It doesn’t matter how great your online store looks, or how successful your marketing strategy is, if you don’t have your e-commerce logistics working well, it’s going to impact your business badly.
Poor communication, long delivery times and high rates of missing or damaged parcels will have customers looking for alternative suppliers.
We’ve come up with five tips for your e-commerce logistics.
Find The Right Logistics Partner
In the beginning, your e-commerce business may just have been you, at your kitchen table printing out labels and booking couriers. As businesses grow, you need to find a modern and reliable logistics partner to fulfil your product storage and delivery requirements. At Prestige Logistics Group, we know that we’re an extension of your brand and that our high standards reflect well on our clients and vice versa. Don’t just go for the cheapest or most obvious option, take the time to find a logistics company you can work in partnership with to grow your business.
Communicate, Communicate, Communicate
Keeping your customer informed at every step of the way is a great way to build trust and your brand. When someone orders something from your e-commerce store, what updates do they get before the package reaches them? Look at your communications flow between your order systems and that of your logistics provider and as a minimum, you should have the following:
- Order confirmation/acknowledgement
- Dispatch notice
- Confirmation of arrival date
- Arrival acknowledgement
- Follow-up (e.g. are you happy with your product)
Depending on which logistics company you use, there may also be the opportunity to provide package tracking information or receive email/text updates. Always let you’re customer know that you’re thinking of them once you have their order.
Automate
You already know how important technology is to your business, you have an e-commerce site. From a logistics perspective, it can automate and transform the entire process, freeing up time and allowing you to scale as needed. Your e-commerce system should work in tandem with your logistics to automate:
- Orders
- Inventory
- Paperwork
- Stock
- Tracking
If you’re still doing things manually, then this is precious time taken out of your business that can be done automatically.
Create Campaigns Built On Your Logistics Needs
Having a clear oversight of inventory and stock levels will allow you to create specific campaigns based on this. For example, if certain products are out of stock, or you’re having difficulty sourcing, you can scale back on these campaigns. At the other end of the scale, if your e-commerce logistics system is showing that you have a lot of a particular product that isn’t moving, then you can create a campaign to raise demand for this product.
Use A Variety Of Sales Channels
If you’re currently buying in and fulfilling all of your products, then this can limit the growth potential of your business to an extent. Look at other online marketplaces that you can sell stock on, and consider selling products from others who also have their own logistics functions.
