President and Head of ANZ, commented on the unique challenges faced by Australian retailers: "Australian retailers deal with unique challenges like managing vast distances for deliveries, handling remote and regional shipments, and navigating complex international shipping requirements."
"By automating key parts of order fulfilment and providing greater transparency and control over shipping processes, we’re empowering businesses like Frank Green, Subo and West Coast Eagles to operate more efficiently and meet their customers' evolving demands. These innovations don't just cut down on operational headaches; they also free up valuable resources, letting retailers focus on growth and their customers."
ShipStation's new features include enhanced inventory management tools, prioritisation of shipments to ensure their timely arrival, and simplified compliance for cross-border shipping. Additionally, the platform now offers transparency regarding in-cart delivery costs on popular selling channels, which can help meet customer expectations more effectively.
Alexander Stevenson, Chief Product Officer at Auctane, touched upon the evolution of their solutions and the continuous input from their user community. He said, "For over a decade, ShipStation has helped tens of thousands of businesses conquer the complexities of order fulfilment, turning shipping from a chore into a strategic tool that drives brand loyalty and growth. As demands evolve, we’re committed to continually advancing our solutions. We’re constantly impressed by the passion and valuable feedback from our incredible customer community, which directly influences our product development."
Key new features introduced include several enhancements aimed at improving inventory management, shipping efficiency, and overall customer satisfaction. Inventory Sync ensures accurate inventory levels across various sales channels, effectively eliminating unexpected backorders and accelerating order fulfilment. This feature is crucial for maintaining seamless operations and meeting customer expectations by providing real-time inventory updates.
The Deliver-by-Date feature allows retailers to see, organise, and prioritise shipments to ensure on-time arrivals, thereby exceeding customer expectations and meeting marketplace requirements such as Shopify's Shop Promise and Amazon Prime. This capability is essential for managing delivery schedules and enhancing customer satisfaction through timely deliveries.
Harmonisation Code Import automates the import of Harmonisation Codes from platforms like Shopify, eBay, and BigCommerce. This automation simplifies cross-border shipping compliance and reduces customs delays, which is vital for smooth international shipping operations.
Checkout Rates gives retailers control over the exact shipping services and rates displayed at checkout on platforms like Shopify, BigCommerce, Adobe Commerce, and Wix. By providing transparency in shipping costs, this feature can lead to higher conversion rates as customers are better informed about their shipping options.
The introduction of Custom Labels allows businesses to design bespoke labels for in-house delivery fleets, pick-up/drop-off (PUDO), and click-and-collect services. These labels feature customisable QR codes and barcodes, facilitating a seamless workflow and enhancing the efficiency of the delivery process.
GlobalPost Carrier Integration leverages a new carrier for international shipping, providing reliable, affordable shipping, tracking, and customs clearance services. This integration is crucial for expanding global shipping capabilities and ensuring cost-effective and efficient international deliveries.
Lastly, the Add-On Marketplace enables businesses to select specific features needed for tailoring ShipStation. This marketplace expands functionalities through customisable integrations with third-party logistics (3PL) providers, dimensional weighing solutions, dropshipping solutions, and more. This flexibility allows businesses to adapt ShipStation to their unique operational needs and enhance their shipping processes.
ShipStation has introduced a High Volume Plan for retailers in Australia and New Zealand. This plan is tailored to the demands of enterprise parcel delivery, offering advanced automation and operational efficiency. Users of the High Volume Plan will have access to features such as automated rate shopping, which optimises shipping costs by comparing services and applying the lowest rate, and auto-split, which automates order splitting to streamline warehouse operations and reduce processing times.
