Photo by Dylan McLeod on Unsplash
Shipping gets complicated the moment a second carrier arrives. Each one has its own portal, its own label format and its own way of reporting where a parcel is. This article looks at how a multi-carrier setup fits together in Zippendo - from the rules that pick a carrier to returns, customs and the busiest weeks of the year.
Leveraging multi-carrier shipping
Using more than one carrier improves flexibility, spreads risk and lets you match each parcel to the carrier product that suits it. In Zippendo, every carrier you connect runs on your own agreement, and shipping rules decide which carrier and product an order gets - by destination, weight, order value or the shipping method the customer chose at checkout.
Once the rules are in place, labels are created without anyone choosing a carrier by hand, and Zippendo Printer prints them the moment an order qualifies. Fewer manual steps means fewer mistyped addresses and fewer parcels sent with the wrong product.
Optimizing last-mile delivery
The last mile is where customers notice problems first. Zippendo brings tracking events from every connected carrier into one timeline per shipment, so your team can see where each parcel is without signing in to separate carrier sites.
Streamlining returns and customs
Returns are part of the promise a shop makes. With carriers that offer returns, you can create a return label for a shipment in Zippendo instead of ordering it in a separate portal, so the return sits next to the original order.
For shipments that leave the EU, customs information is part of the shipment in Zippendo, so carriers that need it receive it when the shipment is sent. That keeps customs details in one place instead of spread across carrier portals.
Handling peak seasons
Peak season is where manual steps hurt most. When rules pick the carrier and labels print on their own, a busy day is more of the same work rather than a different process, and your team spends its time packing instead of copying data between systems.
Operational workflows and automation
Beyond shipping rules, Zippendo automations react to what happens in your shipping - for example splitting a shipment, printing on receipt, sending a webhook or posting a message to your team's Slack channel.
In the warehouse, printing labels and packing slips together keeps each parcel moving without switching screens.
Integration with warehousing systems
Many shops already run a warehouse or ERP system. Zippendo connects to them through its REST API and webhooks, so orders can come in from the system you already use and shipment updates can flow back to it.
Keeping order and shipment status in sync across systems means fewer questions about where an order stands, and fewer orders that fall between two tools.
Conclusion and next steps
A multi-carrier setup works best when the carriers, the rules and the tracking live in one place. That is what Zippendo is built for: connect the carriers you already have agreements with, let rules decide where each order goes, and follow every parcel from one screen.
Frequently asked questions
Key takeaways
Rules pick the right carrier for every order.
Automation reduces manual logistics errors.
Fewer manual steps make peak season easier.
Customs details travel with the shipment.
One tracking timeline across every carrier.
Ready to run your carriers from one place? Start free with 100 shipments a month, no card needed.
Sincerely yours,
Jonas Bang
Jonas Bang · Co-founder, CPO
