What is Joint Shipment and Why It Might be a Good Idea for Your eCommerce Business?

Shipping costs are rising—fuel surcharges, carrier rate hikes, and volatile cross-border tariffs keep squeezing margins. At the same time, customers expect faster, simpler delivery with fewer packages and clearer tracking. Balancing cost control with speed and convenience is increasingly hard for growing eCommerce brands.

Joint shipment offers a practical answer. By consolidating compatible orders—often to the same address or region—into a single delivery, retailers cut per-order shipping and packaging costs, streamline handling, and reduce delivery trips. Many platforms already support this approach, making it easy to adopt as part of your fulfillment.

In this blog, we’ll define joint shipment, outline its benefits, walk through implementation (OMS/WMS and labels), and highlight when it makes sense—and when it doesn’t.

What is a Joint Shipment?

Made popular by the fashion brand Shein, joint shipping is a clubbed shipping technique that helps save time and money. If you are viewing from the sustainability lens, it is also great for reducing carbon emissions by reducing the number of trips for delivery.

However, joint shipment is not a new concept. 

It is followed by a history that dates back several centuries where cargo consolidation to save time and money led to the sophisticated systems and the concept of joint shipment. In the 18th century, British Companies decided to consolidate their shipping into containers which were adaptable for both railroads, horse drawn transport and other modes of transport. 

Fast forward to the current times, creating joint shipments is much easier. With Easyship, you can merge your orders going to the same destination or multiple orders placed by one customer at the tap of a button. This is especially helpful if you want to avoid delays, duplicate orders and of course reduce cost.

For small-to-medium-sized online retailers, joint shipment is a great way to save money and operate more efficiently—especially during high-volume periods like sales or holidays.

How a Typical Joint Shipment Works in eCommerce

Understanding the joint shipment process is key to implementing it successfully and reaping its benefits. Below, we walk through the typical steps involved when an eCommerce business combines multiple orders into a single shipment.

Multiple Orders Placed by the Customer

Customers often place multiple orders close together, either because they forgot to add all items in one cart or because they found additional products later. For joint shipment to work, these orders generally must meet certain criteria, such as:

• Being placed within a specific timeframe, commonly 24 hours.
  
• Having the same shipping address.
  
• Items being available or coming from the same or nearby fulfillment centers.
  

By identifying these orders early, the system can group them efficiently before the packing stage.

Orders Flagged for Consolidation by the Order Management System (OMS)

Once multiple orders meet the consolidation criteria, the OMS automatically flags them as candidates for joint shipment. This automation is vital because:

• It prevents manual errors or missed opportunities to combine orders.
  
• It helps the warehouse team prepare for grouped order fulfillment.
  
• It streamlines the customer communication process by managing expectations upfront.
  

Many popular eCommerce platforms like Shopify have built-in or plugin-enabled OMS features that support order consolidation seamlessly.

Items Picked and Packed Together in the Warehouse

After the OMS flags the orders, warehouse staff execute the picking and packing process by:

• Collecting all items from the separate orders in one go, often using batch picking techniques to save time.
  
• Ensuring accurate inventory tracking by updating stock levels for all combined orders as one.
  
• Carefully packing all items into a single package, optimizing packaging size and materials to reduce waste and shipping costs.
  
• Including clear internal documentation that references all original order numbers inside the package, aiding in returns or customer service.
  

This step requires coordination and warehouse efficiency but greatly reduces handling time and shipping expenses.

Single Shipping Label and Tracking Number Generated

Instead of printing multiple shipping labels, the system creates one label covering the entire consolidated shipment. This results in:

• A simplified shipping process for carriers, reducing scanning and handling steps.
  
• Customers receiving a single tracking link to monitor their entire order, eliminating confusion caused by multiple shipments arriving at different times.
  
• Easier management of delivery exceptions or delays since all items travel together.

With Easyship, you can use our free shipping label software and start generating labels in minutes. Get instant access to exclusive pre-negotiated discounted rates on 550+ courier services globally.

Transparent communication at this stage helps improve customer satisfaction by setting clear expectations.

