International Shipping Software Demystified

1. What is international shipping software? 
2. What are the best international shipping software brands? 
3. Which problems does the software solve? 
4. What are the most important features? 
5. Key takeaways  
6. What does Descartes XPS offer? 

Imagine international shipping without the stress and complicated, tedious paperwork. What if you could easily expand your business to other countries while expertly controlling shipping costs and shipment tracking? What if international shipping was just as easy as domestic? 

This is where international shipping software comes in. Many growing ecommerce businesses want to start selling their products internationally. However, international ecommerce shipping is naturally more complex than domestic shipping, with different fees, customs forms, and regulations required for different regions.  

If you are a smaller business, this can overcomplicate matters, making shipping abroad seem too costly in terms of time and money. Thankfully, software exists to help businesses that wish to ship internationally keep the process as simple as possible with cheaper costs and automated label printing and processes.  

Here, we will explain international shipping software, who it’s for, and how it can solve some of the complexities associated with international shipping. Let’s get started! 

International shipping software is a cloud-based program that helps businesses reduce the cost and complexity of international shipping. It accomplishes this by connecting sales channels and carrier accounts to increase efficiency and enable rate shopping with deeply discounted rates. The software also emails customers their tracking information, keeps all tracking information organized in one place, and updates order status.

International shipping software connects all your ecommerce platforms (like Shopify, WooCommerce, and Adobe Commerce/Magento) and marketplaces (like Amazon and Etsy) to optimize the management and fulfilment of customer orders. It also connects multiple carrier accounts such as USPS, FedEx, UPS, and DHL. Instead of logging into multiple programs to update order status and tracking information, you can see all orders in one place and process international shipments from one screen. This ensures a seamless and error-free shipping experience.  

The shipping software offers discounted shipping rates and allows you to compare rates and services from multiple international carriers, displaying all options on one screen. Different carriers and services are ranked by cost so you can easily locate the cheapest shipping service. 

Once a shipping method is selected, the software will generate shipping labels, including tracking numbers. Because all carrier accounts and sales channels are integrated, you can easily view and manage international tracking information for all orders in one place. At the same time, it updates the order status within your ecommerce platform, and the software automatically emails customers their tracking information, improving visibility.

Popular international shipping software brands include: 

• Descartes XPS 
• Easyship 
• ParcelMonkey 
• Pirate Ship (Simple Export Rate) 

Starting to ship internationally brings new challenges and risks that may feel overwhelming, especially to smaller businesses. It’s important to understand the most common international shipping problems and prepare yourself to deal with them ahead of time. 

International shipping labels can be expensive, and the cost of the shipment is often much higher than that of domestic shipping. You must also pay duties and taxes, and some countries charge additional special fees. 

 How software helps: Discounted rates and rate shopping to find the cheapest labels 

Customs forms can slow down ship station workers (using valuable resources) because they must file electronic export information (EEI) with the Automated Export System (AES). Incorrect customs forms lead to fees and shipping delays as parcels get stuck in customs. 

 How software helps: Customs forms, HS code lookup, EEI and AES 

Depending on the destination country, international shipments may be difficult to track. Information may not be updated as frequently, leading to limited visibility and difficulty in telling the customer where their parcel is. Language barriers may also be a challenge. 

How software helps: Manage all tracking info in one place, automatically email tracking info to customers  

When you evaluate different shipping software brands, here are the most important features for successful international shipping:  

Shipping software should provide you with the most affordable international shipping rates, already negotiated with multiple carriers worldwide. You should expect discounted rates from major carriers such as USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL. 

Your software should also display rates from different carriers and services on a single screen for easy rate shopping. Even better, look for software with automation rules to automate rate comparison and always select the most cost-effective service. 

The Electronic Trade Document (ETD) handling feature helps you fill in the correct information for required documents, preventing shipping delays. Not all carriers (including FedEx, UPS & DHL) require the same information, so international shipping software can help you navigate the correct steps to complete the required documents, including:  

• Certificate of Origin 
• Pro Forma Invoice 
• Commercial Invoice 
• General Agency Agreement/POI 

 To save another step, look for software that will automatically file your Electronic Export Information (EEI) with the Automated Export System (AES). This will save time and reduce manual labor in processing international orders. 

Harmonized System (HS) codes are six-digit identifiers developed by the World Customs Organization to help classify goods and products traded across international borders. These are required for international shipping documents.  

International shipping software should allow you to look up HS codes and complete a shipment booking without leaving the shipping platform. You should be able to search by product description, with HS code recommendations populating from the tariff code database, or import your own HS codes.    

Learn more about HS and HTS codes here.  

Tracking information is a must-have feature for shipping software. It should be available in one easy-to-find place for all orders (all sales channels) and all carriers. The software should also keep customers informed on the status of their orders, automatically emailing them tracking information upon shipment to maintain visibility on tracking status. 

Like anything new, international shipping will come with a learning curve. Set yourself up for success by choosing shipping software with free live support via your preferred communication method (live chat, phone, or email). 

1. Don’t be intimidated by the complexity and cost of international shipping as you seek to expand your sales territory. Software can help.
2. When selecting international shipping software, make sure you look for the right features to control costs and mitigate your biggest risks.
3. If you want to keep costs low while testing international shipping, free international shipping software is a great way to get started.

If you are looking for a user-friendly solution, Descartes XPS international shipping software offers many helpful features. It can mitigate the most common problems while helping you control shipping costs.  

• 100% free to get started 
• No restrictions on shipment volume–print as many labels as you need 
• Electronic trade documents (EEI, AES, and others) 
• Discounted rates from USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL–save up to 89% on shipping 
• Easy rate shopping to find the best shipping service for each order 
• Automation rules to reduce manual labor and fulfill orders faster 
• Integrations with 90+ carriers, sales channels, and other programs 
• Shipping insurance from our award-winning partner XCover 
• Free live support for all customers via chat, email, and phone 

Alex Sampera is a VP of Product Management at Descartes, the global leader in SaaS solutions focused on improving the productivity, performance and security of logistics-intensive businesses. As a leader in the ecommerce division, Alex leverages his technical expertise to champion products that help ecommerce brands grow wherever they are in their journey, whether shipping their first order or scaling internationally.