The sound of a package arriving on our doorstep will excite almost anyone, given that billions of packages are sent worldwide at any time. If you have a phone or a PC and a stable internet connection, you can order almost anything online, no matter where you are and your desired product.
As customers, we are naturally curious about how it all works — the process that goes from the seller’s shop to our front door. If you are a business owner, however, this becomes more complicated because if you’re aiming to deliver your products internationally, there are a lot of nuances that you have to consider before you can. Thus, how do successful businesses deliver their products internationally?
What is International Shipping?
International shipping is a method of transport used for delivering goods using sea routes or air channels rather than roads. In most cases, its goal is to link two countries that are separated by the sea or ocean.
When you send a package inside your own country, you’re covered by domestic legislation. However, when you ship outside your country, you must research the country’s rules, legislation, and laws regarding international packages. For example, businesses that ship to customers in the US face an array of customs regulations and shipping controls to accept the delivery of a small box.
This would involve a lot of research and documents, especially since every country has its own rules and regulations. Usually, you would need a database to go to if you wanted to have an easier time remembering and following these rules. Luckily for you, you don’t need to do it yourself since there are a lot of agencies out there that you can go to for information management, like M-Files.
It sounds very complicated, and you’d do well to agree. But luckily for you, we’re here to help tackle your international deliveries, no matter what country you’re aiming to deliver to. Let’s start.
Know Your Target Market
You know your product well, but your research should not stop there. You should also know the market you’re delivering to. Successful retailers build services around their customers, not the other way around, and you should do the same. Remember, they are the ones paying, and they will appreciate your delivery flexibility.
Do you know the main reasons why people abandon their orders? One of the main reasons is that it's either too complicated or too expensive when they say the delivery and shipping options. That said, know what your customers want and what’s accessible to them. If you do, they no longer have to abandon what’s in their online carts.
Understand Legal Requirements
It’s only normal for borders to prohibit items that cross across them. Thus, you need to look for a list of prohibited items before delivering in that specific country. Of course, knowing what you can and can’t deliver falls on your shoulders as a business owner. You need to double-check or even triple-check before you go and deliver your products. Here are some of the products that you can’t deliver in most countries:
- Aerosol sprays
- Petrol or oil
- Lighters
- Cigarettes
- Lottery tickets
- Damaged batteries
Apart from what you can and can’t deliver, there are also additional factors that you need to keep an eye on that will stop your delivery the moment they are in the borders. Usually, they will inspect:
- Poorly-packed packages
- Damaged or inappropriately packed parcels
- Leaking or smelling packages
Once they decide your package is too suspicious to pass through, they will confiscate or deliver it.
Choose the Right Carrier
Now that your customer has checked out their orders, it is time for you to deliver them. However, shipping costs are getting higher and higher nowadays, and of course, you don’t want to settle with a cheap but slow carrier. So, how do you balance the price and speed? Your ideal shipping method should depend on what your customer needs and expects. Regarding this, you have three main options:
Postal services
Postal services connect with international carriers to deliver packages. They are popular because they are cheap and generally trusted by customers. However, the downside is that your package would have to be transferred from one hand to another multiple times during the delivery. This makes it hard for you to track the package, and the delivery might be longer than expected.
Couriers
You can also use international carriers with international significance, like UPS, DPD, and DHL. Their main pro is that they have a whole network of delivery systems, making tracking down your package easier with increased visibility and faster delivery times. However, because of these features, they are generally more costly than the other methods. This means that your customers might have to pay more for shipping.
Freight Forwarders
Freight forwarders are the bridge between you and the delivery company. As such, there will be less hassle from interaction and the simplified process that you will get from the freight forwarder. However, the con is that the cost can be a bit higher than what you expect, and your relationship and interaction will be with the freight forwarder, not the delivery company.
Be Transparent About the Cost
It’s critical to be upfront with your customers about the costs. This is especially true when it comes to shipping costs and fees. If you’re not transparent about it, you could be accused of misleading them or, worse, lying. While you may not always be able to provide an accurate calculation, you must give them an honest estimation.
But why all this effort anyway? If the package is delivered and they refuse it because of the cost, they can refuse and send it back to you. Not only is it free for them to refuse the package, but they can also ruin your reputation online. And the worst part? You’ll carry the costs for the refusals and, of course, the delivery costs. Fortunately, there are plenty of tools online that you could use to estimate the costs of your deliveries.
Pack and Label Your Packages Properly
Of course, you need to pack and label your packages properly. It sounds easy enough, but it’s much more complicated than you think. First, do you know that your package should be packed to withstand a drop of 1.5 meters? If you don’t, then this is crucial information. So, how do you do it?
- Reinforce the corners of the box with packing tape at least 48mm wide
- Fill the package with filling material like bubble wrap, foam peanuts, or paper
- Use two-ply cardboard boxes for fragile goods
- Ensure a 6cm space between the product and the box
Remember, by packaging your products properly for delivery, they’ll have a lower chance of being damaged during delivery, denied entry from borders, or refused by your customer.
Final Words
International shipping can be a complex business on its own. However, if you follow the tips we discussed above, international shipping will be easy for your business. This will make your customers happy and retain their loyalty to your business and products.
