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Shipping Automation: "How Automated Shipping Workflows Cut Costs by 40% for Online Stores

Shipping plays a massive role in how any online shop works. If you sell online in Australia, you know that demanding customers need fast delivery, quick returns, real-time tracking and no excuses. Over 9.8 million Aussie households shopped online in 2024. They expect speed on every purchase. Shipping automation software can reduce shipping errors, increase shipping rates, and lower costs by up to 40% as demand rises.

What Is Shipping Automation?

It is a digital platform that manages order synchronisation, labelling, carrier selection, tracking, and returns without requiring human intervention. Online retailers can eliminate repetition, errors, and streamline end-to-end processes by utilising shipping integration tools.

Modern platforms rely on:

  • Smart shipping rules to automate decision-making.
  • Dynamic carrier comparison to route faster, smarter.
  • Barcode scanning is used to enhance accuracy and efficiency.
  • Automated workflows eliminate manual bottlenecks.

Automation is no longer just a choice. It is key to staying competitive among brands specialising in e-commerce shipping cost reduction.

Practically, the Shipping automation software simplifies every step from order placement to final delivery. It improves speed, fulfillment accuracy, and reduces labour costs. With eCommerce shipping automation, teams can do:

  • Increase the speed of daily operations.
  • Expand without hiring more staff.
  • Deliver consistently superior customer experiences.

How Shipping Automation Works?

It simplifies each operation by integrating eCommerce platforms, warehouse systems, and carriers through a single workflow.

Order Integration

Orders automatically sync with sites like Shopify, WooCommerce, Amazon, and eBay to your system. It is an essential part of automating the order-filling process, eliminating manual input, reducing errors, and increasing speed during high-volume periods.

Label & Document Generation

Shipping labels, invoices, custom slips, and barcodes are generated instantly. Multi-carrier shipping software will immediately match each label with the appropriate carrier format, such as Australia Post, Sendle, DHL, FedEx, Toll, or Aramex. Auto-print batching enables your packing team to print 50-500 labels with a single click, facilitating quick processing.

Automated Carrier Selection

The system compares delivery speed, weight, distance, and pricing to select the most suitable carrier for the shipment. This step directly supports shipping cost reduction. Thus, businesses can save more per parcel by routing the shipments through the most efficient provider.

Real-Time Tracking Automation

Customers receive tracking numbers through mail or SMS. A real-time shipping tracking dashboard enables businesses to monitor each parcel in transit. Thus, it can minimise the number of WISMO inquiries and enhance communication with proactive status updates.

Automated Returns Management

Approvals, return labels, and restocking processes are automated. Customers use a self-service portal. The system updates the inventory and refunds. It reduces manual workload and enhances the turnaround time of returns.

Inventory, Picking & Packing Automation

Stock levels are synced in real-time across all channels. With Supply chain automation tools, the system provides optimised pick lists and improved picking accuracy, increasing from 92% to 99.7%. This directly promotes Delivery speed optimisation by cutting fulfilment time and minimising mistakes.

Why Shipping Automation Matters for Australian Online Stores?

Here is why automation has become essential for modern Australian eCommerce operations.

  • Reduces Manual Workload

Australian online stores experience a surge in orders during events like Click Frenzy, Boxing Day, and EOFY sales. Through Order fulfilment automation​​, retailers can handle thousands of orders per day. They do not need to hire more employees. This minimises human error and ensures a steady fulfilment rate.

  • Cuts Costs 

In Australia, freight rates are the highest in the world due to the long routes and surcharges for fuel costs. Automation helps e-commerce shipping cost reduction by comparing carrier rates and eliminating expensive errors, which are crucial for maintaining healthy margins.

  • Improves Warehouse Speed

Speed is important as 67% of Australian consumers expect faster shipping than they have in the last two years. With Supply chain automation tools, warehouses will be able to optimise picking, avoid stock discrepancies, and send parcels more effectively across states.

  • Faster Deliveries Nationwide

Deliveries between Perth, Sydney, and Darwin can take several days due to the long distances involved. Automation increases the speed of internal fulfilment through Delivery speed optimisation. It enables brands to deliver faster and compete with large retailers such as Myer, THE ICONIC, and Kmart.

  • Keeps Customers Informed

Aussies check parcels are updated 5-7 times on average per order. A real-time shipping tracking system enables businesses to send SMS or email updates to customers in real-time automatically. It can reduce WISMO inquiries by up to 65% and increase buyer confidence in regional and metropolitan areas.

  • Supports Scalable Growth

Approximately 9.8 million Australian households conduct online shopping annually, and the number of orders increases by 30 to 45 per cent in high seasons. Companies using Automated shipping solutions in Australia can scale smoothly, with no loss in delivery reliability or customer experience.

