A well-thought-out eCommerce shipping and shipping solutions strategy is essential for the success of your online store. To begin with, let us first understand a few basics.
Do you know when was the first eCommerce sale made and what it was?
The first eCommerce sale was made in 1994, and it was a Sting CD. A 21-year-old named Dan Kohn sold Sting’s Ten Summoner’s Tales CD to a friend, who purchased it with his credit card for $12.48 plus shipping costs. An exchange like this one is known as eCommerce today.
Therefore, in simple words, eCommerce is the sales of services and goods made through the Internet. eCommerce has come a long way since 1994 and is only growing.
Now that we’ve understood eCommerce, let’s address another important question.
What is eCommerce Shipping?
E-commerce shipping incorporates all services required to transport products purchased online from a retailer to the customer’s delivery address.
It is a shipping service that makes shipping of products manageable and affordable for online sellers and provides the best shipping solutions. With online shopping becoming more popular and common by the day, eCommerce shipping is also getting competitive.
Now large retailers like Amazon UK and eBay are making shopping faster and cheaper for their customers. Therefore, shipping via postal services like UPS and FedEx may not work as smoothly. You will need to find a faster, cost-effective, more effective shipping platform to keep up with customer expectations. That’s where an eCommerce shipping solution like NimbusPost comes in.
NimbusPost is one of the leading shipping aggregators in the UK which collaborates with the top 15+ courier partners to facilitate seamless parcel service across the UK mainland and offshore postcodes. Offering quick API integration with eCommerce channels like Magento, Shopify, Opencart, BigCommerce, WooCommerce and marketplaces like eBay, Etsy, and NimbusPost offers the cheapest domestic shipping rate, starting just from £2.9. You can integrate your channel with NimbusPost and enjoy order management and shipping as well as shipping solutions from a single platform.
Another interesting feature that NimbusPost offers is sales channel integration with marketplaces such as Amazon, eBay, WooCommerce, Shopify, etc. It saves you the time and manual effort of tallying your orders. You can integrate your channel with NimbusPost and enjoy order management and shipping as well as shipping solutions from a single platform.
Importance of Shipping
A customer’s experience with your brand can make or break your relationship with them and impact your sales. As an eCommerce business owner, you control most aspects of your customer’s experience. However, once you send off a package, a significant part of the customer relationship is the responsibility of the company that handles your shipping services and gives shipping solutions. Therefore, the package must arrive on time and in perfect condition. Remember, you will not get another chance to create a good impression.
If you’re starting a new eCommerce business and looking for a shipping platform that can connect you to multiple online channels and courier services, choosing NimbusPost would be your best bet. We are trusted by over 60,000+ happy clients and help e-commerce business owners focus on their entrepreneurial strategies instead of worrying over shipping and logistics.
eCommerce Shipping Strategies
1) Your shipping rates and methods
Before you start shipping products, you need to decide your pricing strategy for shipping. Are you going to charge your customers the full cost of shipping, or are you going to offer free or flat-rate shipping? An effective way of curbing shipping costs is using a shipping aggregator like NimbusPost. We charge £2.9, helping business owners like you save a ton of money!
2) Product weights
To organize the eCommerce shipping process, measure and update the weight of each product you sell. Setting up this information will help you decipher your total costs precisely and quote accurate prices to your customers.
3) Choose your preferred packaging
Packaging and shipping were ways to receive a product purchased online earlier. However, presently more and more people are looking for shipping, packaging, and presentation as part of the eCommerce experience. With NimbusPost, you can integrate your eCommerce business with online marketplaces like Shopify that can help you select from a wide array of packaging and presentation options. The right kind of packaging and presentation can help you set your brand apart.
E-commerce Shipping Rates
Given below are two popular eCommerce shipping rate options.
1) Flat rate shipping
Flat rate shipping means charging the same fixed shipping rate — across all orders or for all orders that fit a specific weight range, order value, or other classification.
2) Real-time carrier rates
A few eCommerce stores display real-time carrier rates at checkout. The exact shipping rates are automatically pulled from the carriers based on the customer’s location and delivery preferences. It allows an eCommerce business to charge customers the exact amount that it costs the business to ship the order.
Free shipping
Offering free shipping can minimise shopping cart abandonment and increase conversions. It can also help build customer loyalty.
