Nowadays, in the eCommerce industry, which is now extremely popular, delivery plays an important role and is the key to good communication between a company and a client. In order for the client to be completely satisfied, it is important not only to provide all the necessary services, but also to make sure that the delivery goes smoothly and without problems. How the customer receives the goods he ordered is an important aspect of the company’s reputation, and therefore it is very important not to skimp on this process and make sure that everything goes as it should.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the issue of delivery in the field of eCommerce has become especially acute. As the realities of the market have changed and people have begun to buy things online more, it has become necessary to optimize delivery in order to achieve a better result and new challenges have arisen for the owners of transport companies, against the backdrop of increasing competition.
The delivery process requires the participation of technological solutions as there are many aspects to consider. With the help of eCommerce technology solutions, you can achieve much more accuracy in your work and a better reputation for your company. In medium and large businesses, it is almost impossible to carry out all the processes independently and without the help of technology. By delegating some of the tasks to special technological solutions for eCommerce shipping, you will save time and effort, while you yourself will be able to provide much better services to your customers.
Let’s look at this process from beginning to end, analyze what potential challenges it brings, and what technological tools can improve its different aspects.
The Process Of Shipping In eCommerce
The delivery process has many components, but the major processes can be divided into main phases. The main options under which the eCommerce shipping scenario is evolving include:
- delivery services;
- outsourced fulfillment;
- freight shipping.
In any case, you need to know all the necessary details and be prepared for the little things that could go wrong. The software will help you to grab the necessary delivery components and organize the whole process for the best result with the help of automation.
The first aspect of any delivery is receiving an order. The buyer orders certain things and expects them to be delivered. Then comes the process of verifying information, such as an address, so that everything is correct. In the end, the delivery itself takes place, during which you send the products to the buyer, check the goods, prepare them for shipment and deliver.
It is up to you to choose the most convenient way for you to deliver, but in any case, you need to prepare all the necessary information and enlist the necessary support. If your business is small, it will be easier for you to cope with the flow of orders that you have, but if you are the owner of a large company with a large number of orders, you will need help.
Even though each delivery phase has simple components, there are some problems that you will still have to deal with. For example, the calculation of costs, which is not so easy to implement in real life. Costs are made up of many factors, and if you ship often, you need to understand how it will look for you. Tracking and notifications are also important, and this requires understanding how you will provide customers with the information they need. To do this, you need to be familiar with the API documentation. However, if you thoroughly familiarize yourself with each of the aspects, it will not be difficult for you to deliver accurately and efficiently. Technological solutions take on the organization and automation of processes, which is necessary for everything to happen clearly according to the rules. This is especially important in the case of large businesses. You can also pick up small parts using the software, and then you will have no problems with the delivery process and communication with the client.
Main Challenges In eCommerce Shipping
Even well-established processes have their difficulties, and the delivery process is no exception. It is sometimes simply impossible to take into account all the details and implement complex processes. That is why technological solutions can help you so that the details do not go unnoticed and you can successfully complete each step.
Costs Calculation
Calculating costs is an important component in order for the delivery to be successful. Costs usually depend on parameters such as:
- package measurements;
- destination
- The speed at which delivery is made.
Since all three components can significantly affect the cost, it is important to take this point into account at the very beginning when asking prices from carriers.
Tracking And Notifications
Providing customers with the opportunity to receive information about the location of the parcel is an important aspect in terms of the relationship between the client and the company. This aspect is important not only for the client, but also for the firm that provides delivery.
There are a number of options on how to provide the client with the necessary information. First of all, you can give the customer a tracking number. This will not give you all the information you need, but in some cases it may be the only option available. In this case, the client himself checks the information using the carrier’s website.
In the second case, you can integrate with multiple carriers, and then customers will be able to track their packages through the website. In this case, you will be presented with working with different types of API documents.
The third option is multi-carrier shipping APIs. This option involves a technological solution to the problems presented in the options above. A shipping software will also help you get all the information you need.
Returns Management
Administering returns is just as important as any other aspect of shipping in eCommerce. This is an unpleasant, but, at the same time, irreversible part of the eCommerce business. In order to make a return accurately and on time, you need to:
- find an order by contact information;
- create a return request;
- indicate the reason for the return and exchange feedback;
- get return shipping label;
- track the return status of an e commerce shipment.
The return process requires you to be responsible, and then the user experience will be satisfactory. Buyers pay attention not only to how well the delivery is made, but also how the return is made. This is why considering every detail is important if you want to satisfy your customers and get a good reputation.
Returns, as well as the delivery itself, are very important to organize correctly. This process is extremely painstaking and does not tolerate mistakes. If you want to take everything into account and make a neat return, shipping solutions for eCommerce will be your best assistant.
Technological Solutions To eCommerce Challenges
Different shipping needs require different software features. Accordingly, the market offers various software to improve the eCommerce delivery process. Different e-commerce shipping solutions are offered for companies of different sizes.
If you are an owner of a small business, you may not need to purchase expensive software. In this case, investing in a costly digital solution would be a waste because you can manage processes by yourself.
Medium-sized businesses require the help of software and additional warehouse space. If you are a middle-sized business owner, you can consider investing in an eCommerce shipping platform with a set of integrations to take your productivity to the next level.
However, since the market only offers limited software options, having a customized platform for your business needs can be more expensive but more effective. Thus, the solution will clearly meet your needs and have its own unique advantages.
Conclusion
Since the competition in the eCommerce industry is very high these days, quality delivery is essential in order to provide customers with a satisfying experience. Nowadays, it is not enough just to be online, you need to provide quality service until they receive the goods in their hands.
Delivery consists of many aspects and each of them requires attention and resources, however, with the help of technological tools, you can easily help yourself and organize and automate the delivery process. This will improve your efficiency and help you make a profit. Various functions of the software will help to remove unnecessary work, and make the necessary tasks as productive as possible.
In our time, when the need for delivery is growing, more and more new approaches are needed that will ensure customer satisfaction. However, in addition to innovative technologies such as drones, the delivery process itself must be of high quality and not cause inconvenience. To do this, every part of it must be carried out impeccably. Technological solutions will help you not only streamline the delivery process, but also improve many aspects, including customer relationships. Delivery is an important process in terms of professional reputation, safety and efficiency of your business. So if you help yourself with digital eCommerce solutions, it can make your job a lot easier. If you are the owner of a large business, then the software will definitely become your best assistant.
You can choose different technology solutions for your work, but it is important to consider all the main features that you will need in your process of delivery. Readymade solutions do not always take into account the needs of different businesses and, in fact, are not a very flexible option. To achieve everything you want and take delivery to the next level, invest in a custom tool and get a versatile and irreplaceable assistant to help you organize and improve even the most complex tasks.
