Ecommerce Shipping Guide

1. Ecommerce Shipping Guide An ecommerce shipping strategy is more important than many realize. Consumers expect fast, affordable, easy shipping, and offering as much can give you a leg up on your competition. More info E-commerce Shipping But ecommerce shipping is about more than just free shipping and fast delivery. This guide will point you to all of the resources you need to plan and create an ecommerce shipping strategy that your customers will love. What is ecommerce shipping? Ecommerce shipping encompasses all services required to transport products purchased online from a retailer to the customer’s delivery destination. With the right partner, ecommerce shipping can be manageable, affordable, and fast.

2. The ecommerce shipping process explained For ecommerce, the shipping process involves everything from receiving a customer order to preparing it for last-mile delivery. The shipping process can be broken down into three primary stages: Order receiving: make sure items are in stock to fulfill the order Order processing: verify order data and make sure it’s accurate (e.g., verifying the shipping address) Order fulfillment: a picking list is generated and items are picked, packed, and prepared to be shipped Why ecommerce shipping is more important than ever Today is an extremely opportunistic, yet complicated, time to be in ecommerce: Competition is now on a global scale with millions of brands launching each year. As shopper expectations grow, you need to find creative ways to go above and beyond to delight shoppers. With supply chain issues like labor shortages, port congestion, and freight and last-mile carrier costs increasing, you must have trusted logistics partners to meet consumer demands. Attention can be lost as quickly as a swipe, so it’s more important than ever to provide a personalized purchase and post-purchase experience. Despite these challenges, ShipBob surveyed brands and found they are navigating the ever-changing landscape with plans to expand even faster this year: More than 70% of brands will add a new sales channel this year. Nearly 56% of brands plan to either ship to new countries in 2022 or fulfill orders in new countries. Nearly 32% of brands plan to start physically fulfilling orders in new countries in 2022. Just under 25% of brands always offer site-wide free shipping for domestic orders. Just under 24% of brands don’t offer free shipping at all.

3. Having a solid ecommerce shipping strategy in place to meet consumer demands can make the difference between a sustainable ecommerce brand that’s setting up for long-term success and one that’s just getting by and may not be around for long. Ecommerce shipping methods and strategies There’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all ecommerce shipping strategy. The right ecommerce shipping strategy for your business will depend on your audience, budget, margins, product, and a variety of other factors. As a rule of thumb, offering a combination of fast and affordable shipping methods can help reduce shopping cart abandonment and increase conversions. Here are six shipping methods to consider making part of your ecommerce shipping strategy. 1. 2-day shipping Thanks to Amazon Prime, 2-day shipping has become synonymous with online shopping and a highly requested ecommerce shipping solution. This type of premium shipping may only seem accessible to ecommerce giants, but there are ways for all businesses to offer 2-day shipping to their customers without breaking the bank. 2. Same-day delivery Same-day delivery guarantees your order will be delivered on the same day it’s purchased. 61% of consumers are willing to pay more for this shipping speed. Successfully executing on same-day delivery requires coordinated operations, resources, courier services, and technology. 3. Overnight shipping When two-day shipping is the norm, how can ecommerce brands stand out? Enter overnight shipping: a shipping method that guarantees customers will receive their order on the next business day. Different carriers offer different overnight shipping services at different price points. 4. Expedited shipping Expedited shipping refers to any shipping method faster than standard ground. The exact turnaround for expedited orders can vary depending on the carrier and shipping services. Offering expedited shipping can help your online store reduce shopping cart abandonment, meet customer expectations, and build customer loyalty with effective ecommerce shipping solutions.

4. 5. International shipping Whether you’re based in the US and looking to expand globally or located overseas and want to begin shipping within the US, international shipping can be challenging and expensive for any business. Different countries have different regulations, tariffs and taxes, and requirements for incoming shipments, so it’s important to find experienced fulfillment partners who can not only help you navigate the Universal Postal Union agreement and international shipping but also provide affordable shipping rates. 6. Eco-friendly shipping For eco-friendly brands and customers, eco-friendly shipping is also an option. Eco-friendly shipping includes the use of biodegradable material that can easily be recycled, used for other purposes, and don’t take as long to decompose for packaging and shipping products. There are many eco-friendly packaging solutions available for online brands, such as compostable mailer bags and biodegradable packaging peanuts. 7. Hybrid shipping services Hybrid shipping services like UPS SurePost and FedEx SmartPost pick up your orders and then work with other carriers like USPS to transport your packages to a sorting facility or post office location, where it is then shipped to its final, residential destination. Choosing a hybrid shipping method has the ability to cut down on shipping costs as much as 50% in some cases. However, the tradeoff is often a slower delivery. 8. Freight shipping At its most basic, freight shipping is the transportation of cargo across the globe via air, land, or sea. Any shipment that is larger than 30 in x 30 in x 30 in or weighs over 150 pounds is considered freight. Ecommerce businesses use freight shipping to receive inventory from their manufacturer and send product to fulfillment centers or distributors.