How Shipping Automation Cuts Costs by Up to 40%?

Shipping automation allows Australian retailers to reduce expenses and improve accuracy.

Labour Cost Reduction

Through order fulfilment automation, businesses can eliminate manual and repetitive tasks, such as entering orders, labelling, and tracking shipments. This reduces labour costs and allows employees to move into more strategic positions. Automated systems can process orders in just seconds and operate continuously, 24/7.

Smart Carrier Selection

Multi-carrier shipping software enables real-time comparison of carrier rates, based on weight, size, destination, and delivery speed. This provides a more cost-effective shipping route.

Reduced Return Costs

Through smart shipping rules, rules-based logic, and data validation, typical errors are automatically removed, including incorrect labels, addresses, and orders. This reduces return costs, reshipping fees, and customer complaints.

Faster Warehouse Processing

eCommerce shipping automation accelerates picking, packing, and dispatch, creating optimised pick lists and updating inventory. Combined with Warehouse Management Systems, it ensures that there are proper stock levels. It also eliminates the occurrence of overstocking or shortages.

Reduced Customer Service Load

Using shipping integration tools, retailers provide automatic tracking updates, real-time alerts, and proactive notifications. This minimises the workload in service and enhances customer satisfaction.

Benefits of Shipping Automation

Here are the details:

  • Increased Efficiency

Repetitive tasks, such as printing labels, rate shopping, and tracking updates, are made faster. Systems using Automated shipping solutions in Australia receive order information, create labels, assign carriers according to preset rules, and integrate with inventory systems to automate picking, packing, and dispatch.

  • Reduced Human Errors

Manual ecommerce operations risk typing mistakes, incorrect addresses, and delays in delivery. Automation ensures standardised workflows that avoid mislabels. This reduction in mistakes also leads to a decrease in e-commerce shipping costs by lowering reshipping fees.

  • Improved Customer Experience

Quick, dependable and open delivery builds confidence. Automated notifications keep customers informed immediately when orders are shipped. The system gives a smoother post-purchase experience.

  • Scalability

Automation allows businesses to expand without increasing operational complexity. Inventory and order information remain updated in real-time, whether dealing with a single warehouse or a network of multiple warehouses. It is ideal for long-term supply chain optimisation.

  • Data-Driven Decisions

Automation offers analytics of delivery performance, carrier expenses, and fulfilment patterns. These insights contribute to more innovative inventory planning, reduced waste, and ongoing process improvement.

Why iSend Is the Best Shipping Automation Tool for eCommerce?

Your e-commerce growth needs smarter, faster, and more affordable shipping – here is why iSend delivers it.

  • Multi-Courier Connectivity

iSend contacts online retailers with various couriers to offer them competitive prices and multiple delivery choices. This flexibility enables businesses of all scales to make smarter decisions and contribute to reduced shipping costs.

  • Advanced Automation Feature

From immediate label creation to mass order handling and automated processes, iSend eliminates manual tasks and accelerates the fulfilment process. The customers also enjoy real-time tracking updates.

  • Integration With Top E-Commerce Platforms

iSend easily integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce and Magento. We enable you to manage orders, shipments, and tracking on one dashboard. It is perfect for an e-commerce brand that is scaling rapidly.  

  • Manages Overweight and Bulky Freight

Through the logistics network of DTDC Australia, iSend can handle parcels of all sizes, including large, bulky, and heavy items. This will give retailers more flexibility in what they can ship.

  • Value-Added Free Services

iSend also has several features, including a free account, free API integration, free tracking, and signature on delivery. This makes iSend one of the most economical options. Thus, we earn the recognition as the best shipping software in Australia.

  • Operational Support

iSend offers daily door-to-door or office pickups, with the option to receive 20 or more consignments from a single location. Monthly statements, customer care, and chat services also simplify the processes.

  • Reseller-Friendly Features

Businesses can create their own customer accounts to resell shipping services, which is an additional revenue-generating opportunity on the same platform. The feature strengthens its position as the best shipping software in Australia for logistics-oriented resellers.

  • Trusted, Secure & Transparent

With a history spanning over 15 years, iSend promises to provide secure transactions, instant money transfers worldwide, a range of delivery options, and no additional fees. These features make it one of the best options for expanding e-commerce businesses.

Conclusion

In today’s competitive marketplace, shipping automation has become an important necessity. iSend provides businesses with faster operations, happier customers, and more efficient logistics teams. As technology advances, its value will only increase—solidifying iSend as the Best shipping software in Australia.