If your ecommerce business is growing faster than you can handle on your own, it may be time to look into a shipping solution to make things easier.
If you’re looking to streamline your shipping process so you can handle a larger order volume, ShipWorks may be the answer.
In this ShipWorks review, we’ll examine the shipping and software features, integrations, and customer support.
If ShipWorks doesn’t seem like it’s what you need, you’ll also have alternatives to investigate, too.
What is ShipWorks?
ShipWorks is shipping software that offers both a desktop version and a cloud-based version. The company first launched in 2002, as a desktop-only software for Windows. As one of the oldest options on the market (it’s one of the few that’s been around over a decade), it’s done a great job of adapting to market changes.
Company
ShipWorks has plans that are ideal for ecommerce businesses and warehouses alike. It’s an ideal choice for high-volume shippers, so if you’re just getting started, it may be worth looking at other options.
ShipWorks Pricing
ShipWorks offers a variety of pricing plans after a 30-day free trial:
- Ecommerce Essentials: $49/month: This plan includes a single ship-from location, with 1,500 shipments per month.
- Ecommerce Professional: $149/month: This plan includes a single ship-from location with 5,000 shipments.
- Warehouse Essential: $349/month: Upgrading to this plan gives users 12,000 shipments per month.
- Warehouse Professional: $599/month: With this plan, users get two ship-from locations and 25,000 shipments per month.
- Warehouse Elite: $799/month: With this plan, users get two ship-from locations and 50,000 shipments per month.
Pricing
ShipWorks Software Features
Software Features
All plans include:
- Unlimited chat, phone, and email support
- Unlimited workstations and users, so there’s no need to upgrade your plan as the number of users you need grows.
- A free USPS postage account
- Discounted shipping rates from multiple carriers
The Warehouse plans include guided onboarding setup and intelligent order routing. Automatically route orders based on factors such as:
- Product inventory
- Warehouse location
- Marketplaces rules
- SKUs
Shipping Features
ShipWorks’ key features include:
Shipping Features
Desktop or Cloud-Based
Old schoolers may like the option to install the ShipWorks software on a Windows computer. Mac users who have BootCamp or another software that allows for a Windows partition may also take advantage of the software. The setup process can be a bit complex, especially if you’re a Mac user. And there is a bit of a learning curve, too, according to some users. Because of this, many opt for the web-based solution.
Support for Multiple Sales Channels
If you operate an ecommerce store on your own website, but also sell products with third-party online retailers like Amazon, you’ll appreciate that ShipWorks makes it easy to keep all your orders in one place. After you connect your stores, ShipWorks will automatically import orders from those platforms to track everything in one place.
Task Scheduling and Automation
ShipWorks lets you customize your shipping rules and automation. It’s easy to build shipping profiles and set preferences based on things like package size and weight, shipping method.
ShipWorks Shipping Features
The ShipWorks shipping software makes it easy to manage your own order fulfillment. Key features include:
Software Features
Support for Multiple Shipping Carriers
The ShipWorks shipping platform supports many shipping companies, such as USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL, and more. Some carriers also provide international shipping.
Discounted Shipping Rates
ShipWorks negotiates discounted shipping rates with all major carriers due to the volume of packages they ship. You can take advantage of those discounts to reduce your overall shipping costs.
Batch Printing
ShipWorks makes it easy to streamline your shipping process. It supports batch printing shipping labels, so you can take care of multiple packages at once. It works with nearly all laser and inkjet printers as well as thermal label printers. With customizable label templates, you can streamline your shipping process.
Address Verification
With the built-in address verification system that uses the same database as the United States Post Office, you can make sure the shipping information your customers enter is correct. A single typo could change the final destination, which could result in your package being delivered to the wrong address, or getting lost in transit.
As you work on printing labels, the Shipworks server will send the information through address verification. If anything appears wrong, it will give you a chance to correct it before shipping the package. Many times, the address verification system can fix issues without you needing to reach out to the customer.
ShipWorks Insurance
ShipWorks provides up to $5,000 in insurance coverage. Using automation rules, you can make sure certain products are covered, regardless of which major shipping carriers you use.
Insurance rates per $100 in shipment value:
- USPS Domestic: $0.75
- USPS International: $1.55
- FedEx and other carriers: $0.55
All carriers aside from USPS cover the first $100 in package value. The ShipWorks insurance covers the rest. There are some insurance exclusions though, for things like:
- Bulk shipments
- Precious metals and gemstones
- Perishables
- And more…
Ecommerce Integrations
ShipWorks has integrations for most major ecommerce platforms, including:
- Shopify
- BigCommerce
- WooCommerce
Ecommerce Integrations
If you use other ecommerce software, you can connect it with the ShipWorks API.
Marketplace Integrations
ShipWorks integrates with four major third-party marketplaces, including:
- Etsy
- Amazon
- eBay
- Walmart
Marketplace Integrations
If you have other marketplaces, you may be able to connect them via API.
Customer Support
ShipWorks provides some of the best customer service options out there, though they do lack a live chat option. You can reach the tech support team by phone at 1-800-952-7784. Those local to the St. Louis area (where the company is headquartered) can also dial 314-821-5888. Phone support is available Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm CST.
Customer Support
Email support is available via support ticket or by emailing support@shipworks.com.
Their customer support center includes community forums, a knowledge base, comprehensive FAQs, and a collection of live and archived webinars.
Alternatives
Since ShipWorks is a better option for high-volume merchants, smaller operations may be interested in these other shipping companies.
Shippo
If you’re looking for a pay-as-you-go shipping solution that’s easy to use, supports multiple shipping options, works with several sales channels, and is easy to scale, Shippo may be your perfect solution.
EssentialHub
EssentialHub is a shipping API that connects multiple shipping carriers, sales channels, and fulfillment centers to provide a customized shipping solution. With it, you’ll be able to get the best shipping rates on your packages, and the platform is free to use for small merchants. It scales with your business.
ShipStation
ShipStation is web-based shipping software similar to ShipWorks. It, too, works with multiple carriers and sales platforms. The most expensive plan offers unlimited shipments and comes in at just $145/month, making it an affordable ShipWorks alternative.
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