Struggling to find a dynamic solution to track your Business shipments?
Australia Post’s MyPost Business is a valuable solution for small businesses with fluctuating order volumes. Unlike larger shipping companies that offer savings only for bulk shipments, MyPost Business allows smaller firms to purchase and print shipping labels at a lower cost as they ship more parcels.
In today’s fast-paced e-commerce environment, efficient tracking and delivery are crucial for customer satisfaction and operational efficiency. MyPost Business provides a robust platform to manage and track shipments. Integrating it with WooCommerce requires the use of specialized tools.
Check out this article to explore the implementation of powerful WooCommerce plugins such as the ELEX Australia Post Shipping Plugin and ReachShip Multi-Carrier Plugin. These plugins play a pivotal role in revolutionizing shipment tracking by creating a streamlined, automated, and customer-centric experience.
What is MyPost Business?
MyPost Business is a shipping service by Australia Post designed for small to medium-sized businesses that frequently send parcels. It offers tiered discounts based on the volume of shipments, helping businesses reduce shipping costs.
The service also provides tools for managing shipments, including the ability to create and print labels, schedule pickups, and track deliveries in real-time. With features like bulk sending capabilities and detailed reporting, MyPost Business simplifies logistics and enhances shipping efficiency for growing businesses in Australia.
Highlighted Features
The Highlighted features of MyPost Business by Australia Post include:
- Discounted Shipping Rates
Volume-based discounts that increase with higher shipping volumes. - Simplified Shipment Management
Tools for creating and printing shipping labels, scheduling pickups, and track shipments from a single dashboard. - Bulk Sending Capabilities
Streamlined processes for sending large volumes of parcels. - Real-Time Shipment Tracking
Track parcels from dispatch to delivery with real-time updates. - Reporting and Analytics
Access to detailed reports and insights for optimizing shipping strategies.
Why is Shipment Tracking Important?
Shipment tracking is crucial for both businesses and customers because it enhances transparency, control, and efficiency in the shipping process. For businesses, tracking provides visibility over logistics, helping to prevent lost parcels and manage delays, which can save costs and protect reputation.
For customers, tracking offers peace of mind by allowing them to monitor the progress of their orders in real-time, reducing anxiety over delivery times and improving overall satisfaction. Automated tracking also reduces customer service inquiries, freeing up resources for other tasks.
How to Track Shipments for Australia Post MyPost Business
To get started with how to track Shipments for Australia Post MyPost Business, you’ll need to set up an account and connect it with your WooCommerce store using dedicated plugins. Let’s go through the setup process step-by-step.
Create a MyPost Business Account
- Go to the Australia Post website and sign up for a MyPost Business account.
- Fill in the required business details, including your ABN (Australian Business Number), contact information, and preferred payment method.
- Once your account is set up, you’ll receive an API key that you can use to integrate MyPost Business with your WooCommerce store.
Integrate with ELEX WooCommerce Australia Post Shipping Plugin to Track Shipments
A WooCommerce-based ELEX WooCommerce Australia Post Shipping Plugin enables you to display real-time Australia Post rates for services such as eParcel, StarTrack Courier, and MyPost Business. Additionally, shipping labels can be created and printed easily, shipments can be tracked in real-time, and box packaging services can be set up to ensure that your customers receive their orders on time and in perfect condition.
You can integrate the ELEX WooCommerce Australia Post Shipping Plugin with Print Labels & Tracking with your WordPress/WooCommerce site to simplify Australia Post Shipping.
It is possible to display shipping rates on the cart/checkout page, track shipments from within WooCommerce, automatically pack items into boxes and print shipping labels. The ELEX WooCommerce Australia Post Shipping Plugin integrates varied dynamic features to create one of the most efficient Australia Post shipping calculators for WooCommerce.
Key Highlights
- Real-time shipping rate
This plugin retrieves Australia Post’s real-time domestic and international shipping rates based on the product’s weight, box dimensions, and shipping destination.
- Delivery Estimation
The checkout page should include an estimated delivery date, along with the available services, based on the business day, cut-off time, and lead time for executing the same-day shipment. - eParcel Shipping Label
Shipping labels for both domestic and international Australia Post eParcel deliveries can be printed from within WooCommerce as soon as your shipment details have been automatically sent to your Australia Post online account. - Shipping Manifest
Order Summary / Shipping Manifest can be easily generated after the shipments are created. Global shipments rely on this manifest for customs purposes. - Choices of parcel packaging
Once the order is placed, the items will be automatically packed into the configured boxes based on the weights and dimensions of the products in the cart.
Install and Activate the Plugin
Download and install the ELEX WooCommerce Australia Post Shipping Plugin from ELEXtensions. After installation, activate the plugin in your WordPress dashboard.
Access MyPost Business Settings
Navigate to WooCommerce > Settings > Shipping > MyPost Business to access the plugin settings.
General Settings
- Under the General tab, you will need to enter your ReachShip Client ID and Client Secret, which can be obtained by creating a ReachShip account.
- To create a ReachShip account, visit their website and follow the steps in the ReachShip setup guide.
- Once you have your ReachShip credentials, go to ReachShip > Settings > API and copy the Client ID and Client Secret.
- Enter these credentials into the general settings of the plugin and click Connect.
Configure MyPost Business Settings
- Enable Real-time Rates to display live shipping rates on your WooCommerce cart and checkout pages.
- To generate shipping labels directly from your WooCommerce admin, enable the Shipping Label option.
- You can also enable Developer Mode for debugging purposes during setup. Ensure this is disabled once your store is live to prevent unwanted data from being displayed on the front end.
- Set your default currency to Australian Dollars as required for using MyPost Business.
Rates and Services Settings
- Under this tab, enable or disable various shipping options, such as Extra Cover for insurance and Signature Required for additional security. You can also choose to display the cheapest shipping rates only or configure flat rate services like Parcel Post or Express Post.
