Every second counts in ecommerce. The faster you can pick, pack, and ship an order, the more competitive your business becomes. But for many retailers, outdated workflows and clunky manual processes are still dragging things down. Label creation takes too long. Mistakes are common. And the shipping process gets more complicated with every added sales channel.
Of importance, ecommerce is accelerating faster than ever — US ecommerce sales are set to surpass $1 trillion in 2026 while global ecommerce is expected to more than double pre-pandemic levels, reaching $7.4 trillion. Globally, retailers are responding: 78 percent increased their ecommerce budgets for 2024, and online sales are expected to make up 22 percent of all retail sales this year. That rapid growth raises the bar for fulfillment — with more orders happening online, merchants need order-processing and return workflows that are fast, reliable, and scalable.
That’s where shipping automation software like ReadyShipper X steps in. It’s designed to handle the busy work, speed things up, and make your entire fulfillment operation run smoother. Whether you’re shipping 100 or 10,000 orders a month, automated shipping software helps ensure every package is shipped faster, cheaper, and with fewer errors.
Here’s what you need to know about how shipping software automation is reshaping ecommerce fulfillment and why it’s become an essential part of a scalable growth strategy.
What Is Shipping Automation Software?
Shipping automation software is built to simplify and streamline the fulfillment process. Instead of printing one label at a time, logging into multiple carrier accounts, and manually entering customer info, automated shipping platforms do the heavy lifting for you.
At its core, this software connects your online store or marketplace directly with the shipping process. It syncs your orders, applies pre-set automation rules, finds the best carrier and rates, generates shipping labels in batches, and updates your customers with tracking information.
The best solutions, like ReadyShipper X, also offer robust features such as rate shopping, carrier management, branded tracking pages, and built-in CRM integrations. What’s more, they support multichannel sales and multiple warehouses, which makes them perfect for brands growing across platforms like Shopify, Amazon, TikTok, Netsuite, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, and Magento.
The reality is that manual shipping can only take you so far. Shipping software automation scales with ease and keeps your operations moving, even when order volume spikes.
“The ultimate key is having access to a shipping solution that integrates with all your carriers and offers real-time rate shopping and unique rate options. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Begin setting up test shipments now, and familiarize yourself with deadlines and additional fees each carrier imposes to gain a competitive advantage.” – Read Article on Forbes
How Shipping Automation Streamlines Fulfillment
Manually shipping orders can be time-consuming and prone to mistakes. You’ve got to pull the order, double-check the address, select a carrier, compare rates, print the label, send tracking, and repeat that process for every order. Multiply that by hundreds or thousands of packages a day, and you can see how things get overwhelming fast.
Automated shipping software changes that. It turns repetitive tasks into streamlined workflows. You can apply rules that automatically choose the right carrier based on weight, destination, and speed. Labels can be printed in batches instead of one at a time. Address verification runs in the background to reduce errors. Orders from multiple channels feed into a single dashboard.
With ReadyShipper X, users can even create custom shipping presets for different SKUs, customer types or locations. That means less time clicking around and more time focusing on growth. It’s fulfillment made simple, consistent and efficient.
Why It Pays to Automate Your Shipping
Shipping automation software is more than just a time-saver. It directly impacts your bottom line in multiple ways.
First, there’s labor savings. Fewer manual steps mean your team can process more orders without adding headcount. For small teams, this is huge. For larger ones, it’s even more critical to keep payroll in check during peak seasons.
Second, shipping speed improves. Orders go out faster because the system removes delays and manual entry. Customers notice that. They leave better reviews. They buy again. This feeds into better customer lifetime value and improves the post-purchase experience exponentially.
Third, shipping mistakes drop significantly. Wrong addresses, duplicate orders and forgotten tracking updates all get handled automatically. Fewer mistakes mean fewer returns, fewer customer complaints, and fewer lost packages.
Finally, automation unlocks a more scalable business model. Whether you’re fulfilling in-house or with third-party logistics, automated shipping software gives you the consistency needed to grow with confidence.
“Cloud-based solutions are tethered to the uptime of the service provider, whereas hybrid-cloud solutions mean you can keep shipping packages even if your SaaS provider is experiencing a disruption of service.” – Read Article on Forbes
What To Look For in Automated Shipping Software
Not all shipping automation software is created equal. There are some key features that every ecommerce business should look for before choosing a solution.
Start with ecommerce integrations. Your shipping software should plug directly into your sales channels, whether that’s Shopify, WooCommerce, Amazon, BigCommerce, Magento, NetSuite, or TikTok Shop. Look for platforms that support multichannel fulfillment in one place.
Next is rate shopping. The best automated shipping platforms compare real-time rates across UPS, FedEx, USPS, and regional carriers. You shouldn’t have to guess which one is cheaper or faster — let the software decide for you using smart rules.
