Category: Uncategorised

SmartConsign RapidX: Shipping at the Speed of Light

Posted on

Shipping high-volume orders efficiently and accurately is a challenge that many businesses face. The time-consuming process of generating carrier labels can lead to delays, operational inefficiencies, and increased costs. However, there’s a solution that is changing the game for businesses of all sizes. Say hello to SmartConsign’s RapidX, the ultimate solution for lightning-fast bulk batch processing that can generate over 100,000 shipments in just 60 minutes at an unbeatable price of £0.04 per label. Let’s dive into how RapidX is revolutionising high-volume order processing.

 

Speed of Light Processing: Thousands of Orders in Minutes

One of the most significant pain points in high-volume order processing is the time it takes to generate carrier labels. SmartConsign’s RapidX sets the pace for high-volume order processing, allowing you to process thousands of orders in minutes, not hours. This remarkable speed ensures that you can keep up with the demands of your business, even during peak periods.

Spot Anomalies: Stay Ahead of the Game

In the world of logistics and shipping, anomalies can be costly. RapidX empowers you to stay ahead of the game by swiftly addressing certain anomalies. Whether it’s an incorrect address, a missing product, or any other issue, our solution enables you to act on discrepancies instantly, maintaining the integrity of your operations and ensuring that your customers receive their orders without delays or errors.

Effortless Operation: No Training Required

Complex software and systems can be a barrier to efficiency. RapidX breaks down these barriers with its user-friendly interface that simplifies bulk batch carrier label generation. You don’t need extensive training or technical expertise to use it. With RapidX, you can streamline your workflow with ease, saving time and resources.

Real Success Stories: Proven Results

Don’t just take our word for it; RapidX has already delivered impressive results for businesses, including giants like BirchBox and Craft Gin Club. Subscription-box retailers, in particular, can benefit from extended cut-off times, ensuring that more orders get out the door without delays. The numbers speak for themselves: one shipment (uploaded to carrier and label generated) every 3.6 seconds!

Conclusion: Shipping Transformed

In today’s fast-paced world of e-commerce and logistics, efficient order processing is key to staying competitive. RapidX is changing the game by offering lightning-fast bulk batch processing at an unbeatable price. With its speed of light processing, anomaly detection, effortless operation, and a track record of real success stories, it’s a solution that can skyrocket your shipping operations and keep your business ahead of the curve.

Say goodbye to the hours spent generating carrier labels and hello to SmartConsign’s RapidX, the solution that will transform the way you handle high-volume orders. Don’t let inefficiencies and delays hold your business back; embrace the future of shipping with SmartConsign RapidX. Your customers will thank you, and your bottom line will reflect the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of this groundbreaking solution.

Request a Demo

The Power of Multi-Carrier Parcel Management

Posted on

In the ever-evolving landscape of e-commerce and global trade, efficient parcel management has become an essential component of successful business operations. With customers demanding faster deliveries and a wide variety of carrier options, businesses need to adopt strategies that streamline their shipping processes. One such strategy that has gained significant traction is Multi-Carrier Parcel Management, a game-changing solution that empowers companies to navigate the complex world of shipping with ease and efficiency.

Understanding Multi-Carrier Parcel Management

At its core, Multi-Carrier Parcel Management involves using a centralized platform to manage shipments across multiple carriers. This approach provides businesses with the flexibility to choose from a range of carriers based on factors such as cost, speed, and destination. This flexibility is invaluable, as it allows businesses to optimize their shipping processes while meeting customer expectations.

The top 5 benefits of multi carrier parcel management software

Diverse Carrier Options: With Multi-Carrier Parcel Management, businesses aren’t tied down to a single carrier. Instead, they can cherry-pick the best carrier for each shipment. This flexibility ensures that businesses can cater to a wide array of customer needs, from budget-conscious buyers to those who prioritize swift delivery.

 

Enhanced Efficiency: Handling shipping processes through a single platform streamlines operations significantly. From generating labels to tracking packages, businesses can manage everything seamlessly, reducing the risk of errors and saving valuable time.

