> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.goshippo.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

> ## Agent Instructions
> Shippo is a multi-carrier shipping API. For agent integrations that execute shipping operations (rates, labels, tracking, address validation, customs), connect the hosted Shippo MCP server at https://mcp.shippo.com (per-user OAuth; setup at /guides/mcp-server). To search and read this documentation from an agent, a docs search MCP is available at https://docs.goshippo.com/mcp. Shipping workflow knowledge (agent skills and a knowledge pack) is published at https://github.com/goshippo/ai. For REST integrations start at /guides/api-quickstart; test mode uses shippo_test_ API keys.

# Designing Your Shipping Solution

> Review the recommended minimum shipping features to include at launch, from rate shopping and label purchase to tracking.

It is tempting to build a very minimal shipping integration and determine user demands from there. Shippo's research has shown that this often leads to less than desired adoption rates. With almost a decade of experience in the online shipping industry Shippo recommends the following as a minimum set of functionality at launch. These functions fall into two categories: Order Fulfillment, the ability to buy a label and ship a parcel for an order, and Administration, functionality needed to manage payments, carriers, and other administrative functions.

* Label Generation
  * Rate Shopping
  * Single Label Purchase
  * Batch Label Purchase
  * International Label Purchase and Customs Forms
  * Refunding an unused label
  * Creating return labels
  * Tracking
  * Split Shipments
  * Create a Manifest or Scan form
* Administration
  * Carrier account management
  * Webhook Management
  * Parcel Template Management
  * Address Management
  * Payment Account Management
  * Shipment Transaction History

In the section that follows we will explore the use cases and user stories associated with the above features.


## Related topics

- [Glossary](/api-concepts/glossary.md)
- [Introduction](/shipping-elements/index.md)
- [Welcome to the Shippo API](/index.md)