Shippo, an application programming interface (API) that connects businesses with a network of shipping providers, has launched its new ePostage API, providing customers with an easy connection to USPS shipping products.
It is the first publicly available API connection with USPS since 1999, when USPS restricted the use of its API to an exclusive list of companies, including Stamps.com, Endicia, and Pitney Bowes, called PC Postage vendors. Almost two decades later, USPS is opening up access again for new entrants in the market as part of its ePostage program. Shippo joins Amazon and Etsy as approved vendors to use USPS’ API technology exclusively for their merchants.
ePostage has already improved shipping processes for early adopters, allowing them to drive down overhead costs and decrease shipping costs for both the business and consumers. Shippo hopes that the technology will bring the shipping industry into the 21st century by helping to meet the demands of modern businesses.
“Our goal at Shippo is to build technology that help ecommerce businesses access simple and affordable shipping solutions,” said Laura Behrens Wu, CEO and cofounder of Shippo. “I am very excited to launch ePostage because not only are we able to provide our customers with a simple integration with the USPS, but we are now able to actively control our customer experience to ensuring a stable and responsive environment for them.”
The global parcel shipping market has grown into a US$300bn industry alongside e-commerce growth. In 2015 alone, 8.5 billion packages were shipped globally. However, shipping technologies like APIs are complicated or non-existent for most shipping providers. Currently, nearly every USPS shipping label purchased by e-commerce businesses flows through Stamps.com and its subsidiaries.
March 18, 2016