 

Cost Optimisation: Different carriers offer varying rates for different destinations and package sizes. Multi-Carrier Parcel Management enables businesses to compare and select the most cost-effective options for each shipment, ultimately leading to potential cost savings.

 

Global Reach: Operating on an international scale can be daunting due to differing shipping regulations and costs. A multi-carrier approach simplifies global shipping by providing a clear overview of available carriers and their services for various destinations.

 

Customer Satisfaction: Meeting delivery expectations is crucial for maintaining positive customer relationships. Multi-Carrier Parcel Management allows businesses to choose carriers that align with promised delivery times, enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty.

The SmartConsign Advantage

In the realm of Multi-Carrier Parcel Management, SmartConsign.io stands out as a leader. With its user-friendly interface and extensive network of carriers, SmartConsign.io empowers businesses to take control of their shipping operations effortlessly. From real-time tracking to RapidX label generation, the platform covers all aspects of multi-carrier parcel management, making it an indispensable tool for modern businesses.

 

In conclusion, the world of logistics is undergoing a paradigm shift, and Multi-Carrier Parcel Management is at the forefront. Embracing this strategy not only simplifies shipping operations but also helps businesses cater to diverse customer preferences while optimising costs. With solutions like SmartConsign.io leading the way, the future of parcel management looks promising, efficient, and customer-centric.

Request a Demo Here

SmartConsign Multi-Channel Despatch: A Comprehensive Infographic

Posted on

In the fast-paced world of logistics and shipping, having a clear understanding of our multi-channel despatch system is essential for users to fully understand our product. 

To facilitate this, we have created an informative infographic that outlines the different options available to customers and highlights the key features of the SmartConsign.io platform. This infographic serves as a valuable resource, providing customers with insights into seamless integrations, versatile payment options, and efficient despatch processes.

Section 1: Integrations Made Easy

– SmartConsign.io integrates with all major carriers and e-commerce platforms and is continuously adding new integrations based on customer demand.

– Integrations means that customers can manage all their carriers and platforms in one easy to use system.

Section 2: Rapid Integration and Connectivity

– Most new integrations are provided free of charge within a remarkable four-week timeframe.

– The API connectivity ensures bi-directional communication between Ecommerce platforms and the SmartConsign.io system, facilitating seamless data transfer.

Section 3: Flexible Despatch Methods

– Carriers have the option to upload files (such as orders / addresses) directly onto the SmartConsign.io platform, enabling quick and effortless despatch management.

– Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) is included for secure file transfer of your data.

Section 4: Streamlined Labelling

– The infographic highlights the compatibility of the SmartConsign.io platform with label sizes of 4×6 or 4×4, ensuring compatibility with all common label formats used by carriers.

Section 5: Payment Options

– SmartConsign.io offers versatile account payment options to accommodate different financial arrangements.

– Carriers have the flexibility to decide whether they pay on behalf of the shipper or require the shipper to cover the charges.

Section 6: Convenient Payment Methods

– The infographic outlines various payment methods available, including direct debit, card payment, and bank transfer options, providing carriers with convenient payment choices.

Section 7: Credit Terms for Carriers and Large Volume Shippers

– Subject to approval, SmartConsign.io offers a 30-day credit terms for carriers and large volume shippers, providing financial flexibility and support.

The Multi-Channel Despatch System infographic from SmartConsign.io provides customers with a comprehensive overview of the platform’s features and benefits. By emphasising tailored carrier integrations, rapid implementation, versatile payment options, and efficient despatch methods, SmartConsign.io empowers businesses to streamline their operations and deliver exceptional service to their customers. With the convenience and flexibility offered by SmartConsign.io, you can confidently navigate all of your dispatch requirements across ecommerce platforms with multiple carriers in one easy to use system. 

Request a Demo

eCommerce Shipping Know-how to help you scale in 2023 and beyond

Posted on

With so many moving parts in the parcel delivery supply chain, staying aware can be exhausting, which is why we’ve curated a few blogs that are essential reading for professional and novice eCommerce shipping entrepreneurs. 

