If you haven’t started to sell internationally yet, then now is the time for you to change that. Statistics show that the international eCommerce industry is expected to grow by over 246% in the next few years when compared to 2014. Studies also show that 47% of people in the US, buy from merchants in other countries. If you want to make sure that you are doing everything you can to rocket your shipping potential, then here’s what you need to know.
Try and Use a Consolidator
Most worldwide packages weigh under 20lbs. IPC surveys have shown that over 66% of purchases are sent through the post, but handling one package at a time does not make much sense when you are operating on an international basis. If you ship via first-class mail then this can be expensive and it may make some of your low-cost items difficult to sell when it comes to your profit margin. Rapidly increasing good volumes from China has also put somewhat of a strain on various delivery services. The challenges that are faced here have created a new breed of parcel services, known as parcel consolidators. When shipping, packages are then routed to a US shipping center, where they are then consolidated into one large package, or box. When the packages arrive, they go through the customs department as a singular package and are then dropped at the local post. By operating this way, the process lowers the shipping costs as well as the cross-border costs, while simultaneously increasing speed. Combining this with the best invoicing software will save you time, effort, and money.
Offer a Better Buying Experience
An express courier service can easily charge for any deliveries that are not delivered, or if there is an address that needs to be corrected. As a seller, you have to make sure that you are giving accurate information that reflects that of your customers. The great thing about shipping automation software is that it eliminates any errors by allowing you to import orders from any marketplaces. Sellers can take advantage of discounted postage and they can also print labels. This can be invaluable for a seller who is sick of dealing with customs issues, not to mention that it also streamlines international fulfillment.
Know your Demand
You have to try and decide how you're going to fulfill all of the orders you have. What is the current demand for your products? Is your item going to be taxed in this country? What value is it going to be taxed at? Are customs going to impact your procedure? Does the country have a threshold value? These are all questions that you need to ask yourself so that you can then begin to capitalise on the efficiency of your shipping process in general. If you need some help with your process then it helps to go through questions like this so you can then begin to work through each roadblock, one by one.
