Your interaction with your customers is more through the deliveries than online checkouts, as your delivery service represents your brand reputation.
As the e-commerce business is taking off, competition has also increased. It is crucial to look for the proper shipping partner who will help boost your sales and can be strongly relied on.
A shipping partner plays a huge role in your e-commerce business. Regardless of how great your services are, the shipping experience plays a vital role in customer conversion for customers.
Hence, a timely shipment can increase your sales dramatically. If you’re looking for a shipping partner but not aware of all the critical factors that need to consider, you came to the right place.
Let’s look at some aspects you need to consider when searching for a shipping partner for your e-commerce business.
1. Cost of Shipping
Cost is the first thing we look at when buying any service or goods. Try to find a shipping partner that charges a low cost, but do not compromise the quality. Cheaper services are not always proven to be good.
When it comes to the cost, you can choose from LTL (less than truckload), PTL (partial truckload), and FTL (full truckload) freight. The difference between them is LTL and PTL are used for smaller shipments that cannot fill the whole shipping equipment, while FTL used for larger shipments.
LTL is advantageous if you need small shipment services since they are cheaper and leave space for other smaller deliveries. You can also look for the LTL shipment service online on gokoho.com.
High shipping costs can cost your potential customers, so choose a shipping partner who demands a reasonable cost. Despite this, you can also use strategies like free delivery to specific regions or adjust delivery costs in the product’s price.
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2. Services they Provide
When you decide on a specific shipping partner, communicate with them and ask about the type of services they provide. Evaluate the services thoroughly, how much time they take to deliver the product, and how they handle the delivery package.
What type of deliveries they do ask that too. Also, consider researching if they ship internationally or just locally. Also, it is good to go with the local shipping partner as they charge less. Match their services with your requirements and then decide further.
3. Type of Shipping Carrier
Types of shipping carriers vary with their services. Some shipping carriers provide just shipments, whereas others facilitate other shipment-related services like warehouse service, packing, and inventory.
Based on this, they fall into two categories; Asset-based carriers and Non-asset-based carriers. The difference between them is the first one owns all the assets involved in the shipment procedure, while the other doesn’t.
The asset-based carrier will benefit you, as they will cost less if you require all services, including warehouse, packing, and inventory.
4. Tracking Package Facility
Nothing is more irritating than not knowing where your package went missing while the customer complains. It wastes your precious time inquiring about such problems. Fortunately, the tracking system became a common asset for the delivery system.
With a tracking system, you will not have to worry about your package getting lost in the way. You can directly track down the location of your shipment and have firsthand knowledge about the delivery service your consumer is receiving.
Look for a shipment partner who can provide you with this service. Your customer may want to have an update during the delivery period.
5. Experience in the Industry
Another major factor to consider is the experience your potential shipping partner holds. A newly launched company with no experience can prove satisfactory, but it is a risk. It is better to find an experienced partner as they will help you in problem-solving rather than creating.
A company that has not done any groundwork would be unstable and can disturb your workflow. So instead of taking a risk and putting your reputation in danger, it is wise to go with an experienced partner.
On the bright side, if you think you’re capable of giving a chance to a newcomer in the industry and are not afraid of taking risks, you can always do this.
6. Safety Parameters
Evaluating all the safety parameters can save you from any form of harm. When you select a shipping partner, make sure they are well-known in the industry.
Safety parameters do not only count on the safety of packages during shipment. But this also includes some other factors such as their reviews and the rate of accidents to ensure the safety of your business. It’s essential to know if they have legal supply operations.
7. Trustable Shipping Partner
Trust is what makes the partnership stronger. A dedicated partner will help your business bloom. Trusting each other is essential for the long run.
Respecting each other’s values and working according to them can build a positive relationship. It’s worth noting that businesses that are honest and show accountability grow.
Experience Shipping Firsthand
Another way of finding out about the service of the potential shipping partner is to visit the site. Look around to recognize their way of work, for example, how they handle the packages and what assets they use.
Also, if you want to know what type of service your competitors use, you can order delivery and have firsthand experience of the delivery service. It will help you in deciding the type of shipment partner you need.
In a Nutshell
Whether it’s a small business or a huge one, the right shipping partner can help your business to take off. Consider looking into these pointers when choosing a shipping partner.
- Always prefer a partner whose services match your requirements.
- Do not hesitate to negotiate for a better package.
- Make sure you research all of the above factors about every shipping service you want to work with.
- Remember to receive reviews from your customers after a few shipments.
- Negotiate as all it takes is asking, and settle for a good package that benefits you.
- Shipment costs should not be too expensive, which will lessen your profits and make your product unaffordable to the customers due to shipping costs.
If you like this article and feel that we may have left out some vital aspects, feel free to leave your two cents in the comments section below.
