If you're using PrintSmith Vision, Printer's Plan, or another MIS, there's a good chance someone in your shipping department is doing the same work twice.
The CSR enters the customer's information into the MIS.
The job is completed.
Then someone in shipping manually types the same address into UPS WorldShip, FedEx Ship Manager, or another carrier portal.
It works—but it's slow, repetitive, and surprisingly expensive.
For many print shops, shipping has become one of the last manual processes in an otherwise digital workflow.
The Hidden Cost of Re-Keying Shipping Information
Typing addresses may only take a minute or two per package, but it adds up quickly.
A shop shipping just 75 packages per day can easily spend two to three hours every day entering information that's already stored elsewhere.
Even worse, manual entry increases the chance of:
- Incorrect addresses
- Misspelled customer names
- Wrong ZIP codes
- Incorrect service selections
- Returned shipments
- Customer service calls
Every shipping error costs both money and customer confidence.
Connect Your MIS Directly to Shipping
Modern shipping software eliminates this problem entirely.
Instead of copying addresses between systems, shipping software connects directly to your MIS.
When a job is ready to ship:
- Customer information is imported automatically.
- Shipping addresses are already populated.
- Package weights can come directly from a connected scale.
- Carrier rates are compared instantly.
- Labels print with one click.
- Tracking numbers are written back into your MIS automatically.
The result is a much faster shipping process with fewer mistakes.
Save More Than Just Time
Most companies initially invest in shipping automation to save labor.
They quickly discover additional benefits:
Lower Shipping Costs
Rate shopping across multiple carriers helps ensure you're choosing the best available option instead of defaulting to a single carrier.
Better Customer Communication
Automatic branded tracking emails keep customers informed without requiring additional work from your staff.
Faster Employee Training
Instead of learning multiple shipping platforms, new employees only need to learn a single workflow.
Better Reporting
Centralized shipping data makes it easier to track carrier performance, shipping costs, and delivery history.
Is Your Shop Ready?
Ask yourself these questions:
- Are employees typing customer addresses into more than one system?
- Do you use UPS WorldShip or FedEx Ship Manager separately from your MIS?
- Are shipping costs manually entered back into your ERP?
- Do customers frequently ask for tracking numbers?
- Does shipping become a bottleneck during busy periods?
If you answered "yes" to any of these, there's a good chance your shipping workflow could be automated.
The Bottom Line
Commercial printing businesses invest heavily in automation for estimating, production, and finishing.
Shipping shouldn't be the exception.
By connecting your MIS directly to your shipping software, you can eliminate duplicate data entry, reduce costly mistakes, improve customer communication, and free your team to focus on more valuable work.
If your shipping department still relies on manually entering addresses into carrier software, it may be the easiest productivity improvement you'll make this year.
Ready to See It in Action?
Schedule a personalized ShipLeap demo and see how your print shop can connect its MIS, compare carrier rates, print labels, and automatically send branded tracking notifications—all from one platform.