Comparing My Post Business and eParcel for E-commerce Merchants

As an e-commerce merchant, choosing the right shipping service is crucial to balancing cost, efficiency, and customer satisfaction. Two popular options provided by Australia Post are MyPost Business and eParcel. While both services are designed to meet the shipping needs of businesses, they cater to different volumes and operational requirements. Here's a breakdown of the key differences that every e-commerce merchant should consider.

1. Target Audience and Volume Requirements

MyPost Business is tailored for small to medium-sized businesses with lower shipping volumes. It's easy to sign up for, with no minimum volume commitments, making it accessible to businesses just starting out or those with fluctuating shipping needs. Discounts are applied in a tiered structure based on the number of parcels shipped each week.

On the other hand, eParcel is designed for medium to large businesses that ship higher volumes regularly. While it may require a more formal contract and possibly minimum volume commitments, eParcel offers more customisable pricing and potentially significant discounts, making it an attractive option for businesses with consistent, high-volume shipping needs.

2. Operational Flexibility: Label Creation and Payment

One of the significant operational advantages of eParcel is the ability to create and print shipping labels before paying for them. This feature allows merchants to process orders one by one without generating multiple transactions, which can streamline operations and reduce the administrative burden of matching labels to parcels later.

In contrast, MyPost Business requires payment at the time of label creation. This can lead to inefficiencies, particularly for businesses that need to batch process orders or handle large volumes of shipments quickly. With eParcel, all labels can be generated and printed at once, simplifying the entire shipping process.

3. Number of Articles per Consignment

You can ship multiple articles or boxes (up to 20) with Australia Post e-parcel, whereas with MyPost Business, you can only ship one parcel per consignment.

4. Integration and Support

Both MyPost Business and eParcel offer API access, allowing for seamless integration with your e-commerce platform. However, eParcel provides more advanced integration options, making it suitable for businesses with complex logistics needs or those requiring sophisticated shipping automation. Additionally, eParcel often includes dedicated account management, offering more personalised support compared to the standard customer service provided with MyPost Business.

5. Cubic Weight Pricing: A Critical Consideration

Cubic weight, or volumetric weight pricing, is a critical factor for e-commerce merchants to consider, especially if you're shipping light but bulky items. MyPost Business applies cubic weight pricing more straightforwardly, meaning you're more likely to be charged based on the space your parcel takes up, rather than its actual weight. This can lead to higher shipping costs for businesses that frequently ship large, lightweight parcels.

With eParcel, there's often more room for negotiation or optimisation to manage or reduce cubic weight charges. If your business primarily ships dense, small parcels (deadweight), eParcel might offer better options for minimising these costs, making it a more cost-effective solution in the long run.

6. Conclusion: Which Service is Right for Your Business?

Choosing between MyPost Business and eParcel comes down to your business's shipping volume, operational needs, and the flexibility you require in managing costs. MyPost Business is ideal for smaller operations looking for simplicity and ease of access, while eParcel is better suited to larger businesses needing advanced features, better pricing options, and the ability to manage labels and payments more efficiently.

As your e-commerce business grows, evaluating these factors will help you select the right service, ensuring that your shipping strategy supports your broader business goals.