Posts written by

Pavel D’silva

Pavel is a content marketing analyst at WareIQ. He has more than 3 years of content marketing experience. His key responsibilities include writing SEO-based blogs, guides, guest posts, and other types of content on a plethora of topics related to eCommerce fulfillment, operations, supply chain, warehousing, shipping etc.

Top 10 ShipDelight Alternatives for eCommerce Retailers Looking for Fulfillment & Shipping Solutions in 2024

Top 10 ShipDelight Alternatives for eCommerce Retailers Looking for Fulfillment & Shipping Solutions in 2024

The current state of the eCommerce industry yields many advantages to new and existing eCommerce sellers due to the refinement of various supply chain processes, including order fulfillment. As facilities such as same-day delivery, free shipping, and branded order tracking become mainstream, eCommerce retailers are expected to adapt and offer the latest features to their customers. If not, they will hold a significant disadvantage in relation to their competitors. However, it is not often easy for small and medium-sized businesses to adopt the technology and resources that make these services possible on their own since they operate on tight financial budgets. This is where partnering with a 3PL fulfillment company like ShipDelight comes in. However, due to the sheer scale of eCommerce in India, the fulfillment industry has also grown at a similar rate. If you are an existing or aspiring eCommerce seller, there are many ShipDelight alternatives to choose from, which we will go over in detail in this blog. Additionally, we will also cover the services that you should look for in your alternatives to ShipDelight and how WareIQ can be of service. About ShipDelight  ShipDelight was initially founded in Mumbai, Maharashtra in 2015 by a group of individuals with a combined 55 years worth of experience in the distribution and eCommerce shipping sectors. Therefore, there are few unforeseen circumstances that can phase such seasoned campaigners. The company services more than 26,000 pin codes in India and offers advanced services such as shipping automation, order fulfillment, branded tracking, same-day and next-day delivery, and much more. Additionally, one of the claims to fame that has made ShipDelight so successful is that it charges some of the lowest shipping rates in the eCommerce industry at just ₹25 for every 0.5 kilos of inventory. This has made fast and quality shipping easily accessible to a much wider variety of eCommerce sellers due to the cost-effective nature of ShipDelight’s primary offerings. [contactus_uth] 5 Services to Look for While Choosing Alternatives to ShipDelight Choice of Shipping Aggregators One of ShipDelight’s core offerings is its automated shipping service through multiple delivery partners. The company also imposes the cheapest rates in the industry, where for every 0.5 kgs of inventory, you need to pay just ₹25. However, some ShipDelight competitors offer additional perks, such as not having any minimum order requirements, so you can only opt for and pay for the amount of space you need.  Returns Management The procedure of examining, collecting, and storing an order after a consumer returns it is known as returns management. For eCommerce businesses, returns are an unavoidable reality, so it is preferable to be ready and safeguard your company from any harm they may do. Many ShipDelight competitors provide returns management services, and some go above and beyond by including insurance for each product to add an extra level of security. Package Tracking Services Ecommerce order tracking is crucial because it enables your clients to be informed whenever their orders progress to a new step in the delivery process and allows you to let them know at any moment what the status of their orders is. While ShipDelight does provide branded tracking facilities, several of its rivals also offer it as a service. Branded tracking pages are a useful value-added feature that can be tailored to promote complementary products, and provide clients with more details about your company and any other information that you would want them to have access to. WMS Software Solutions Once again, ShipDelight provides a combined WMS and OMS configuration, although there are several ShipDelight alternatives that feature easier user interfaces and a more thorough design. WMS software is essential for maintaining efficient warehousing and logistics eCommerce operations and for organising SKUs in accordance with different criteria and is also responsible for being able to integrate with multiple online selling platforms. Nationwide Fulfillment Center Network Although ShipDelight has a network of fulfillment centers spread across most of the country's major regions, there are ShipDelight competitors with more dispersed fulfillment center locations that also offer technology like intelligent automated selecting and packaging, inventory placement, and many other features. Find out where the majority of your demand often comes from and choose a fulfillment partner with a strong infrastructure there who can handle your company's growth without becoming overburdened. 10 Best ShipDelight Alternatives & Competitors Offering eCommerce Fulfillment in 2024 WareIQ Source WareIQ has emerged as one of India’s leading eCommerce companies. Initially founded in 2019 and currently headquartered in Bangalore, the company offers a comprehensive list of eCommerce fulfillment solutions, ranging from order fulfillment to last-mile delivery and everything in between. WareIQ prides itself on its easy-to-use technology platform, which includes a WMS, OMS, app store, last-mile delivery software , and much more. This enables users to get access to the latest features in relation to inventory storage, supply chain management, and distribution. A few note-worthy facilities that make WareIQ one of the best alternatives to ShipDelight include: It provides an inventory planner for strategic inventory allocation to prevent stockouts and reduce overstockingIt enables users to choose the most cost-effective last-mile delivery partner via a shipping recommendation engineIt provides extremely customisable packaging facilitiesIt provides branded tracking services that can be customised to