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AutomationJuly 7, 2025

Automated Labeling and Shipping: The Best Carrier at the Best Price

For every order, the system compares Colissimo, Mondial Relay, and Chronopost and generates the label from the cheapest option.

By Gildas Garrec·4 min

Automated Labeling and Shipping: The Best Carrier at the Best Price

For every order, the system compares Colissimo, Mondial Relay, and Chronopost and generates the label from the cheapest option.

Table of Contents: As an SME owner or independent tradesperson, you're always looking for practical ways to save time, cut costs, and stay competitive. This solution is one of the tools we most frequently recommend at KRIGER-KORLOFF-BROTHERS for its immediate, measurable impact.

The problem it solves

Every day, SMEs and tradespeople waste time and money on tasks that technology can automate. Manually entering carrier labels and comparing rates — that's exactly what this solution replaces. Every hour spent on these tasks is an hour not invested in business development, customer relationships, or innovation.

The solution: ShipStation, Sendcloud, or Boxtal

Cost: €20–80/month Replaces: Manual carrier label entry + rate comparison Estimated savings: €200–500/month (time + better carrier rates)

ShipStation is one of the most accessible tools in this category. It can be set up in a matter of hours, requires no advanced technical skills, and the return on investment is visible from the very first month.

How it works

The tool integrates with your existing systems (email, calendar, CRM, accounting software) and automates repetitive tasks. The AI learns from your habits and improves over time. You stay in control of the decisions that matter — the AI handles the rest.

Key benefits

  • 24/7 availability: the tool keeps working even when you're out in the field or away for the weekend
  • Zero data entry errors: the system never gets numbers or dates wrong
  • Scalability: volume can triple with no significant additional cost
  • Full traceability: everything is logged and instantly retrievable

Real-world use case: E-commerce

An e-commerce business shipping 80 parcels a day was manually entering each label on carrier websites. Out of habit, they always defaulted to Colissimo. With Sendcloud, the system now automatically compares prices across Colissimo, Mondial Relay, Chronopost, and DPD for every order, then generates the cheapest label suited to the parcel's weight and dimensions. Average savings: €0.80 per parcel × 80 parcels/day = €1,920/month.

How to implement this solution

Step 1: Assessment (1 day)

Evaluate how much time you currently spend on this task. Track the hours over a typical week. Multiply by your fully-loaded hourly cost. That's your baseline cost.

Step 2: Free trial (1–2 weeks)

Most tools offer a 14-day free trial. Test it on a limited scope with no risk. Compare the results against your current process.

Step 3: Rollout (1–2 weeks)

If the trial is successful, deploy the solution across the relevant team. Train your users — this typically takes no more than 1–2 hours.

Step 4: ROI measurement (months 1–3)

Measure actual gains against your baseline cost. Fine-tune settings as needed. As a rule, ROI is visible within the first full month.

Alternatives and comparison

Several solutions exist in this category: ShipStation, Sendcloud, and Boxtal. The right choice depends on your size, budget, and existing tech stack. For an SME with fewer than 20 employees, the simplest solution is usually the best one — team adoption matters more than advanced features.

Available funding to finance this investment

As a French SME, you may be eligible for several support schemes:

  • France Num: digital vouchers ranging from €500 to €6,500 for the digitalization of small and medium-sized businesses
  • Crédit Impôt Innovation (CII): reclaim 20% of your innovation expenditure
  • OPCO: funding for training programs associated with the tool
  • BPI France: innovation loans and digital transformation grants
Want to go further? Check out our Digital Transformation for SMEs: The Ultimate 2026 Guide, which covers the full picture.

Conclusion

With an investment of €20–80/month and savings of €200–500/month in time and better carrier rates, the math speaks for itself. This solution is one of those "quick wins" that every SME or tradesperson should prioritize. The risk is virtually zero thanks to free trial periods, and the gains are immediate and measurable.

Find out where automation can save you money: request your free audit.
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