Top 7 ShipperPlus Tips to Optimize Your E‑commerce ShippingEfficient shipping is a cornerstone of successful e‑commerce. Customers expect fast, affordable, and reliable delivery; merchants must balance speed, cost, and operational simplicity. ShipperPlus is a popular shipping management platform designed to centralize rates, automate label creation, and streamline fulfillment workflows. Below are seven practical, actionable tips to get the most from ShipperPlus and improve your store’s shipping performance, customer satisfaction, and profit margins.
1. Centralize all carriers and rate shopping
One of ShipperPlus’s strengths is connecting multiple carriers in a single interface. Instead of switching tabs or systems:
- Add your primary and backup carriers (USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL, regional carriers) into ShipperPlus.
- Enable real‑time rate shopping so the platform displays the cheapest and fastest options for each order automatically.
- Set carrier preferences or rules (e.g., use USPS for packages under 2 lb, use UPS for commercial addresses) so selections align with your cost and service policies.
Concrete benefit: automated carrier selection reduces manual errors and saves time while often lowering per‑shipment costs.
2. Use advanced automation rules
ShipperPlus typically supports rules that trigger based on order attributes (weight, dimensions, destination, shipping method chosen by customer, declared value).
- Create rules to auto‑select packaging, insurance, signature requirements, or carrier based on thresholds.
- Example rules: always require signature for orders over $200; auto‑apply flat‑rate boxes for items under 10 lb and under 18” length; route international orders to your preferred international carrier.
- Test rules on a staging store or small percentage of orders before wide rollout.
Concrete benefit: automation reduces processing time per order and standardizes fulfillment decisions across staff.
3. Optimize packaging and dimensional weight
Dimensional (DIM) weight often increases costs for lightweight but large packages. ShipperPlus can help manage packaging decisions:
- Maintain a library of your packaging types (poly mailers, small/medium/large boxes) with exact dimensions and tare weights.
- Let ShipperPlus suggest the smallest appropriate package that fits the items and protection materials.
- For multi‑item orders, use the platform’s packing optimization to combine items into the most cost‑effective box configuration.
Concrete benefit: accurate packaging data lowers DIM charges and reduces wasted space in shipments.
4. Integrate with your e‑commerce platform and inventory
Tight integration reduces oversells and mis‑shipments.
- Connect ShipperPlus to your store (Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Magento) and marketplaces (Amazon, eBay) for real‑time order import.
- Sync inventory levels so fulfilled orders update stock and backorders are visible.
- Use ShipperPlus to push tracking numbers and shipping statuses back to customers automatically.
Concrete benefit: fewer customer inquiries, better on‑time metrics, and improved inventory accuracy.
5. Automate customer communications and returns
A smooth customer communication flow reduces support load and increases trust.
- Configure ShipperPlus to automatically email or SMS customers their tracking link when a label is printed.
- Use branded tracking pages (if available) to keep the experience on your store and promote cross‑sells.
- Set up return labels that customers can request from their order page; auto‑generate RMA numbers and track return shipments.
Concrete benefit: faster communications and easy returns lower support costs and improve repeat purchase rates.
6. Monitor KPIs and run regular audits
Data reveals improvement opportunities.
- Track shipping KPIs such as average cost per shipment, average delivery time, on‑time delivery rate, and refund/claim rates.
- Use ShipperPlus reports to identify high‑cost SKUs, frequent return causes, or regions with delayed transit.
- Perform quarterly audits of carrier invoices against generated labels to catch billing errors or surcharges.
Concrete benefit: data‑driven decisions help cut costs and improve the customer experience.
7. Train staff and document processes
Software is only as effective as the people using it.
- Create clear SOPs that show step‑by‑step flows for order processing, exceptions, and problem resolution inside ShipperPlus.
- Run hands‑on training sessions and keep a short troubleshooting guide for common issues (failed label prints, international customs forms, carrier pickups).
- Use role‑based access controls in ShipperPlus so employees see only the tools they need.
Concrete benefit: consistent handling reduces mistakes and speeds onboarding of new hires.
Conclusion Applying these seven ShipperPlus tips—centralizing carriers, leveraging automation rules, optimizing packaging, integrating systems, automating communications, monitoring KPIs, and training staff—will tighten your fulfillment operations, lower costs, and deliver a better customer experience. Start by implementing one or two changes, measure their impact, then expand. Small iterative improvements compound quickly in e‑commerce shipping.
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