How Can Shipping Companies Support E-Commerce?
Needless to say, the e-commerce industry has taken the world by storm. In fact, almost 250 billion parcels are sent year upon year, a figure that is only projected to grow.
Customers are now used to clicking their fingers and in a matter of days, the items they checked out arrive at their doorstep. They can browse a business’ catalogue of goods all from the comfort of their sofa.
Sounds simple?
Behind the scenes, the e-commerce industry is not quite that simple. A lot goes into making the shopping experience so accessible for customers.
An important factor of e-commerce is reliable, timely shipping. This of course applies with business to customer shipping, but also supplier to business shipping.
Many e-commerce businesses recognise the benefits of importing goods from international locations, specifically Asia, due to their affordability. International shipping can come with it’s difficulties which include:
1. Navigating The Complexities Of International Shipping
For someone who has never imported before, shipping can seem complex. There is more to international shipping than merely getting goods from A to B. To fulfill a shipment, there are complex steps that must be overseen, such as safe loading and unloading, customs clearance, storage, and timely delivery.
When an e-commerce business chooses to import goods from another country, there are many variables that require supervision. This includes supply chain management, warehousing, distribution, and customer service. The success of importing will depend on how well these variables are managed and controlled.
When it comes to running an e-commerce business, there is a lot that must be managed. Other priorities can take over and be time consuming, such as product marketing, finance management, social media, website updates, etc. The expertise and capacity to properly oversee the shipping process may not be there.
Shipping companies offer relief to e-commerce businesses, by taking on those duties. Through expertise, experience and a strong network, shipping companies can mitigate the risk of international shipping.
Importing stock from international suppliers can help an e-commerce business thrive by navigating the complexities and regulations of shipping. Shipping companies offer a straightforward and cost-effective solution.
2. Facilitating Cost Effective Shipping Solutions
With the assistance of shipping companies, your e-commerce business could make drastic savings on sea freight.
Shipping companies like Shippo, can guide importers to cost-effective services (LCL vs. FCL), plan routes, and shipping times, and take on all organisational duties for your shipment.
One of the many realities of shipping is that the quicker an importer needs something, the more expensive it will be. Planning ahead of time will guarantee a better deal. That said, delays are synonymous with the shipping industry and running out of stock is never good for e-commerce businesses.
There is a lot to juggle when it comes to shipping internationally, like cash flow, supply and demand, and warehousing space. Our shipping company can relieve some of those responsibilities, so you can have greater peace of mind and focus on other operations.
Another cost-effective tactic is optimising shipment sizes. Making the most out of sea freight can reduce your cost per unit, this sometimes means ordering more goods (or less, depending on the size of an order and the cubic meters it fills). We can help optimise the volumes of a shipment so that any business choosing to import maintains a high return on investment.
For more information on sea freight savings, check out this blog post.
3. Knowing What Shipping Service To Choose
The scale of your business will influence the suitability of different shipping services.
For small e-commerce businesses, LCL shipping (Less Than Container Load) services offer a host of benefits. On the other hand, for businesses that require larger orders, it can be cheaper to opt for FCL shipping.
Advantages of LCL shipping for small businesses:
- Economically Viable- You’ll only pay for the space you fill in a container. This means you don’t need to put in massive order with your supplier to then fill a container. The costs are only associated with the stock and space you need.
- Flexibility- The volume of orders in LCL shipping does not have to be exact. The minimum space you’ll pay for is 1 cubic meter (cbm). However, if the amount shipped increases or decreases slightly, we will simply update your quote to charge for the actual amount shipped.
- Delivery Options- With LCL shipping, there are multiple shipments in one container. This means that the container must be unloaded at the port of destination. Shipments are then delivered directly to you. We can even tailor their delivery services based on access requirements.
- Quicker Delivery: As there is only one shipment in a container, FCL shipping tends to be slightly faster, as it does not require unloading at the destination port.
- Cheaper Per Cbm: With FCL shipping, you will pay per container. If you have the means to fill a container, this works out cheaper than paying per cbm.
- Reduced Risk: Only the supplier and the yourselves physically handle the goods. This reduces the risk of breakages or theft throughout the shipping process. Regardless, marine insurance is still a worthwhile investment if you are choosing to ship via sea freight.
LCL delivery will be kerbside without a tail-lift unless specified.
The Importance Of Shipping Companies In E-Commerce
The importance of shipping companies in e-commerce is undeniable. Shipping companies like us, provide greater access to e-commerce businesses. Meaning you can source globally and, with the assistance of a shipping company, do so with fewer risks.
Shippo specialises in importing from Asia. We have met the demands of various e-commerce businesses who are looking for reputable shipping solutions. You can read some of our testimonials here.
Importing to the UK should not be daunting. We will oversee all the complexities of shipping, so e-commerce businesses we work with can focus on their internal operations and growth. We do what we do best, so our customers can relax knowing your shipping worries are under control.
If you would like to know more about our shipping process or would be interested in receiving a quote, contact us today.