Choosing The Right Shipping Partner & Strategy for Your Online Store
5 attributes you should look for in an ideal shipping partner and 3 shipping strategies that can transform your ecommerce business from average to an industry leader.
5 attributes you should look for in an ideal shipping partner and 3 shipping strategies that can transform your ecommerce business from average to an industry leader.
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<strong>Choosing</strong> <strong>The</strong> <strong>Right</strong> <strong>Shipping</strong> <strong>Partner</strong><br />
& <strong>Strategy</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Your</strong> <strong>Online</strong> <strong>Store</strong><br />
<strong>The</strong>re are certain factors which determine the success of an E-commerce<br />
business. Apart from the quality of products an online store is offering and the<br />
amount of advertising it is doing, a significant aspect that wins customers is the<br />
‘<strong>Shipping</strong>’ of the products. In an e-commerce business, the customer is virtually<br />
dealing with the seller. He chooses the product online and buys the same only<br />
through a few clicks. In spite of the ef<strong>for</strong>tless process, the customer is satisfied<br />
only when the product reaches him physically.<br />
It is not enough that the product reaches the customer, but it should be in its<br />
best condition and must reach the customer at the earliest. This is one of the<br />
things an online buyer is concerned about. If there is anything a buyer cares<br />
about after the quality and cost of the product, it’s the shipping of the product.<br />
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<strong>The</strong>re<strong>for</strong>e, to provide a great shopping experience to its buyers and grow its<br />
business, an ecommerce business must focus on the shipping strategy of the<br />
firm.<br />
Attributes of An Ideal <strong>Shipping</strong> <strong>Partner</strong><br />
To follow a seamless shipping strategy, you will require the right shipping<br />
partner. Here are some aspects of a shipping partner that should help you<br />
determine the right partner <strong>for</strong> you.<br />
1. Service and Accountability<br />
<strong>The</strong> first and <strong>for</strong>emost thing to look at is the category of service your carrier<br />
partner is offering. When a shipping company is tying up with an e-commerce<br />
business, they should be very transparent about the time period they need to<br />
deliver the parcel(s).’Today’ shouldn’t be ‘or tomorrow’ in any case. In the<br />
competitive ecommerce market, you must be at a position to in<strong>for</strong>m your buyer<br />
at every step about the whereabouts of their product and the exact day and<br />
time when the shipment is reaching the buyer. You can only do so when your<br />
carrier company is accountable to you at every step. As a thumbrule go ahead<br />
with the leading courier and shipping companies in your country. For example<br />
<strong>for</strong> US it might be FedEx or UPS, <strong>for</strong> UK it might be Royal Mail, <strong>for</strong> Australia it<br />
might be Australia Post or Star Track <strong>Shipping</strong>.<br />
2. Delivery Rates<br />
For any business, it holds very crucial to manage cost. While tying up with a<br />
carrier partner, you must compare the rates with the industry standards. Since<br />
the shipping industry is full of unpredicted liabilities and accidents, your<br />
business should be fully equipped with the knowledge of insurance regarding<br />
the products you trust your shipping partner with. All the extra charges and<br />
surcharges should also be made clear be<strong>for</strong>ehand to avoid any conflicts later. To<br />
ensure that all your shipping rates are updated live on your online store, you<br />
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might consider using your shipping partner’s API to display live rates. For<br />
example Australia Post <strong>Shipping</strong> provides live rates <strong>for</strong> its freight charges<br />
through its API.<br />
3. Location<br />
<strong>The</strong> success of an e-commerce business is as vast as the area it covers. <strong>The</strong> more<br />
geographical corners you can touch the more you grow. This factor is also to be<br />
considered while choosing a shipping partner. <strong>The</strong> company should be<br />
transparent about the areas they cover and the quality of service they provide in<br />
certain areas. Whether they function only locally, inter-state, or international, is<br />
surely a concern <strong>for</strong> your business. Compare the service days various service<br />
providers are offering and go <strong>for</strong> the most promising one.<br />
4. Flexibility<br />
It’s very important <strong>for</strong> a shipping company to be flexible with its services. Since<br />
the work is to move shipments beyond boundaries, there are bound to be<br />
uncertain occurrences which might delay the delivery. It’s the responsiveness of<br />
the carrier company that matters then. Do question whether they have other<br />
options, like to send it through other services so that your customer is not kept<br />
waiting.<br />
5. Updated Technology<br />
Nothing sells without technology today. Since the very base of your business is<br />
technology, the partners who are facilitating the growth of your business to a<br />
considerable level, should also be technologically updated. <strong>Your</strong> shipping<br />
partner must have up to date shipping technologies and an ability to integrate<br />
with other companies to complete the task in case their services are interrupted<br />
<strong>for</strong> some reason.<br />
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Effective <strong>Shipping</strong> <strong>Strategy</strong><br />
<strong>Shipping</strong> is an undoubtedly a critical aspect <strong>for</strong> your ecommerce business. It<br />
directly influences customers’ experiences and there<strong>for</strong>e makes or breaks the<br />
reputation of your business. <strong>The</strong>re<strong>for</strong>e, it becomes really important to adopt a<br />
proper shipping strategy <strong>for</strong> your online store. Here are some crucial points to<br />
keep in mind to enhance your store’s sales through an effective shipping<br />
strategy:<br />
1. Free <strong>Shipping</strong><br />
When it comes to online shopping, additional shipping costs were found to be<br />
the primary reason <strong>for</strong> abandonment of shopping carts. Free shipping definitely<br />
acts as a consumer driver. If providing free shipping is keeping your sales at loss,<br />
you can try distributing the shipping costs evenly among the products. <strong>The</strong> buyer<br />
won’t feel the burden of that ‘extra cost’ then. It hence enhances your sales<br />
without affecting your revenue accounts.<br />
2. Cash on Delivery<br />
Cash on delivery of a product is the most popular thing about e-commerce<br />
businesses these days. People love to shop when they are certain that they are<br />
not spending a penny be<strong>for</strong>e they get to hold their product. You will need to tie<br />
up with your carrier partner <strong>for</strong> this service but it’s definitely worth it. Most<br />
people are now looking <strong>for</strong> Cash on delivery as one of the factors while buying<br />
any product online. If your carrier partner is an expert at this, there is less at<br />
stake and a lot to win back.<br />
3. Same or Specific Day <strong>Shipping</strong><br />
Now when the seller is alluring customers with new and different facilities, one<br />
of the latest’ happens to be same day delivery. Now a customer doesn’t have to<br />
wait <strong>for</strong> days to receive their product. This surely makes online shopping<br />
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experience better <strong>for</strong> them. You can charge some extra bucks <strong>for</strong> that but<br />
demand transparency from your carrier partner about the places/ cities where<br />
they can provide these services hassle free. You can also provide specific day<br />
delivery to lure customers who might want to gift to their acquaintances on<br />
special days.<br />
Conclusion<br />
<strong>Shipping</strong> is an integral part of any e-commerce business that deals in selling of<br />
physical products. It might break or make your company’s branding. A customer<br />
will stay and come back when they know that their products will be delivered in<br />
its best <strong>for</strong>m. One messed up transaction might lead your business to lose that<br />
customer <strong>for</strong>ever. A well <strong>for</strong>med shipping strategy does not only satisfy your<br />
existing customers but helps in boosting your sales to a significant level.<br />
Resources:<br />
https://store.biztechconsultancy.com/blog/shipping-partner-strategyonline-store/<br />
Reference :<br />
● https://store.biztechconsultancy.com/magento-startrack-shipping.htm<br />
● https://store.biztechconsultancy.com/magento-australia-post-extension.htm<br />
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