How to Choose the Right Shipping Partners for eCommerce

The rise of same- and two-day shipping is a heaven-sent feature for customers, but a nightmare to sellers like you. Besides the fact that it is expensive, how would you fulfill a same-day delivery if the buyer is thousands of miles away? It seems ridiculously impossible, right? That's why it's important to choose the right shipping partners for eCommerce.

Luckily, the world seems flat thanks to numerous eCommerce shipping companies worldwide. Likewise, there are eCommerce shipping solutions that can automate your order fulfillment needs.

Today's article will cover the different shipping partners for eCommerce, the best eCommerce shipping option for you, and eCommerce shipping best practices you must live by.

What is eCommerce shipping

The prevalence of online shopping gave birth to eCommerce shipping. The idea that anyone can buy their needs for just a few clicks without physically going to the store offered a notion that it can arrive at the doorstep right away. Thus, the requirement of eCommerce shipping.

As a seller, you must meet the end of the bargain by utilizing dependable shipping partners for eCommerce to provide the best online shopping experience at an affordable cost.

eCommerce shipping options

Shipping partners for eCommerce come in various forms nowadays. Besides the local postal service in your area, you can choose between two eCommerce shipping options:

Courier services

It is the traditional way of delivering packages that have stood the test of time. Courier service is a private firm that assists the shipping of parcels or consignment. It specializes in international, express, local, and bulk shipping solutions.

If your orders' nature is time-sensitive, courier service offers hassle-free and speedy delivery experience using their efficient fleet management and route planning. Some courier companies provide end-to-end tracking that can help you monitor your item and notifies you for misplaced items. 

The current major players are UPS, FedEx, Canada Post, PostNL, and APC Logistics.

eCommerce shipping solutions

It is a type of eCommerce shipping option that provides a centralized solution to manage your shipping effectively. You're not also limited to one courier service, which offers flexibility to speed up the delivery process. 

eCommerce shipping solutions integrate different courier services where you can get reasonable rates and even discounts. The platform analyzes your shipping needs and chooses the best solution.

You can easily plug it into your website, shopping carts (e.g., BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Shopify), or any online marketplace (Amazon, eBay, Etsy). It can also incorporate an order management system that can help you manage orders from various channels. 

Moreover, it can print shipping labels and sorts your shipments to your desired destination. It can also handle returns, tracking, and batch shipping. 

eCommerce integrations can help you manage your orders in one place where you can download orders easily and edit multiple shipments instantly.

Courier services and eCommerce shipping solutions are examples of shipping partners for eCommerce that can help you achieve your shipping goals. If you're experienced in negotiating with courier companies and an established eCommerce seller, then the first choice is perfect for you. But if you're just a new online seller or want to automate your shipping process, the latter would do.

eCommerce shipping best practices

Besides choosing efficient and reliable shipping partners for eCommerce, you should follow current best practices to boost sales, attract new customers, and improve customer experience. 

Free shipping

Free shipping is not technically "free." You may assign a higher price for your products or offer them a minimum spend requirement. Either way, you must apply this to your shipping strategy because, according to E-Commerce Nation, customers abandon their carts because their (supposed to be) purchase didn't qualify for free shipping. Of course, you don't want that to happen, do you?

You may also partner it with same- or two-day shipping but analyze first if it affects your bottom line.

Show the shipping costs at checkout

If a free shipping tactic is not doable for your business, it might be better to be transparent to your customers about the shipping cost when they check out. Customers don't like surprises, especially hidden fees, so play the "honest seller" card and display the actual shipping cost, including the shipping & handling, and estimated tax (if there any).

Show the actual delivery date

The expected delivery date is based on the type of eCommerce shipping option and the order date. Your chosen shipping partners for eCommerce can provide you with an estimated delivery date since they will be the ones who will handle the order fulfillment. And you must show this during checkout. Your customers will appreciate this gesture because it will help them to make a sound buying decision.

Order confirmation status updates

A guaranteed delivery date won't suffice. Customers must be able to keep track of their orders as well--in real-time. This is why it is vital to establish an effective communication system that can send live status updates via email or text. Talk to your courier service or check your eCommerce shipping solution if it has this feature.

In closing

Starting up an eCommerce business is not all about making sales or gaining profit. It would be best if you also considered how you could make your customers happy. Besides offering them high-quality products, you should think of how the order will arrive safely on time. This is why you need reliable shipping partners for eCommerce. It will not only help you offer the best customer experience; you will be able to meet your sales goals, scale your business, and enhance the efficiency of your operations.

You don't have to search for shipping partners for eCommerce because you came to the right place! Stallion Express offers various eCommerce shipping solutions fit for your business needs. For inquiries, you can call at +1 877-863-7447 or email [email protected].

Nicasio Co III