There’s no doubt about eCommerce sellers. The eCommerce represents big business in the UK and across the globe. This is borne out by the numbers, with around 18% of all UK retail purchases set to occur online in 2019. By 2040, it’s estimated that a whopping 95% of all purchases will be facilitated through eCommerce, as offline retail becomes a thing of the past.
As this market becomes increasingly crowded and competitive, however, it will be important for brands to differentiate themselves and the quality of service that they provide.
One of the key aspects here will be the establishment of a viable delivery service and supply chain model, which will enable you to effectively store, pack, and ship goods even as your venture scales. Here are some steps to help you achieve this:
1. Liaise with an Established Courier
When supply chain managers develop their supply chain, they establish parcel hubs and delivery centers, which enable them to store and organize parcels before distributing these as required.
Small or startup eCommerce sellers won’t have the resources to achieve such objectives, however, so instead they’ll have to partner with an established courier that can handle the needs of their business.
You can connect with such couriers through online platforms such as Parcel2Go, who offer access to renowned brands such as DHL whilst also offering some incredibly competitive quotes.
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These firms will lend their own parcel hubs and delivery centers for the benefit of your business, whilst they also have access to the type of integrated technology that can seamlessly combine different aspects of the supply chain model.
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2. Create a Diverse and Affordable Shipping Strategy as an eCommerce Seller
By liaising with an expert courier and sending parcels in bulk, you can also reduce the cost of sending goods out to consumers.
This is important, especially as around 25% of shoppers have cited shipping costs as the reason for them to abandon purchases. By minimizing your costs and offering a variety of options to customers, you can negate this and optimize your sales conversions online.
To achieve this, you’ll need to have a clear shipping strategy in mind, whilst always trying to strike the delicate balance between engaging customers and maintaining profit margins.
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The most important thing is that you’ll create room in your model for free shipping, even if this means factoring the additional cost into product prices.
3. Make your Customers key Partners in the Supply Chain
The eCommerce seller’s market is unusual in more ways than one, particularly as customers are able to communicate directly with the store and are therefore intrinsically linked to the supply chain itself.
With these points in mind, it’s important to empower customers and recognize their close connection to the supply chain, and there are several ways in which you can achieve this.
One option is to ensure that you offer delivery dates that are completely attainable, as this respects the customer’s needs and the money that they’ve spent. You should also offer as many manageable delivery options as possible, so long as this does not compromise your cost base too dramatically.
You should also empower customers by keeping them informed of their delivery and offering package tracking where possible, just as you would when liaising with a business partner or fellow logistics supplier.
