In this eCommerce world, start up companies are appearing everywhere selling merchandising competitiveness with most brick and mortar stores. I thought I would take this time to evaluate an order management system called Shipstation to help eCommerce companies avoid many of the mistakes made in the start up phase of their small business.
What is an order management system? Order Management Systems allows companies to manage their product listings across multiple sales channels. For instance, if you are selling products or eBay, Amazon, and Rakuten you can manage all your orders through one system instead of managing your orders individually through each sales channel.
The most popular Order Management System that I encounter daily in my business is Shipstation. Shipstation is an Austin, Tx based company. This system allows eRetailers to automate all portions of their fulfillment operation and create customs rules specifically designed for your company with minimal effort.
Sales Channels Supported
1) eBay
2) Amazon
3) Rakuten
4) Sears
5) Best Buy Marketplace
The above is a sampling of the more popular sales channels. They do service many more but just wanted to give you a flavor for the channels supported.
Shipstation allows you to continue shipping using your most popular carriers just more easily. The system will allow you to import all your orders into the system and print labels continuously for variable carriers with ease.
Shipping Carriers Supplied
1) Fedex
2) UPS
3) DHL
4) USPS
Pricing Plans for Shipstation
Bronze Plan – $ 25.00 per month
The Bronze Plan covers a company for 500 shipments per month, supports 1 selling platform, single user, provides standard labels and packing slips, gives you access to e-mall & community forum support, and has standard security and admin.
Silver Plan – $ 45.00 per month
The Silver Plan covers a company for 1500 shipments per month, supports 2 selling platforms, Two users, provides customized labels and packing slips, gives you access to e-mall & community forum support, and has standard security and admin.
Gold Plan – $ 65.00 per month
The Gold Plan covers a company for 3,000 shipments per month, supports 3 selling platforms, Three users, provides customized labels and packing slips, gives you access to Live chat & e-mall & community forum support, and has enhanced security and admin.
Platinum Plan – $ 95.00 per month
The Platinum Plan covers a company for 6,000 shipments per month, supports 5 selling platforms, Five users, provides customized labels and packing slips, gives you access to Live Chat, e-mall & community forum support, and has enhanced security and admin.
Enterprise Plan – $ 145.00 per month
The Platinum Plan covers a company for Unlimited shipments per month, supports All selling platforms, Ten users, provides customized labels and packing slips, gives you access to Live Chat, e-mall & community forum support, and has enhanced security and admin.
Advantages of using Shipstation
1) Ease of integration – Shipstation has an implementation team that will assist you in setting up your selling platforms with Shipstation.
2) Scalable Costs – Depending upon how many packages you are shipping you can have your costs manageable and grow with your business.
3) Consolidator Labels – Shipstation is one of the few systems which will allow you to utilize parcel consolidators. Parcel consolidators are critical to assisting eRetailers in lowering their postage costs. Without access to consolidator labels your competition will have access to lower postage rates than your business.
4) Customer Service – Shipstation provides excellent customer service regardless of the size of your organization.
5) Postage Reduction – Using Shipstation you will automatically have access to USPS Commercial Base postage rates saving you money on your domestic and international shipments.
Disadvantages of Shipstation
1) Access to sales channels limited for the entry level pricing plans
2) USPS & Consolidator labels are generated through their partnership with Endicia. An Endicia.com postage account is required for postage funding.
Software Review Rating
Overall I think that Shipstation is the best order management / shipping system on the market for eCommerce sellers. With the various pricing programs offered it allows smaller shippers to take advantage of the many capabilities offered by the software. Using Shipstation will automatically lower your postage rates by granting you access to Commercial Base pricing with the United States Postal Service right after implementation.
In conclusion, I would highly recommend that eCommerce sellers use Shipstation. It will allow you to use multiple carriers, rate shop your shipments, and give you access to reduced postage immediately after installation. Depending upon how many orders you are sending monthly, you may find that the reduced shipping costs pay for the program strictly.
