Decoding Shipping Labels: What Every eCommerce Business Needs to Know

Business owners might think that shipping labels are just a part of the e-commerce process, but they play a key role in both sending and receiving products. They provide smooth operation of your online store that is affecting both its success and the satisfaction of your customers. Shipping label measurements provide important information that helps everyone involved in the supply chain understand clearly where a package is coming from and where it is going.

What is Meant by Shipping Label?

A shipping label contains key details about a package’s destination, guiding carriers during its journey. These labels help specify the destination and, for international shipments, what the package contains. Important information on a shipping label includes the postal code, country, tracking number, weight, destination address, return address, shipping method (like expedited or standard), and more.

What are the Key Benefits of Shipping Labels?

Nowadays, Shipping Labels are coming with advanced technology that provides detailed information. A well-designed shipping label provides efficient delivery that leads to happier customers. 

1. Cuts Down Costs

One of the biggest advantages of using shipping labels is cost reduction. By producing shipping labels in bulk and quickly applying them to packages, companies can streamline their packaging process, increase productivity, and lower expenses. This automated approach reduces the need for manual labeling, cutting down on mistakes and labor costs.

2. Real-Time Tracking

Shipping labels have revolutionized how customers track orders, providing visibility at every step. Thanks to barcodes on the labels, customers can follow their package in real-time throughout the delivery process. This feature is beneficial not only for customers but also for businesses, as it makes it easier to pick and scan the correct products quickly. Warehouse employees can locate and retrieve items more efficiently, speeding up the entire shipping process and leading to faster service.

3. Provides Accurate Information

Shipping labels are generated automatically for each order, minimizing the chance of errors. Their digital nature ensures that the information remains accurate and less susceptible to tampering during fulfillment. The barcode on a shipping label contains detailed information about the product, seller, and customer, guaranteeing data accuracy and saving time.

How Does Shipping Labels Work?

Shipping labels are the main part of the shipping process that acts like a detailed map for the journey of a package or items from the sender to the recipient. They include important information that makes sure the packages are delivered accurately and on time. Understanding how a shipping label works can definitely help businesses manage their logistics and avoid mistakes during delivery.

When you create a shipping label, you must put all the necessary details about the package and also about its destination. The label includes the address of the recipient, and sender, package weight and dimensions, a tracking number and a barcode. This barcode is the most important thing because it allows the package to be scanned at several points that enable real time tracking and updates.

But, we should know how it works. The items are picked up by the carrier, then the barcode will be scanned, the package will be entered into the system and the tracking number will be updated. The package moves through various stages from local distribution centers to the recipient. Each step involves scanning the barcode. This keeps the tracking information updated, so both the sender and the recipient can monitor the progress of the package.

Shipping labels work with different shipping methods and also different carriers. The format may be different between big carriers like UPS, FedEx or DHL, but they will have the same features. A good shipping label includes all the important information that any carrier needs to deliver a package successfully.

For international shipping, labels need extra information, such as customs details, country codes and declarations about the contents and their value. This helps in clearing customs and ensures compliance with international shipping rules.

Why Are Shipping Labels Important?

Shipping labels are so important because they clearly present the information carriers need to deliver packages from their starting point to their final destination. If a shipping label is incorrect or missing, packages can end up:-

• Delayed in transit
• Delivered to the wrong address
• Lost entirely

Such issues can lead to a negative customer experience and potential consequences like:

• Bad reviews online
• Negative posts on social media
• Customers choosing to shop with a competitor

Parts of a Shipping Label

We should understand the different sections of a shipping label to ensure accuracy in the shipping process. A standard shipping label usually contains:

