Shipping can make or break your business. More than 75% of shoppers consider even small shipping costs a deal breaker compared to free shipping.
That means you cannot afford to skimp on it. You have to be intentional with the kind of experience you and your would-be customers will have during the entire process of shipping. To keep your business shipping at the most efficient cost and service, using worthwhile shipping software is a good start.
The options are endless, but the search is worth the effort. Of course, you’ll have to consider your specific business needs to get a platform that serves you best. Other aspects of it can apply to almost every online business out there.
In this article, we’ll be looking at the top 5 concerns you should look into as far as your current shipping platform is concerned.
Take a look.
How Flexible Is It with Integrations?
Your shipping software isn’t the only system in your business. You must stay on top of your current e-commerce platform, manage your inventory, and ensure your books are in order. Think of the daily activities that are essential for the continued running of your business.
A good deal of them will need a platform of some sort, and each one of these platforms must work in harmony with the others. The same goes for your shipping software.
Can it plug into the existing ecosystem without much fuss? Spoiler alert – it should. That’s how you’ll realize its full importance as a tool, which is to make your work easier.
For some very specific integrations, the ideal platform should offer API access so that you can tweak everything down to your requirements.
Another way to make this work is with order aggregation like that provided by eHub. Your shopping cart, marketplaces, and website all connect to it, and it connects to your shipping software. That way, you don’t have to worry about managing many integrations.
Does It Offer Multi-Carrier Rate Shopping?
Customers expect free shipping and getting their products ASAP. They don’t care about the carrier service you use, but you should. Products going to inner zones should be using ground service. Outer zones may need something faster.
The USPS has the best rates for items under a pound—flat rate options. Depending on the package size, zone, and service level you need (how fast does it need to get there?), you need the most economical option. Does your software rate shop across carriers? An effective and efficient shipping program will rely on multiple carriers.
Your customers will be eager to know where their shopped items are. It’s only natural as they’ve paid for them. This is an opportunity for you as a merchant to show how committed you are to satisfying your customers.
What Are Its Track-Trace Capabilities?
Your customers will be eager to know where their shopped items are. It’s only natural as they’ve paid for them. This is an opportunity for you as a merchant to show how committed you are to satisfying your customers.
You can do that through your shipping software.
A good platform allows you to update your customer every step of the way – from the moment the item is shipped to being in transit and finally delivered.
But amid all this, returns are bound to be there. You also want a seamless process on the customer’s part and even your team.
For some platforms, it’s as simple as offering a return portal, printing the return label, and sending the item back to you. And that’s precisely what you’d want.
How Effective Is It in Managing Your Workflow?
As already mentioned, shipping software is a tool, and the sole purpose of a tool is to make your work easier. Part of making work more accessible is streamlining day-to-day operations from the time a customer places an order to the time the item is shipped out.
How good is your current platform with this?
Think of the documentation required in shipping an item – there are a lot of forms to fill and keep up with. Your shipping software should stand in for you. It helps keep all these documents in one place for easy retrieval when needed while eliminating a good deal of errors simultaneously.
Are you printing labels one at a time or in batches? Are you printing pack lists to make it easier to fill orders? Shipping software can be customized to your current process or utilized to make your process even more accessible. One way Essential Hub adds value is by educating, training, and optimizing customer shipping processes based on the platform they are using. Through this method, they save customers 20-30% in time every day. What would you do with an extra 2 hours?
What Are the Available Options for Shipping Rates?
Some platforms have limited options as far as rates are concerned. This means you have to make do with whatever the said platform has to offer.
This is certainly not the best way to go about it.
Having a custom pricing plan will work in your best interest. There are plenty of shipping platforms that offer this option. You should be able to rate shop, load custom rates, and manage your own shipping profile. Essential Hub is connected to multiple software options that do this.
Not every platform sells shipping the same way, but they would all have you believe that they offer the best rates. One way to check this is to take a typical package size, including weight and the exact delivery address, and shop it across platforms. That’s an excellent place to start when evaluating who offers the best rates.
Wrapping it Up
Shipping plays a significant role in most people’s purchase decisions, so ensuring everything runs smoothly should be a top priority for you as a merchant. Shipping software is a tool that will work to save you money, make you more efficient, and improve the customer experience.
Find one that works for your business using these tips. Essential Hub helps our customers evaluate the best software for their needs and how to implement that system best. Find out how today!
Your goal as an e-commerce brand should always be to stand out from the competition. The most common tactics to do this include improving your product, social media marketing, or optimizing your web design.
While these actions are significant, there’s one aspect of the buying process that brands take for granted: the unboxing experience.
Brands are so worried about landing new business that they don’t consider what happens when customers receive their orders. Done right; however, branded packaging can be a great way to boost retention and create loyal customers.
What is Unboxing?
