Streamline Shipping Processes with Integrated POS Solutions

For businesses of all sizes, having an efficient shipping process is crucial to boosting customer satisfaction and profitability. However, managing the shipping process can be challenging, especially when dealing with high order volume. Manually entering data, calculating costs, and printing labels are all time-consuming and error-prone tasks.

This is where integrated POS (Point-of-Sale) systems come in. These powerful solutions can simplify your shipping process, saving you time and money. In this blog, we’ll explore the common pain points of manual shipping and how integrated POS systems can help overcome them. We'll also cover the benefits of POS systems and how they make your entire sales and fulfillment process smoother and more efficient.

1. The pain points of manual shipping

1.1. Time-consuming tasks

Each order requires an accurate address, zip code, and potentially additional information for clear and timely delivery. Thus, manually entering customer information is a repetitive and tedious task that can cost you time and cause mistakes.

Moreover, when calculating shipping costs, you must consider other factors like weight, dimensions, destination, and desired service level. This requires constant attention and can be complex, especially for businesses that offer multiple shipping options. 

In addition, manually printing and attaching labels for each order and then physically attaching them to packages is a slow and labor-intensive process. This is more inefficient for businesses with high-volume shipping operations.

1.2. Increased risk of errors

Throughout the shipping process, even a single typo in an address or zip code can cause delays, which frustrate customers and potentially result in lost sales. Besides, mistakes in calculating shipping costs can affect your profit margins. Charging too little can reduce your profits while charging too much can upset customers if they're surprised by extra fees.

2. Benefits of a POS system on order fulfillment

2.1. Automating shipping processes

By integrating the POS system, you will say goodbye to repetitive tasks. POS systems automate many important tasks in the shipping process, giving you more time and resources to focus on other parts of your business. For example, they can:

• Automatically fill shipping labels with customer details, so you don't have to type them in yourself. This significantly helps you avoid mistakes and save time.
• Quickly and accurately estimate shipping costs for every order using weight, destination, and carrier choices. No more manual calculations.
• Allow you to print shipping labels directly for multiple orders in a single batch. This eliminates the need for individual printing and streamlines your workflow.

2.2. Improving accuracy

Typing data manually often leads to mistakes. POS systems bring a new level of accuracy to your shipping processes:

• Automatically filling in shipping details from your POS significantly reduces the risk of errors caused by entering data manually.
• Integration with major carrier systems, allowing real-time tracking and delivery confirmation. This ensures transparency and reduces the chances of lost or delayed packages.

2.3. Creating effective inventory management

Efficient order fulfillment relies on accurate inventory levels. POS systems provide a powerful tool for managing your stock:

• Instantly update your inventory levels after each sale, giving you up-to-date stock information to make accurate shipping decisions.
• POS systems can send alerts when inventory levels drop below a certain point, helping avoid delays from running out of stock.

2.4. Supporting multiple stores and warehouse locations

For businesses with multiple physical stores or warehouses, handling inventory and orders can get complicated. An integrated POS system can serve as a central hub, enabling you to:

• Instantly track your current inventory levels across all stores and warehouses. This helps you distribute stock efficiently, keep products available for online orders, and fulfill orders from the nearest location for faster delivery.
• Offer customers the option to pick up their online orders in-store or choose the closest warehouse location with available stock. 
• Automatically direct orders to the most suitable fulfillment location based on factors such as stock availability, shipping costs, and customer preferences.

2.5. Enhancing customer experience

A smooth and transparent shipping experience is crucial for customer satisfaction. POS systems empower you to offer customers favorite shipping methods, such as ship-to-store, store pickup, or curbside pickup. This flexibility enhances customer satisfaction and can even encourage repeat business.

3. How to choose a POS system to streamline shipping process

Having explored the benefits of integrated POS systems for order fulfillment, you might wonder how to choose the right one. Here are some key features to consider when selecting a POS system that will facilitate your shipping process:

• Shipping integrations: Ensure the POS system integrates smoothly with major carriers, such as Stallion Express. This optimizes label creation and tracking process and allows you to negotiate discounted shipping rates.
• Rate comparison and cost optimization: Look for a POS system that can compare rates from different carriers in real time. This will empower you to choose the most cost-effective option for each order, optimizing your shipping spend.
• Inventory management integration: For a seamless experience, ensure the POS system integrates with your existing ERP or inventory management system. This ensures real-time stock updates and eliminates discrepancies leading to order fulfillment delays.
• Scalability for growth: When selecting a POS system, consider your business objectives. You should choose a system that can scale as your business grows, handle higher order volumes, and possibly add more store locations.

If you’re looking for a shipping partner that prioritizes speed, affordability, and exceptional service, Stallion Express is worth considering. Designed specifically for Canadian online sellers, Stallion Express offers powerful shipping services that can enhance your business, including:

• Shipping to the U.S.
• Shipping within Canada
• International shipping
• Amazon FBA

Stallion Express is a top-notch choice for many businesses for a variety of reasons, such as:

• Offering you more competitive shipping rates thanks to their partnership with major carriers, such as USPS when shipping from Canada to the US and APC Logistics.
• Integrating effortlessly with various eCommerce platforms, making shipment creation, label printing, and real-time tracking effortless. 
• Ensuring your customers receive their purchases promptly: ​​2–4 business days shipping to the U.S., 3–8 business days shipping within Canada, and 4–12 business days shipping internationally.