News

What Is Shipping Software?

Think of shipping software as a central hub for managing your business’s shipping activities.

Instead of switching between multiple courier websites, businesses can use shipping software to handle tasks such as:

• Comparing courier rates and services
• Creating shipments
• Generating shipping labels
• Scheduling eligible courier pickups
• Tracking packages
• Reviewing shipping history and reports
• Managing eCommerce orders and integrations

For businesses that regularly ship packages, bringing these functions together in one system can reduce repetitive administrative work and make the shipping process easier to manage.

What to Look for in Shipping Software

There isn’t one shipping software platform that is automatically the right choice for every Canadian business. The right solution depends on factors such as your shipping volume, destinations, couriers, eCommerce platform and operational needs.

Key factors to consider include:

• Access to Multiple Couriers: Look for a platform that gives you access to the courier services your business regularly needs.
• Rate Comparison: Comparing available rates and service levels from multiple couriers can help you make more informed shipping decisions.
• Label Creation and Tracking: Look for tools that make it easy to generate shipping labels and monitor shipments.
• eCommerce Integration: If you sell online, consider whether the software integrates with your eCommerce platform.
• International Shipping: Businesses shipping across borders should consider how the platform supports international shipment information and documentation.
• Scalability: Consider whether the system can continue to support your shipping needs as your business grows.
• Customer Support: Access to knowledgeable support can be valuable when questions or shipping issues arise.
• Cost: Understand the platform’s pricing structure, service charges and subscription requirements before choosing a solution.

FlagShip’s Shipping Software for Canadian Businesses

FlagShip is a proudly Canadian multi-carrier shipping solution designed to help businesses compare and manage their shipping from one online platform.

With FlagShip, businesses can:

• Access a multi-carrier shipping platform
• Compare discounted courier rates on one screen
• Access services from Purolator, FedEx, UPS, DHL, Canpar and GLS
• Use the platform without minimum shipping volume requirements
• Access the system without monthly subscription fees
• Get support from a Canadian customer service team
• Manage domestic, cross-border and international shipping needs

Rather than relying on one courier for every shipment, a multi-carrier platform gives businesses the flexibility to compare available services based on the requirements of each shipment.

Shipping Software Features That Can Simplify Your Workflow

FlagShip’s online shipping system includes tools designed to make day-to-day shipping easier to manage:

• Address Book: Store frequently used shipping contacts in one place for easier access when creating shipments.
• Distribution Feature: Manage multiple similar shipments more efficiently by uploading address information and processing shipments in batches.
• User-Friendly Dashboard: Manage shipments, view shipping history and access information from one central location.
• Detailed Reporting: Access shipping reports using information such as dates, invoices and reference numbers to help review shipping activity.
• Pickup Management: Manage pickup information and requests as part of your shipping workflow.
• Shipping Label Creation: Generate courier shipping labels for your shipments.
• Consolidated Tracking: Monitor shipments from multiple courier partners without having to visit each courier’s website separately.

Shipping Software for eCommerce Businesses

If you run an online store, integrating your eCommerce platform with your shipping software can help streamline order fulfillment.

FlagShip offers integrations with popular platforms such as Shopify, Wix, WooCommerce and other supported platforms.

For businesses managing multiple online stores, FlagShip’s eStore Shipping Manager provides another way to manage eCommerce shipping from one interface.

Connecting your store to your shipping system can help reduce repetitive data entry and make it easier to move orders from your eCommerce platform into the shipping process.

How Shipping Software Can Help Your Business

The value of shipping software goes beyond comparing courier rates. Bringing common shipping tasks together can help businesses create a more organized and efficient workflow.

Potential benefits include:

• Save time: Reduce repetitive tasks involved in preparing and managing shipments.
• Compare shipping costs: Review available courier rates and services before selecting an option.
• Reduce manual data entry: Use supported integrations and shipping tools to simplify the transfer of order and shipment information.
• Improve visibility: Keep shipment tracking and shipping history accessible from one system.
• Support growth: Use tools such as batch processing, integrations and reporting as shipping activity increases.

For Canadian businesses, shipping software can help make routine shipping tasks easier to manage while providing access to multiple courier options.

Frequently Asked Questions About Shipping Software