“Unboxing” is when a customer opens up your order, the same way they’d open up a gift for their birthday or Christmas.
Not only does branded packaging offer an experience to the customer, it’s one of the best ways to promote your brand. Let’s understand why and what you can do to create an incredible unboxing experience.
Why Branded Packaging Matters to eCommerce
With so many brands competing for customers’ attention, branded packaging is the one investment that could make you stand out. Here’s why:
It Builds a Great First Impression
First impressions matter, and it’s no different for eCommerce brands.
One of the biggest obstacles in eCommerce is that you’re not there with the customer face-to-face. A great unboxing experience fills that gap by creating a powerful connection.
Branded packaging shows you value your customers’ satisfaction and go every step of the way to deliver. As a result, you’ll boost their perception of your brand.
It Creates Loyal Customers
The best customers are not the ones who only buy once from your store. They’re the ones who repeatedly come back to your store for more and drive repeat purchases.
Brands are so focused on landing new clients that they forget one thing: keeping their current customers happy. 41% of an eCommerce store’s sales come from only 8% of its customers.
Branded packaging is one of the most effective customer retention tactics. The reason why it works so well is that it drives emotion and makes the purchase feel unique — customers won’t feel like they’re just another sale.
It Generates Epic User-Generated Content (UGC)
User-generated content (or UGC) refers to any content created by a brand’s consumers. These can include:
Blog posts
Reviews & testimonials
Pictures on social media
And more
UGC is one of the most effective ways to promote your brand online. 79% of customers believe that UGC influences their buying decisions.
So, how does this relate to branded packaging? A memorable unboxing experience can be a goldmine when it comes to UGC. Customers love to publish unique boxes they get from brands, just like in this example:
In other words, it’s like getting free publicity for your business.
8 Ways You Can Create Incredible Branded Packaging
Now that you know why the unboxing experience matters, it’s time to take action. Here are eight ways that you can make your branded packaging stand out:
Provide a Handwritten Thank You Note
When it comes to engaging your customers, a simple word of gratitude goes a long way. One unique way to show customers they matter to you is through personalized thank you cards.
Use Inserts
Include inserts with every order. Tell a story about your brand, your product, or how much you care about the customer for ordering. When unboxing, the customer will never be more focused on your brand. Reinforce that with a branded insert that enhances their experience.
Give a Free Sample
Another way to surprise and delight customers is to give them more than they expect. You can do this by including free samples in your packaging. Adding free samples will make customers feel like they have more value for their money. After all, who can say no to free stuff?
Make Your Packaging Eco-Friendly
The modern customer expects brands to be sensible about social issues and adopt sustainable practices. It’s why you should make your package as eco-friendly as possible.
The best way to do this is to use recyclable material in your packaging. We’ll look at a great example of what this can look like below.
Include Discount Codes or Special Offers
To make customers feel special, you can add exclusive perks and coupons to your packaging. With redeemable vouchers, you can encourage customers to buy more and drive repeat purchases.
Add Branded Stickers Inside and Out
A low-cost way to spice up your packaging is to include various branded stickers on your box. Not only do stickers add a nice personal touch, but they can also be helpful to seal packages.
Use Colorful Packing Materials
Instead of the same boring packing materials, why don’t you mix it up and get colorful? If you need to protect the contents of a package, don’t just rely on brown craft paper – get creative!
Customize your Cardboard Box
One of the best materials we recommend for branded packaging is cardboard. It’s low-cost and easy to customize to reflect the look and feel of your brand.
Examples of Brands Killing It With Packaging
Do you need some examples of what a fantastic unboxing experience looks like for inspiration? Check out how these brands are maximizing their packaging to retain customers and deliver the best experience:
Glossier
Glossier is one of the leading brands in the beauty industry that sells various skincare and makeup products. They’re also a company that understands the importance of packaging.
One thing to note about its branded design is its slogan: “Skin first. Makeup Second. Smile Always.” It’s a fun way to show their personality and give customers something to post about on social media.
Jeni’s Ice Cream
Another excellent example of packaging done right is Jeni’s ice cream. What’s great about its packaging is that it builds excitement for the customer with one sentence:
“Ice cream inside — please open immediately.”
Jeni’s unboxing experience shows they pay attention to detail; we can tell their customers love it based on the testimonials on their box page.
Seed Phytonutrients
The goal of Seed Phytonutrients is to make natural body products that also respect the environment. They partner with American organic farmers to deliver the best products for their customers.
Their packaging does an excellent job of showcasing their eco-friendly values. Each of their packaging boxes and bottles is made of 100% recycled materials.
Seed Phytonutrients’ packaging shows that their actions are congruent with their values. They don’t just talk about respecting the environment — they’re actively doing it themselves.