However, if you are too busy to read, you can always book time with our experts to discuss your challenges and requirements. Email sales@smartconsign.io 

Best of Shipping Software Procurement Reads

Multi-carrier shipping system usage has skyrocketed over the past few years, but not always for the better. Get familiar with the features and benefits of modern SaaS parcel delivery solutions and learn how to scale faster.

https://www.smartconsign.io/how-to-choose-the-best-shipping-logistics-software/
https://www.smartconsign.io/reasons-youre-missing-out-on-integrating-shipping-software/
https://www.smartconsign.io/4-ways-to-demonstrate-roi-on-parcel-shipping-software/

Best of Subscription Box Commerce Reads

Subscription Box retailing is fast becoming the go-to solution for eCommerce businesses keen to generate recurring revenue. So whilst convenience in this sector is king, shipping is queen.

https://www.smartconsign.io/how-to-organise-shipping-for-a-uk-subscription-box-service/
https://www.smartconsign.io/strategies-for-scaling-a-subscription-box-business/

Best of Last Mile Logistics Reads

Shorter delivery windows continue to push eCommerce shipping businesses to the edge of reason; there are many ideas on how to master last-mile logistics. Getting this aspect of your shipping processes right can make a massive difference to your margins.

https://www.smartconsign.io/retailers-last-mile-delivery-pain-points/
https://www.smartconsign.io/freight-and-the-city-the-challenges-of-urban-delivery/

Best of Returns Management Reads

The maths is simple. The more you sell online, the more returns you generate. The trick is to spot the inefficiencies early and mitigate risk to your bottom line.

https://www.smartconsign.io/how-to-manage-serial-returners-for-ecommerce-businesses/
https://www.smartconsign.io/product-returns-looking-at-the-bigger-picture/
https://www.smartconsign.io/wardrobing-plus-other-facts-about-returns-management/

Best of eCommerce Platforms Reads

As the eCommerce platform landscape expands, knowing which ones are right to support your business can save you time and money. 

https://www.smartconsign.io/what-sets-ecommerce-platforms-and-marketplaces-apart/
https://www.smartconsign.io/anatomy-of-an-ecommerce-fulfilment-platform/

Follow us on social media to stay up to date with the latest news from SmartConsign. Twitter, Linkedin, Instagram  And feel free to share your thoughts and experiences navigating the logistics sector. Happy Shipping!

Contact sales@smartconsign.io for a personalised demo!

eCommerce Carrier Success. How to Boss Peak Season Shipping. Part I

Posted on

With more holidays and festivities, the fourth quarter is where peak season eCommerce takes off. But are you fully prepared to handle high volumes of orders shipping across multiple carriers, not just outbound but inbound?

The best news is that there is technology out there that can help you power through this madness – and that’s eCommerce carrier management software.

This first article in our two-part series will show you how to set up your shipping software to achieve your peak season goals.

Why You Need a Multi-Carrier Management System

If time is money, investing in a system that can do both is a win-win. Multi-carrier management systems offer a single platform solution that enables access to all the crucial parcel delivery services necessary to run your business. As a result, you save time by accessing all your carriers in one place, and you save both time and money on human resources.

But that’s not all. A multi-carrier system can also help you boss your peak season goals. That’s because it’s easy to install and the best ones like SmartConsign typically go live in less than 14 days. In addition, eCommerce carrier integration and standard set-up are free.

How to Integrate SmartConsign With Your Ecommerce Platform

To integrate your eCommerce carrier. You will need the following to get started:

From your eCommerce platform, you can access a list of shipping integrations. Scroll down until you see “SmartConsign” and click to connect. Next, you will see the complete list of carriers connected to SmartConsign. We offer a wide range of carriers, so you’re sure to find one that meets your needs.

You can create a carrier by adding your unique SmartConsign URL link (which you will receive from your platform provider). Then, the system will automatically generate a carrier token, which is used to link to your SmartConsign account.

Developer Not Required. Carrier Management Software without constraint!

