Introduction

As your eCommerce business grows, mastering the right shipping terms becomes essential. From tracking deliveries to managing returns and coordinating with courier partners, knowing this advanced shipping glossary can help you reduce errors and improve your overall shipping process. Here’s a list of key terms that every online seller should understand.

Advanced Shipping Terms

POD (Proof of Delivery)

Proof of Delivery confirms that the shipment has successfully reached the customer. It may involve a signature on the receipt by the receiver.

COD (Cash on Delivery)

Cash on Delivery allows customers to pay for their order at the time of delivery. It’s widely used for customer convenience and trust.

Prepaid Order

A prepaid order is paid for during checkout before shipping begins. It reduces risk and helps ensure faster processing.

QC (Quality Check)

The process of inspecting returned items to determine whether they are eligible for restocking.

NDR Follow-up

Non-Delivery Report (NDR) follow-up occurs when an initial delivery fails. The courier or seller may reschedule or confirm details with the buyer.

Courier Allocation

Courier allocation matches each order with a delivery partner. Selection depends on the delivery area, courier availability, and past performance.

Re-attempt

A re-attempt is a second or third delivery try after the first fails. Couriers may retry based on buyer availability or address clarity.

Volumetric Weight

Volumetric weight is a shipping metric used to determine a package’s chargeable weight based on how much space it occupies, rather than its actual weight. This helps couriers fairly price light but bulky shipments.

Formula (kg):

Volumetric Weight = (Length × Width × Height) / Dimensional Factor
(All dimensions in centimeters; common divisor = 5000)

Example:

A parcel measuring 40 × 30 × 20 cm:
(40 × 30 × 20) / 5000 = 4.8 kg
If the actual weight is 3.5 kg, the courier charges for 4.8 kg — the higher value.

Note: Volumetric calculation methods can differ. Always check with your shipping provider for the exact divisor they use.

Shipment Manifest

A shipment manifest lists all parcels ready for pickup by the courier. It acts as proof of handover and helps track multiple packages together. Always get it signed by the pickup person.

Pickup Request

A pickup request alerts the courier to collect packages from the seller. This can be auto-triggered by the platform or done manually.

Delivery OTP

Delivery OTP is a one-time password shared by the customer. It’s entered during delivery to confirm the correct recipient received the package.

Weight Discrepancy

A weight discrepancy happens when the courier-recorded weight differs from the declared weight. It may lead to additional shipping charges.

Delivery Attempt Count

This tracks how many times a courier has tried to deliver the parcel. After a set number of attempts, it may be marked as RTO for it to reach back to the warehouse. (Attempts depend on carrier to carrier as per agreement)

Order Syncing

The process where your online store or marketplace orders automatically reflect on your shipping dashboard.

Label Generation

Label generation is the process of creating a shipping label for each order. It includes recipient info, tracking number, and courier details.

Zone-wise Shipping

Zone-wise shipping sets delivery charges and timelines based on zones. These can be local, regional, or national, depending on the delivery area.

Delivery Attempt Remark

This is a reason given when delivery fails, added by the courier. Examples include “address incomplete,” “contact unavailable,” or “customer refused.”

Conclusion

Each of these terms plays a small but important role in the daily workflow of an eCommerce business. Having a clear understanding supports better planning, smooth communication, and cost-effective operations.

Managing logistics shouldn’t be complicated. With Shift, you get powerful tools for courier management, automated tracking, easy returns, and transparent shipping insights — all on one platform.

Simplify your shipping and grow faster with Shift.

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