The Ultimate Guide to Selecting Shipment Tracking Software for SMBs in 2024
This article explores how small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) can choose the right shipment tracking software. It discusses the importance of such software, its benefits for SMBs, key factors to consider when selecting a solution, and concludes with valuable insights.
The e-commerce industry has experienced significant growth in recent years, thanks to the low barrier to entry for setting up online stores. As a result, the market has become saturated with countless new businesses, making it challenging for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to capture attention and seize their market share.
- Why do SMB need Shipment Tracking Software?
- What Shipment Tracking Software Can Do for Your Business?
- What to Look For When Choosing Shipment Tracking Software?
- Conclusion
Why do SMB need Shipment Tracking Software?
SMBs face several challenges in the e-commerce domain, including providing a satisfactory post-purchase experience for customers.
This includes order tracking and follow-up communication, which can be particularly difficult for SMBs due to limited budgets and IT infrastructure.
Additionally, SMBs often have limited resources available to address customer inquiries regarding the status of their orders, leading to an increase in “Where Is My Order”(WISMO) calls.
Furthermore, SMBs struggle with customer nurturing and up-selling, as they may lack the necessary tools and strategies to engage with their customer base after the initial purchase effectively. To overcome these challenges, SMBs can benefit from implementing shipment tracking software.
What Shipment Tracking Software Can Do for Your Business?
Shipment tracking software is a technological solution designed to streamline the tracking and management of shipments.
Streamline your shipping process
Shipment tracking software can automate and streamline various aspects of your shipping process. The most important of which is that it can integrate with multiple shipping carriers you may use. It allows you to track the progress of shipments in real-time, providing customers with up-to-date information about their orders.
Provide accurate delivery estimates
Shipment tracking software enables you to provide accurate delivery estimates to your customers, reducing the chances of lost and damaged packages. When customers receive their packages within the estimated time frame, their satisfaction increases, leading to better customer retention and positive reviews.
Cost saving
Implementing shipment tracking software can help SMBs save costs in multiple ways. By automating shipping processes, you can eliminate manual errors and reduce the need for additional labor. What’s more, accurate delivery estimates can reduce the number of customer inquiries and WISMO calls, saving customer support resources.
Offer valuable reports for SMB strategy
Some shipment tracking software provide valuable reporting capabilities that can assist SMBs in setting up effective strategies. These reports can include data on shipping performance, delivery times, carrier performance, and customer satisfaction.
By analyzing this data, SMBs can identify patterns, make informed decisions, and improve their overall shipping operations. This helps SMBs optimize their supply chain, improve customer experiences, and ultimately drive growth.
What to Look For When Choosing Shipment Tracking Software?
When it comes to selecting the right shipment tracking software for your small or medium-sized business, finding the ideal option can be a complex process.
Based on the reviews of shipment tracking software on the authoritative rating website G2 and the opinions of AfterShip tracking software experts, we have selected the features that are most important to SMBs. From the successful experience of other SMBs cases, you can definitely choose the right shipment tracking software for your business.
Carriers & eCommerce Integration
Choosing the carriers your business uses is the most basic requirement for qualified shipment tracking software. At the same time, as your business grows, you will most likely cooperate with more carriers. To avoid unnecessary replacement software costs, please choose software with higher carrier integration capabilities. Additionally, it should seamlessly integrate with the specific eCommerce platforms you use, allowing for smooth order management and tracking.
| ? Recommended | ? Not Recommended |
|---|---|
| ? 17track Supports 2,094 carriers 9 main + 27 sub Order Status |
? parcelLab Supports 200+ carriers |
| ? AfterShip Supports 1,126 carriers Supports B2C Europe |
? Narvar Supports 300+ carriers |
| ? PostShip Supports 1,560+ carriers |
Ease of Use
Ease of use is another vital factor that positively impacts user satisfaction among SMB employees who may not have a technical background. The software should be user-friendly, easily set up, and offer straightforward administrative functionalities. By prioritizing simplicity and intuitive design, SMBs can streamline their shipment tracking processes and minimize training time for employees.
| ? Recommended | |
|---|---|
| ? Outvio | Top 3 Easiest To Use tracking software |
| Customer Segment Breakdown → Small business 92% | |
| ? AfterShip | Leader of 2023 Fall |
| Ease of use is one of the most praised features by its users |
"The app's interface is visually appealing and intuitive, making it simple to use even for those without a technical background. I appreciate the attention to detail put into the design, as it helps me to work more efficiently and effectively."