From here on, SmartConsign will take care of all future systems upgrades and updates issued by the carrier you’ve connected to via our system. Our developers do all the heavy lifting, leaving your team free to work on other higher-priority tasks.

How to Create Shipments With SmartConsign

You can create a shipment in seconds with SmartConsign. Here’s how:

From your eCommerce platform, click ship to reveal a list of all the SmartConsign carriers you’ve created. Next, select the shipment services you need from your chosen courier and click ship.

A shipping label will appear post-shipment creation, and the tracking number will be imported to your shipment.

Labels fit in a 4-inch by 6-inch area in portrait orientation. The label can be printed directly to a printer or saved for printing later. Please save the label and print from a pdf application such as Adobe Acrobat for higher quality print.

What to Do if You Have Problems With SmartConsign

Our system is really easy to use. But if you’re having problems with SmartConsign, don’t hesitate to contact our support team. Read what one client had to say about us

“your whole team are brilliant, answer queries and complete setups really quickly” M Langford [DX Delivery]

In part two of this series, we will share a few pro tips and tricks to power up your operation for eCommerce peaks by leveraging SmartConsign.

In the meantime, you can contact support@smartconsign.io for help setting up, and to create a SmartConsign Account contact sales@smartconsign.io.

2022 Shipping Challenges: 3 Common Problems Shippers Face Today

Posted on

No matter the growth rate of the shipping sector, the immediate challenges of inflationary pressures are hard to ignore. And while it’s clear that the pandemic and war in Ukraine have profoundly affected the global supply chain, the shipping industry continues to face a multitude of challenges not related to these events. 

This article discusses the three most significant shipping challenges facing eCommerce businesses everywhere and how to overcome them.

1. Rising Shipping Costs

Of course, all customers want low shipping costs. But, the shipping cost continues to rise for big and small businesses. So, instead of passing these costs on to the customers, they subtract them from their total profits. Big companies can afford to do this, but this is not sustainable for smaller enterprises.

Fortunately, there are some strategies businesses can implement to lower shipping costs. They include:

· Bulk shipping

· Consolidating shipping

· Comparing costs between carriers 

· Negotiating and asking about discounts

· Packing items in smaller boxes 

· Pre-paying

· Using carrier-provider packaging

Most importantly, businesses can factor shipping fees into product pricing. If more companies implement this practice, customers will understand their need to contribute to rising shipping costs.

2. Returns

Returns for any business are inevitable. Although companies can take steps to limit returns, they will never eliminate all customers who are dissatisfied with their purchases. Yet, if businesses track returns, they can manage them more effectively in the future. 

First, your business needs to have a clear return policy.

Unfortunately, many new companies forget to create a channel for customers to send back defective items or items with damage to the packages.

A well-communicated return policy alone can reduce returns. Some other tips for managing returns include:

· Collect reasons for returns 

· Inspect items upon return

· Implement a restocking system

· Refund customers properly and promptly

· Integrate multi-carrier management systems with built-in returns management

You’ll see your e-commerce business growth soar faster by following these tips and lessening the number of returns.

3. Customs

For businesses shipping internationally, customs is another problem. Each country has rules and regulations for goods entering and exiting the country. Likewise, items in transit also have rules to follow.

Shipping internationally isn’t going to get easier soon as more companies expand their operations overseas and ship globally. Thus, it’s vital to have a shipping partner who understands the necessary international shipping forms. This includes:

· Bill of Landing (BOL)

· Certificate of Origin 

· Commercial Invoice

· Duties Declarations

· Packing List

· Shipper’s Letter of Instruction (SLI)

When all the documentation is in order, your business works toward preventing lost shipments and tracking packages and deliveries more easily.

Beat These Shipping Challenges With SmartConsign

Businesses’ three most pressing shipping challenges are rising shipping costs, customer returns, and customs regulations. However, there are many more not discussed here.

If you’re ready to overcome your shipping woes, contact us at SmartConsign. Our software is proven to support the delivery of parcels faster at a lower cost. So why not learn about our shipping integrations?

Simply request a free demo from one of our team members. 

