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Ecommerce shipping is one of the backbones of an effective and successful online business. With more and more people leaning towards this method of shopping, brands—big and small—are also expected to provide the dynamic demands of the market when it comes to receiving their goods. Your shipping company, policies, and processes play a big role in customer satisfaction and loyalty so it is incredibly important that you find the right partner that can help you with your operations. In this article, we discuss all the factors that you need to consider when choosing a local or international shipping provider.

1. Pricing

Pricing is obviously a primary factor when choosing a logistics provider for your business. When it comes to selecting a shipping company to partner with though, an expensive rate doesn’t necessarily equate to good service. If you’re a small business with a working budget, it’s important that you find a courier who hits the middle ground between competitive rates and reliability. Also, take a look if the company you’re eyeing has any hidden fees to make sure that the quote you are getting is really what it is. For this, it is better to scout for a shipping merchant that has a rate calculator that can clearly tell you the price you will be paying upfront.

2. Capacity

Not all shipping companies operate equally. Some have restrictions when it comes to the products that they can move, so make sure to check this first before anything else. Some questions you have to answer is whether your product will require any special handling or packaging from your merchant. Sometimes, logistics and shipping companies can accommodate goods that require more care, but that usually comes with a ton of extra costs. If you’re selling lab materials, for example, it might save you more money if you look for a courier that specializes in moving them rather than going for a regular shipping company.

3. Benefits

What support will you be getting with the e-commerce shipping provider of your choice? Different companies offer various service packs like customer support, parcel tracking, home pick-ups, and even parcel insurance. Depending on your business and your demands as an entrepreneur, it’s best that you choose which company can offer the best mix that you need for your operations.

4. Ease of use

Convenience is another thing you should look at when choosing the best shipping merchant to partner with. Being a business owner is already tough enough in itself so the best thing you can do is to look for a provider that can make your job easier for you. Something as simple as a home pick-up service can do you a lot of good, for example, because it frees up a lot of your time. Of course, everything should also be easy for you to set up. Consider how effortless it is to make a booking, for example, or check if the company you are eyeing offers a system that can help you easily track your international shipping. The simpler and more straightforward the service is, the better for you.

5. Speed and Quality of Handling

Here’s the thing about running an e-commerce business. Whether you keep a customer or not is highly dependent on how fast and how well you bring your products to their door. You might ace your marketing tactics or even your customer service, but if it takes forever for the goods to reach your market, then it’s pretty much a gone deal. International shipping is riskier in this area since it is more complicated to move goods across borders so it is very important that you choose a shipping company that can promise speed and top-notch handling of your products. Research about delivery time frames and don’t forget to ask your merchant about the average turnover it takes for your parcel to reach a location.

In terms of handling, you can rarely be sure of this until your customer finally gets their order, but the least you can do is to go for a shipping merchant that offers insurance for your goods so that you are covered in case you need to make a claim.

6. Tracking Options

A good shipping partner should be equipped with transparent tracking options that you and your customer can both use. Never settle for any merchant that doesn’t provide real-time or dynamic tracking. If the company can provide more detailed information about the movement status of your goods, the better for you.

7. Customer Support

There is always a risk factor involved whenever you’re dealing with local or international shipping. And while there are limited ways you can do to ensure that everything goes well, you can at least look for a shipping company that you can easily turn to in case you encounter any problems. Check the type of customer support provided by your shipping partner and ask questions like ‘How quick and thorough are they with their responses?’ ‘What are the ways that you can reach them?’ This way, you’ll feel confident that your concerns will be taken care of in case you find yourself in a tight spot with your delivery.

Looking for a good e-commerce shipping partner to pair with? We provide all the mentioned factors above here at MyKartero. We are a business that specializes in helping e-commerce brands bring their products to their market through our affordable rates, convenient pick-up options, easy booking, and optimal transport time. Our goal is to make your job easier by taking care of everything about your shipping so you can focus on growing your business.