In the world of modern commerce, logistics can make or break a business. To stay competitive and efficient, many companies turn to third-party logistics providers or 3PLs. But what exactly is a 3PL meaning in the context of eCommerce, and how can it benefit your business? In this article, we will delve into the definition of 3PL and explore how eHub can help connect your business to reliable and vetted 3PL partners.
What is a 3PL?
3PL Meaning Third-party logistics refers to the outsourcing of logistics and supply chain management functions to an external provider. These functions include transportation, warehousing, order fulfillment, and inventory management. The goal of a 3PL provider is to provide businesses with a comprehensive logistics solution that allows them to focus on their core competencies.
Here are several types of 3PL providers, including:
Transportation-based 3PLs: These providers specialize in transportation services, such as freight forwarding and shipping.
Warehouse/distribution-based 3PLs: These providers specialize in warehousing and distribution services, such as inventory management and order fulfillment.
Forwarder/NVOCC 3PLs: These providers specialize in international freight forwarding and non-vessel operating common carrier (NVOCC) services.
Financial-based 3PLs: These providers offer freight payment and auditing services.
Information-based 3PLs: These providers offer technology solutions for logistics management, such as transportation management systems (TMS) and warehouse management systems (WMS).
How Can a 3PL Benefit Your Business?
Outsourcing logistics functions to a 3PL provider can bring many benefits to businesses, including:
Increased efficiency: 3PL providers are experts in logistics and supply chain management, meaning they can streamline and optimize these processes to increase efficiency and reduce costs.
Access to technology: Many 3PL providers offer solutions to help businesses track and manage their logistics processes more effectively.
Scalability: 3PL providers can adapt to changes in a business’s logistics needs, whether that means scaling up during periods of high demand or scaling down during slow periods.
Cost savings: By outsourcing logistics functions to a 3PL provider, businesses can save on the costs associated with maintaining their own logistics infrastructure and personnel.
How Can eHub Help Connect Your Business with a 3PL Partner?
At eHub, we understand the importance of reliable and efficient logistics solutions for businesses of all sizes. That’s why we offer a vetted network of 3PL partners that can provide a range of logistics services to meet your business’s needs. Our network includes providers specializing in transportation, warehousing, order fulfillment, and more.
To connect with a 3PL partner through eHub, submit your logistics needs through our online form. We will match you with a 3PL provider that meets your specific requirements, ensuring that you have access to a reliable and efficient logistics solution.
In addition to our 3PL network, eHub also offers a range of other services to help businesses optimize their logistics processes. These services include freight auditing and payment, transportation management, and more.
Conclusion
In today’s fast-paced and competitive business landscape, logistics can make all the difference. By outsourcing logistics functions to a reliable and efficient 3PL provider, businesses can increase efficiency, reduce costs, and focus on their core competencies. At eHub, we are committed to connecting businesses with the best 3PL partners for their specific needs.
Small parcel shippers have a plethora of options when it comes to choosing carriers to ship their packages. While it may be tempting to stick with one carrier – an approach the carriers prefer as long as they are the single chosen provider! – using multiple carriers can offer a range of benefits that can positively impact a business’s bottom line.
One of the most significant benefits of using multiple carriers is the potential cost savings. When businesses rely on a single carrier, you will be subject to that carrier’s pricing and structure alone. While you may have negotiated discounts below an initial proposal, the resulting rates may not always be the most cost-effective option.
Using multiple carriers, businesses can compare rates and choose the most cost-effective option for each shipment. Additionally, having multiple carriers can help you when it is time to negotiate rates with each carrier as they compete for the business.
Improved delivery times
Another benefit of using multiple carriers is that it can optimize your delivery time vs. cost optimization. Different carriers may have different time-in-transit expectations to a particular address, so choosing the most suitable carrier and service for any particular package is crucial for optimizing cost with a good customer experience.
In addition, some carriers may offer better “express” type services than others, and so for those expedited shipping requirements, being able to choose a better-performing carrier will facilitate the meeting and hopefully exceed your customers’ expectations.
Increased flexibility
Using multiple carriers can also offer increased flexibility when it comes to shipping. If a business only uses one carrier, it may be limited to shipping to those destinations that the particular carrier supports.
For example, if you need to ship a package to a rural location, you may choose a carrier specializing in delivering to rural areas. Again, by having multiple carriers, you can choose the carrier that offers the best option for each shipment.
Reduced risk of service disruptions
When you rely on a single carrier, you may be vulnerable to service disruptions if that carrier experiences any issues or network outages. If one carrier experiences an issue, the business can quickly switch to another carrier to ensure that the package is still delivered on time.
These disruptions can be from weather impacting part of that carrier’s network (while another may be able to bypass it), or disruptions in service due to labor issues, similar to what the two largest US carriers are facing this year.
By using multiple carriers, you can reduce the risk of delayed deliveries and poor customer experiences because you have backup options available.