Courier Spotlight: YODEL

Posted on

Each year billions of items are purchased online via marketplaces, eCommerce and social platforms, serviced by a growing list of courier service providers.

But not all couriers are created equal and with rapid change in the market, keeping up with individual courier developments is not easy. In this article, we spotlight Yodel, a UK courier pioneering full integration of their services via Shipping API.

Courier Providers UK Market Share 2022 – Source: Statista 2022

Who is Yodel Parcel Deliveries?

Yodel is an independent courier service with over ten years of experience in B2B and B2C deliveries. It’s one of the UK’s most well-known courier brands, delivering 190m parcels yearly.

Yodel transports parcels via three delivery networks:

  • Local delivery operations to towns and regional areas
  • Door-to-door (D2D) collection of goods
  • Petrol station delivery and pick-up services

With CollectPlus, parcels can be collected or distributed by Yodel at local petrol stations and various parcel points operating within partnering stores.

Who Are Yodel’s Customers?

Yodel’s primary customers are small to medium-sized businesses, including those operating online through e-commerce stores. However, they aren’t limited in their distribution services to retailers only. Yodel’s customer base also extends to online marketplace buyers and sellers, for example, users of Amazon or eBay.

What’s more, Yodel have a significant presence in the ‘subscription box’ sector delivering items such as pet food, flowers, wine and meal boxes.

How SmartConsign API Works

SmartConsign is a multi-carrier management system that offers an all-in-one platform for managing shipments.

With SmartConsign, parcel delivery is made easy. Here’s how it works:

  • Connect your carrier services with your e-commerce site
  • Select your shipments
  • Create, print, and attach your shipping label
  • Track your parcel from the moment it’s sent until it reaches the buyer

SmartConsign and Yodel: One Perfect Solution

The simplicity and ease of using SmartConsign shipping API are a perfect fit with Yodel’s services. To date, they are the only courier to fully offer all its services via SmartConsign, helping to make life easier for its customers. One perfect platform enabling complete control of all aspects of the parcel delivery process.

As well as Yodel, here are some of the top couriers SmartConsign provides solutions for:

You can use the software if you have an e-commerce store set up with one of many different platforms. These include:

  • Shopify
  • eBay
  • Amazon
  • WooCommerce
  • Veeqo
  • Linnworks

Integrate the two and begin running your business more efficiently while enjoying a smoother parcel delivery process.

SmartConsign Features

The software allows you to benefit from a variety of features. Want to know what some of the best features are? With SmartConsign, you can:

  • Create your labels in less than 30 seconds
  • Send your parcel using the same-day booking feature
  • Bulk dispatch your orders in large batches as and when required
  • Choose from multiple shipping options, including pre-paid delivery
  • Access couriers not provided by your marketplace or eCommerce platform
  • Unbiased access to carrier performance

SmartConsign has a solution for most businesses, whether you are fulfilling 200 to 100K+ orders per month, using a wide selection of carriers, and integrating with some of the UK’s most popular eCommerce platforms.

Sign Up to Improve Your Delivery Service Today

If you are an existing Yodel customer or just starting, sign-up to SmartConsign and make significant savings in costs and time.

Talk to us to find out more! We’ll be happy to tell you how we can give you better control of your deliveries and smoothen your end-to-end shipping right away.

What sets eCommerce platforms and Marketplaces apart?

Posted on

The eCommerce ecosystem offers many selling channels, but can you tell the difference between eCommerce platforms and marketplaces? Both tracks are crucial to sales success, and understanding the differences, might help ensure you scale your business the right way. Read on to learn more.

What Is an eCommerce Platform?

eCommerce platforms are SaaS solutions that enable businesses to set up their website (or store) for selling and order fulfilment management. They allow access to multiple selling channels, including marketplaces.

Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, Linnworks, Veeqo to name a few, are some of the markets leading eCommerce platforms. You only need to create one product or advert, and the platform will publish it to each marketplace and website. And as the item is sold, it synchronises available stock, so you don’t oversell.

