How Does Shipping Integration Work?
From the order to the barcode and tracking number, from customer notification to delivery close-out, we walk you step by step through how the shipping process gets automated.
Aurora YazılımEditorial team
6 min read
Shipping integration is the direct connection of your e-commerce panel to the carrier's system. When an order is ready, the shipment is created from the panel, the barcode and label arrive automatically, and the tracking number is written to the order and sent to the customer. Shipping events are monitored in the background; on delivery the order is completed automatically. Manual data entry disappears.
What Is Shipping Integration?
Without integration the shipping process goes like this: you read the order in the panel, log in to the carrier's website and retype the recipient's name, address and phone. You get the barcode, copy the tracking number, paste it into the order and message the customer separately. With five orders a day that is manageable; with fifty it takes one employee's whole day.
Shipping integration turns all of these steps into automatic data exchange between software systems. Your e-commerce software talks directly to the carrier's system; the address is entered once, by the customer, and never retyped. That saves time and reduces mistakes such as wrong addresses and missing phone numbers.
The value of integration is not only speed. The question customers ask most, “where is my order?”, largely disappears with automatic tracking and notifications.
From Order to Delivery, Step by Step
In an integrated setup, an order's shipping journey goes as follows. At no step do you need to open the carrier's separate screen.
- The order is paid and moves to the “preparing” status in the panel.
- For the packed order, a shipment is created from the panel with one click.
- The barcode and tracking number arrive automatically from the carrier and the label is printed.
- The tracking number is written to the order and sent to the customer by email, SMS or WhatsApp.
- Shipping events are monitored in the background; the customer sees the status on the tracking page.
- When the delivery information arrives, the order is completed automatically and the customer is notified.
Automatic Shipping Barcode and Label
The label is the document that lets the carrier's system recognize the package. With integration, the barcode, recipient details and shipment code are combined on a single label that is printed on a thermal or standard printer and stuck on the package.
Bulk processing is a lifesaver on busy days. During a campaign, selecting dozens of orders to create a bulk shipment and printing the labels in one go speeds up the workflow at the packing desk. Being able to cancel a wrongly created shipment from the panel also cuts phone traffic with the carrier branch.
Packing Desk Setup
Printing the label at the same time as the order slip lowers the risk of a package going to the wrong order. The product list on the slip is checked and put in the box, the label is stuck on, and the order is ready for shipping in a single motion.
Shipping Tracking Integration
Shipping tracking integration automates the process after the shipment leaves. The software pulls movement information from the carrier at set intervals: delivered to branch, transfer center, out for delivery, delivered. This information is visible both in the panel and on the customer's order tracking page.
On the customer side, a good tracking experience is built with an order tracking page that needs no account and timely notifications. A short message sent at key moments such as shipped and delivered keeps customers from calling your support line.
On the seller side, the real gain is not closing delivered orders one by one. When the delivery information arrives, the order completes itself; returns and review processes also run correctly from that date.
How Is Shipping Cost Calculated?
Shipping fees are generally set by a package's weight and volume. Volume is expressed in a unit called desi (volumetric weight). For domestic shipments, the common formula is to multiply the package's width, length and height in centimeters and divide by 3000; but because the calculation can vary by carrier and agreement, rely on your own contract.
The billed value is usually the larger of desi and kilograms. So for light but bulky products, choosing a suitably sized box directly lowers shipping cost.
Box size: 40 cm x 30 cm x 20 cm
Desi = (40 x 30 x 20) / 3000 = 8
Package weight: 3 kg
Used for pricing: 8 deci (the larger one)Passing Shipping Cost to the Customer
There are several ways to pass shipping costs on to the customer: free shipping, a flat fee, a fee by desi, or a live price from the carrier. Setting a free shipping threshold above a certain cart amount both balances the cost and lifts the average order value.
E-Commerce Shipping Agreement
A corporate agreement with a carrier can give a clear advantage over individual shipment prices. The terms depend on your monthly shipment volume, average desi and delivery regions. Going into the meeting with your recent order counts and package dimensions ready makes negotiating easier.
- Integration support: Ask whether the company offers an account that allows a connection with your e-commerce software.
- Clarify whether it will be branch drop-off or pickup from your address.
- Get the terms for cash on delivery, return shipments and damage claims in writing.
- Learn the delivery time commitment and what to do when a shipment is late.
- Consider working with several carriers and choosing the most suitable by region.
Common Shipping Problems and Solutions
A significant share of shipping-related customer complaints come from missing or incorrect information taken at order time. Integration solves most of these problems at the source, but the checkout step and product data also need to be set up correctly.
- Incomplete address: Make province, district and neighborhood selection mandatory at checkout; use the free-text field only for street and building.
- Wrong shipping fee: Enter product weights and dimensions fully in the catalog; desi is calculated correctly from this information.
- Late tracking number: Create the shipment at packing time and make sure the notification goes out to the customer automatically.
- Unreachable recipient: Make the phone number field validated so that the courier can reach the customer more easily.
- Damaged delivery: Set a packing standard for fragile items and explain the damage report process to the customer in advance.
International Shipments
When selling abroad, the shipping process is more complex because of customs declarations, country-based pricing and longer delivery times. Here too, integration lets you create the shipment from the panel and take the customs information from the order.
If you are thinking of selling abroad, we covered how product, payment and shipping are planned together in our what is e-export article. If you are setting up your store for the first time, you can find how the shipping decision relates to the other steps in our how to build an e-commerce site guide.
Shipping Integration with Aurora
The shipping integration of Aurora Smart E-Commerce works with Yurtiçi Kargo, Aras Kargo, DHL eCommerce (MNG) and, for international shipments, DHL Express. You create the shipment from the panel without logging in to the carrier's website, and print the label; tracking runs automatically and delivered orders complete themselves.
You can set the shipping fee as free, flat, by desi or as a live price from the carrier, and have desi calculated from product dimensions. Marketplace orders land in the same list, and shipping information is sent back to the platform through the marketplace integration. All connections live inside the system; details are on our integration page.
We described how the shipping flow is set up for wholesale and reseller orders in our B2B reseller system article. To show your team the packing and shipping flow hands-on, you can use our training and consulting support.
Frequently Asked Questions
01Is an agreement with a carrier required for shipping integration?
In most cases, yes. The integration is set up with the corporate account details the carrier gives you. Creating shipments automatically without an agreement is usually not possible.
02Can I work with several carriers at the same time?
Yes, if your software supports it. Using different companies by region, package size or customer preference gives flexibility in cost and delivery time. All shipments are still tracked in a single panel.
03Are return shipments also managed through the integration?
The return process varies by carrier and your agreement. Many companies offer a return code or a contracted return shipment. Defining the return flow in advance and explaining it clearly to the customer reduces the support load.
04How often is tracking information updated?
That depends on how often the carrier's system shares the information. Integrated software queries movements at set intervals in the background. Critical status changes are reported to the customer automatically.
By removing manual work from order to delivery, shipping integration saves your team time and increases customer trust. With Aurora's shipping integration you can manage your shipments from a single panel, and by exploring all our e-commerce solutions you can plan your store's operations end to end.
