When it comes to attracting customers and retaining them, the ecommerce retailers are always busy on a bittersweet fight. While online purchasing continues to grow by double digits each year, consumers are becoming increasingly savvy and selective with their purchasing decisions. One of the most telling factors of online buying habits is revealed in the shopping cart – specifically when consumers view their shipping rate.
Below are three simple tips to help brands trim unnecessary expenses from their ecommerce order fulfilment while keeping consumers happy and coming back for more.
a. Start with customer service
Not all consumers insist on one or two-day shipping, provided they have a clear understanding of the timeframe in which their package is expected to arrive and can track orders. Brands who end up “over servicing” consumers with rapid turn times risk wasting money as well as delivering a poor brand experience when attention to detail is rushed.

b. Negotiate rates annually
Brands that ship a significant amount of product should be able to contract with major carriers to negotiate discounted shipping rates on anannual basis. Fulfilmentcentres have the ability to do this across carriers, with savings of up to 50 percent, since they are shipping products for numerous brands and can leverage their buying power. In addition, most fulfilment providers offer six or more different ship methods for small parcels – giving companies the best possible model each and every time.
c. Analyze transportation daily
Fulfilment providers who factor in customer service requirements as well as weight and destination of each parcel can offer logistics strategies that provide significant cost savings. By sorting packages geographically, fulfilment centres can zone skip parcels by using a regional trucking company to take packages to a more affordable ship destination. If there is an opportunity to completely fill a truck with parcels, additional cost savings can be realized.
Conclusion
Cutting costs throughout the small parcel supply chain offers a winning solution for both brands and their customers, who will reap the benefits of cost savings and satisfied consumers.