Batch label printing is another must-have. Manually printing one label at a time wastes hours. Automation software lets you process hundreds of orders in minutes, with bulk-print options.
Automation rules are where the magic happens. These allow you to create if-then workflows. For example, if an order weighs less than a pound and is going to California, use USPS First-Class. This level of control keeps your costs in check without needing daily supervision.
Look for analytics and reporting, too. Knowing your shipping costs, delivery times, and carrier usage can help you refine your strategy and negotiate better rates.
ReadyShipper X checks all these boxes. It’s a hybrid desktop and cloud-based platform that gives you the speed of local software with the flexibility of cloud access. It’s designed for ecommerce sellers who want automation without the learning curve.
Rate Shopping: Cut Costs Without Cutting Corners
Shipping isn’t cheap. Between carrier rate hikes, surcharges, and dimensional pricing, many businesses lose money on fulfillment without realizing it.
Rate shopping is one of the most essential features in any shipping automation software. It automatically compares shipping rates across carriers and service levels to find the lowest price for the delivery window you need.
For example, one order may qualify for 2-day delivery with FedEx, but be $3 cheaper using USPS Priority. Another might be better suited to UPS Ground. The platform does the math for you in real time and picks the best option based on your criteria.
This isn’t just about saving pennies either. Rate shopping can save mid-size merchants thousands of dollars a year, especially when combined with automation rules that route packages efficiently.
ReadyShipper X has built-in rate shopping for FedEx, UPS, USPS and more. It even includes regional carriers, which are increasingly being used for fast, low-cost last-mile delivery.
“You know better than anyone that shipping is a complex business with several moving parts. That’s why total shipping costs are so complicated — there are dozens of factors to take into account.” Read Full Article on Forbes
Multichannel Selling Needs Multichannel Shipping Software
Ecommerce isn’t a one-store game anymore. You might sell on your own Shopify store, but also use Amazon, TikTok Shop, and WooCommerce. Maybe you’ve added Magento or NetSuite into the mix. Every platform has its own order flow and shipping requirements.
That’s where multichannel shipping automation makes a real difference. Instead of logging into five different dashboards, your automated shipping software pulls all your orders into one place.
Tracking updates go out on time. And your team can ship every order from the same streamlined workflow, regardless of where it was sold.
Without automation, this kind of multichannel fulfillment is chaotic and time-intensive. With the right software, it’s just another part of the process.
ReadyShipper X handles multichannel selling with ease. It connects to all major ecommerce platforms, letting you manage everything from one simple interface.
The Role of Shipping Software Automation in Returns
Returns are an unavoidable part of ecommerce, especially in fashion, electronics and other high-volume verticals. How you handle them can make or break customer loyalty.
Automated shipping platforms simplify the returns process. You can generate return labels automatically, include them in the original package, or give customers a self-service portal to request a return.
This means fewer support tickets, faster return handling, and better inventory management. You can even set return rules — for example, free returns on orders over $75, or customer-paid shipping on clearance items.
Software like ReadyShipper X also connects with ReadyReturns, making it easy to manage returns from end to end.
“Returns are devastating retailers. In 2024, it was estimated that returns amounted to over $685 billion in lost revenue in the U.S. alone. That’s not just a logistics problem; it’s a significant business challenge.” Read Full Article on Forbes
Shipping Software Automation + CRM = Smarter Growth
Most shipping software stops at the package. But your shipping data is full of customer insights. When integrated with a CRM, it becomes a powerful growth engine.
ReadyCloud’s built-in ecommerce CRM syncs directly with ReadyShipper X, giving you a complete timeline of every order, return, shipment and communication. That means smarter customer segmentation, better remarketing, and more relevant upsell campaigns.
You can build automations that send promo emails based on last shipping date, product type or delivery zone. You can identify VIP customers based on order volume or frequency. Shipping data becomes a marketing asset, not just a fulfillment log.
This is where ecommerce gets strategic — not just operational.
How ReadyShipper X Sets the Standard for Automated Shipping Software
ReadyShipper X was designed for ecommerce sellers who need serious automation without complicated setups. It combines a fast desktop experience with the flexibility of the cloud.
You can import orders from Shopify, WooCommerce, Amazon, NetSuite, TikTok Shop, WooCommerce, BigCommerce and more. It has built-in rate shopping across all major carriers. It prints labels in bulk and applies automation rules to get the job done faster.
What sets it apart is how easy it is to get started. There’s no steep learning curve, and it’s built to scale with your business. You can start with one user and grow into a full warehouse team without switching systems.