Improved customer satisfaction
Is this really a 5th reason? In almost all cases, carrier diversity ends up with the potential for improved customer satisfaction. Improved customer satisfaction will lead to an increase in repeat business. Access to additional services Different carriers may offer different services, such as international shipping, hazardous materials shipping, or temperature-controlled shipping.
By using multiple carriers, you can deliver to a new customer segment or offer new products that may have special handling associated with their transportation, allowing you to grow your business.
Increased Visibility and Control via Multicarrier Technology
Using multiple carriers without a central technology platform can lead to potential chaos. Trying to corral data from multiple stand-alone systems can quickly become a headache when sourcing individual tracking updates, billing-related information, and spending.
With a multi-carrier technology platform in place, you have the ability to track each package and monitor its progress through the shipping process regardless of carrier and service. This platform can also create automation capability by creating rules for carrier and service selection based on defined business logic.
This takes the decision-making out of the hands of the shipping clerk, reducing human error and increasing efficiency in your fulfillment process.
Having a single back-end platform managing and collecting your shipment information saves you time and money when it comes to invoicing customers, auditing your carrier invoices, and optimizing your business rules around carrier and service usage.
Using multiple carriers via a multi-carrier technology platform can offer a range of benefits for small parcel shippers. From cost savings to improved delivery times and increased flexibility, you can leverage the carrier that offers the best option for each shipment.
By having alternative carrier options available and quickly ready to activate, you can reduce the risk of service disruptions due to carrier network issues. Overall, using multiple carriers via a multi-carrier platform, you will have the shipping tools and capabilities you need to optimize your shipping process, improve performance, lower costs, and grow your business.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, outsourcing shipping fulfillment offers numerous advantages for businesses in today’s complex business landscape. By partnering with a reliable logistics provider, businesses can focus on their core competencies while leaving the intricacies of shipping and logistics to the experts.
Cost savings can be achieved through the elimination of the need for in-house infrastructure and the ability to take advantage of economies of scale. Increased efficiency and scalability are also key benefits, as logistics providers have the expertise and resources to optimize operations and adapt to changing order volumes.
Improved customer experience, including faster and more reliable shipping options, can enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty, increasing sales and revenue.
Considering these compelling reasons, businesses looking to optimize their shipping and logistics operations should consider outsourcing and exploring their options with reliable logistics providers.
Nearly every parent has experienced abandoning a shopping cart filled to the brim with ice cream, frozen waffles, and fruit snacks as they drag a screaming, flailing toddler out of a grocery store at least once.
Luckily for the store stockers, the parent, and the toddler, that doesn’t happen often.
But if your online store were an actual, physical place, you’d probably have more abandoned carts littering your aisles than products on your shelves.
What is shopping cart abandonment?
Shopping cart abandonment, when online shoppers start to checkout but quit before clicking “complete order,” is a natural and expected part of e-commerce. The virtual version of telling a salesperson, “I’m just looking, thanks,” consumers hit “add to cart” because they want to:
Keep an item they are interested in easily accessible
Compare items and prices
Estimate the cost of shipping and taxes
Experience the rush of retail therapy without breaking the bank
Test a coupon code
Even though it’s just part of doing business, shopping cart abandonment is an $18-billion-dollar problem for retailers annually.
The average documented shopping cart abandonment rate across all industries is a whopping 69.57%. For mobile users, rates jump up to 85.65%.
That’s a lot of money left on the virtual table. Essential Hub wants to help you get it back.
Top 5 reasons for online shopping cart abandonment
The top 5 reasons consumers give for checkout abandonment are:
Extra costs (shipping, taxes, fees) are unexpected or too high (49%)
The site will not allow checkout without creating an account (24%)
Shipping and delivery timelines were too long (19%)
The checkout process was too long or confusing (18%)
The checkout portal did not appear to be secure (17%)
It’s a tough pill to swallow, but the truth is that Amazon’s Prime program has dramatically impacted consumers’ online shopping and shipping experience.
According to the statistics above, a whopping 68% of online shopping carts are explicitly abandoned because businesses don’t meet consumer shipping expectations. Even more strikingly, 28% of shoppers will abandon their carts if shipping costs show up as an unexpected “gotcha” during the checkout process.
When you combine the expectation of free and fast shipping with increased consumer privacy rights, those top reasons for shopping cart abandonment make a lot of sense.
EHub’s shopping cart abandonment solutions
You’ll never be able to eliminate shopping cart abandonment completely, but there are things you can do to reduce it significantly:
Offer free shipping.
If you don’t have free shipping, be upfront about all extra costs, like shipping, taxes, and fees, from the first click.
Simplify and secure your checkout process to improve page load times and reduce confusion.
Free shipping According to AlixPartners, 72% of US consumers said that including free shipping “greatly impacts” their online purchasing decisions. There are multiple use cases from businesses that have seen their orders increase by as much as 90% after implementing free shipping.
