The global sales opportunities on offer for businesses today are vast. Consumers want to order online from every corner of the globe, and if you can effectively meet those sales demands, you can grow your business exponentially.
When you decide to do business outside of your own country, there are various challenges to overcome, including language barriers and cultural differences that can impact marketing. International shipping can also be challenging. However, your operation can run smoothly, especially if you implement the following tips for effectively managing international shipments:
-
Utilize Specialist Companies
International shipping is a challenging area of business that can be difficult to get right. This is why you will find companies all over the world that specialize in taking on all the complexities, so you don’t have to deal with them.
If you’re planning on selling in the Asia-Pacific region, Australia is the ideal place to set up your distribution hub. All you need to do is type “fulfillment center Australia” into your preferred search engine to find the best local companies. Mexico is an excellent base of operations for both North and South America, while Germany is a strong contender for the European market.
-
Get a Standard Weight List for Leading Products
You can make the international shipping process much quicker by identifying your most popular products and getting an accurate weight and dimensions for each product and the associated packaging. This makes it much speedier to plan and organize international shipments.
-
Invest in Protection
Around 11% of unit loads that arrive at a distribution center are damaged to some degree. Returns and refunds are extra problematic when shipping internationally, not to mention the potential for reputational damage. So, it’s important to add robust protection to your packages.
The two forms of protection you need are strong packaging and comprehensive insurance. Packaging should be designed to suit the item inside and the mode of transport it will take to reach its destination. Insurance should be the same, giving you enough protection to cover the cost of damage, refunds, and replacements.
-
Invest in Tracking
More than one in ten packages disappear without any explanation in large US cities. These figures are true all over the world, and this issue creates major headaches for businesses.
The insurance we mentioned above is a great help, but there is some degree of control when it comes to preventing package loss. If you invest in the best possible tracking, you’ll be able to follow where the package is with a view to either retrieving it or understanding precisely what went awry in the shipping process.
Tracking also helps the consumer feel more informed and in control of the purchase process and is a major plus in terms of overall customer experience.
-
Identify Every Opportunity for Streamlining
Multiple aspects of the international shipping process can create delays that impact your customer. If there are huge mismatches between your estimated shipping time and the actual shipping time, you can expect some damage to your brand’s reputation. Even if your estimates are accurate, it’s important to note that consumers expect rapid deliveries in the modern world, even with international purchases.
Your best bet is to ensure every aspect of the shipping process is controlled and streamlined. This includes inventory management, cycle times, differences between air and sea freight, supply chain disruptions, customs, country-specific item restrictions, and more. It’s a big ask, but this tip will help you deliver international orders quickly and reliably.
Put these tips into action, and you can create an effective, streamlined, brand-boosting international shipping system that helps your business become a global success.
