E-commerce merchants can absorb short-term fluctuations in a currency, or inform customers that prices shown are subject to change due to currency movements. Without doubt international shipments are decidedly more complex than national ones. However, investing in higher-level logistics services is small compared to potential profits from increased cross-border sales. Follow the basic guidelines just illustrated to make shipping options more attractive to international customers thanks to Warehouse Management System.
If you intend to do so, make sure that the customer has enough confidence in the local postal system. Enter the shipping data in a logical way with integrated controls. If you try to enter a 3-digit ZIP code for an Italian address, it is likely that the system will show a message error, but a control of this type may not be expected for an international address.
This could increase the error rate related to the acquisition of international addresses. Given the much higher cost of international shipments, data entry errors will have a high price for the customer or merchant e-commerce. Use an e-commerce platform that can validate international addresses to ensure order validity and prevent costly mistakes. Use packaging that can withstand long journeys and inspections.
The need to use robust packaging is clear to all. However, when goods cross national borders, often undergo inspections and those who carry out checks certainly do not waste time resealing parcels. On the contrary, it is probable that when the parcel inspected reaches its destination, the customer is faced with a pile of packaging tape. For greater peace of mind for you and your customers, use easily resealable packaging as part of the Warehouse Management System.
Consider local holidays and other factors. Holidays vary by geographical area. On holiday days, in many countries offices are closed and goods can not be delivered. . When providing customers with an indicative delivery date, consider these local holidays. Instead of providing a specific date, you could provide an estimate of the delivery in working days.
Offer as far as possible the tracking of shipments also for international customers In the period between sending the order online and receiving the goods, the customer could have no information on the status of the shipment. To reduce this sense of uncertainty, some logistics service providers in developed markets offer detailed tracking of shipments. In the case of international tracking, however, usually the information available is few.
As long as the logistics service providers do not find a solution to this problem, be sure to provide customers with realistic delivery dates and inform them of any delays.