meet the needs of every sellerIt offers market-leading price plans [signup] You May Like: Quickshift Alternatives for eCommerce Retailers ShipKaro For eCommerce companies that require effective order administration, Shipkaro has offered shipping aggregation services since its founding in 2017. The Gurgaon-based company also gives organisations the ability to automate and customise shipping procedures in accordance with their intended results. Additionally, it offers services like bulk order uploading, label printing, individualised delivery schedules, and much more. A few note-worthy facilities that make ShipKaro one of the best alternatives to ShipDelight include: It has affiliations with over 14 domestic and international shipping providersIt integrates with a variety of eCommerce selling sites, including Flipkart and eBayIt enables customers to take advantage of shipping discounts and offers a tool for contrasting those prices with those of competing businessesIt syncs order data from various order management programs for seamless order processingIt offers precise order tracking Deliverr Source Deliverr, a 2017 startup based in San Francisco, provides small eCommerce businesses with superior fulfillment solutions, including a 2-day delivery option. Badges that resemble Amazon Prime, transparent pricing and providing a hassle-free experience are the core components of Deliverr's offerings. eCommerce companies can use Deliverr's live data tracking features to anticipate their fulfillment performance going forward and even provide D2C clients with next-day delivery. A few note-worthy facilities that make Deliverr one of the best alternatives to ShipDelight include: It provides online customer serviceIt offers straightforward integrations with multiple selling platformsIts pricing is clear and straightforwardIt offers a live performance trackerIt has a customary 2-day delivery schedule ShipBob Source ShipBob is a 2014 Chicago-based startup that offers global logistics, technology and eCommerce fulfillment services, and provides next-day delivery for orders filled by direct-to-consumer (D2C) firms. Over 7000 clients worldwide are served by ShipBob, which boasts a 99.95% accuracy rate. It provides a complete range of eCommerce fulfillment facilities. It offers 2-day shipping at affordable and transparent prices in addition to a solid software platform that provides access to the company's central platform through a developer-friendly API. A few note-worthy facilities that make ShipBob one of the best alternatives to ShipDelight include: It offers reasonable pricing optionsIt provides straightforward integrations with multiple online selling platformsIt has an extensive network of warehouses that is dispersed over numerous regionsIt offers a fantastic user experience that is simple to useIt provides uniform 2-day shipping Shipmonk Source The current headquarters of Shipmonk, which was established in 2014, are located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in the United States. The company provides a variety of services, including inventory and warehouse management, pick and pack options, customer service, packaging facilities and much more. With its primary goal being to make technology-based eCommerce solutions as accessible as possible, it runs more than 100 virtual stores and assigns a personal manager to each client to help with the onboarding procedure. A few note-worthy facilities that make Shipmonk one of the best alternatives to ShipDelight include: It does not require setup and inventory receiving feesIt offers consumers a digital billing interfaceIt offers multiple customization and branding optionsIt assists with inventory management automationIt charges reduced costs for large orders as well as offers additional tax benefits Red Stag Fulfillment Source Red Stag Fulfillment was founded in 2013 and is currently headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee. It is capable of processing orders for a wide range of goods, but its primary focus is on packaging and delivering bulky items. Because of their exceptional scalability, they can meet the demands of both small and large businesses. The additional services offered by the company provide a variety of tools that eCommerce business owners can employ to help them deliver goods promptly and effectively. Heavy goods and complex shipping requirements are areas where Red Stag excels. A few note-worthy facilities that make Red Stag Fulfillment one of the best alternatives to ShipDelight include: It provides video surveillance facilities in all its warehousesIt offers exceptional customer serviceIt offers a vast fulfillment center networkIt provides same-day delivery servicesIt gives its customers peace of mind with an order completion guarantee eCourierz Source eCourierz is a logistics and fulfillment company that was founded in 2015 and is currently headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It provides both international and domestic courier and shipping services. Its rates are some of the lowest in the industry and the company follows rigid safeguard measures to protect goods while they are in transit. The company currently operates in more than 220 countries. A few note-worthy facilities that make eCourierz one of the best alternatives to ShipDelight include: It provides a single dashboard to access important shipping-related informationIt provides order-tracking facilities with live email updatesIt offers partnerships with more than 18 shipping aggregatorsIt offers competitive pricing plansIt utilises white labelling for better brand projections iThink Logistics Source iThink Logistics is an Indian logistics and fulfillment company that was founded in 2017 and is based in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Its current shipping volume includes 25,000 parcels per day. It operates in more than 180 countries. Additionally, its technology platform can integrate with more than most major eCommerce marketplaces and it currently services more than 26,000 pin codes. A few note-worthy facilities that make iThink Logistics one of the best alternatives to ShipDelight include: It has an AI-powered recommendation program to suggest the best shipping companies for each orderIt offers NDR support It has partnerships with 