1. The information of sender and recipient: This section includes the names and addresses of both the sender and the recipient that ensure the package can be returned if delivery fails or other issues.
2. The Tracking Number and Barcode: The tracking number is known as a unique identifier for each shipment. The barcode encodes this number and can be easily scanned by the carrier throughout the process of shipping.
3. Shipping Method: This method indicates the shipping speed including standard, express, or overnight. This can show an impact on both the delivery time and cost.
4. Logo and carrier Information: This shows the logo of the carrier platform and other details like shipping routes that make it so easy to find the carrier that is handling the shipment.
5. Handling Instructions: Carrier platforms follow some important instructions about the items such as fragile items or perishable items to make sure the package must be carefully handled.
6. Weight and Dimensions: This section will give the information regarding the weight and size of the items package for calculating the cost of shipping.
7. Barcode and Zone Information: This information is mainly important for international shipments and it helps route the package to the right geographic area or postal code.
8. Customs Information: This includes the details for international shipping about the package and country of origin. This is necessary for customs clearance and compliance with shipping regulations.

Different Sizes of Shipping Labels

Shipping label formats come in different sizes that depend on the carrier platform and the type of package. The most common shipping label measurements include:

• 4” x 6” (10.16 cm x 15.24 cm): The shipping labels of this size are commonly used in popular carrier platforms. The size is mainly suitable for thermal printers.
• 6” x 8” (15.24 cm x 20.32 cm): This is a bit larger and is used for international shipments that require more detailed information or additional instructions.
• 4” x 4” (10.16 cm x 10.16 cm): Smaller labels, typically for small packages or minimal information.
• 8.5” x 11” (21.59 cm x 27.94 cm): Standard US letter size, often used when printing multiple labels or when more information is needed.
• Custom Sizes: Some businesses may need custom-sized labels for specific needs or branding.

How to Print a Shipping Label?

The process of how to make a shipping label involves several steps:

• As a first step, you must use a shipping label generator to give all the required information. These include sender and recipient, package weight and dimensions and also the shipping method.
• Most eCommerce businesses use thermal printers for bulk label printing. But smaller operations might use a standard inkjet or laser printer with sticky label sheets.
• You must make sure the label format is compatible with the requirements of the carrier as each carrier may have different features.
• Always do a test print to check that all the information is accurate or not to avoid errors that may cause issues during delivery.
• You can print individually or in bulk depending on your needs.
• You must make sure that the label is attached securely, visible and not damaged to allow for easy scanning during transit.

How to Print Bulk Shipping Labels with Shipway?

Many businesses handle lots of shipments and printing each label can take more time. However, shipping automation companies like Shipway offer the best tools for bulk label printing to make the process simple and save time. Let us know how it works:

• Integrate with Your E-Commerce Platform: Shipway can be integrated with platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce and Magento by pulling order details directly into its system.
• Bulk Label Generator: You can create multiple shipping labels all at once. Shipway automatically takes the shipping details and reduces errors.
• Customized Label Design: Add the logo of your brand and choose a preferred format to align with your branding and the needs of carrier partners.
• Automated Printing: Print labels for multiple orders with a single click, boosting efficiency.
• Label Management: Manage and store all shipping labels in one place, reprint labels, track shipments, and manage returns directly from the platform.
• Guide for International Shipping: Shipway also offers a shipping label guide for printing international shipping labels to ensure compliance with customs and international shipping standards.

Shipping labels look small but they play an essential part of e-commerce. And using them in the right way can help in the success of your business. These shipping labels allow the parcels to move smoothly from sender to receiver by providing transparency throughout the delivery process.

Wrapping Up

Streamlining your shipping process is key to ensuring customer satisfaction and operational efficiency, and Shipway’s courier aggregator system is designed to do just that. With Shipway’s bulk shipping label solution, eCommerce businesses can automate the creation of accurate shipping labels, cutting down on manual errors and saving time. The platform not only allows you to generate shipping labels in bulk, but also provides real-time tracking for seamless order management. 

By leveraging Shipway’s solution, you can reduce shipping costs, improve order accuracy, and enhance the overall customer experience, helping your business scale effectively. Optimize your shipping process today with Shipway!

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