- Customize the method title that appears on checkout pages and select which services to enable for specific countries.
Label and Tracking Settings
- Configure settings to automate shipment tracking notifications via email, enable direct label download and save labels within the WordPress database for future use.
- Choose the label format (e.g., A4, Thermal Label) and set the default shipment options for both domestic and international shipping.
- Add a Custom Shipment Message to provide customers with personalized tracking updates. You can use placeholders like [DATE], [SERVICE], and [ID] to automatically populate details.
Save Changes
Once all settings are configured, click Save Changes to apply them.
The image below shows how to generate a tracking ID to Track shipments for Australia Post MyPost Business:
Once you click on save or show Tracking info, tracking ID will be generated as shown below:
Expand Shipping Options with ReachShip Multi-Carrier Plugin
While the ELEX plugin focuses on Australia Post, the ReachShip Multi-Carrier & Conditional WooCommerce Shipping Plugin allows you to add multiple carriers, offering greater flexibility and choice for your customers.
Using ReachShip WooCommerce Multi-Carrier & Conditional Shipping, shipments can be made and automated, labels can be printed in bulk, and shipment tracking can be centralized. By implying the Conditional Shipping feature, you can customize shipping flat rates and carriers for WooCommerce. The admin dashboard enables you to display real-time shipping rates to your customers and print labels.
The Reachship’s feature incorporates an advanced packing algorithm that prevents items in the cart from being packed in the wrong size boxes. Thus, ReachShip eventually helps in configuring your packing system. By implying ReachShip’s powerful multi-carrier API, you can integrate your e-commerce store with varied carrier shipping services.
The image below shows the shipment status to Track shipments for Australia Post MyPost Business using ReachShip Multi-Carrier & Conditional WooCommerce Shipping Plugin:
Key Highlights
- Deliveries estimated
You can offer your customers varied shipping methods at checkout to enhance their shopping experience. Estimated delivery dates will be calculated and displayed. - Processing of shipping labels
Using the ReachShip order tab and individual order pages in WooCommerce, you can manage your shipping labels quickly and easily. - Automated label generation
With the plugin, label printing for orders is automated once the customer places their order, enabling you to streamline the entire process from beginning to end. - Parcel packaging
By computing the rate and then applying it to the final price of the order, you can calculate the weights and dimensions of the products in the cart. Orders are automatically packed into predefined boxes once completed. - Real-time tracking feature
You can ensure a seamless shopping experience for your customers by offering live shipment tracking. Track and manage all shipments efficiently from one central location.
Best Practices to Effectively Track Shipments
To make the most of these plugins and ensure smooth shipment tracking, consider the following best practices:
- Optimize API Settings
- Ensure that your API settings are correctly configured to avoid disruptions in tracking information.
- Regularly check for updates to both the plugins and API settings, as updates may include crucial performance improvements or new features.
- Automate Customer Notifications
- Use the plugins’ notification features to automate customer communication. For example, set up email alerts for order dispatch, in-transit updates, and delivery confirmation.
- Personalize these notifications to enhance the customer experience, such as including the estimated delivery date or a thank-you message.
- Use Tracking Data for Analytics
- Leverage tracking data to gain insights into your shipping performance. Identify patterns such as frequently delayed routes or high delivery costs that can be optimized.
- Use these insights to adjust your shipping strategy, like choosing faster routes or negotiating better rates with carriers.
- Monitor Carrier Performance
- Keep an eye on the performance of different carriers by analyzing tracking data and customer feedback. This will help you identify the most reliable options for different regions or types of shipments.
- Adjust your carrier preferences in the ReachShip plugin based on performance metrics to ensure you are providing the best service to your customers.
Last Shot
Efficient shipment tracking is a cornerstone of a successful e-commerce business. By leveraging Australia Post’s MyPost Business alongside the ELEX WooCommerce Australia Post Shipping Plugin and ReachShip Multi-Carrier Plugin, you can streamline your shipping operations, provide transparency to your customers, and ultimately enhance your overall service.
These plugins not only offer robust tracking capabilities but also help automate label printing, rate calculation, and customer notifications, making them indispensable tools for WooCommerce store owners. Embrace these solutions to keep your business competitive, your customers satisfied, and your shipping process smooth and efficient.
FAQ’S
- Can I use the ELEX WooCommerce Australia Post Shipping Plugin without a MyPost Business account?
No, the ELEX WooCommerce Australia Post Shipping Plugin requires a MyPost Business account to access Australia Post’s shipping and tracking services, as it integrates directly with the Australia Post API. - How does the ReachShip Multi-Carrier Plugin benefit my WooCommerce store?
The ReachShip plugin allows you to offer multiple shipping options through various carriers like USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL, and Australia Post. It enables you to set conditional shipping rules, provides real-time rate calculations, and offers integrated tracking, which enhances flexibility and improves the customer experience. - What are the main differences between the ELEX and ReachShip plugins?
The ELEX plugin focuses on Australia Post services, offering features like automated label printing, track shipments, and shipping rate calculation specific to Australia Post. On the other hand, the ReachShip plugin is a multi-carrier solution, allowing integration with multiple carriers and providing advanced features like conditional shipping rules for diverse shipping strategies. - Are these plugins compatible with other WooCommerce extensions?
Yes, both plugins are designed to be compatible with other WooCommerce extensions. However, it’s always recommended to check compatibility notes and keep all plugins updated to avoid conflicts. - How do I troubleshoot if tracking information is not updating correctly?
Ensure that your API credentials are entered correctly in the plugin settings and that your plugins are updated to the latest versions. Check the connectivity between your WooCommerce store and the carrier’s API. If the issue persists, consult the support teams of the respective plugins.