Shipment Delivered in One Package

Finally, the consolidated shipment is delivered to the customer’s address. Benefits at delivery include:

• Receiving all ordered items at once, improving convenience and customer experience.
  
• Reducing missed deliveries since only one package requires a signature or drop-off.
  
• Lower packaging waste and carbon footprint due to fewer deliveries.
  

Customers appreciate this streamlined process, which builds trust and encourages repeat purchases.

Types of Joint Shipments (and When to Use Each)

There are two main types of joint shipment used in eCommerce:

1. Single-Customer Order Consolidation

This happens when a single customer places multiple orders to the same address within a short time (like 24 hours). Your system combines them automatically into one delivery.

This type is ideal for DTC (direct-to-consumer) stores and marketplaces looking to reduce waste and shipping costs.

2. Multi-Warehouse or Supplier Consolidation

This is common for B2B fulfillment or international shipping. It involves combining packages from different warehouses or suppliers into one shipment. Freight forwarders usually handle this for brands importing products from overseas.

How to Set Up Joint Shipment in Your Store

Joint shipment is a powerful way to lower shipping costs, reduce waste, and offer a better customer experience. But to get it right, you need to align your systems, teams, and policies. Here’s how to successfully implement joint shipping in your eCommerce store or fulfillment network.

Step 1: Define Your Consolidation Policy

Before you start combining orders, you need a clear and consistent policy.

Choose a Time Window for Combining Orders

Decide how long after an initial purchase you'll allow follow-up orders to be added to the same shipment. A 24-hour window is common, as used by major retailers like SHEIN. This gives customers flexibility while keeping fulfillment efficient.

Decide How to Handle Shipping Fees

If a customer places two orders and pays shipping twice, will you refund one fee? Will you offer a store credit? Define how your business will handle these cases and set clear rules to ensure fairness.

Communicate the Policy Clearly

Place your consolidation policy in a visible location — such as during checkout, in your FAQs, or order confirmation emails. For example: “We’ll automatically combine any orders you place within 24 hours to the same address. That means fewer boxes and one simple delivery!”

Step 2: Enable OMS and Inventory Integration

The right tools are essential for executing joint shipments without errors or delays.

Use an Order Management System (OMS)

Your OMS should be able to detect multiple open orders going to the same shipping address. When it sees orders that meet your criteria (e.g., within the time window and to the same address), it should automatically flag them for consolidation.

Sync With Your Warehouse Management System (WMS)

Your WMS should communicate with your OMS to ensure that all SKUs from the combined orders are picked and packed accurately. If the inventory is spread across multiple warehouses, your WMS should help determine if joint shipping is still possible based on location and timing.

Ensure Real-Time Inventory Updates

Inventory levels should be adjusted as soon as items are allocated to an order — even if that order is still being held for a potential consolidation. This helps prevent overselling or mismanagement of stock.

When a customer places an order, it gets sent to Easyship and shared with the warehouse. The warehouse either gets a notification or checks for new orders regularly. Once the order is ready, the warehouse packs everything and prints the shipping label. As the order moves through each step—like being packed or shipped—the system updates Easyship so the customer and store know what’s happening. 

Step 3: Automate Shipping Labels and Tracking

Shipping tools should be configured to handle consolidated packages efficiently.

Generate One Shipping Label for the Combined Package

Your shipping software or 3PL should create a single label for the consolidated order. The label may reference all order numbers inside the box for clarity, but only one label should be visible to the carrier.

Use a Single Tracking Number

Provide your customer with just one tracking number. This simplifies their experience and helps reduce “tracking fatigue.”

Include a Unified Packing Slip

Use a packing slip that lists all included items and the corresponding order numbers. This reassures customers and helps support teams resolve any confusion faster.

Step 4: Communicate With Your Customers

Even a great joint shipping setup can fall short if customers don’t understand what’s happening.

When you combine two or more orders into a joint shipment, always notify customers with a quick email or SMS update. Let them know their orders have been merged to reduce packaging waste and simplify delivery. 

This sets clear expectations and avoids confusion when just one box arrives. Be sure to confirm the expected delivery timeline and share a single tracking link. Also, have a support process in place in case any items are missing or damaged, so your team can quickly resolve issues with a refund, replacement, or credit.