You must be thoughtful about adding free shipping to your customer service arsenal if you want to stay in the black. Setting up simple reports to track product pricing, profit, and shipping expenses can give you the data to adjust your market pricing strategy effectively.
At EHub, we help you crunch the numbers to determine which of our streamlined shipping solutions will meet your needs. Because we aggregate shipping costs across all our customers, EHub can offer cheaper solutions than you’d get working directly with the shipping company.
Basically, we make offering free shipping more accessible, cheaper, and faster than you thought possible.
Be upfront about shipping costs If free shipping isn’t feasible, shipping costs must be clearly visible throughout the entire shopping process. Customers will abandon carts with lightning speed if they are hit with an unexpected shipping charge, even if it’s only $15.
EHub’s proprietary API can seamlessly integrate with your checkout processes to make sure your customers know exactly what kinds of shipping costs to expect (which, as we mentioned, are among the industry’s lowest if you use EHub).
Additionally, EHub can deliver faster, provide tracking, and give you detailed reporting and analytics capabilities that will take shipping from your biggest headache to a walk in the park.
It’s a tough pill to swallow, but the truth is that Amazon’s Prime program has dramatically impacted consumers’ online shopping and shipping experience
Simplify and secure your checkout processes Checkout optimizations can improve your conversion rates by 35.26%, which translates to significant profit growth for a small business. Offering guest checkout, optimizing images for faster page loads, adding a progress tracker, and using HTTPS connections are all steps we can take to help you streamline your checkout process and decrease your shopping cart abandonment rates.
Get those carts to the registers
EHub is here to help you optimize your checkout processes and offer shipping solutions to keep your customers digitally pushing their carts to the “complete purchase” button. Contact us today to see what we can do for you.
Suppose it seems like UPS peak season surcharges are not only higher but lasting longer, too; you’re right. Since March 2020, UPS has had to adapt to the significant changes in e-commerce and the global supply chain. In a nutshell, people were buying more online… a lot more. Thanks to this increased demand, most shipping carriers had to adapt, UPS included.
One adaptation included changes to peak season surcharges. Typically, peak season is just around the 4th quarter, the busiest time of the year for retail. Since the logistics industry hasn’t quite recovered from 2020 (have any of us?), we’re seeing peak season stretch beyond 4th quarter.
It’s already here. Not only that, we’re seeing it split into what resembles a tier system. If you thought surcharges were expensive, well, I have some not-great news for you.
Peak Season Surcharges: Tier 1
July 4 — October 2, 2021 Fees: The following applies to all US domestic, import, and export shipments, qualifying customers who have shipped >1,000 total packages or more than ten that required Additional Handling during any week following February 2020.
Additional handling charges increased from $3.00 per package to $3.50
Large Package peak surcharge increased from $31.45 to $40.00
Peak Season Surcharges: Tier 2
October 2, 2021 — January 15, 2022 Fees: The following applies to all US domestic, import, and export shipments, qualifying customers who have shipped >1,000 total packages or more than ten packages that required Additional Handling during any week following February 2020.
Additional Handling peak surcharge increases from $3.50 to $6.00 per package
Large Package peak surcharge increased from $40.00 to $60.00 per package
The following will apply to all US domestic, import, and export shipments.
The Over Maximum Limits peak surcharge will be $250.00 per package
Handle your shipping costs and communication to customers accordingly, and have a plan for when things go sideways
Bonus Round of Surcharges for High-Volume Shippers
October 31, 2021 — January 15, 2022 Volume-Based Fee: The following applies to certain UPS Air Residential, UPS Ground Residential, and UPS SurePost, who have shipped more than 25,000 packages during any week following February 2020.
October 31, 2021 – January 15, 2022
UPS SurePost
110% to 200% of February 2020 volume
$1.15 per package
> 200% to 300% of February 2020 volume
$2.15 per package
> 300% to 400% of February 2020 volume
$3.15 per package
> 400% to 500% of February 2020 volume
$4.15 per package
> 500% of February 2020 volume
$5.15 per package
UPS Ground Residential
110% to 200% of February 2020 volume
$1.15 per package
> 200% to 300% of February 2020 volume
$2.15 per package
> 300% to 400% of February 2020 volume
$3.15 per package
> 400% to 500% of February 2020 volume
$4.15 per package
> 500% of February 2020 volume
$5.15 per package
UPS Next Day Air Residential
110% to 200% of February 2020 volume
$2.15 per package
> 200% to 300% of February 2020 volume
$3.15 per package
> 300% to 400% of February 2020 volume
$4.15 per package
> 400% to 500% of February 2020 volume
$5.15 per package
> 500% of February 2020 volume
$6.15 per package
All Other UPS Air Residential
110% to 200% of February 2020 volume
$2.15 per package
> 200% to 300% of February 2020 volume
$3.15 per package
> 300% to 400% of February 2020 volume
$4.15 per package
> 400% to 500% of February 2020 volume
$5.15 per package
> 500% of February 2020 volume
$6.15 per package
Current Service Levels With UPS Service Guarantee:
The following applies to certain UPS Air Residential, UPS Ground Residential, and UPS SurePost, who have shipped more than 25,000 packages during any week following February 2020.
