Shipping labels are one of the most repetitive elements in logistics and fulfillment. Yet, despite their small size, the process behind them often introduces major operational inefficiencies: manual data entry, inconsistent label formats, delayed shipments, and preventable errors that lead to higher operational costs. As companies scale, these inefficiencies compound. Logistics managers must coordinate large volumes of orders, multi-channel data inputs, multiple carriers, and strict operational timelines. Manual label creation simply does not scale.
Shipping label automation solves this problem by generating labels directly from your operational systems—accurately, consistently, and without manual intervention. Instead of staff creating labels individually, your systems trigger the generation of labels automatically through a dedicated document generation software such as Documint, which integrates with WMS, TMS, ERPs, CRMs, or custom-built platforms.
As order volumes increase and supply chains become more complex, manual processes quickly create bottlenecks. The most common challenges include:
Teams often re-enter data that already exists in the team's databases. Even highly trained staff spend time copying addresses, selecting carriers manually, or reformatting labels. These steps add no strategic value and slow down throughput.
Even a single typo—particularly in address or routing fields—can trigger costly operational errors that reduce efficiency, impact revenue, and create poor customer experiences, including:
Delayed shipments
Returned parcels
Reprocessing costs
Customer dissatisfaction
Carrier penalties
Automation eliminates human error by pulling data directly from structured sources.
Labels generated manually or from different carrier portals vary in design, layout, and quality. For high-volume operations, inconsistency:
Impacts scanner performance
Slows down internal handling
Creates issues at distribution centers or carrier hubs
Automation ensures every label follows unified standards.
As daily shipments grow, manual label creation becomes a limiting factor. Adding staff is expensive and inefficient compared to system-driven workflows.
Some companies use a mix of carrier portals, spreadsheets, and custom tools. Shipping label automation centralizes output while still maintaining flexibility with carriers and systems.
Documint is not a WMS, TMS, or carrier system. Documint functions as the document generation engine inside your workflow, receiving data from your existing systems and produces:
Below is the typical workflow logistics teams implement when using Documint to automate shipping labels.
Documint integrates seamlessly with:
WMS/TMS platforms
ERP systems
CRMs
Databases (SQL, NoSQL)
API-driven custom systems
Spreadsheets and tools such as Airtable or Google Sheets
Automation platforms (Zapier, Make, n8n)
Your operational system triggers the automation by sending order data directly to Documint.
A logistics team defines a carrier-compliant label template within Documint. The template can include:
Sender and recipient addresses
Routing codes
Tracking numbers
Barcodes or QR codes
Carrier-required fields
Operational references
Branding elements
Handling indicators (fragile, hazardous, oversize)
Once the template is built it can be reused indefinitely using the data from your operational system dynamically.
You will determine when a label must be created from your operational system. Common triggers used in logistics are:
Order status updates (“Ready to Ship”, “Picked”, “Packed”)
Automated routing decisions
Carrier selection rules
Batch processing events
Return merchandise authorizations
When the trigger fires, the system sends data to Documint’s API, and Documint generates the shipping label instantly.
Once generated, labels can be automatically:
Downloaded back into your WMS/TMS
Sent to a thermal printer
Emailed to internal or external contacts
Attached to an order record
Synced to downstream logistics partners
Documint supports both individual and bulk label generation at scale.
Shipping label automation provides value for organizations of all sizes, including:
Those relying on spreadsheets or manual processes
DTC brands shipping through multiple channels
Early-stage warehouses needing efficiency without hiring
Businesses using a mix of WMS, CRMs, and ecommerce platforms
Teams looking to reduce manual effort and unify label output
Companies standardizing global shipping operations
Multi-warehouse operations
Regional or national distribution networks
Teams with strict SLA requirements
Organizations needing API-based, high-volume automation
Companies that must integrate label creation with custom systems
Documint’s scalability and API capabilities support all three.
Documint’s role as a document generation software makes it ideal for enterprise logistics environments:
Documint plugs directly into your systems, allowing automated label generation anywhere in your workflow.
You maintain strict control over formatting, barcodes, branding, and compliance for every carrier.
Beyond shipping labels, Documint can automate:
Packing slips
Invoices
Customs declarations
Delivery notes
Bills of lading
Return labels
Compliance documents
Documint supports high-volume batch generation and can handle large bursts of requests without performance loss.
Teams can introduce shipping label automation without replacing existing systems or workflows.
As logistics operations evolve, shipping label automation is becoming a fundamental requirement rather than an optional enhancement. By integrating Documint into your operational system, your business can eliminate manual tedious work, reduce errors, accelerate throughput, and ensure scalable, consistent performance across all fulfillment operations.
Documint allows logistics teams to modernize their workflows without rebuilding infrastructure—acting as a flexible document generation engine that supports your entire supply-chain ecosystem.