12 shipping companiesIt provides returns management facilitiesIt offers customised solutions based on performance for specific demographics Rocketbox Rocketbox is primarily a logistics and shipping aggregation company that was founded in 2015 in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The company specialises in the bulk shipping of products and offers tremendous discounts that you can take advantage of. The company has an impressive technology platform that enables the automation of multiple shipping and distribution functions. It also offers a serviceable area of more than 28,000 pin codes in the country. A few note-worthy facilities that make Rocketbox one of the best alternatives to ShipDelight include: It offers tools to analyse the performance of each carrier and suggest the best optionIt consolidates shipping data in one dashboardIt has partnerships with reputed companies such as FedEx and DelhiveryIt offers fair pricingIt implements automation in multiple processes Rakuten Source One of the best options for eCommerce fulfillment services for businesses is Rakuten Super Logistics, which offers packaging and shipping services. They also assist eCommerce retailers with their marketing efforts. Rakuten provides customised pricing quotations and services that are tailored to the demands of the businesses it supports. However, despite being a preferred fulfillment supplier for many global brands, Rakuten lacks worldwide fulfillment centers, specialised packaging, and DHL integration. A few note-worthy facilities that make Rakuten one of the best alternatives to ShipDelight include: It offers specifically-tailored services for their partnersIt offers fully-integrated marketing services for an additional costIt offers a specialised feature for small and medium-sized businesses known as XParcelIt has facilities for specialised fulfillmentIt provides services such as kitting and subscription boxes Why WareIQ Should be Your Top Pick if You are Looking for a ShipDelight Alternative in 2024? The vast amount of fulfillment companies on offer means that you can select one that fits your requirements down to the most minute detail. ShipDelight provides many exceptional services that can help you fulfill orders. However, it does lack some value-added features that its competitors offer, which may come in useful in enhancing the experience your customers ultimately have with your business. While it is a very affordable shipping solution, there are competitors that offer perks such as no minimum order requirements, flexible pricing policies and much more. If you need an efficient ShipDelight alternative that fits the bill, look no further than WareIQ. WareIQ is one of India’s leading eCommerce retailers that provides a variety of eCommerce solutions. We offer conventional services such as: Order Fulfillment We provide ultra-fast same-day and next-day delivery through our partnership with more than 20 shipping aggregators and automatically assign the fastest and most cost-effective option for every order. Inventory Storage When you partner with us, you can store your inventory in a nationwide network of fulfillment centers that are located in every major region of the country. We also offer smart inventory placement recommendations that will help you determine the best storage location based on factors such as demand and proximity to transport facilities. Additionally, we also have a network of dark stores that aid in hyper-local delivery. Inventory Management We offer a custom WMS that can track your inventory and order data across multiple fulfillment centers and consolidate it in a single dashboard. You can also automate replenishment triggers so that you never run out of stock for any SKUs. It also helps organise your products based on factors such as demand, value, size, and much more. Integration With Multiple Selling Platforms You can integrate with more than 12 of the biggest eCommerce marketplaces, such as Amazon, Flipkart, eBay, and more, and keep track of your order data and assign specific inventory for each one. You can also access all your historical data across multiple platforms in a single location. Additionally, we also offer value-added services such as: App Store We provide an app store with multiple downloadable apps through a simple interface that is reminiscent of the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. This allows you to enhance the productivity of various business functions, such as branded tracking and customer feedback. RTO Shield Our RTO Shield is designed to protect you from the negative implications of returns. We provide insurance for every product and take care of the entire reverse logistics procedure. Branded Tracking Our branded tracking pages will allow you to convey whatever information you want to your customers. You can choose to feature additional products, give them more information about the company and much more. Customizable Packaging We provide a wide range of customizability through a choice of design, packaging material and much more. You can highlight your brand and product while offering customers a unique and unmatched unboxing experience. ShipDelight Alternatives: FAQs What is ShipDelight?ShipDelight is a shipping and fulfillment company that provides some of the cheapest shipping rates in the country at just ₹25 for every 0.5 kilos of inventory. This makes it one of the best options for sellers that want to have the highest profit margins possible. When and where was ShipDelight founded?ShipDelight was founded in 2015 by a group of individuals with a combined 55-plus years of experience in the distribution and shipping industry. It was pioneered and is currently headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra. What services does ShipDelight provide?ShipDelight offers services such as:- Automated shipping- Order fulfillment- Branded tracking- Ultra-fast delivery- Inventory storage Does ShipDelight offer customizable packaging?No, ShipDelight does not provide any packaging facilities that can be customized according to the specific requirements of retailers. Does WareIQ offer shipping services?Yes, WareIQ offers a partnership with more than 20 shipping companies and will always assign the quickest and cheapest option for each order.