UPS Next Day Air
UPS Next Day Air Saver
UPS Next Day Air Early
Domestic Express Plus
Domestic Express
Domestic Midday
Domestic Express Saver
UPS Worldwide Express Plus
UPS Worldwide Express
UPS Worldwide Express NA1
UPS Worldwide Express Saver
UPS Worldwide Express Freight Midday
UPS Worldwide Express Freight
Transborder Express
Transborder Express Plus
Transborder Express Saver
How Does This Affect Your Peak Season?
I think the most important thing to remember is that the peak season results in a lot more shipments, which can mean increased waiting times for customers, delays, and maybe increased charges. Handle your shipping costs and communication to customers accordingly, and have a plan for when things go sideways.
It could also be worth taking a look to make sure you’re getting the best rates on your business shipping. Our shipping specialists can perform an analysis that tells you where you’re already shipping most efficiently and exactly where you could be saving more. Contact us to get started on a custom analysis for your business.
If you’re an e-commerce store looking to grow your sales, you must get serious about pop-ups.
Contrary to popular belief, pop-ups don’t have to be annoying. Executed correctly, they have the power to make a big difference in your conversions. It all goes down to segmenting them correctly and making them relevant to your visitor.
Today, we will look at the seven best pop-up tools you can use to take your conversion to new heights. Let’s get started:
The easy-to-use program makes it easy to experiment and tweak your email popups. You can test different messages based on color, design, display time, and more to see what works the best, even with no coding skills.
Another area where Privy excels is segmentation. To make your popups relevant to the visitor, you can segment them based on which country they come from, how they landed on your website, how much they have in their shopping cart, etc.
Pros:
A/B testing feature for the best results
Customizable pop-ups to make sure you send the right message at the right time
Creates beautiful newsletters
Reduces your cart abandonment rate
Cons:
Limited templates
A/B and advanced reporting are only available on premium plans
Pricing:
Free plan: up to 5000 average monthly page views
Privy Convert: $20/month for up to 10,000 average monthly page views
Privy email: $10/month for up to 1000 mailable contacts and $5 per additional 1000 afterward.
Privy text: $10/month for up to 100 textable contacts and $10 per additional 100 afterward.
Sumo is a top-rated conversion tool trusted by over 600,000 businesses worldwide. The platform includes multiple features to help stores win more sales, generate conversions, and increase subscribers.
From the platform admin, you can create unique offers and discounts to get your customers’ attention. By making customers sign up, you’ll increase your store’s average order value and boost sales.
Just as shoppers are about to leave their cart, Sumo reaches out with a popup that encourages them to follow through with their purchase. It also retargets customers with a follow-up email when subscribers view your product without buying.
Pros:
Easy-to-read guides on how to use the app
Free customer support
A/B testing
Cons:
The sumo logo shows up on your popups when you’re on the free plan
Limited integrations
Can’t send emails to individual subscribers, only in groups
Justuno uses artificial intelligence to boost conversions with pop-ups, exit offers, countdown timers, and more. It offers endless ways to customize your upsell and cross-sell offers.
The platform’s AI software analyzes billions of data points to tailor pop-ups based on each visitor. It tracks visit frequency, geolocation, cart value, and more to ensure your store sends the right message at the right time.
Justuno comes with advanced analytics to track your marketing success and measure performance. You’ll gain exact insights into what strategies work and what don’t.
Pros:
Artificial intelligence to help you get the best results
Mobile and SEO optimization
Upselling and cross-selling features
A vast library of resources to help you out
Cons:
Limited design and templates
Pricing:
Free plan: all standard features are available for up to 5,000 monthly visitor sessions.
Pro plan 1: $29/month with all features available up to 10,000 monthly visitor sessions.
Pro plan 2: $49/month with all features available up to 25,000 monthly visitor sessions.
Pro plan 3: $99/month with all features available up to 50,000 monthly visitor sessions.
Omnisend is one of Shopify’s most popular email marketing apps, with a near-perfect 4.7 rating. It connects your email efforts with other channels such as SMS, Facebook, and Google.
On top of using pop-ups to generate sales, you can optimize your landing pages for conversion. It’s also known for its Wheel of Fortune pop-up that offers customers the chance to win a special voucher on your store.
Pros:
It makes it possible to target customers across different channels.
Various pre-built automation workflows to choose from
24/7 support
Cons:
Inability to integrate multiple shops at once
You’ll need to upgrade to the premium plan to get access to SMS and push notifications
Pricing:
Free plan: 15,000 emails a month
Standard plan: $16/month for 15,000 emails a month with SMS
Pro plan: $99/month for 15,000 emails a month with SMS, push notifications, and Facebook custom audiences
Sales Pop helps you use social proof to boost sales by displaying real-time customer activity. When visitors know that others are buying from your store, they are more likely to buy themselves. It also makes your store look busy and creates urgency.