Wrapping Up
Sometimes, it’s the little things that count. By focusing on creating an exceptional unboxing experience, you’ll make your brand stand out and leave customers hungry for more. Remember that branding isn’t the only thing to consider when creating packaging. If you want to turn packaging and shipping into an asset for your business, find out how eHub can help you today.
UPS and FedEx love to advertise their low carrier charges, hoping to draw in business from e-commerce companies who are none the wiser about a range of additional surcharges and accessorial fees.
Your e-commerce business needs full transparency to minimize shipping expenses. That’s why we’ve compiled this list you need to know about:
For example, research shows that 23,223 of the 41,702 ZIP Codes in the US are being impacted by Delivery Area Surcharges. It equates to over 55% of the country, while 25% of the US population is affected.
This can translate to thousands of dollars in extra fees, which is why you’ll need to pay attention to the small print and not the seductive prices offered by the likes of UPS and FedEx as they aim to get your business in the door.
Accessorial fees are a significant part of the business model for most carriers, so the United States Postal Service (USPS) is often the most economical option if you send packages frequently.
Here are five dirty secrets about accessorial fees and why USPS could solve your eCommerce shipping needs.
1. UPS: A 4.9% Overall Increase in Price for 2020
2020 has been a challenging year for businesses, but there’s been no respite if e-commerce is your model for making money.
UPS announced an average rate increase of 4.9%, effective in December 2019.
FedEx has also recently increased its fees and went a step further by “implementing a temporary surcharge on all FedEx and TNT international parcel and freight shipments beginning April 6” in response to the COVID-19 crisis.
It’s worth remembering that there will always be discrepancies depending on the circumstances of your business, so you could end up paying much more than you’re used to.
They may cite margins and higher costs as reasons for increased fees each year, but there are also numerous surcharges to consider first.
2. Hiding Accessorial Fees
UPS and FedEx make a point of making accessorial fees challenging to understand, and they keep them hidden away in the small print.
Eating up the costs is an accepted part of doing business, but you don’t necessarily have to pay for a service that tacks on more charges than your average budget airline.
Most importantly, you’ll need to work out any additional costs as soon as possible, and they add up more quickly than you might expect.
3. Residential Delivery Surcharges
Residential delivery surcharges are often the most egregious example of accessorial fees.
Let’s say you need to ship a small package to a residential address, as many e-commerce businesses do daily, to multiple homes. As well as the advertised price, a $4.40 ‘residential delivery surcharge’ will be tacked on by FedEx, eating into profit margins that sit at roughly 40% for the best-run companies.
For eCommerce businesses, most packages will likely be sent to residential addresses, while B2B deliveries come with their own set of separate surcharges.
The USPS Flat Rate is an excellent option if you’d prefer to pay a simple set fee with no extra surcharges. Prices start at $7.50, and they have discounted rates for business customers.
4. The Cost of Handling Weight
Everything from package weight to fuel consumption is becoming more expensive for e-commerce businesses that rely on shipping services to get their products to customers.
The UPS Additional Handling – Weight charge is now applied from 50lb rather than 70lb and comes in at $24 per instance. It’ll start to add up quickly if you’re sending heavier items regularly and can eat into your profit margins if you’re not careful.
UPS has also introduced four additional new surcharges for 2020;
● C.O.D
● Signature Required
● Additional Handling
● Peak Additional Handling
Alternatively, the USPS Flat Rate will allow you to ship packages up to 70lb to any state at the same price, which is ideal for smaller, heavier items.
5. USPS – Cubic Pricing and Potential Savings
USPS Cubic Pricing is possibly the best kept secret of all if you’re hoping to lower shipping costs.
High-volume customers can access discounted rates, while it works by calculating the length, width, and height of your package. They offer five tiers depending on the overall cubic size, and it often works out to be cheaper than FedEx, UPS, or even USPS Priority Mail.
For example, a Tier 3 (8” x 6” x 8”) package shipped to Zone 6 would incur a delivery charge of $22.47 if you’re using Priority Mail Commercial Base rates. It drops to just $10.98 with USPS Cubic Pricing, working out as a saving of 51%.
In an ideal world, competition between UPS and FedEx would lead to lower prices and improved services. Instead, they have a stranglehold on much of the market, and they’re not necessarily the most economical choice when you factor in the multiple accessorial fees that are inevitably attached.
As mentioned, you won’t have to deal with residential delivery fees with the USPS, and their flat rates are easy to understand. A competitive shipping program should utilize the advantages of each carrier’s strengths and minimize their weaknesses. You should not be using a single carrier, even if you’re only shipping one product.
Ensure your software can handle multiple carriers to maximize your savings on every shipment you send out the door. The best part is you don’t have to do this alone. With a partner like Essential Hub, you get a competitive shipping program tailored to your needs. Find out how today!
