E-commerce businesses are always looking for the most effective ways to deliver their orders. Drop shipping usually comes up as a viable option because it seems to take away some of the hassle. But some of the drop shipping challenges may not be immediately evident, and when a distributor or manufacturer takes on the responsibility of delivering their products directly to the consumer, there are several factors that need to be considered. (more…)What Are Drop Shipping Challenges in e-Commerce Order Fulfillment?
E-commerce businesses are always looking for the most effective ways to deliver their orders. Drop shipping usually comes up as a viable option because it seems to take away some of the hassle. But some of the drop shipping challenges may not be immediately evident, and when a distributor or manufacturer takes on the responsibility of delivering their products directly to the consumer, there are several factors that need to be considered. (more…)
Understanding the Operational Challenges of Multichannel Selling in e-Commerce
Multichannel selling in e-commerce is simple to understand but tricky to master. In short, multichannel selling is the use of multiple venues to bring products to customers. In the old days, this meant brick-and-mortar stores plus mail order catalogs. Now, it includes online stores, public marketplaces (Amazon, eBay, etc.), shopping-comparison sites, and so on. Despite this evolution, the ultimate goal and benefit of a multichannel selling approach has remained unchanged: attracting more customers and bringing your products to people who wouldn’t otherwise be reached by conventional approaches. (more…)
What Are the Best Ways to Ship E-Commerce Packages?
By now you must know that shipping e-commerce packages take a lot of coordination. Finding the best way to ship a package involves many moving parts. And if you don’t have the correct system in place, it can be detrimental to your bottom line and negatively impact customer service. The best way to ship e-commerce packages takes some know-how. Unless you’re experienced in fulfillment services, partnering with a 3PL is likely your best bet. In this article, we’ll discuss some basic strategies for successfully shipping packages that will work for your e-commerce business. (more…)How to Ship a Wedding Dress to Your Customers in Florida
Weddings are always popular and most, if not all, bridal stores have been tasked with shipping a wedding dress to a bride's town or to a destination wedding locale. Given the importance of the dress when the big day comes around, there is a huge incentive to make sure the shipping goes off without a hitch. So, how do you ship a wedding dress successfully? Read on. (more…)
Cross Docking vs. Drop Shipping: What Is the Difference?
Cross Docking vs. Drop Shipping: What Is the Difference? It’s impossible to overstate the importance of inventory management for e-commerce businesses. Between keeping warehouses appropriately stocked, order shipping, and managing returns, there’s a lot to consider and a lot of moving parts that need to be synchronized to ensure all goes well. Smaller and mid-sized manufacturers need to consider solutions that reduce the need for managing inventory. Two solutions that are immediately applicable for these businesses include cross-docking and drop shipping. It’s up to each business to decide which works best for them. (more…)Order Fulfillment Services Cost and Prices—How They Work
What Is Fulfillment Cost? If you have a product that you sell to customers, you’re already operating in the order fulfillment industry. That means you’ll need to be able to ask and answer questions like “What is a fulfillment cost?” and know precisely all of your product fulfillment fees. If you are a new company, it’s imperative you do not underestimate the financial significance of knowing your order fulfillment prices. The cost of shipping a package from warehouse to a customer’s doorstep can determine your profitability. For more established companies, there’s always room to grow and find ways to better...
How e-Commerce Product Return Management Saves Money and Earns Business
Importance of Product Return Management for Your e-Business As a business owner, you likely already know how frustrating the entire returns process can be. In e-commerce, you are likely to reach more customers than brick-and-mortar stores, but that also means that returns will be more prevalent. However, it’s a fair trade off if your e-commerce product returns management system is sound. It may surprise you to know that a recent survey showed that an unclear return policy is at the top of the list for cart abandonment, followed by the customer simply being distracted. From the consumers’ perspective, they are...How to Reduce the Pain of e-Commerce Product Returns Management
There are numerous reasons why an e-commerce customer would return a product ranging from ordering the wrong size to simply changing their minds. E-commerce orders face a higher rate of returns than brick-and-mortar store purchases, so there will always be a need for effective e-commerce product returns management. The importance of an effective returns management strategy is quite simple. If done well, you can recapture value from the products and minimize the costs associated with the process. If customer returns aren't managed properly, then you face an unpredictable scenario where you can't reliably trust how much of your sales profits...
10 Quick Tips on Logistics Strategies
Whether you have a large or a small business, a new company, or an establishment that has been around for decades, if you are shipping products it is essential to have a logistics system in place that safely and efficiently gets those products from point A to point B. With the number of variables involved in shipping products, this is not always the easiest task to get accomplished. Logistics involves several different people from various departments and industries, and it can also involve knowledge of multiple systems throughout the delivery process. But implementing some fairly simple strategies can make the...
Understanding Dimensional Weight and Its Impacts on e-Commerce Order Fulfillment
If your e-commerce order fulfillment company performs its own shipping, then you likely think about delivery costs in relation to product weight and size. After all, a product's weight has a direct impact on the amount of fuel needed to transport it, so there is a very real benefit to keeping shipments light when possible. When using UPS and FedEx as your e-commerce shipping companies other considerations—in addition to physical weight—need to be taken into account to proper calculate costs. This is called "dimensional weight," and understanding its use and calculation is essential for mastery of e-commerce shipping solutions. (more…)