Maximum Efficiency and Control

Efficiency and control are attractive benefits of eCommerce platforms, but they also come with an abundance of tools that can help synchronise many aspects of sales, marketing and distribution functions. These tools include integrations like SmartConsign, an advanced shipping API that help to smooth the parcel delivery process.

SmartConsign integrations consist of market-leading eCommerce platforms with large user bases:  Linnworks, Veeqo, Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento and more. Visit our website to view all.

What Is a Marketplace?

A marketplace allows businesses to list and sell their products to customers directly. There are several eCommerce marketplaces; Amazon, eBay, and Etsy are some of the largest global platforms that sell all products. Other marketplaces specialise in one product category or may sell products with similar characteristics.

These marketplaces allow businesses to win a share of wallets from many potential customers. It is a quick way to sell your products without investing in building brand awareness. The platform’s algorithms help the customer discover your product. Minimal effort is required, provided you invest time in optimising your listings for search.

Expand Your Reach

Amazon is the largest marketplace (85m visitors per month) and has surpassed Google as the number one destination for product searches. Whilst, eBay retains its popularity as a marketplace for unique or hard-to-find products and is suitable for testing international markets.

SmartConsign Shipping API integrates with both Amazon and eBay, allowing merchants to control and manage their shipping processes, helping them save money.

eCommerce vs Marketplace Platforms: An Overview

eCommerce platforms connect and help businesses control multiple marketplaces and websites (online stores). Whereas marketplaces (i.e. Amazon and eBay) are single online stores that allow companies to list their products on their platforms to reach a ready-made audience of prospects.

Now that you know the difference between an eCommerce platform and a marketplace, why restrict your choices to one shop (marketplace) when you can scale your business across multiple channels (eCommerce platform) with the same effort.

Multi-Carrier Management

Furthermore, don’t miss out on the opportunity to truly scale your business by ensuring you have access to all carriers, even the ones not provided by the marketplace or platform.

Here is how you can benefit from SmartConsign integration by using either of these platforms:

  1. Access a library of carriers and related services that are not accessible directly via a marketplace or eCommerce platform
  2. Granular control of shipments (certain shipment features may not be available via either of these platforms)
  3. Centralised data source (all carrier tracking data consolidated in one place)

SmartConsign is a multi-carrier management system powering carriers, retailers, resellers and partners. Our system securely integrates your carriers, eCommerce platforms and marketplaces into a single platform, allowing you to manage and control your parcel deliveries across multiple carriers easily.

You can read more from our blog or email sales@smartconsign.io for a quick demo.

How to Organise Shipping for a UK Subscription Box Service

Posted on

UK subscription box services have been around for a while, but they only really started gaining traction in recent years. With brands like Dollar Shave Club, Craft Gin Club and BirchBox leading the way, now anyone can get started in this exciting industry.

If you have a great idea for a UK subscription box business, you might be wondering how best to organise the shipping process.

The good news is that modern technology makes it easy with online software that does much of the work for you. But there’s still a lot to consider before you start promoting your subscription box options.

Keep reading for everything you need to know.

Get the Right Software

At one time, organising orders and deliveries meant relying on extensive paper files and bewildering physical spreadsheets. Thanks to automation and the internet, however, many of your business’s processes can now be done online.

To start your subscription service, you’ll need a platform that can keep track of customer information, shipping carriers, and orders. But this is just scratching the surface. The more services you can get bundled in one program, the better.

SmartConsign’s delivery management services make organising lots of orders and deliveries simple with label printing, bulk batch processing, and more.

SmartConsign RapidX Batch Processing Screen

Choose the Best Carriers

When you’re sending physical goods to customers, providing the right shipping options is key.

Your customers may prefer to have the Royal Mail service deliver their orders, or they might prefer international carriers like UPS or DHL. Most of the time, they’ll want the most affordable shipping method possible. So having options is key.

SmartConsign works with just about every major carrier in the UK and offers prepaid shipping options. You can even access key shipping features through its mobile app.

Get the Right Packaging

When it comes to selling subscription boxes, you don’t want the box itself to be an afterthought. From choosing the right size to finding a shape that will hold your items secure, packaging is a critical part of your business.