October 22, 2022
Top 10 Eshopbox Alternatives and Competitors for eCommerce Retailers Looking for Fulfillment & Shipping Solutions in 2024

Top 10 Eshopbox Alternatives and Competitors for eCommerce Retailers Looking for Fulfillment & Shipping Solutions in 2024

Eshopbox is an all-encompassing eCommerce logistics company that was founded in Gurgaon in 2012 with the aim of providing quick and easily-accessible fulfillment facilities to eCommerce brands. The company was one of the first entrants into the pivotal Indian eCommerce market, even preceding Amazon’s entry into the country by a year. This has enabled Eshopbox to cement itself as a household name in the eCommerce fulfillment and eCommerce logistics space and acquired a loyal client base. The company provides all the usual set of facilities associated with 3PL fulfillment providers, such as inventory storage and management, integration with multiple eCommerce selling platforms, ultra-fast delivery, Prime-like shipping badges, and more. However, with the emergence of multiple competitors offering more up-to-date features, advanced software solutions, and even more cost-effective prices, retailers in today’s eCommerce industry are spoiled for choice and need not relegate themselves to just one fulfillment company. In this blog, we will touch on the reasons that sellers search for Eshopbox alternatives, the top 10 alternatives to Eshopbox, and make a detailed feature comparison of Eshopbox competitors in the market.  Why Do Companies Search for Eshopbox Alternatives for D2C and eCommerce Fulfillment? Need for Alternative Services Although Eshopbox is well known for its shipping services, its operations are centered around standardised packaging that is more suited towards non-perishable items such as electronic items and clothing. Thus, it is not always the best choice for transporting high-end commodities such as jewelry or other expensive items and bulky products such as furniture and large appliances. It can be beneficial to choose Eshopbox competitors that provide these services if a merchant deals in pricey or perishable goods that need special packing and cautious handling in addition to other services that may be required by specialised goods. Access to Cheaper Pricing While Eshopbox markets itself as an affordable option, there are 3PL fulfillment companies that provide their services at significantly cheaper rates, in addition to utilities such as no minimum order or service requirements, which would enable you to only opt for the facilities that you need and pay for the what you use. Many retailers seek Eshopbox alternatives so that they can find a way to save money so that they can increase their profit margins or redirect the savings back into the business. Requirement for a More Expansive Fulfillment Center Network Eshopbox has an impressive network of fulfillment centers in the grand scheme of things. However, the specific requirements of your business may entail storing products near tier-2 or 3 cities as opposed to large metropolitan areas. This is where the constraints of Eshopbox’s fulfillment network become apparent. The company has a combined 7 fulfillment centers for the entire country, which may result in increased delivery distances and timelines. The company also lacks the operation of dark stores, which are a necessity in the event of highly perishable goods such as food items. Many companies seek alternatives to Eshopbox for this reason. [contactus_uth] 10 Best Alternatives to Eshopbox for eCommerce and D2C Businesses Looking for Fulfillment Solutions in 2024 WareIQ Source WareIQ is one of the fastest-growing eCommerce fulfillment firms in India. The company leverages technology as a foundation to support a variety of eCommerce services, including order fulfillment, inventory management, ultra-rapid delivery, customer support, reverse logistics, and much more. WareIQ was established in Bangalore in 2019 with the goal of providing incredibly quick delivery to every Indian Pincode by erecting a sizable infrastructure of distribution centers and transportation hubs. The company offers a variety of distinctive features, including a custom WMS that can integrate with different eCommerce selling platforms, an app store where users can download different apps to improve their experience, an RTO shield to shelter retailers from having to pay for returns management, and much more. A few features that make WareIQ one of the best alternatives to Eshopbox are: It does not require a minimum order amountIt provides a nationwide network of dark stores and fulfillment centersIt offers upfront pricing that is affordableIt provides branded tracking services that can be customisedIt provides services for personalised packaging [signup] FedEx Source FedEx is a multinational eCommerce behemoth that provides shipping facilities, supply chain services and eCommerce fulfillment solutions to a wide range of industries, including healthcare, retail, electronics and many more. The company was established in Little Rock, Arkansas in the United States, more than 50 years ago and it now maintains its corporate headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee. The business has operations in more than 220 nations and provides eCommerce retailers with services like the ability to sync their order information and inventory lists from different selling platforms in one place. Given its extensive eCommerce fulfillment experience, the business would be able to complete any