Swap vs. Route

Comprehensive platform vs. Post-purchase solution

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Introduction

When comparing Swap and Route, it’s essential to understand the fundamental differences in their offerings. Route specializes in post-purchase solutions, focusing primarily on package tracking and shipping protection. Contrastingly, Swap provides so much more in a comprehensive platform that encompasses shipping, tracking, package protection, returns management, and most significantly, cross-border solutions - delivering an all-in-one solution for ecommerce brands looking to grow without the growing pains.

Cost-Effective & Flexible Shipping Solutions

Swap goes beyond being a SaaS solution by enabling market-leading rates with global carriers. These rates save brands on average 20% compared to their existing rates for outbound and inbound shipments. Swap partners worldwide to support your logistics needs today and in the future.
Route does not offer any shipping rate negotiations or logistics support, leaving merchants to manage logistics independently.

Branded, Real-Time Tracking That Reduces Support Burden

Swap offers a robust tracking product, providing real-time updates via SMS and email, branded tracking pages, and direct integrations with customer service platforms like Gorgias to reduce customer service inquiries and enhance post-purchase engagement.

Route provides basic tracking through their app, web, email, and SMS notifications, allowing customers to monitor their orders in one place but without deeper customer service integrations.

Seamless Claims & Carbon-Neutral Protection

Swap offers best-in-class package protection, ensuring fast, frictionless claims processing directly within the merchant’s existing portals. Customers can easily raise a claim in just a few clicks, and brands can track claim progress within the Swap portal. Swap also offsets carbon emissions through Tree-Nation, supporting worldwide reforestation projects. More than 200 tonnes of CO2 have been captured through Swap Protect, making it a sustainable choice for brands looking to reduce their footprint.

Route provides shipping protection at checkout, covering packages that are damaged, stolen, or lost instantly, and offers carbon offsetting. They also have instant approval for low AOV orders. However, claims processing has waiting periods of 3-5 days for customers to submit their claims - negatively affecting customer experience.

Unified, Global Returns for Seamless Customer Experience

Returns can be costly and complex, but Swap simplifies this process with a unified global returns portal. This platform integrates domestic and international returns into one solution, eliminating the need for multiple providers. Brands benefit from discounted return shipping rates and real-time claims tracking.

Route offers basic returns management solutions for domestic-only orders, leaving brands to handle international returns logistics, shipping, and customer experience without automation or cost-saving support.

Global Expansion Without the Complexity

Swap empowers brands to expand globally by offering Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) shipping, automated tax remittance, and express customs clearance. Swap also handles global tax filing and duty drawback, managing country-specific VAT and tax requirements for international shipments. With built-in compliance solutions, Swap ensures EU product safety through GPSR standards and simplifies U.S. sales tax obligations with automated threshold monitoring and tax filing. Merchants save thousands annually through automated duty drawback processing, reclaiming duties, taxes, and fees on eligible return shipments—turning potential losses into recoverable revenue.

Route lacks any considerable cross-border ecommerce capabilities other than international shipping. They won’t cover international returns — resulting in a lot of damaged orders for customers. Merchants looking to expand internationally wouldn’t have all of the tools and peace of mind they need to go global.

Summary

Swap is the clear choice for brands seeking a comprehensive post-purchase and cross-border solution. With integrated shipping, tracking, package protection, returns management, and cross-border solutions, Swap empowers merchants to scale globally without complexity. While Route offers specialized post-purchase solutions, its limited scope makes it less effective for long-term operational optimization.

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Swap vs. Route

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