The app does this by connecting to your Shopify and tracking recent sales. Customers will also be able to click on the pop-up to look at the purchased product.
Pros:
Live real-time sales pop-up notifications
Fully supports more than 22 languages
Mobile optimized
Cons:
Limited to only 1,000 monthly unique visitors on the free plan
Pricing:
Free plan: up to 1,000 monthly visitors
Starter plan: $21/month for up to 10,000 monthly visitors
Growth plan: $54/month for up to 50,000 monthly visitors
With Pixelpop, you can capture visitors’ emails and sync them to Mailchimp, Klaviyo, Constant Contact, or Conversio. You can also add banners that display special offers, such as free shipping.
Pixelpop has various ways to style and customize pop-ups on your store. The different types of pop-ups you can use on your website include email signups, announcements, coupon codes, social follow, etc. The sky’s the limit!
Pixelpop doesn’t require any coding background to get started and only takes a few seconds to install on your store.
Pros:
Simple to use
Integrations with some of your favorite tools, such as Mailchimp
Various templates to choose from to style your pop-up
Cons:
You’re limited to only 500 monthly pop-up views in the free plan
You get charged by pop-up
Pricing:
Free plan: 500 monthly pop-up views
Starter plan: $12/month for 10,000 monthly popup views
Growth plan: $24/month for 50,000 monthly popup views
Pro plan: $48/month for 300,000 monthly popup views
Thanks to its drag-and-drop editor, Wisepops makes it possible to create high-converting emails within seconds.
One aspect that makes Wisepops stand out from other popup tools is its vast choice of templates. The platform makes it easy to find designs that reflect your brand.
Wisepops sends the right message at the right time with contextual targeting. You can target customers based on various factors such as their cart value, their timezone, location, and more.
Pros:
Extensive library of templates to style your pop-ups
24/7 customer support
Easy-to-use interface
30+ targeting options
Cons:
No free plan
Pricing:
Basic plan: $49/month for 100,000 pageviews/month
Pro plan: $99/month for 500,000 pageviews/month
Conclusion
Pop-ups are great for growing your email list and landing more sales. We hope this list of tools will help you pick the right pop-up tool for your business. Experiment with each platform and see which fits you the best!
For eCommerce businesses that ship internationally and domestically, shipping factors and variables are a bit different. However, modern technology and improvements have created a situation where numerous companies have the resources to ship internationally with ease, not only significant corporations – this used to be the case in past generations.
Introduction
At eHub, we’re happy to help with a wide range of international shipping needs and challenges, from helping you choose the ideal carrier to filling out the correct paperwork, managing international returns, and many other areas. That first area, choosing a carrier, is often a bit more complex for international shipping than for domestic – this two-part blog series will go over several factors you should be considering, which our team will be happy to help you with during any international shipping process.
Major Carriers
Generally speaking, there are four significant companies or carriers that ship internationally:
USPS: You may not have thought of the US Postal Service as an international shipper because it’s an agency of the US government, but it is an independent government organization that offers four international shipping options. These range from Global Express Guarantee, which allows packages to arrive in one to three business days, down to First-Class International, where the number of days will vary by destination. USPS offers robust tracking and flat-rate shipping.
UPS: UPS also offers international shipping, and with higher packaging limits than USPS – packages can be up to 150 pounds compared to just 70 for USPS. Of course, more oversized items will come with higher charges. UPS also offers several shipping options and prices.
FedEx: FedEx ships to over 200 countries, with packages arriving between one and seven days, depending on service. Their max weight is similar to UPS.
DHL: Finally, DHL is more unique here. Its max parcel is just 44 pounds, much lower than the other options, and the service covers fewer countries. However, there are situations where going this route is the right move.
International First
One crucial tip for companies who perform both domestic and international shipping: When finding a new carrier, ask about international shipping variables first. As noted above, the significant carriers vary widely in their international shipping guidelines, pricing, and more – there isn’t as much difference between them when you get to domestic shipping areas, so your primary focus should be on the area with more variability.
When finding a new carrier, ask about international shipping variables first
Certain carriers might limit regions or countries they will ship to, which could be a big issue for your business. If you’re unsure about a given carrier, you may consider only shipping internationally to a few countries first to see if the program works for you.
Wrapping Things Up
For more on choosing an international shipping carrier or to learn about our eCommerce shipping services, speak to the staff at eHub today.
Why Ship Internationally?
You’ve seen the stats, like this one from CIEDEC—that 95% of the world’s consumer market awaits you outside US borders. And, after reading our tips for international sales growth, you’ve laid the groundwork to expand your international business shipping horizons. Now, it’s time to get up to speed with international shipping.
