Domestic and international shipments: guide for companies

It can represent a business card to strengthen the reputation of your brand. However, if not managed correctly, it can negatively affect the activity of your e-commerce. This is why operations must be planned through a targeted strategy: offering a precise and punctual service that will enable you to acquire and retain customers, as long as you take care of every aspect of the process. Here are the rules to follow in order to act efficiently in the world of shipping.

Pack and Ship for e-commerce: 3 steps to follow

1. Packing. Let us start with the ABC: how is the package prepared? The image of the product is important to get good reviews from customers, as well as the sending of free gadgets inside the package or discount coupons, a solution that will increase your approval and help you to build customer loyalty. We come to the most important part of the package, its presentation: the way you present your goods is closely linked to the opportunity to personalize it, using packaging with a strong visual impact, whilst respecting the environment. 
   Today, the trend of sustainable packaging greatly influences the shopping experience, so it is essential to take this into account to improve the buying experience and increase customer satisfaction. You will be able to differentiate your services and stand out from the competition.
2. Packing materials. Effective packing guarantees the transport of goods in total safety. There are many options to protect your items, one of the most common being boxes or envelopes, padded or not. In some cases, it will be necessary to comply with standard measures and prepare the package with different protective materials, especially in the case of particularly fragile products. Choosing the right solution will mean that you do not damage the contents of the package: to do this, you can opt for inside packaging made with specialized techniques and materials that will allow you to better cushion the impact inside the box that contains your products. As regards the outer packaging, it is advisable to opt for a corrugated cardboard package, the size of which will be directly proportional to its content. Then you should seal your package with adhesive tape.
3. Checking the address. The package is ready; you just have to check the address of the recipient: to avoid a mix up in the packages or that the goods are not delivered, always check that the order is correct. Also check the information in your possession on the street and your customer's house number, then download the waybill.
4. Labeling. Once the product has been packaged, all you have to do is choose how to label your packages: you could write the recipient's details by hand, but if you have to manage a significant volume of orders, this is certainly not the most effective procedure. 
   The most effective solution might be the use of adhesive labels to be printed independently, filled in and applied to packages. Depending on the platform you use for your e-commerce, you could also take advantage of a label generator to print the destination addresses directly from the order section, so all you have to do is glue them to your packages.
5. Warehouse Management. Having a logistics center and a warehouse for the storage of goods undoubtedly allows you to optimize the time available and save money. MBE Centers can manage the storage of your products by offering quantitative and qualitative incoming checks and inventory monitoring. The inventory of materials in stock and any returns and update reports allow you to keep everything under control without having to dedicate your own time, space and resources.

Does it seem too be too complicated to manage all of this? Choose a reliable partner like MBE who will take care of the whole process: we offer you the best professional packaging and shipping services, we take care of the storage of your e-commerce products and orders and we will export your packages quickly and safely from Italy.

Shipping options to consider for your e-commerce 

To be successful with your e-commerce, a step that you cannot overlook is the choice of the type of shipment to offer to your customers: the ideal solution must not only be satisfactory for the recipient but also profitable for your business.

In this regard, it may be useful to create a precise spending strategy by creating a table to identify all the outgoings strictly linked to the various stages of delivery of the goods.

The types you can choose from are three:

1. Free. Free delivery is certainly an incentive to buy for the customer. To make it convenient for your business you will have to increase the cost of the product or divide it between you and the customer with a partial increase in the price of the goods, which will mean you are not selling at a loss.
2. With rates applied by couriers. Each courier has its own strengths and may have restrictions for some destinations: it is important to make the best choice for your shipments to deliver your e-commerce products everywhere
3. At a flat rate. Establishing a flat rate for shipping the goods of your e-commerce represents a good compromise between customer satisfaction and the possibility of containing the expenses of your business: you can adopt this strategy for products that are very similar to each other, both in size and in weight, and establish a fixed rate, which is neither too low nor too high.

Each courier has restrictions for some destinations; our experts know how to get your products almost anywhere.

International delivery: our advice

As for international shipments, there are still 4 things you need to know to optimize your goods delivery processes. Here are some tips to put into practice immediately for an effective strategy:

1. Localise your e-commerce. To help your international customers streamline their purchasing processes, localising your website is essential. Make the prices of your products clearly visible in the currency of your customers by integrating payment methods in correspondence with the countries they come from.
2. Which country to choose. If you are in doubt as to how to choose the countries to sell to, start with those that show significant traffic to your e-commerce or target the areas where your products are most in demand and then extend to other destinations.
3. Pay attention to legislation. Remember to evaluate the regulatory aspect carefully: depending on the destination, the procedures and practices to be carried out change, as well as the accompanying documentation of the goods. Do not risk incurring penalties: MBE takes care of customs procedures and all the documents required for the transport of your products, so as to deliver your goods abroad in a way that is both practical and safe.
4. Be transparent. The lack of transparency in the information provided to the customer on shipping costs may be a cause for renunciation of purchase. To prevent the buyer from abandoning the cart, remember to accurately indicate the return rules and specify the additional costs that will affect the final price of the item.

Therefore, to be efficient in shipping your goods, it is essential to identify all the variables involved and develop a flexible strategy, which must be updated over time to offer the most satisfactory service for the customer and which enables your business.

MBE Centers offer turnkey packages: we study the best solutions for delivery and packaging with collection at your office, packaging with professional materials, selection of the most suitable courier, coverage of the real value of the goods, logistics and warehouse management.

Contact us to find the best strategies for your business.