Remember when shipping was just slapping a label on a box and waving it goodbye? Yeah, those days are long gone. Today, customers expect a customer first approach—fast, flexible, and transparent deliveries. And if your shipping setup still relies on disconnected tools or manual processes, you’re not just losing time—you’re losing customers, revenue, and the chance to scale.
That’s where Connected Shipping comes in. Instead of treating each step—checkout, fulfilment, tracking, and returns—as separate battles, it brings everything together into one smooth operation. But to make it work, you need the right tools.
The problem with outdated shipping setups
Old-school shipping systems = delayed orders, inefficient workflows, and customers left refreshing their tracking page like it’s their full-time job. The right tools can change the game of your Connected Shipping strategy:
✅ Work smarter, not harder – Automate fulfilment, courier selection, and tracking updates to cut out the manual grind.
✅ Save money where it matters – Smart shipping software helps you avoid overpaying for couriers and optimise operations.
✅ Give customers what they expect – Real-time updates, flexible delivery options, and smooth returns.
✅ Scale without the growing pains – A flexible, connected tech stack supports growth into new markets without shipping chaos.
Specialised tools vs. all-in-one platforms
When should you choose a specialised tool, and when do you need an all-in-one solution?
Well, it fully depends on your business needs.
Specialised tools work best if you need advanced features in a specific area—like AI-powered courier selection or hyper-personalised tracking pages. If your shipping operations are already well-integrated, adding best-in-class tools can help optimise certain steps.
Some businesses swear by specialised tools, fine-tuning each step with best-in-class solutions. But if they don’t integrate well, you’re left with a tangled mess of systems that don’t talk to each other.
All-in-one platforms however make more sense if you’re dealing with disconnected systems, manual processes, or scaling pains. Instead of managing multiple integrations and juggling different dashboards, an all-in-one solution centralises everything—making shipping smoother and more efficient.
A Connected Shipping approach ensures every tool—whether specialised or all-in-one—works together seamlessly.
Now, let’s break down the different tools that can take your shipping from fragmented to fully connected.
The must-have tools for a seamless Connected Shipping experience
Rather than treating each tool as a standalone solution, the key is to build an interconnected system where fulfilment, tracking, customer updates, and returns flow seamlessly.
1. E-commerce platform & checkout – Where the shipping journey starts
Picture this: a customer is about to check out, but they don’t see their favourite delivery option. What do they do? Abandon their cart faster than you can say “shipping costs.” That’s why the Checkout should be the first touchpoint in the shipping journey you optimise.
Unfortunately, many e-commerce platforms don’t offer enough flexibility when it comes to shipping methods. Depending on your business needs, you can either:
Use your e-com platform’s built-in checkout (like Shopify, WooCommerce, or BigCommerce) but ensure it offers multiple delivery methods.
Enhance the experience with specialised tools that focus on specific touchpoints, like Ecwid and TikTok Shop for social commerce, OpenCart for customisable checkouts or the Sendcloud Checkout, which provides an upgraded solution with flexibility and smooth integration for a more customised shipping experience.
A great checkout should:
✔ Support multiple delivery options (home delivery, service points, lockers).
✔ Connect online and offline stores (for hybrid retailers using platforms like Lightspeed or CCV Shop).
✔ Work across marketplaces (for multi-channel sellers using tools like Mirakl or ProductFlow).
💡Connected Shipping tip: Even if your checkout offers flexible delivery options, it needs to sync with your shipping platform. Otherwise, you risk overpromising and underdelivering!
2. Shipping & courier management – The engine behind fast & reliable deliveries
Using a single courier is like only ever eating one kind of pizza—not great for variety, and you’re stuck when it’s unavailable. A multi-courier strategy keeps your shipping flexible, cost-effective, and reliable.
To stay competitive, your shipping platform should:
✔ Support multiple couriers – Letting you compare rates, delivery times, and courier performance.
✔ Automate the courier selection – Dynamically choosing the best option based on order details and destination.
✔ Leverage AI-powered shipping intelligence – Analysing costs, transit times, and courier reliability to optimise decisions.
✔ Offer built-in shipping insurance – Protecting against lost/delayed shipments.