Though it may seem daunting, follow these steps, and your products will soar—literally.
1. What Can I Ship, and Where Can I Ship It?
First, review the Commerce Control List (CCL) to verify whether your product is allowed for export or if it is a controlled commodity that requires an export license. Also, depending on where and to whom you are shipping, you’ll want to check whether the government has sanctions or embargoes and prohibitions on end users or the product’s end-use. Then, check the Country Commercial Guides to determine whether your product is allowed for import in a particular country.
The good news is most commercial products do not require an export license and are designated EAR99 in the Export Administration Regulations, but before exporting, you will still need to ascertain your product’s Harmonized System classification and Schedule B number to complete the export and import forms.
An easy way to start offering international shipping to Canada and Mexico first and branch out from there. Trading with our neighbors has been simplified with the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) which allows qualifying small package shipments valued at less than $150CAD (in Canada) and $117USD (in Mexico) to ship duty-free, and the taxes have also been simplified.
Or, select from the 20 countries with a free trade agreement with the US. If the customs regulations of the country you are shipping to are rather complicated, and you plan to ship there frequently, you may want to hire a customs broker to help you cut through their red tape.
33Countries with Free Trade Agreements with the United States
Australia
Bahrain
Canada
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras
Israel
Jordan
Korea
Mexico
Morocco
Nicaragua
Oman
Panama
Peru
Singapore
2. Decide Who Should Pay For What
Incoterms define the rules of the ownership transfer… for instance, During the delivery process, when does ownership transfer; who is responsible for covering the licensing, customs fees, and taxes; and who, if applicable, is insuring the product for loss and damages? What’s the de minimus value for the country you’re shipping to?
As you consider handling these expenses, you should also estimate what your landed cost (or total expenses from the point of sale to the final receipt of the product) will be—there are many online calculators available to help you. Does it make sense for you to offer free shipping? Split the costs? Will you accept returns, and if so, who covers that cost? Should you adjust your product pricing to reflect the additional cost and work?
An easy way to start offering international shipping to Canada and Mexico first and branch out from there
Selecting which carrier to use is a big part of this step. Price is often the primary concern, but speed and convenience of delivery are factors as well. While USPS can often be the least expensive, its tracking capabilities and delivery responsibilities end once the product leaves its jurisdiction. Many private carriers handle delivery from door to door and offer more services, but those costs will fit into your overall price.
3. Sell Your Product(s) and Get Them On Their Way
Yay! You’ve cut through the red tape, done your research, and it’s paying off—the cash register is ringing.
Now, it’s time to generate a detailed Commercial Invoice (or Pro Forma Invoice for samples) outlining the terms of both the sale and the delivery, then finalize the required export and import forms (which you will have already determined through your research). Some of these can be completed online.
Then, package your product in a sturdy container that meets the standards of your selected carrier; create and affix your international shipping label, carefully proofing your recipient’s address and contact information; and attach your Commercial Invoice along with any other necessary customs paperwork.
Finally…
Transfer the package to your carrier of choice
Cover your contractual portion of the delivery costs
Receive a tracking number to provide to your buyer
After you pat yourself on the back, get back to selling!
Easy as 1-2-3.
Research 2. Analyze 3. Ship
Right? Okay, maybe we’re oversimplifying it. But, once you perform the cost-benefit analysis and create the foundation, the process will become systematic and, ultimately, well worth it.
Final Thoughts
However, if you find you do not have the capacity for it. eHub can help. We’ve done our due diligence in the export arena, developed relationships and pricing contracts with multiple carriers, and built the databases to support a seamless e-commerce API that will facilitate every international sale you make. To explore whether our international shipping solution could work for you, click here.
At eHub, it’s our pride to help clients work with all the major shipping carriers available to them. We work with UPS, FedEx, DHL, and, of course, USPS, or the US Postal Service, providing a vast range of shipping options and services from and to any area of the country.
Our carrier-related services span several areas, including helping our clients understand and react to rate increases from any of these carriers. USPS recently filed its planned rate increases for the 2021 year with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) – what are these changes, and how might they impact your standard USPS shipping formats? We’ll go over this plus dig into some of the general benefits of using USPS to begin with.
Benefits of Using USPS
Firstly, why USPS? There are several reasons why many businesses rely primarily on the US Postal Service for their primary shipping needs, including:
Delivery to any address in the USA
No fuel or residential delivery surcharges to companies
Free Saturday delivery
Free shipping supplies and scheduled pickups for no additional cost
That said, many of USPS’s competitors also have these same themes at play. For this reason, shipping rates will often be one of the key elements a business considers when choosing a shipping partner. Let’s go over how USPS rates will change in 2021.
Basics and Approval
As noted above, USPS has submitted its planned rate increases to the PRC for 2021. We’ll review the precise rate increases briefly, but some general basics first.