Here are some ways you can offer free shipping and remain profitable at the same time:
- include the shipping cost in the product price
- provide free shipping in exchange for a minimum order amount
- offer a discount code to certain customers for free shipping
“Free shipping has a very visceral response for consumers. A lot of people don’t want to spend money on shipping.” – Tom Caporaso, CEO, Clarus Commerce.
eCommerce Packaging
The eCommerce packaging you use is the first interaction your customers have with your brand. Here are ways you can make a great impression:
1) Choosing your packaging: The packaging options for your eCommerce shipping are endless: corrugated, chipboard, paperboard, and many more! It is essential to consider your product type, weight, size, shape, durability, etc. before choosing the kind of packaging.
2) Custom packaging: High-quality custom packaging can help your brand stand out, create a great first impression, generate buzz, and help build brand loyalty. It can create a better customer experience.
3) Eco-friendly packaging: The Environmental Protection Agency reports that packaging makes up one-third of all household waste. As eCommerce sales continue to increase, so will the waste they produce. Your company can keep such adverse effects in check by choosing packaging that’s safe for the planet and great for the business.
Top Shipping Carriers in The UK
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TNT Express UK
TNT, which has been around since the 1800s, is best recognised for its first-rate same-day courier services and commitment to timely delivery of high-calibre goods. TNT has a network across 220 nations and delivers top-quality goods quickly all across the world.
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Parcelforce
This elite business is a member of Parcelforce Worldwide, a premier courier company that has been around for more than 50 years. Depending on what you need from them as a customer, it offers an extensive range of worldwide express delivery alternatives from basic to next-day deliveries, as well as multiple collection possibilities.
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NimbusPost
As one of the leading tech-oriented shipping aggregators in the UK, they cover the UK mainland and offshore postcodes via their network of 15+ top courier partners. With an advanced NDR management system and prompt API integration with the best eCommerce marketplaces, NimbusPost ensures a seamless shipping experience to global online businesses at economical rates.
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UPS
One of the leading international providers of courier services, UPS has experienced significant growth over the years. It provides a wide range of premium services, including next-day delivery, to both customers and corporations.
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Hermes
In the United Kingdom (U.K.), Hermes is one of the leading parcel delivery companies and has been in business for more than 30 years. It provides an extensive selection of premium delivery services, including next-day and international shipping.
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FedEx
FedEx is a reputable courier service that excels in providing high-calibre services that are tailored to the needs of businesses. Additionally, it provides a wide range of premium services, including next-day delivery, to meet the demands of businesses around the globe.
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Royal Mail
This best postal service in the United Kingdom (U.K.) has been around for more than 500 years! Among the many first-rate services it provides are next-day and worldwide deliveries.
eCommerce Shipping with NimbusPost
1) Cheapest Shipping Rates: We provide the cheapest shipping rates starting at £2.9. You can sign up for NimbusPost free of cost with a zero setup fee. Recharge your account at a minimal price and start shipping your products immediately.
2) Multiple Couriers & Cost Saving: From DHL to FedEx, NimbusPost has the UK’s best courier companies on its easy-to-use shipping platform. Through the courier recommendation engine, we suggest the best courier partner based on shipping rates, serviceability, return orders, ratings, etc. Moreover, you can save up to 30-40% on your freight bills with NimbusPost!
4) Multiple Channel Integration: With channels like Shopify, Amazon, WooCommerce, and many more, you can choose NimbusPost for a seamless eCommerce experience for yourself and your buyers. Just add your inventory to the NimbusPost panel and manage it from right there. It saves you time and the manual effort of tallying your orders across various platforms.
6) Tech-enabled and Easy-to-Use Logistics Aggregator: Powered by the latest Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, NimbusPost serves as your one-stop shipping solution for hassle-free and smooth shipping and fulfilment. No manual intervention is required for order synchronisation and verification. These get done automatically.
7) Post-Shipping Experience: Nurturing a healthy relationship with your customers is essential for your business to evolve and grow. With NimbusPost, you can provide your buyers with a delightful post-purchase experience. We can help you send customised tracking pages to customers, add your brand’s logo and support details to the tracking page, and share best-selling product banners with your customers.
Additional Advantages of NimbusPost
NimbusPost utilises a machine-learning-based tool that recommends the best courier partner for each of your shipments. It takes into account important metrics such as delivery time and freight rate to help you make this decision with accuracy, precision, and ease. If you want to ship at the lowest rates, you can set it as your shipping priority and the courier recommendation engine will process your needs and display the most befitting carriers.