Joint Shipment vs. Split Shipment

Joint shipment is the opposite of split shipment. Here’s how they compare:

Split shipments are sometimes necessary—for example, when items are in different warehouses or one product is backordered. But when possible, joint shipment is more efficient and cost-effective.

Benefits of Joint Shipment for Online Retailers

Joint shipments offer several powerful benefits:

Lower Shipping Costs

By consolidating multiple orders into a single consignment, retailers cut the per-order shipping spend. Fewer boxes and pick/pack touches lower material and handling fees, while higher, less frequent volumes make it easier to qualify for better carrier discount tiers.

Faster Fulfillment

Batching orders streamlines picking and packing so teams spend less time per order. Consolidated routing reduces handoffs and speeds last-mile delivery, keeping SLAs on track and making peak periods easier to manage with fewer labels, pickups, and exceptions.

Better Customer Experience

Customers receive one complete delivery instead of several, which reduces doorstep disruptions and the risk of missed deliveries or lost parcels. A single tracking ID also simplifies communication, providing clearer status updates from purchase to proof of delivery.

Improved Sustainability

Joint shipments require less packaging per order, lowering both materials usage and disposal costs. Fewer delivery trips mean reduced fuel consumption and emissions—supporting ESG goals and resonating with eco-conscious shoppers who reward sustainable brands.

When to Use (or Avoid) Joint Shipments

Your shipping policy should clearly explain when orders will be combined and whether customers can opt out if needed.

Joint Shipments in Larger Operations and B2B Logistics

Joint shipment strategies are also highly effective in larger-scale operations and business-to-business (B2B) contexts, where the complexity and volume of shipments are greater.

Combining Goods from Different Suppliers

In B2B logistics or international trade, joint shipments often mean consolidating goods from multiple suppliers or manufacturers before export. This includes:

• Gathering goods from different sources within a region or warehouse network.
  
• Coordinating shipment schedules to align delivery windows.
  
• Reducing the number of smaller, fragmented shipments to save on freight costs.
  

This approach optimizes container or truck space, allowing businesses to benefit from volume-based shipping rates.

Note: Freight forwarders manage the full consolidation process by coordinating suppliers, handling customs paperwork, arranging efficient transportation, and ensuring real-time visibility for all stakeholders.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Combining orders from different customers with similar names or addresses
• Failing to update inventory properly after consolidation
• Holding orders too long while waiting for another to qualify
• Confusing customers with multiple tracking numbers

Make sure your OMS and customer service team are aligned to avoid these issues.

Is Joint Shipment Right for Your Business?

If you're managing a growing eCommerce store and want to:

• Cut shipping costs
• Streamline warehouse operations
• Offer better delivery experiences
• Support sustainable practices

...then joint shipment is a strategy worth using.

It is one of the smartest ways to lower your shipping costs while keeping your customers happy. Whether you're consolidating orders from the same customer or managing global freight, combining shipments saves time, money, and resources.

Now that you know what joint shipment is and how to implement it, you're one step closer to making your shipping operations more efficient, more sustainable, and more profitable.

Looking for an all-in-one fulfillment platform to merge your shipments? Easyship helps you merge your multiple shipments and save costs with a one click approach! Not to mention, you can also save up to 91% on shipping with automation, real-time rate comparisons, and seamless integrations.

Sign up for free, today!

FAQs

What is a joint shipment?
A fulfillment method where multiple orders going to the same destination (or nearby stops) are consolidated into one shipment to cut costs, packaging, and delivery trips.

What are the three types of shipping?
Common service tiers are Standard, Expedited, and Express/Overnight (names vary by carrier, but the idea is slower-cheaper → faster-pricier).

What are the drawbacks of joint shipment?
Possible delays while waiting to consolidate items, more complex order coordination, risk of split inventory constraints, and bigger single-claim impact if the shipment is lost or damaged.

How does joint shipment work?
The system flags compatible orders, batches them during pick/pack, combines items into shared packaging, generates one (or fewer) labels, and routes via the most efficient service—creating one tracking flow and fewer delivery attempts.

‍