Firstly, if approved, the new USPS rate changes will kick in on January 24, 2021. In addition, a $100 charge will be imposed on packages found in the USPS mail stream that are larger than the maximum size of 130 inches (combined length and girth) – this applies to all service levels, from standard ground and air mail up to First Class package service and any areas in between.
Average Increases for Common Labels
Here are the average percentage increases that will be seen for the varying service levels within USPS once the rate increases take effect – if they are approved, which has not happened yet:
First Class Package Service: Average increase of 6.5%
Priority Mail: Average increase of 4.5%
Priority Mail Express: Average increase of 2.5%
Parcel Select Ground: Average increase of 1.3%
Are these changes enough to impact your business and make you consider switching to another shipping carrier? This is where our pros come in – we’ll use all our latest techniques to help you find the best shipping company and save money on shipping in several ways.
For more on USPS rate increases or to learn about our shipping API or software programs, speak to the staff at eHub today.
Summer is almost over, and it’s time to think about your strategy for the holidays.
The holiday season is typically the most chaotic time regarding online orders and shipping. To make it worse, the world is currently battling against COVID-19, which makes 2020 a year like no other for e-commerce.
As stressful as everything may seem, we’ve got your back.
Here’s our 2020 shipping checklist to make sure you stay on top during this year’s holiday season:
1. Forecast Demand
As the pandemic continues, you must forecast customer demand for the upcoming holidays.
COVID-19 has changed everything from the customer’s channel selection frequency to shopping and the products they want. For example, there’s a more robust demand for items that align with social distancing, such as entertainment products or home goods.
Look at your sales during the lockdown — which types of products were in high demand? It should give you a clue on what to expect from customer behavior during these next months.
There is a science to forecasting demand, but let me give you a simple metric: compare sales from March to May this year versus last year. Take that percentage difference and multiply last year’s holiday sales to see how much bigger it could get.
Also, think about talking with your 3PL to find out how they can help you prepare for the upcoming holiday demand.
2. Implement a Strong Communications Plan
Another critical factor to consider during the holidays is communication with your customers.
Make sure to keep them up-to-date with each of their orders. One thing that will make customers worry, for example, is how COVID-19 will impact shipping delays. You’ll need to provide tracking and let them know when they can expect the item to arrive at their doorstep.
During your communication with your customer, it’s also a good idea to promote upsell offers. You can run post-purchase email campaigns with other products they can buy to complement their order. It will help deliver more value to the customer and boost your average order value.
3. Get Ready for More Customer Returns Than Usual
Dealing with customers is part of running an e-commerce business. However, you can expect returns to skyrocket during the holidays.
The reason is that customers will feel reluctant to step into retail stores due to virus fears. To gain peace of mind and avoid getting infected, they’ll be doing most of their shopping online.
Customers love the ability to buy and try on or see how something looks in real life. They often buy two or three sizes or styles, keep one, and return the rest.
As a result, your business must come prepared with reliable customer service staff or shipping software to manage returns effectively.
Dealing with customers is part of running an e-commerce business. However, you can expect returns to skyrocket during the holidays.
4. Get Shipping Insurance
No one can predict what will happen to your product once it is out for delivery. Nothing is worse for a customer during the holiday season than to make a purchase only to have the item damaged or never even arrive.
With an expected surge in shipments this holiday season, these problems will be multiplied. You can protect yourself and your customers, however, with shipping insurance.
It’s why you want to plan in advance and get shipping insurance, which is easier than you think. No matter what happens to your product, you’ll be protected against significant financial loss and gain peace of mind.
The holidays are the time when orders reach their peak throughout the year. As a result, you can expect new rules, restrictions, and deadlines for all major carriers. Look into the specific provisions of your carrier for different times of the year and figure out what measures and fees are required.
5. Do Research on Seasonal Fees and Restrictions
Keep in mind as well that major carriers will be surcharging their rates on shipping due to coronavirus and customer demand. For example, UPS plans to make businesses that ship more than 25,000 orders per week pay an extra $1 to $4 for each package.
6. Offer Multiple Shipping Options
If you offer free shipping, you’re probably sending things via Ground or Priority Mail. Those options have been impacted the most by slow delivery times, and you’ll have customers who will want something faster.
Offering an expedited shipping option – like 2-day, overnight, or even same-day delivery, is a must this holiday season. Here’s why:
It sets clear expectations for delivery times
Customers have the option to pay for faster delivery
Free shipping has a higher perceived value
Anyone who is expecting free shipping will see that delivery times affect cost. They will appreciate that the slower option is still accessible compared to the expensive, expedited option.
7. Make Your Packaging Stand Out
The holidays represent a unique opportunity to strengthen brand loyalty and delight new customers. One of the best ways to do this is to create a fantastic unboxing experience that wows them.
Branded packaging is the first approach because it makes each purchase feel unique and delivers a great impression. Since shoppers also buy gifts for their friends and family, you’ll surprise multiple customers simultaneously.