ReadyShipper X offers multi-carrier support (FedEx, UPS, USPS), making it built for performance and reliability. And when paired with ReadyCloud CRM and ReadyReturns, it becomes a complete post-purchase suite.
| Feature | ReadyShipper X | Other Rate Shopping Tools |
|---|---|---|
| Real-Time Carrier Rate Shopping | ✅ Built-in, lightning fast | ⚠️ Often delayed or only semi-automated |
| Multi-Carrier Support | ✅ Native support for UPS, USPS, FedEx, DHL and more | ⚠️ Limited integrations or third-party plugins required |
| Use Your Own Negotiated Rates | ✅ Yes, and compare them side by side | ⚠️ Often requires manual setup or workarounds |
| Multiple Accounts Per Carrier | ✅ Fully supported | ❌ Most tools support one account per carrier |
| Smart Automation Rules | ✅ Auto-select cheapest or fastest rate based on your preferences | ❌ Manual decision-making required for each shipment |
| One-Click Label Creation | ✅ Yes, with real-time rates applied automatically | ⚠️ Extra steps or copy-paste processes required |
| Seamless eCommerce Integrations | ✅ Works with Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce and more | ⚠️ Limited or outdated integration options |
| No Add-Ons or Hidden Fees | ✅ Transparent pricing, all features included | ⚠️ Feature gating, pay-per-label pricing, hidden costs |
| Built for High-Volume Shippers | ✅ Designed to handle thousands of shipments daily without slowing down | ⚠️ Performance degrades with volume |
| In-App Customer Support | ✅ Instant support from real people inside the app | ❌ Support tickets or email-only communication |
| Cloud-Based + Desktop Hybrid | ✅ Use it where you work, in the cloud or on your desktop | ❌ Typically cloud-only or legacy desktop systems |
| Zero Guesswork Shipping | ✅ Rate shopping baked into every shipment | ⚠️ You’re on your own to compare rates manually |
Future-Proofing Your Fulfillment Strategy Starts Now
Ecommerce will only get faster, more competitive, and more customer-driven in the coming years. The brands that win will be the ones that can ship faster, cheaper, and more accurately without burning out their teams or their budgets.
Manual shipping systems can’t keep up. But shipping automation software gives you the tools to thrive, scale, and deliver better experiences at every turn.
Whether you’re just getting started or managing thousands of monthly orders, the right automated shipping platform sets the stage for long-term growth.
Start Automating Your Shipping Today!
Ready to make shipping your competitive edge? ReadyShipper X is fast, flexible, and made for modern ecommerce. Try it today and see how it can streamline your entire fulfillment process.
Click here to start your free trial or connect with a product expert.
The Future of Ecommerce is Now
Staying ahead in the ecommerce industry means embracing innovation and anticipating changes before they arrive. The ecommerce trends shaping 2025 and beyond provide valuable insights into what’s next, but the future also brings exciting new possibilities. Businesses that adapt quickly and leverage the right tools will thrive in this dynamic landscape.
Ready for 2026? ReadyCloud Has You Covered!
Success in 2026 starts with the right tools, and ReadyCloud’s suite of solutions is designed to propel your ecommerce business to new heights. With ReadyCloud, you’ll have all your data centralized in one place, offering insights that drive smarter decisions. Take your marketing to the next level with Action Alerts, delivering growth-focused, automated campaigns that keep your customers engaged.
Shipping is easier than ever with ReadyShipper X, a multicarrier solution that simplifies your fulfillment process while saving time and money.
And when it comes to returns, ReadyReturns streamlines the entire process with an automated solution that boosts customer satisfaction and loyalty.
ReadyCloud is more than just a suite of systems—it’s your ticket to thriving in 2025 and beyond!
Start your journey to success today! Learn more and get started here.
Or contact our Sales Department at: 877-818-7447 ext. 1.
FAQs About Shipping Automation Software
What is shipping automation software?
Shipping automation software automates label creation, rate shopping, order syncing, and tracking updates to streamline ecommerce fulfillment.
How does automated shipping software help small businesses?
It reduces labor, speeds up fulfillment, improves accuracy, and lowers shipping costs so small teams can ship efficiently at scale.
Can shipping automation software integrate with Shopify and Amazon?
Yes, leading platforms support integrations with Shopify, Amazon, WooCommerce, TikTok Shop, and other major ecommerce platforms.
Is it worth switching from manual shipping to an automated shipping platform?
Yes. It improves speed, accuracy, and cost-efficiency while reducing staff workload and error rates.
How does rate shopping work in shipping software automation?
The software compares real-time rates from multiple carriers and applies the cheapest or fastest option based on your rules.
What are the top features to look for in shipping automation software?
Batch label printing, rate shopping, automation rules, multichannel integrations, reporting and return management.
Is ReadyShipper X better than ShipStation?
ReadyShipper X offers faster performance with a hybrid setup, simpler workflows, and stronger CRM connectivity, making it a top choice for growth-focused sellers.
Can automated shipping platforms handle returns?
Yes. They let you include return labels or give customers a portal to generate their own, making returns easier for everyone.
Does shipping automation software reduce shipping costs?
Absolutely. Rate shopping, bulk label processing, and fewer errors all contribute to lower total shipping spend.