💡Connected Shipping tip: Courier selection starts at checkout—your system should automatically select the best courier based on speed, cost, and customer preferences. With multi-courier shipping platforms like Sendcloud and Shipping Intelligence tools you can focus on cost optimisation right from the beginning.
3. Warehouse, order processing & fulfilment – From shelf to shipment, fast
Slow fulfilment = delayed deliveries = unhappy customers. It’s that simple. The right warehouse tools ensure orders are picked, packed, and shipped fast.
Key features to look for:
✔A Warehouse Management System (WMS) that integrates with your shipping systems and automates inventory tracking & picking processes.
✔ 3PL providers for outsourced fulfilment that grows with your business.
✔ Pick & Pack software that speeds up order processing and reduces errors.
💡Connected Shipping tip: If your warehouse doesn’t talk to your shipping platform, expect delays and missed pickups. Make integration a priority! Tools like Linnworks or Pulpo WMS help to keep things running smoothly.
4. Customs & international shipping – Going global, without the chaos
Expanding globally? Customs delays and unexpected fees can wreck the customer experience. The right tools can make international shipping painless.
To avoid international shipping headaches, invest in tools that:
✔ Automate duty & tax calculations – Avoid surprise fees for customers.
✔ HS code classification – Ensure compliance and speed up customs clearance.
✔ Localised shipping options – Work with regional couriers for better service.
5. Post-purchase experience: Tracking & customer communication
A customer places an order. Now what? The experience doesn’t end at checkout. If they have to ask where their package is, you’re already losing trust. Instead, proactive tracking updates reduce support tickets and boost satisfaction.
When choosing a tool, pay attention to the following:
✔ Branded tracking pages – Keep customers engaged with your brand, not the courier’s.
✔ Multi-channel notifications – Email, SMS, WhatsApp for proactive updates.
✔ Automated customer feedback collection – Automate review requests for post-delivery insights.
💡Connected Shipping tip: The post-purchase experience should feel like a natural extension of the brand experience, not a handoff to couriers. Tools like Sendcloud Tracking, Zendesk, Klaviyo, and Watermelon keep your brand front and center.
6. Returns management & support automation – Make returns painless
Returns don’t have to be a profit killer. If done well, they drive customer loyalty instead of creating frustration. Customers expect fast, hassle-free returns and clear refund policies businesses need a cost-effective way to handle them.
An efficient returns setup should include:
✔ A self-service returns portal – Letting customers manage returns easily and without contacting the support.
✔ Automated refund processing – Speeding up resolution times.
✔ AI-driven support – Automating WISMO responses & courier claim handling.
Our favourite return tools include ReturnGo, ReturnZap, and Returner.
💡Connected Shipping tip: Sendcloud recently acquired Lox, bringing AI-powered courier refunds & shipping issue resolution into the mix. The future of Connected Shipping means solving shipping issues before customers even notice them.
Integration is key: Make these tools work together
By now, you’ve seen all the different tools needed for a seamless shipping experience. But here’s the catch: Having the right tools is only half the battle. What truly makes a difference is ensuring they work together.
The problem with conventional shipping tech: Too many tools = fragmented data, untracked customer touchpoints, and back to square one.
The Connected Shipping approach: A smooth system where checkout, fulfilment, tracking, and returns all integrate—turning shipping into a competitive advantage instead of a cost center.
That’s also where an all-in-one shipping platform like Sendcloud makes the difference. Instead of juggling integrations, separate dashboards, and manual processes, you get a single, connected system that streamlines every step—from checkout to tracking, returns, and analytics.
Final thoughts: The right tools = a smarter shipping strategy
Connected Shipping isn’t just a trend—it’s the key to growing your e-commerce business while delivering the experience customers expect. With a truly connected shipping setup, you can:
✔ Reduce manual work and streamline fulfilment.
✔ Optimise courier selection to balance speed & cost.
✔ Improve post-purchase communication and keep customers engaged.
✔ Automate returns & issue resolution for a hassle-free experience.
—without jumping between different tools.
And the easiest way to do that? A single platform that does it all!
Ready to take the next step? Explore how Sendcloud can help you build your Connected Shipping strategy today!
As Head of Product Marketing at Sendcloud, Ashley sits at the intersection of the market, customers, and our product. She shares insights, tips, and guidelines on why a Connected Shipping strategy can help grow your e-commerce business and how to implement one yourself.
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