Shipping Integration: use Metapack or develop our own API integration with each carrier

[Chinadavid18]

Hi,

We have reached a decision point in our project regarding shipping integration. We wish to use the following carriers.

DPD Local for all our UK domestic orders
BPost for our International orders
JerseyPost for our Chinese orders.

Should we develop our our API integration solutions for each carrier ( Magento deals with all shipping integration) or should we use a company like Metapack. We would have one API solution to Metapack and then their system deals with the all the connections to the carriers?

We originally wanted to use our Magento backend to deal with shipping however I am undecided if using Metapack would be a better solution. Does anyone here have experience of them and their level of service, are they value for money(1000 - 1300 shipments per month)?

Thanks
David

 

[3LINX]

Hi David,

There are alternatives to Metapack. Have you considered Scurri?

 

[Chinadavid18]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply.

I have looked at Scurri and they look great but they do not support Bpost or Jersey Post. It seems like Metapack is the only one that has all three carriers we wish to use.

 

[3LINX]

The problem with developing your own API is that you will need to support any future changes.

You are on the lower side volume wise so I would suggest you go with a 3rd Party Label Generation Platform in the interim as the costs of custom API development can roll into thousands.

 

[lesliedocherty]

Hi,

We used Metapack ,and they were pretty good, just about to trial this crowd, they come highly recommended, i haven't used them so no idea.

http://www.justshoutgfs.com/