Glossary
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shipping-label
E-commerce shipping label: definition, tracking barcode content, Shopify carrier printing, and key points.
Updated on
June 4, 2026
The shipping label is the adhesive document stuck onto the parcel that identifies the shipment for the carrier: sender and recipient addresses, chosen service, barcode, and tracking number. Without a valid label, the parcel will not be accepted. In e-commerce, it is generated from the order during fulfillment, just before being handed over to the Colissimo, Chronopost, DHL, or other carrier network.
Summary
Simple definition: shipping label
The shipping label is the logistics passport of the package for the carrier. It allows sorting, routing, and traceability up to delivery.
Typical information:
Sender: merchant or warehouse name, return address.; Recipient: customer name, shipping address, sometimes telephone.; Service: Colissimo home, pickup point, express...
Weight / dimensions of the package (pricing).; Barcode and tracking number.; Order reference (optional, internal use).
Useful distinctions:
Shipping label vs. delivery slip: the label is on the package for the carrier; the delivery slip is often inside the package for the customer.; Shipping label vs. order tracking: the label bears the number; tracking is the online monitoring of this number.; Shipping label vs. shipping: the label is an artifact; shipping is the complete logistical act.
Outbound label vs. return label: QA return or prepaid for the customer.; National vs. international label: outside the EU, additional customs documents (CN22/CN23).; Label vs. product label: retail SKU ≠ transport label.
The importance of shipping labels for an online store
An incorrect or missing label blocks the entire post-purchase chain.
Carrier acceptance: without a valid barcode, refusal at the depot.; Delivery to the correct recipient: legible and accurate address.; Customer tracking: number uploaded to Shopify and email ( transactional email ).
Controlled cost: rate based on actual weight and service ( shipping fees ).; Less customer service: package lost or returned to sender if the address is incorrect.; Compliance: mandatory mentions according to carrier and country.
The label links the digital order to the physical package: this is the moment when the tracking number becomes real for the customer. A label that is generated but not entered in the admin leaves the order “unshipped” on the store side.
Using with Shopify
Shopify allows you to buy and print labels directly from the admin when creating a fulfillment (Shopify Help Center).
Shopify Shipping: negotiated rates depending on the country (USA, Canada, certain EU markets).; Shipping Apps: Sendcloud, Shippo, Boxtal, Colissimo Officiel (France).; Carrier accounts: professional Colissimo/Chronopost contract connected via app.
Multi-package: one label per package, a fulfillment can contain several.; Pickup point: label with the pickup point ID chosen at checkout.; 3PL: the provider generates the labels; tracking is updated via API.
Merchant checklist:
Verify the delivery address before generation (no typos).; Enter actual weight (otherwise overcharging or dispute may occur).; Configure printer and PDF format (4×6 vs A4).
Test a shipment on a real or test order.; Ensure that tracking is properly sent to the customer.; Archive carrier invoices for accounting.
France: if native Shopify Shipping is limited, apps like Boxtal or Sendcloud centralize Colissimo, Mondial Relay, Chronopost with bulk label generation.
In brief
Shipping label = carrier identification on the package (addresses, barcode, tracking).; Distinct from delivery slip, shipment, product label.; Stakes: handling, delivery, customer tracking, shipping cost.
Operation: weighing → generation → printing → pasting → scanning.; Shopify Shipping or apps (Sendcloud, Boxtal…); thermal printer recommended for volume.
Associated terms, FAQ, and going further
Associated Terms
Shipping: overall process after labeling.
Fulfillment: label creation + shipped status.
Order tracking: tracking via label number.
Shipping address: data on the label.
Parcel packaging: support for the label.
FAQ
Can you ship without a shipping label?
In practice, no for professional e-commerce shipments: the carrier requires a barcode label. At a post office, manual entry is possible but slow and not scalable.
How to generate a label on Shopify?
Open the order > Fulfill (Create fulfillment) > fill in weight and dimensions > choose carrier > Buy shipping label > print the PDF.
Shipping label and tracking number: what is the link?
Yes. The tracking number is printed on the label (barcode). It is the same reference used for customer order tracking.
Which printer to use for e-commerce labels?
A 4×6 thermal printer (Zebra, Rollo, DYMO) is standard starting from a few dozen packages per day. A4 is suitable for low volumes with an adhesive pocket.
Going further
Sources: Shopify Help Center (Shipping labels), carrier documentation (La Poste Colissimo, Chronopost).
In brief
Shipping label = carrier identification on the package (addresses, barcode, tracking).
Distinct from delivery slip, dispatch, product label.
Key issues: carrier acceptance, delivery, customer tracking, shipping cost.
Workflow: weighing → generation → printing → pasting → scanning.
Shopify Shipping or apps (Sendcloud, Boxtal, etc.); thermal printer recommended for volume.
Associated terms, FAQ, and going further
Associated Terms
Shipping: overall process after labeling.
Fulfillment: label creation + shipped status.
Order tracking: tracking via label number.
Shipping address: data on the label.
Parcel packaging: carrier for the label.
FAQ
Can we ship without a shipping label?
In practice, no for professional e-commerce shipments: the carrier requires a barcode label. At a post office, manual entry is possible but slow and not scalable.
How to generate a label on Shopify?
Open the order > Fulfill (Create fulfillment) > enter weight and dimensions > choose carrier > Buy shipping label > print the PDF.
Shipping label and tracking number: what is the link?
Yes. The tracking number is printed on the label (barcode). It is the same reference used for customer order tracking.
Which printer to use for e-commerce labels?
A 4×6 thermal printer (Zebra, Rollo, DYMO) is standard from a few dozen packages a day. A4 is suitable for low volume with adhesive pouches.
Go further
Sources: Shopify Help Center (Shipping labels), carrier documentation (La Poste Colissimo, Chronopost).
Enzo
June 4, 2026
