It can come as no surprise that customers care about their shipping options in eCommerce shipping solutions.
Over a third of customers in a poll said they expect 24-hour delivery service, and even more expect delivery within two days. Yes, in a world where Amazon has gotten consumers used to free two-day shipping, e-commerce businesses now have to take delivery services more seriously than ever.
You have much more to consider than just whether shipping is free, of course. Your customers want, more than anything, reliability. They want to be able to trust you at your word. If you say the purchase will be there in two days, it better be there in two days.
Yes, it might be the shipping company’s fault, but your customer will blame you nine times out of ten. So, what do you need to think about when it comes to eCommerce shipping solutions?
Amazon has everyone convinced that two-day shipping is the norm, so you’ll want to work with a shipping company that can compete with that promise. You could charge more for expedited shipping, of course.
Or, you could offer “discounts” for customers who don’t mind waiting an extra day or two. You can also build the two-day shipping costs into your pricing models. That way, it still feels like free shipping to your customers, but you’re not eating any extra costs you have to pay to your shipping company.
Speaking of costs, some shipping companies have to charge higher fees for deliveries because they don’t have the manpower of the regional coverage to allow or lower rates. You’re already having to be competitive with your products; you likely cannot afford to cover shipping costs. But you don’t want to pass down high fees to your customers.
They’ll just go somewhere else to get free shipping. For these reasons, you’ll want to work with a shipping company that has enough business across the country (and beyond) that they can keep their prices low.
Now more than ever, any shipping company that doesn’t offer tracking availability is not worth your time or your money. We have the technology that will allow you and your customers to see exactly where their packages are, and on which truck, at any given time of day.
And it doesn’t cost your shipping company anything to make that information available to you. So, make sure you’re working with a business that does.
On that same note, most eCommerce businesses now have the ability to integrate shipping and tracking information directly into their own software applications. So, your customers should be able to go into your website, see their purchases, and track their packages all in one space.
At the very least, there needs to be a link that takes them directly to the shipping service website. If your shipping company doesn’t provide this integration option, move on to one that does.
Right now, your business might be relatively small. However, the long-term goals of most companies typically include growth. You want more brand awareness, more loyal customers, and, of course, more sales!
This growth means you’ll be taking more orders, and you need a shipping company that can scale up alongside your business. Make sure any shipping company you work with is prepared to take on much larger orders as your business grows.
Finally, you need support. You’re working hard to run your business and get your products out to your customers on time, with tracking, and with friendly service. You’ll need a shipping company that supports those goals by being available to you when you have questions, when something goes wrong, or when you’re ready to scale up!
Chatbots might work when you have a frequently asked question, or when you need to make a few small changes. But you should be able to get a hold of a live person when the need arises. Ask your shipping company ahead of time if you’ll have access to round-the-clock support for all your serious shipping needs.
It comes down to which company has the most, or all, of the services that matter most to you. Read through testimonials, ask to talk to a representative, and inquire about a free consultation.
It helps to feel like you’re partnering with the shipping company you choose rather than working with a nameless, faceless corporation.
Shippie offers its customers everything on your list and more. We were created to respond specifically to the eCommerce need for fast, affordable, reliable shipping with responsive customer service.
What’s great about Shippie?
All of that and Shippie is dedicated to sustainability. They have a growing fleet of electric vehicles making deliveries, so you can feel good about shipping with a partner who cares about the environment.
For businesses that use Shopify, the eCommerce giant offers shipping through their corporation. They work exclusively with Shopify clients, and they have a number of discounts for their shipping services and for large delivery companies like UPS and FedEx if Shopify can’t get the job done.
This is a good option for Shopify members who aren’t concerned with expedited shipping or exclusive and personal service with your partners in shipping.
Shippo is a great choice for eCommerce businesses focused on integration. This eCommerce shipping option is well-loved for its ability to work with dozens of retailers.
It also offers a user-friendly platform, so you can navigate to what you want on the site — like tracking and returns. This company also offers highly competitive pricing, likely because they don’t have the full cache of shipping services available.
Of course, we have to discuss the advantages of working with UPS, one of the largest carriers in the country. UPS offers customers almost everything they need for shipping their eCommerce products.
Trackability, speed, and reliability are paramount. The primary issue is one of scalability. If you’re shipping small items or don’t have a lot of volume, UPS pricing may be out of reach. This shipping company also has a base price surcharge and additional fees you don’t want to deal with.
While we’re on shipping giants, we also have to discuss FedEx, which also offers the key features most customers love — speed, accuracy, reliability, and tracking, as well as integration.
FedEx is one of the more consistent shipping companies, but if you have a problem, you may not find a solution. FedEx is notorious for its poor customer service. So you likely won’t feel like a partner. Instead, you’ll be just another number, and you’ll pay a premium price for that.
Customers today have become accustomed to free, two-day shipping with Amazon and any eCommerce business that doesn’t offer at least that cannot hope to be competitive.
Larger shipping companies will charge higher prices to smaller companies with less volume and/or smaller items. Likewise, smaller shipping companies may not be able to handle an increase in volume as your business grows. You’ll need an eCommerce shipping solution focused on scalability — it can provide consistent shipping for any size company.
You contact sales for a discovery call today!
You work hard to build your customer base, establish and maintain brand awareness, and put out a consistent flow of high-quality products and services. Your shipping solution should do the same — partner with us to wow your customers with speed and reliability every time.
Shippie offers you competitive pricing and prides itself with excellent customer reviews, seamless integration, and fast, reliable shipping and tracking. Shippie is your perfect eCommerce shipping solution.
Contact Shippie today for a discovery call.
