1. Overview of WooCommerce Shipping
WooCommerce Shipping is a multi-carrier shipping software solution provided by the digital storefront platform WooCommerce. It is a shipping solution for businesses to ship products to customers without the need to use extensions or a difference for their shipping requirements. In this article, we discuss the WooCommerce Shipping service, why businesses need it and how they can benefit from it.
2. What is WooCommerce Shipping
WooCommerce Shipping is essentially a multi-carrier shipping management tool that allows eCommerce businesses to ship their products right from the platform without switching between different services. Since the service is built into the WooCommerce platform, businesses can accurately ship products as the service pulls order data automatically.
3. How does WooCommerce Shipping work?
WooCommerce Shipping is built into the WooCommerce digital storefront platform, allowing businesses to generate labels, create orders, and print labels. To facilitate shipping items using WooCommerce Shipping, the platform allows businesses to generate labels, create conditions for automatic fulfillment and even give printing commands for compliant shipping from within the platform.
4. What pricing options are available with WooCommerce Shipping?
The WooCommerce Shipping service allows eCommerce businesses to offer three types of pricing options to customers. Businesses can offer free shipping, table rates as well as local pickup options. Here is how the three different options work.
4.1) Free shipping
Free shipping is by far the most attractive shipping option for customers. To set up free shipping within the WooCommerce platform, users need to open the Settings for Shipping from within the WooCommerce platform and then move on to enter the rules that make a product eligible for free shipping. The user is able to create rules based on the location, size and value of the product and can use multiple combinations of available parameters.
4.2) Table rates
A table rate is a pricing option that defines the cost of shipping a product depending on predefined parameters. The users can set up different conditions for Table Rates in the Shipping settings of the WooCommerce. Through the use of parameters such as distance, value, type, and weight of the product, businesses can set different costs for shipping the product.
4.3) Local pickup
WooCommerce allows businesses to provide a local pickup option for customers that are located near their base of operations. Through WooCommerce Shipping businesses are able to receive the order online, get paid for it and then allow customers to come to the physical location of the business and pick the products that they have ordered in person.
5. How to calculate the cost of shipping with WooCommerce Shipping using Table Rates?
For Table Rates, businesses are required to define parameters in the Settings for Shipping within the WooCommerce Shipping platform. From there, the system will receive all necessary information required to calculate the price of shipping the product based on predefined parameters. Parameters such as distance of the customer from the warehouse, the value of the items ordered, type of products and weight of the product can be used to determine the cost of shipping.
6. List of carriers supported by WooCommerce Shipping
Presently, WooCommerce Shipping is integrated with two carriers including USPS and DHL. For these carriers, it provides a multi-carrier management tool that allows businesses to create orders, generate and print labels and save shipping costs.
6.1) USPS
USPS is a leading provider of shipping and postage services. It offers dedicated solutions for eCommerce companies and allows them to make international shipments without having to switch to different platforms or carriers. USPS allows businesses to create labels, ship products and track orders through the WooCommerce Shipping service.
6.2) DHL
DHL is one of the largest shipping companies in the world with access to over 220 countries around the world. It employs 400,000 people and processes an average of 1.8 billion packages every year. It allows businesses to send freight, create labels, ship sensitive items and offer cross-border services to customers. It also allows businesses to consolidate their shipments and offer paperless trade options for eligible countries.
7. Benefits of shipping with WooCommerce Shipping
Businesses can use WooCommerce Shipping to their benefit in a number of ways. It is a great way to save costs and improve customer experience. Here are some of the ways businesses benefit from WooCommerce Shipping.
7.1)Increased consumer trust
When shipping services are provided by the eCommerce store itself, it improves trust with customers. Since the shipping solution is managed and monitored directly by the eCommerce store, customers are more likely to believe that their products will arrive on time and safely. This allows businesses to retain customers and reduce cart abandonment rates.
7.2)Higher efficiency
When shipping services are integrated into the digital storefront platform, businesses are able to create orders, book shipments, generate labels and get quotes instantly. This helps reduce the delay in the shipping process for businesses and allows more efficient and cost-effective shipping.
7.3)Two carrier options
The platform allows businesses to choose from two leading providers, namely, USPS and DHL. This allows businesses the flexibility of choosing the ideal option for their requirements and shipping products with the carrier of their choice. It allows businesses to leverage the different specialties and capabilities of 2 different carriers in separate situations.
7.4)Unified platform
Since the WooCommerce Shipping service is a part of the WooCommerce platform, it allows businesses to perform different functions through a single dashboard. When businesses use the same platform to perform different tasks, the process becomes faster, more accurate and reduces the cost of operations as well.
8. How can businesses use WooCommerce Shipping?
WooCommerce Shipping can be used by businesses for different shipping-related requirements. Here are some of the ways businesses can use WooCommerce Shipping for their shipping needs.
8.1) Generate Labels
WooCommerce Shipping can be used to create compliant shipping labels for both USPS and DHL from within the platform. Since the platform is integrated with the carriers, the information is directly pulled from the order sheet, making the process more accurate.
8.2) Ship items
The WooCommerce Shipping service can be used to ship items to different regions. The service uses the coverage provided by the integrated carriers to reach domestic as well as international customers.
8.3) Track orders
As the platform is integrated with shipping companies, businesses are able to monitor the status and location of their orders from within the platform, while also improving visibility for their customers. This way businesses are able to enhance customer satisfaction while simultaneously managing shipping exceptions.
9. Final thoughts
For eCommerce businesses using the WooCommerce platform as their online store, WooCommerce Shipping is a great solution that provides access to different carriers that pre-integrated with the system. It helps businesses reduce the time spent in shipping products and helps businesses improve the efficiency of their operations.
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