Customers also love to share brand packages on social media, which promotes your store and boosts your reach.
The next step is making what’s inside stand out with different packing paper, a hand-written thank you note, or even surprise gifts you’ve included.
There are so many things to handle regarding shipping during the holidays. You have inventory to manage, orders to pack and ship, tracking, and many more tasks on your list.
Software is the best way to improve processes like this. With automation, you can improve the pick-n-pack process, automatically select the correct shipping method, batch print labels, and update tracking information.
Essential Hub’s software provides all the tools you need for success this holiday season. Not only do we help you get the best rates on shipping, but our software also comes with order tracking, inventory management, and more.
Shipping delays can negatively impact your brand reputation and sales.
If your item doesn’t arrive on time, customers won’t feel they can trust you with their money and won’t return to your store for more.
Even worse, they can post negative reviews and spread the word to their friends and family. It doesn’t take long for bad reviews to spread.
Why do Shipping Delays Happen?
Even if you think everything’s under control, no one can truly predict what happens to your package once it leaves the warehouse. Your item’s delivery could get delayed for various reasons, which include:
World Events
World events can have a significant impact on shipping operations. Just take a look at what happened this year with COVID-19 — with new social distancing measures put in place and thousands of business shutdowns, many stores had a hard time making sure their package got into the hands of customers.
With more e-commerce orders than ever, all major carriers are struggling. The USPS has had the most challenging time since they have the most significant volume.
Unexpected Weather and Natural Disasters
Sudden weather changes can prevent your orders from arriving on time to the customer’s doorstep. It’s something that’s unfortunately beyond your control, but there are tactics you can use to handle the situation (which we’ll get into later).
Domestic & International Customs
Your package can get held back if it doesn’t respect customs procedures. For example, if you’re trying to ship ivory products to Italy (where the material is banned), your package might even get destroyed. That’s why you need to do your research on customs before shipping the item to the customer.
Shipping insurance protects you from any drastic financial loss and takes extra stress off your shoulders
Holidays
E-commerce sales tend to skyrocket during holiday seasons or important dates. As a result of record items being ordered, carriers can’t consistently deliver to your customer on time, which is not practical when everyone expects to receive their gift quickly (or by a specific date).
Poor Inventory Management from Your 3PL
Your item’s shipping delay could also result from poor management of your 3PL.
While investing in a logistics provider can provide you with many benefits in the long term, choosing the wrong one can be detrimental to your brand. Check our blog post on picking the right 3PL for your business to avoid making this mistake.
The Best Tactics You Can Use to Handle Shipping Delays
Get Shipping Insurance
Preparing yourself in advance goes a long way. Before shipping the item to your customer, you should consider investing in shipping insurance to protect yourself from any trouble during delivery.
Shipping insurance protects you from any drastic financial loss and takes extra stress off your shoulders. If the customer demands a refund because of the delay in delivery, you’ll have the means to give it to them without hurting your profits.
Be Upfront With The Customer
When your shipping is delayed, you’ll need to let the customer know what’s going on, especially as the world still battles with COVID-19.
Make sure to follow up with them via email, social media, and SMS. Apologize, explain the current situation to the customer, and how you plan to solve it. Holding yourself accountable proves to the customer that you’re someone they can trust.
Offer Order Tracking on the Delayed Item
Not having an order delivered on time can cause a lot of anxiety for the customer. To give them peace of mind, you can give them a tracking number to monitor their package.
With eHub, each item you ship comes with order tracking to get updates as they happen for your customers. We can also provide insurance if your package doesn’t arrive or is stolen during delivery.
Offer Special Discounts and Deals
Shipping deals can be an unpleasant experience for the customer. To make up for it, you can offer them special discounts and promotions on future orders.
Giving customers discounts proves that you value them and take their satisfaction seriously. For example, if your package doesn’t arrive on time, you can offer free shipping for their next order or a 20% discount on future items.
Use Multiple Shipping Carriers
Regarding shipping, it’s essential not to put all your eggs in one basket. Using multiple carriers ensures your package arrives on time if one fails to deliver.
Finding suitable shipping carriers, however, takes a bit of time and search. That’s why we do the hard work for you by connecting all major carriers in one place on our platform.
Offer Multiple Shipping Options at Checkout
Providing transparency into expected delivery times is vital to the ordering experience. Showing customers two options (at least) – one for expedited and the other for slow delivery – lets them choose what will work best for them.
If you’re offering free shipping on the slower service, then the value of the expedited shipping will be improved. While many people expect free shipping, they are willing to pay for faster delivery times when it is essential to them.
Conclusion
Shipping delays don’t have to be the end of the world. Handled effectively, you can still shine in the eyes of your customers and retain their trust.
If you’re looking for a platform covering everything you need to manage shipping effectively, we can help. From inventory management to order tracking, our platform gives you all the tools you need for smooth delivery.
