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6 Free Shipping Software Features Every Small Business Needs

Mar 17, 2025 | Cloud-Based Shipping, Ecommerce

Female with Parcels and Computer Using Free Shipping Software for Small Business

By: Richard McNish, VP of Partnerships, Descartes

Table of Contents

  1. Pre-built integration with your sales channels
  2. Free access to discount shipping rates
  3. Multi-carrier rate comparison
  4. Bulk shipping and label printing
  5. Real-time shipment tracking
  6. Business rules for shipping automation
  7. Ready to try free shipping software for small business?

When it comes to shipping headaches, free shipping software for small business is hands-down the best way to get rid of them. As the VP of Partnerships for the ecommerce division at Descartes, I attend trade shows, do customer visits and hear countless stories every year. Most of them center around problems ecommerce businesses face and how people solve them with the right technology.

There’s no reason why you or anyone else should still be dealing with shipping headaches when free shipping software is readily available. With that in mind, let’s talk about the six must-have features for a smooth, cost-effective shipping process and timely deliveries:

1. Pre-built integration with your sales channels

Pre-built integrations between sales channels, shipping software, and carriers to print shipping labels

To be truly useful, free shipping software has to integrate with your sales channels such as WooCommerce, Shopify, Walmart, or eBay. Make sure yours is supported and choose software that can automatically pull orders from all your sales channels and display them on one screen to easily print shipping labels.

Why you need it:

Integration between shipping and ecommerce platforms eliminates double data entry, prevents mistakes, and speeds up order processing, reducing time to ship. Plus, integrations prevent back-and-forth communication about shipping status. They automatically update the ecommerce platform and customer with tracking information when a package ships.

2. Free access to discounted shipping rates

Any worthwhile free shipping platform will give you access to discounted shipping rates, pre-negotiated with multiple carriers. Generally, the carriers provide the same discount rates to all partners. That means the “best USPS shipping discounts” will be similar from solution to solution, and you will likely see comparable cost savings everywhere.

Why you need it:

Using discounted rates from free shipping software gives you access to more services and can help lower your shipping costs. You can use the money you save to lower customer prices and increase conversion or add to your profit – whatever works best for you. Why pay retail prices for shipping when you can get discounted rates for free?

3. Multi-carrier rate comparison

Multi-carrier rate comparison with free shipping software for small business

Another must-have feature is multi-carrier rate comparison. Your shipping platform should provide an easy way to review discounted shipping services from multiple carriers and find the right option to keep your delivery promise. You should be able to quickly find the cheapest, most effective way to ship each order.

Why you need it:

Depending on what you’re shipping and where it’s going, your go-to shipping service may not always be the cheapest option. By diversifying your shipping strategy and comparing rates from multiple carriers, you can discover opportunities for cost savings. Plus, it makes your business less vulnerable if your tried-and-true carrier suddenly raises their prices.

4. Bulk shipping and label printing

Bulk shipping and label printing with shipping software for small business

When it comes to printing shipping labels, your free shipping solution should provide a bulk shipping feature that can work as you grow. Look for one that allows you to sort orders according to different criteria, select multiple orders, apply the correct shipping services, and print shipping labels for all of them with one click.

Why you need it:

Shipping one order at a time is great when your business is very small, but it’s important to have batch label printing capabilities to keep up with orders as you grow. Label printing eats up a lot of time if you try to print them individually during spikes in order volume. It’s best to set yourself up for success ahead of time.

5. Real-time shipment tracking

Real-time tracking for shipments from multiple carriers in a free shipping software platform
Your shipping solution should automatically update your ecommerce platform and your customer with real-time tracking information when an order ships. It should also allow you to track shipments for multiple carriers, making it very easy for you to answer the question, “Where is my order?” Look for a grid view of shipments from all sales channels on one screen. You should be able to sort by shipment status and quickly find the right tracking link.

Why you need it:

If you and your customers have real-time tracking visibility, it helps reduce support calls and build trust. Automatically updating your ecommerce platform and customer with shipment status and tracking builds confidence in your brand. Plus, if there is any sort of certification badge on your ecommerce platform, Time to Ship is a metric they track. By updating the shipping details automatically, it helps you keep your seller status.

6. Business rules for shipping automation

Business rules for shipping automation using small business shipping software

Finally, choose free shipping software that includes business rules for shipping automation. The platform should feature customizable IF/THEN rules to automate tedious, repetitive tasks such as assigning the correct package type, entering package dimensions, selecting the right service, and printing the shipping label.

Why you need it:

Shipping automation may seem like overkill if your small business doesn’t see a lot of order volume yet. However, automating these steps creates efficiency and frees up your time to focus on growing your business. Plus, as your order volume grows, you will already have systems in place to scale your shipping process and keep up.

Ready to try free shipping software for small business?

Descartes XPS Ship is the one tool needed to successfully manage your carriers and parcel shipping. With our free shipping software plan for small business, you can save time and prevent headaches by using one tool to manage everything. No more going into each platform to manage the shipping/delivery for each order.

Our solution includes all six essential features: sales channel integration, free access to discounted shipping rates, multi-carrier rate comparison, bulk shipping, real-time tracking, and shipping automation.

It’s always free for one user, one sales channel, and up to 50 shipments per month. We also offer paid plans if you already need more capacity. You can review plans and decide at signup. Ready to try shipping software for your small business?

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Richard McNish, VP of Partnerships, Descartes

About the Author

Richard McNish is the VP of Partnerships for Descartes’ ecommerce division. Focused on global growth, Richard deeply understands the interconnected nature of people, products, and processes. His expertise encompasses numerous shipping, warehouse, and ecommerce logistics topics, including how to support growth by simplifying operations. 

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