Branded Tracking Page
An essential feature of shipment tracking software is building a branded tracking page for your business. This allows businesses to build awareness and reinforce their brand throughout the customer's journey. By integrating all notifications in one platform, it becomes easier to manage and reduces labor costs for SMBs.
"What I like about AfterShip is that it is so easy to set up a branded tracking page and that all notifications are integrated in one platform so all I have to do is add the tracking number to the order and the rest is taken care of."
Customer Support
Efficient customer support is critical to ensure any issues or concerns are promptly addressed. SMBs should opt for shipment tracking software providers that offer 24/7 support and possess excellent problem-solving skills. A reliable call service can also provide immediate assistance when needed.
| ? Recommended - Help Center and 24/7 Live Chat Support |
|---|
| ? PostShip (Call Support in Premium feature) |
| ? AfterShip |
| ? Rush |
"It's the only tool that really suits my use case since my business isn't integrated with any e-commerce solutions/platforms. The UI is also very similar to Shopify which helps with the onboarding experience. When I requested for help with my issue from AfterShip, I was connected quickly with an agent (Nitin) which assisted me quickly through Google Meet."
Pricing
Pricing is another significant aspect to evaluate when choosing shipment tracking software. SMBs should seek competitive pricing that aligns with their budgetary constraints. It is important to consider appropriate pricing levels and features, ensuring that the software offers a balance between the number of shipments and advanced features. Some providers also offer free plans for businesses to test and evaluate before committing.
"We wish there could be a 'Starter' type plan with more features for startups that can scale as we grow. But that's only related to price. The service and the platform are very high quality so one definitely gets their money's worth."
Import & Export
Automation plays a significant role in simplifying operations and reducing costs. SMBs should prioritize software that allows for easy import and export of tracking data, eliminating manual tasks and minimizing errors.
| ? Recommended - CSV Import & Export Included |
|---|
| ? AfterShip |
| ? TrackingMore |
| ? Parcel Panel |
Shipping Notifications
Shipping notification options are also worth considering. While some SMBs prefer sending notifications via email, others may find SMS notifications more effective for their customers. Choosing software that caters to these preferences can enhance the overall customer experience.
| ? Recommended | Offer Both Email and SMS |
|---|---|
| ? AfterShip | Provide Facebook Messenger Notifications |
| ? Track123 | 11 Email Template Languages |
| ? Narvar | 14 Delivery Status Triggers |
"While all other paid tracking platforms failed to track Amazon Tracking Numbers, AfterShip can track them without any issues. The online support is always available 24/7. We are highly satisfied with the services provided by AfterShip, including the branded tracking page, multiple email notification templates, etc. All of these make our store look professional and well manage the delivery status in the eyes of customers."
Analytics
Analytics capabilities are valuable for SMBs as they provide insights into shipment tracking performance. These insights enable businesses to identify areas for improvement and optimize their logistics operations accordingly.
| ? Recommended | ? Not Recommended |
|---|---|
| ? AfterShip | ? 17track |
| ? parcelLab | ? TrackingMore |
| ? Parcel Panel | ? Tracktor |
Conclusion
By carefully evaluating the key factors mentioned above, SMBs can make an informed decision when selecting shipment tracking software. Taking into account the specific needs of their business, as well as the preferences of their customers, ensures that SMBs can leverage the software to maximize efficiency, reduce costs, and ultimately deliver an exceptional experience to their customers.
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