ShipStation expands ANZ tools for unified eCommerce

ShipStation has expanded its fulfilment tools for merchants in Australia and New Zealand, adding new features for analytics, inventory and warehouse management, and returns and exchanges.

The update reflects a broader shift in eCommerce towards consolidating order processing, stock control, shipping, and customer service into fewer systems. Many merchants in the region still manage fulfilment through a mix of marketplace dashboards, warehouse tools, and carrier portals. That setup often duplicates data entry and limits visibility across channels.

ShipStation is positioning the release as a step towards a single platform that covers more of the order lifecycle. Merchants can process, fulfil, and ship orders, while also managing inventory and returns in the same environment.

ShipStation sells shipping software that connects online stores and marketplaces with carrier services. It works across multiple carriers and sales channels, and supports integrations with eCommerce platforms and fulfilment providers.

Analytics dashboards

New reporting dashboards show inventory trends, packing activity, shipping costs, and performance across selling channels. The platform also tracks carrier speed and reliability.

ShipStation cited its own research showing 43% of Australian consumers expect two-day delivery as standard. That expectation has increased operational pressure on merchants, particularly those fulfilling orders across multiple storefronts and marketplaces with different service levels.

"With our all-in-one platform and new capabilities, the days of juggling multiple systems to manage a single order are over," said Sophia Pope, Senior Director of ShipStation Australia and New Zealand.

Pope said the additions address manual work in fulfilment and the need for tighter integration across processes such as stock management and returns.

"Everything from inventory to returns is handled intuitively in one place, with automation that overcomes time-consuming manual processes. These features are built for growing merchants-from local startups to the region's largest businesses-with a level of integration found nowhere else in the market. Offering this expanded functionality empowers local businesses to streamline their operations and boost profitability as they expand," she said.

Inventory control

The inventory and warehouse tools are designed to maintain and synchronise stock levels across channels. Merchants can use forecasting and automated alerts to reduce overstocking and understocking.

The release also adds lot tracking, which helps when a specific batch of products needs attention. In warehouse operations, ShipStation has added support for mobile picking and barcode scanning, aimed at reducing manual errors and improving packing accuracy.

For some merchants, the key operational challenge is the hand-off between sales channels and warehouse processes. Stock accuracy issues can lead to cancelled orders or backorders that undermine delivery promises. Those risks increase for businesses selling the same inventory through multiple marketplaces while also running direct-to-consumer sites.

Returns process

ShipStation has added tools for returns and exchanges, including configurable rules. Merchants can set shipping options and return windows, and the platform supports in-package return labels.

Customers can process returns through a branded self-service portal, which supports exchange catalogues that can influence whether a customer requests a refund or swaps an item.

The returns workflow also includes automation and status visibility for merchants managing returned items across warehouses or third-party logistics providers.

Customer experience

The changes aim to address a common tension for eCommerce operators. Customers often judge a retailer by delivery speed and ease of returns, while operations teams need accurate inventory and predictable packing workflows to meet those expectations.

In practice, shipping analytics, warehouse picking, and returns handling often sit in separate tools. That separation can slow response times when deliveries run into exceptions, or when high return rates affect sellable stock. Consolidated reporting can also shape decisions about carrier choice, packing processes, and shipping costs across product lines.

ShipStation said the update strengthens its end-to-end fulfilment coverage in the region and targets merchants moving from manual processes to more structured warehouse operations.

Merchant use case

Pro Prep and Fulfilment Australia, a fulfilment services provider, said the inventory tools changed its internal workflow, delivering time savings and higher stock accuracy through synchronisation across selling channels.

"By utilising ShipStation's inventory management solution, we have turned the manual uphill battle of managing stock and purchase orders into a seamless, automated process," said Michael Sutjiadi, Strategic Business & Technology Advisor, Pro Prep and Fulfilment Australia.

"The real-time inventory sync across all our selling channels saves us 10 hours of manual data entry and reporting every week, allowing our team to focus on growth rather than spreadsheets. ShipStation now serves as the primary source of truth for our inventory, ensuring 99% stock accuracy. Additionally, the phenomenal support from the ShipStation team has been instrumental in helping us maximise every feature to its full potential," Sutjiadi said.

ShipStation is part of Auctane and is headquartered in Austin, Texas, with an office in Sydney. The platform includes more than 400 integrations across shopping carts, marketplaces, carriers, and fulfilment services, including Australia Post, Team Global Express, Amazon, Shopify, BigCommerce, Aramex, and CouriersPlease.

The expanded suite is available to merchants in Australia and New Zealand, alongside shipping label generation and order management within the same platform.