Your e-commerce business needs a shipping strategy, and this guide shares everything you need to get started. Check it out!
A recent study showed that there are around 40k e-commerce sites and 100k Shopify stores in the U.S.
With the growing success of these start-ups, this number is only going to continue to grow in years to come.
A successful e-commerce site starts with logistics and a well-defined shipping strategy. We live in a world where consumers expect free shipping and fast shipping.
In order to satisfy this need, you need to be sure you have the most efficient and affordable shipping strategy.
Let’s discuss everything you need to know when it comes kicking off your e-commerce business the right way.
Get started by knowing your product
Packaging
The first part of logistics starts with your product packaging. As of 2014, shipping companies use a dimensional pricing model, where weight and size are factored into the price.
Not only do you want to minimize the amount of empty space in your packages, but you need to make sure they are safe and secure as well.
Depending on what your product is, determine if you will need to use bubble wrap, multi-depth boxes, just simple envelopes, etc.
Customers care about the way they receive things, so you should always try to make it extra special.
Customer Expectations
When you’re coming to the point of picking vendors to carry out your logistics, remember to always keep your customer in the front of your mind.
While you may find a super cheap company that can do the shipping for you, it may not be the best service.
Ultimately, repeat purchases and positive reviews are what matters when you’re first starting a business. You want to be sure your logistics process is making your customers satisfied.
Defining Factors
E-commerce logistics comes down to a number of different factors that varies from company to company.
Try to define how many sales you expect to do every day, how much your product packaging will cost you, your average shipping time, how long it will take you to prepare your product/s for shipping, etc.
When you know the specifics, you’ll be on our way to choosing the best shipping strategy.
Grow your business with the right logistics partner
Generally, there are three ways to go about shipping: dropshipping, shipping on your own, or a third party fulfillment company.
When you are first starting, you’ll probably experience fluctuating sales, a lot to accomplish with not enough time, and an overall lack of resources. This is when choosing a third party fulfillment company will be your best option.
You’ll look at a variety of factors when choosing the right company:
- How far they are able to ship
- Shipping technology and analytics
- Services they provide
- Type of shipping they do
- Their pricing model
Picking the right logistics partner will allow you to put all of your efforts into growing your e-commerce company, what matters the most.
Ensure a safe delivery through tracking & security
Last but not least, consumers today want to know where their package is and when it’s going to arrive.
Whether you decide to do your shipping through a third party service or by yourself, always have a tracking system in play. The tracking number should be sent out to the customer as soon as the package is.
Tracking allows you to find out where your package is being delayed and where things went wrong.
The security of your package is also extremely important. You want to be sure your product is packaged properly, you have a barcode and tracking number, and an insurance policy.
If you get it right with your e-commerce strategy, you’ll be on your way to a thriving business. Don’t think of logistics as your closing task but as the factor that will make or break your customer loyalty.
Are you looking for a logistics partner that offers front-end solutions for domestic and international shippers? Allow First Mile Shipping to be your strategic partner.
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