As e-commerce businesses continue to grow, both consumers and sellers face setbacks, especially on shipping, due to economic and supply chain issues and other global crises. Having a reliable shipping API (Application Programming Interface) provides consistent and customizable shipping solutions for the challenges your business may encounter. It allows data to flow seamlessly between your business and shipping partners through different key features. 

API integrations have improved supply chain management for the e-commerce business with their various features. Unlike before, when the shipping management workflow was done manually, which is prone to errors and issues, shipping APIs now automate the process by directly integrating the logistic partner's functionalities into the e-commerce company's business system.

Advantages of Shipping API in E-commerce Business

An API serves as an intermediary between software, programs, and platforms that perform designated functions on social media, websites, and applications. It is often used in website login, sharing content and messages, or checkout. Integrating a shipping API into your e-commerce business instantly connects you with customers, suppliers, and carriers. 

It helps improve the shipping process, allows you to manage, pick up, and track orders and ensure successful deliveries and returns keeping your customers informed about the progress of their products. You can also address their concerns clearly and communicate with them even online. With that, your customers will have a satisfying experience purchasing products from your business and are more likely to buy again. The following are some of the main advantages of shipping API in e-commerce business:

Low Shipping Cost

You can compare shipping rates for a certain packages across multiple carriers through the shipping API, so you will be able to see available options and find the best one whether it's the cheapest, fastest, or most eco-friendly. It offers low-cost and discounted shipping rates, helping you minimize operating costs and run your business more efficiently. Meanwhile, your customers enjoy purchasing more products with low-cost shipping rates.

Address Validation 

It's important to utilize a shipping API that can automatically validate addresses. It prevents fees and delays for packages delivered to incorrect or invalid addresses, making shipping faster and trouble-free. You can thoroughly check if your data, specifically the shipping address, is correct and valid. Thus, you will avoid additional charges, unsuccessful deliveries, rescheduling deliveries, printing new labels, and dealing with complaints regarding lost or wrong items that can affect your business and reduce the trust of your customers.

Shipment Tracking 

A transparent and clear shipment tracking system gives assurance to your customers regarding the status of their products or deliveries. It can boost consumer trust, so you can retain your regular customers and attract new customers. Shipping APIs can offer real-time tracking updates that can be accessed through an app, email, or SMS. It is convenient for both customers and sellers as well when tracking the progress of products. 

What to Look For in a Shipping API

The features of a shipping API may depend on the user's needs and what the shipping solutions offer. When looking for a good shipping API, it's best to choose the one that can do everything listed here and create a bespoke shipping process for your e-commerce business. Our recommendation is ShipEngine. 

The ShipEngine API can help you with the entire order fulfillment and shipping management process, from shopping rates across more than 30 carriers and validating addresses around the world to printing labels in real-time and tracking your shipments to their final destinations. 

You don't have to worry about the complexities of different carrier APIs and protocols. ShipEngine aims at every business to provide its customers with a first-class shipping experience at the best possible prices. You can save on shipping costs by using considerable carrier discounts or giving your own rates.

Your shipping API should offer more options that can be completely tailored to your workflows. In ShipEngine, you can view real-time carrier rates and select the best option for each shipment, depending on shipping costs, delivery time, carrier capacities, and other factors. You can choose from more than 30 major carriers, including:

• FedEx

• USPS

• UPS

• Amazon

• 3dCart

• eBay

• DHL Express

• Access Worldwide

• Canada Post

• OnTrac

• GlobalPost

• Uber

• XPO Logistics

It is also essential for your business to have a precise API tracking system to give your customers detailed and real-time tracking updates and delivery notifications. Your shipping API must ensure that each package arrives at the right destination all the time with global address validation. 

With ShipEngine, you can easily manage all of your shipping needs. Sign up now and get a free API shipping key.