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Needless to say, the Indian eCommerce industry has been on an upward growth trajectory. India’s eCommerce industry is expected to reach US $160 billion by 2028. Every corner of India has seen eCommerce adoption. More than 60% of transactions and orders in India come from tier-two cities and smaller towns. The eCommerce trend is gaining major popularity even in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, as they now make up nearly half of all shoppers.
The most important aspect of eCommerce is shipping. The priority is for products to reach buyers with a top-notch customer experience. Hence, the need for flexible shipping solutions has emerged, perhaps which shipping aggregators or courier aggregators can conveniently fulfill.
What is a Shipping Aggregator?
Shipping Aggregator (also known as courier aggregator) connect carriers, sellers and buyers together on a single platform, assisting in streamlining and simplifying the entire shipping process. Essentially, they eliminate the need for businesses to manage multiple courier accounts and systems, making shipping operations highly efficient and cost-effective. Access to order management systems, better shipping rates, owning the customer experience and flexibility to adapt to uncertain demand are a few benefits of working with a courier aggregator.
Ultimately, aggregators simplify pre and post-shipping for companies and entrepreneurs. Their services streamline processes and empower informed decision-making while they can focus on their business growth.
How Important Is A Shipping Aggregator For An eCommerce Business?
The logistics industry has made significant progress over the past decade. One emerging concept in the courier sector is shipping aggregation, which is rapidly evolving in multiple ways. Shipping aggregators typically provide access to a network of courier partners, allowing businesses to streamline their shipping processes. However, some aggregators, such as RapidShyp, go beyond this by offering end-to-end services. From getting the order from multiple channels to a single platform, the services end at delivering the products in the hands of the buyer, which includes post-sales experience, too.
Partnering with a shipping aggregator can greatly enhance a business’s eCommerce order fulfillment capabilities. It allows companies to focus on improving their NDR (Non-Delivery Report) while mitigating issues related to RTO (Return of Origin) losses due to delayed deliveries, thereby reducing operational hassles.
Advantages of Using Shipping Aggregator
A Shipping aggregator provides more than just shipping— it enables growth, scalability, and customer satisfaction. There are many benefits to using an aggregator versus a single courier service. Here are some key advantages: Shipping aggregator act as delivery facilitators for businesses. Moreover, they help these companies expand operations, improve customer experiences, and more. Rather than relying solely on one courier provider, utilizing an aggregator offers numerous perks.
Ease in Onboarding
Imagine you are new to the world of eCommerce selling and have no experience handling orders. Since your t-shirts are amazing, you get multiple orders from various platforms. Would you be able to concentrate on getting more quirky t-shirts to get more business?
No, right? You will have to concentrate on fulfilling the current orders, tracking multiple courier partners for different pin codes, and whatnot!
However, if you switch to a courier aggregator like RapidShyp, you can easily onboard their platform within 5 minutes. You can also integrate your sales channels like WooCommerce, Shopify etc. and start shipping with multiple courier partners on a single dashboard instantly.
Access to Multiple Courier Partners
Shipping aggregators allow you to leverage multiple courier services on a single platform. With aggregators like RapidShyp, you can easily ship through couriers like BlueDart, Delhivery, DTDC, Smartr, Amazon Shipping, etc.
You can avail the benefits of different courier services on a single platform. Every courier company has different expertise; some are efficient, some are cheap, and some have wider pin code coverage. However, when you opt for an aggregator, you can select the best courier depending on the shipment’s requirement or the buyer’s location.
Lower Shipping Rates
Going back to the t-shirt example, suppose you start getting a lot of orders. Scaling up directly with one courier partner will increase your costs, but a multiple-partner game will bring down your costs. To avoid dealing with multiple couriers and getting a lower shipping rate for shipments across multiple carriers, opt for a courier aggregator.
Most courier companies calculate shipping charges by considering different metrics, such as COD services, specified overheads, and fuel surcharges. On the other hand, shipping aggregators have better pricing structures with courier partners since they provide bulk business, thereby reducing shipping costs for sellers.
Aggregators like RapidShyp offer volume-based plans. The higher the shipments, the lower the rates! Additionally, RapidShyp tailors its plans to the specific needs of eCommerce sellers.
Unified Tracking
Perhaps, when you grow, you juggle with multiple orders across different marketplaces and eCommerce stores. This complicated process can be simplified by integrating API. How?
You will be able to view orders with multiple courier partners on a single page with frequently updated statuses. Once integrations have been set up, aggregators offer a tech-backed platform that allows them to pull data from various courier partners. The status of each order can be updated on the aggregator’s platform, which lists all your ongoing orders across multiple marketplaces and courier partners.
Faster COD Remittance
Courier services usually take 12-14 days to remit the COD amount from the date of delivery. RapidShyp, with features like RapidCOD, helps sellers by providing them with the COD amount in 2-3 days, even before they get it from courier partners.
If you run a business with high inventory costs, getting the COD amount rapidly ensures a running cash flow. RapidCOD remittance removes the need to take a loan or credit line, resulting in better financial health.
Shipping Analytics and Reporting
Now that your t-shirt business is growing, you’re seeking more expansion opportunities. You would like to know the pin codes with the highest customer base, average shipping rates across various regions, growth potential for your business, customer preferences for Cash on Delivery (COD), and areas with the highest number of Return-to-Origin (RTO) cases.
Would it be nice if you got these insights to optimize your business strategies?
RapidShyp allows you to create and analyze multiple types of reports related to sales, couriers, and customers. This data analytics can also improve user experience and provide high-end reporting for investors and stakeholders.
Getting Started With A Shipping Aggregator
Before you finalize a shipping partner, you must do the following:
Research and identify
Look for the best courier aggregation services available in the industry. RapidShyp can be your preferred choice. It’s an aggregator that offers a variety of shipping services at economical prices.
Know your business demands
Determine your unique shipping demands. Based on your order volume, shipping pin codes, and preferred transportation options, prepare a plan.
Compare services
Compare prices to the services they offer. Look for reviews of their services. Examine their customer service, pricing, automation, and carrier networks. Determine how well they align with your company’s aims and objectives.
Sign up and onboarding
Create an account and observe the onboarding procedures. These usually involve giving them the information they need about your company and integrating their services and other sales channels and marketplaces with your eCommerce platform. With RapidShyp’s simple onboarding procedure, getting started is simple.
Test and Familiarize
Spend time getting acquainted with the shipping aggregator’s features, interface, and available shipping alternatives. Perform test shipments to ensure seamless operation and become accustomed to the system. RapidShyp offers a customer-first platform with simplified functionality, making it simple for businesses to adapt and use.
Calculate Your Shipping Rates
| Courier Partner | Mode | Chargeable Weight (KG) | Shipping Rates |
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