In today’s competitive economy, businesses must optimize their supply chain operations to deliver goods faster, more accurately, and at lower costs. Carrier integration, when combined with a powerful ERP like Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, can lead to game-changing results in this transformation.
This blog explores how carrier integration with Business Central, particularly through solutions like MetaShip, is essential for streamlining supply chain operations, improving visibility, enhancing customer satisfaction, and driving business growth.
What Is Carrier Integration?
Carrier integration refers to the seamless connection between your enterprise systems (such as ERP or WMS) and the various third-party shipping carriers you use to fulfill orders—UPS, FedEx, DHL, USPS, and others. Integrating automates and centralizes these functions within your existing business systems rather than manually logging into each carrier’s portal to process shipments, generate labels, or track deliveries.
A solution like MetaShip brings this integration directly into Business Central, allowing businesses to manage the shipping process from a single, unified interface.
The Critical Role of Business Central in Supply Chain Management
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a comprehensive business management solution that helps small to mid-sized organizations manage their finances, manufacturing, sales, shipping, project management, and services. When it comes to the supply chain, Business Central offers tools for:
- Order management
- Inventory tracking
- Warehouse operations
- Procurement
- Customer service
However, Business Central does not offer native, robust shipping carrier integrations out of the box. That’s where tools like MetaShip become crucial—they enhance Business Central by bridging the gap between order fulfillment and carrier logistics.
Why Carrier Integration Matters: Key Benefits for the Supply Chain
1. Improved Shipping Accuracy
Manual shipping processes are prone to human error. Incorrect addresses, shipment methods, or mislabeled packages can result in delays, returns, or customer dissatisfaction.
With carrier integration, shipping data (e.g., addresses, package dimensions, service preferences) flows automatically from your ERP to the carrier. MetaShip ensures that label creation, rate selection, and tracking are accurate, from within Business Central, minimizing costly errors.
2. Real-Time Rate Shopping
One of the biggest advantages of carrier integration is the ability to compare shipping rates in real time. MetaShip allows users to view and select from multiple carrier options based on cost, delivery time, or customer preferences, without leaving Business Central.
This functionality helps businesses save money on shipping and provides customers with faster or more flexible delivery choices.
3. Enhanced Tracking and Visibility
Customers now expect visibility into their orders from purchase to delivery. Integrated shipping tools like MetaShip automatically generate tracking numbers and update shipping statuses in real time within Business Central.
This improves customer service by allowing sales reps and support teams to quickly answer inquiries and share live delivery information, without switching systems.
4. Accelerated Order Fulfillment
Time is of the essence in shipping. By eliminating the need to manually enter shipment details on external carrier websites, teams can process more orders in less time. MetaShip enables batch processing of shipments, automatic label printing, and instant documentation—all from within Business Central.
This streamlined workflow not only increases throughput but also frees up staff to focus on higher-value tasks.
5. Inventory and Warehouse Optimization
Shipping data is critical for inventory accuracy. When carrier information is integrated with your ERP, shipping confirmations automatically update stock levels and order statuses in real time.
MetaShip ensures Business Central’s inventory records reflect actual movements, helping you avoid stock discrepancies, improve demand forecasting, and support lean warehouse operations.
6. Cost Control and Shipping Analytics
Shipping costs can eat into margins, especially if they’re not closely monitored. Integrated shipping solutions provide detailed reports and dashboards on shipping spend, carrier performance, delivery times, and more.
With MetaShip, businesses can leverage this data within Business Central to make smarter logistics decisions, negotiate better carrier contracts, and identify cost-saving opportunities.
MetaShip: Closing the Loop Between Business Central and Shipping Carriers
MetaShip is a cloud-based, automated shipping and logistics solution built specifically for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. Its deep integration capabilities and intuitive interface make it a preferred choice for businesses looking to modernize their shipping workflows.
Here’s how MetaShip stands out:
Seamless Multi-Carrier Integration
MetaShip supports major carriers like UPS, FedEx, USPS, DHL, and regional carriers—all from a single Business Central interface. No need for external platforms or duplicate data entry.
Automated Shipping Workflows
From packing to label generation to tracking, MetaShip automates the full shipping cycle. It also supports bulk shipment processing, saving valuable time during peak seasons.
Real-Time Rate Comparison
MetaShip pulls real-time rates from all connected carriers, allowing you to pick the most cost-effective and efficient option for every shipment.
Tracking and Notifications
MetaShip automatically logs tracking information in Business Central and can be configured to send branded tracking emails to customers, enhancing the post-purchase experience.
Scalability and Customization
MetaShip is built to scale with your business. Whether you’re shipping 50 packages a day or 5,000, MetaShip can handle the volume—and it can be customized to match your shipping policies, customer preferences, and workflow rules.
The Cost of Not Integrating
Failure to integrate shipping carriers with your ERP leads to siloed systems, inefficient processes, and increased operational costs. Here’s what a non-integrated shipping process typically results in:
- Manual data re-entry between systems
- Increased human error and shipping mistakes
- Limited visibility into shipping performance
- Inability to compare rates in real time
- Delays in customer communications
- Poor inventory and order tracking
In contrast, carrier integration delivers efficiency, accuracy, and a better customer experience, helping you stay competitive and responsive.
Real-World Impact: A Case in Point
Imagine a distribution company processing 500 orders daily. Without integration, their shipping team would need to:
- Export order details from Business Central
- Log in to each carrier’s portal
- Re-enter shipment information
- Print labels manually
- Copy and paste tracking numbers back into Business Central
That’s potentially hundreds of manual tasks each day, with high risk for errors.
Now, picture the same company using MetaShip:
- Orders are shipped directly from Business Central.
- Labels are auto-generated.
- Tracking is instantly recorded.
- Shipping costs are optimized.
The result? Higher order accuracy, lower shipping costs, happier customers, and a more productive team.
Integration Is No Longer Optional—It’s Essential
The global logistics environment is only becoming more complex. Rising customer expectations, labor shortages, and fluctuating carrier rates demand smarter systems and automated processes.
Carrier integration with Business Central via MetaShip is no longer a “nice to have”—it’s a strategic necessity. It allows businesses to stay agile, minimize operational waste, and exceed customer expectations in a highly competitive market.
Final Thoughts
As supply chains become more dynamic and interconnected, businesses’ tools must evolve too. By integrating shipping carriers directly into Business Central through a solution like MetaShip, companies unlock new levels of efficiency, visibility, and control.
Whether you’re a growing e-commerce brand or a seasoned distributor, MetaShip ensures your shipping processes scale with your business, delivering not just packages but also operational excellence and customer satisfaction.
Ready to streamline your shipping process inside Business Central? Let MetaShip help you get there.
For more information and a tailored demonstration, contact us today at MetaOption.