You especially don’t want to send boxes that are too large, or you’ll waste money on packing materials and shipping fees. Shop around and experiment to find the ideal type of packaging for your products.

Engineer the Best Presentation

One of the most important moments for your customer is when they open your subscription box for the first time.

Make sure the moment isn’t spoiled for them by packing items securely and setting up each parcel for a great first impression.

Start Your UK Subscription Box Business With SmartConsign

And there you have it: everything you need to know about organising shipping for your very own subscription box brand.

Managing deliveries is probably the single most complicated part of running a subscription box business. Fortunately, with a platform like SmartConsign, it doesn’t have to be.

Request a demo to see how our software can simplify your subscription box service options.

Sustainable Parcel Delivery: Quick Tips for Ecommerce

Posted on

In a study by the World Economic Forum, over 50% of online shoppers cite concerns about the environmental impact of eCommerce. What’s more 38% are willing to help address the problem by paying more for low emission deliveries. Sustainable parcel delivery is fast catching consumer’s attention. But how do eCommerce businesses tap into this growing sentiment without the risk of losing their customers to competitors?

Adding a premium on parcel deliveries sounds excellent in practice, but few customers have the willpower to resist free delivery offers.

Read on to learn how eCommerce stores can tackle sustainability within their parcel delivery process without compromising business performance.

Delivery Tech

With the same-day delivery services market projected to grow by over 20% each year. Even the largest shippers have lost the power to slow down the demand for faster delivery.

Delivery technology like SmartConsign are designed to address the challenges of shrinking delivery times. From aiding order processing to multi-carrier management – these systems are essential to modern eCommerce shipping management.

They can also help businesses tackle sustainability by providing rich data to inform decisions throughout every stage of the parcel’s journey. For example, DHL, one of several carriers integrated on the SmartConsign platform, offers a ‘Green Plan. The solution calculates the most efficient route using delivery patterns and travel times.

The trick is having access to these carrier solutions from a single touch-point. Parcel delivery software enables this process effortlessly. Shippers load all their carriers onto the system, set rules and automatically process labels without accessing individual accounts. 

SmartConsign Multi-Carrier Management Dashboard

For unbiased shipping rates, sign up for a carrier-agnostic solution. Carriers on these systems do not pay a fee, so their rates are neutral. Overall helping to take eCommerce and suppliers within the order processing journey a step further in realising sustainable parcel delivery goals.

Use Packages That Are the Right Size

A lot of waste comes from using excessive packages to ship products. Amazon is often exposed for its packaging failures and in most part, they can withstand the criticism. But for most eCommerce businesses that level of consumer ridicule can cause serious damage to the brand’s reputation.‘Egregious Packaging‘ is a Reddit thread populated with consumers’ packaging fails.

Source: Reddit

Paying attention to packaging choices and using fewer plastics can help businesses reduce their environmental impact. As well as minimising waste, lighter delivery vehicles can be used and thereby help reduce carbon emissions. 

Bonus Shipping Packaging Tips

  • Using the same packaging twice helps reduce waste and is often more convenient for the consumer. Double-sealed mailers or zip-locked bags are hassle-free solutions, especially when the product needs to be returned.
  • Replace the plastic with paper-based packaging, which is recyclable and cost-effective. In the Paper and Packaging board study, 63% of people surveyed perceive a brand that uses paper packaging to be higher quality. When choosing paper-packaging solutions look for FSC-certified packaging products. 
  • Consider using biodegradable materials made from corn starch and sugarcane for single-use packaging.
  • Explore alternative protective packaging solutions such as those made from mushroom fibre. They are more sustainable than styrofoam.

Apply the Most Effective Tips for Sustainability Shipping

We hope we have piqued your interest in how your parcel deliveries can become more sustainable. As consumer sentiments towards sustainability continue to evolve making small changes now can make a world of difference.

To learn more about new shipping trends and sustainable practices, feel free to reach out and talk to our shipping experts. Email: sales@smartconsign.io