With e-commerce evolving each day, customers are getting more comfortable with their online shopping experience. Online retail stores are bringing in more efficiency with each passing day and customer expectations are reaching new heights.
One of the most important aspects of having an e-commerce experience is shipping and order fulfillment. Unfortunately, an issue with shipping or problems with your supply chain will result in a negative customer experience and result in loss of revenue. In this blog, we will talk all about the shipping trends and requirements for e-commerce.
Shipping Factors and Strategy for E-Commerce
According to a report, 74% of the consumers want to see the shipping costs while making a purchase and 68% of the consumers would like to have the free return option given. To make your e-commerce business successful, you need to do a few necessary things at the shipping end. Let us talk about the mandatory dos:
Conciseness and Clarity on Shipping Methods
Knowing about the shipping methods your business offers to the user is the first and foremost step. A few basic questions that every customer would ask while making a purchase would be:
“What is the shipping cost I will have to pay and how do I get free shipping?”
“What is the estimated time that shipping is going to take?”
“How do I get updates on my orders?”
Make sure your shipping section answers all these basic questions upfront. All the information a customer needs on shipping and order tracking should gain customers’ confidence and save your business the risk of losing a valued customer. In case of multiple methods, make sure your customer is updated on each of them individually.
Shipping Rates and Policies
How many times have you found a perfect item, added it to your cart, and right before checking out, you get hit by a heavy shipping cost? It is a huge reason why so many e-commerce businesses have frequently abandoned carts. What can you do to avoid it?
- Talk about your shipping costs. No matter how huge your shipping cost is make sure it gets through to the customer. No one likes surprises in this domain, especially new customers.
- Have a free shipping policy highlighted and made clear for the user. For example, if you offer free shipping on making a purchase of $1000, keep reminding the customers to bring the cart cost to $1000 to avail free shipping. Make sure that on each step of making the purchase the customer gets a notification or a reminder on hitting the threshold.
- Talk about the return policy so the customer knows if he has to pay the shipping cost on returning a purchased item. It might sound insignificant at the time of the purchase but it is a big factor for the customer.
Shipment Tracking and Delays
According to research, 71% of the customers were more likely to buy in bulk due to supply chain delays, and 57% of consumers said they’re unlikely to wait for Black Friday deals because they’re concerned about shipping delays.
As a business owner, it is crucial to understand the importance of shipment tracking. Do not think your job is already done once the order is shipped. You need to keep track of the order shipment. In case of unexpected delays, your customer should be well informed about the delayed durations and the reason causing them.
The worst thing is keeping the customer in the dark about any delays as it brings frustration. Be transparent about the shipment days and make sure to notify the user once the order is fulfilled.
Calculation and Evaluation of Shipping Rates
What are the factors that contribute to the shipping rate calculation? The most basic ones would be:
- Product weight and Size
- Delivery Address
- Origin Address
- Shipment Method
Make sure to pick the right shipping service. Do not miss the margin evaluation, and make sure you do not end up losing money. On the other hand, don’t make your customer pay extra for the shipping. Create a thorough list and map out all the solutions and costs that are associated with getting a product shipped. Once you have all the aspects weighed out, make a well-thought decision that benefits both you and the customer.
Packaging
The difference between having an in-store shopping experience and shopping online heavily lies in the receiving of the ordered product. Presentation plays a pivotal role in marking an impression on the customer receiving his online order. So always choose your packaging wisely. There are tons of options to make the orders presentable, however, make sure to keep it simple and light because weight is an important factor in charges calculation. Additionally, keep eco-friendly packaging to give your customers what they want along with creating a better world for everyone.
Custom Declarations
In the case of international shipping, you get hit with custom forms and declarations. Again, make sure to do enough research and fill out all the information fields correctly to prevent any unfortunate caught-ups at customs.
In case of additional taxes or duty charges, do not keep the information open-ended for the customer. The customers will never appreciate being surprised with additional custom charges upon package arrival. One way is to display a note on the store site and keep it prominent for the customers to read.
Return and Cancellation Policies
The customers will always want to know if they are offered free returns or in-store return options. In the case they have to pay for the order return, they need to be made aware of that. It should be clear how the refund will be issued once the transaction is complete. Keep this information out there for the customer.
Similarly, cancellation policies and the time the customers have for cancellation should be made clear to the customer. Keep the policies clear and the customers informed.
Accelerated Shipping Experience with UpStart Commerce
Understanding all the variables of e-commerce and having an evolved approach is vital to a business’s long-term health and success. So, once you think you have e-commerce shipments figured out for your business, do not let it go stale. Reevaluate your approach every six months to make sure you’re delivering the absolute best possible service, price, and experience to your customers.
Keeping in mind the above needs, UpStart Commerce helps you build the best e-commerce store with an enhanced shipping experience. The customer’s expectations are rising and with a detailed and functional shipping management system, you can gain customers’ confidence and trust. Transparency is the key to a successful shipping experience.