requirement with ease. A few features that make FedEx one of the best alternatives to Eshopbox are: It offers a worldwide network of servicesIt provides several integrations with various online marketplacesIt has a platform that is intuitive and simple to useIt provides a vast delivery networkIt delivers packages quickly and offers reverse logistics services ShipMonk Source The central objective of ShipMonk is to make tech-based eCommerce services easily accessible to a large number of retailers across industries. The company was founded in 2014, and since then, its activities and services have swiftly grown. The company's headquarters are in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Packing services, pick-and-pack operations, warehouse management, customer assistance and a host of other services are all provided by ShipMonk. It presently operates more than 100 digital storefronts and provides specialised account managers to each customer for help with onboarding. A few features that make ShipMonk one of the best alternatives to Eshopbox are: It provides users with a digital billing portalIt assists in the automation of fulfillment center operationsIt has several different branding and customization servicesIt provides tax advantages and lower prices for large ordersIt excludes setup and inventory receiving fees DHL Source DHL, whose expanded name is Dalsey, Hillblom and Lynn, is a dominant player in the world of eCommerce fulfillment. The organisation, which was established in 1969 in San Francisco, California and now has its corporate headquarters in Bonn, Germany, has experienced tremendous growth and offers courier and shipping services to more than 220 nations worldwide. Although the business is divided into many different industries, its distribution branch provides door-to-door delivery as well as freight transportation by air and sea. The ability of the corporation to easily clear customs and handle any other difficulties that may arise, as well as providing insurance on every parcel, is a huge benefit for shops that ship worldwide and choose DHL for their needs. A few features that make DHL one of the best alternatives to Eshopbox are: It provides inventory optimization and integrations across several eCommerce marketplacesIt offers efficient logistics managementIt offers both B2B and B2C fulfillment services in a wide range of industriesIt provides next-day delivery in more than 80 Indian cities and townsIt provides a centralised technology platform for order fulfillment, inventory management and other processes Ekart Source Ekart was first established in 2009 as a Flipkart subsidiary, but it has since changed hands and expanded its service offering to provide fulfilment to a variety of other eCommerce marketplaces, including Amazon. The company, which has its headquarters in Bangalore, Karnataka, has become well-known for both its lightning-quick delivery and comparatively affordable rates. Presently, they provide next-day delivery in 50 locations and same-day delivery in 13 cities. The business also provides a tracking API that enables updates on orders, label printing and much more. A few features that make Ekart one of the best alternatives to Eshopbox are: It provides services for reverse logisticsIt offers some of the lowest rates in the sectorIt has an API that provides real-time updates to inventory and order levelsIt accepts the majority of major payment methodsIt covers almost 4,000 pin codes ShipKaro Source For eCommerce companies that require effective order administration, ShipKaro has offered shipping aggregation services since its founding in 2017. The Gurgaon-based company also gives organisations the ability to automate and customise shipping procedures in accordance with their intended results. Additionally, it offers services like label printing, bulk uploading of order data, individualised delivery schedules and much more. A few features that make ShipKaro one of the best alternatives to Eshopbox are: It has affiliations with over 14 domestic and international shipping providersIt integrates with a variety of eCommerce marketplaces, including eBay and FlipkartIt enables customers to take advantage of shipping discounts and offers a tool for contrasting those prices with those of competing businessesIt syncs order data from various order management platforms for seamless order processingIt offers precise order tracking Shipyaari Source With its current headquarters in Mumbai, Maharashtra, Shipyaari is an Indian eCommerce logistics and shipping aggregator that was established in 2013. Its capacity to manage orders from big businesses in great volume is one of its distinctive qualities. The business offers a variety of delivery partners and eCommerce integrations in addition to offering comprehensive cash-back guarantee programmes. A few features that make Shipyaari one of the best alternatives to Eshopbox are: It provides alliances with ten courier providers that provide coverage for more than 25,000 pin codesIt offers integrations with popular eCommerce systems, including WooCommerce, Shopify, and MagentoIt provides a software solution for order fulfillment, inventory management and delivery servicesIt provides consumers with order tracking via API integrationsIt provides supplementary features, including RTO reduction, data analytics and NDR management Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) Source Amazon is a household name in eCommerce fulfilment and retail. When it debuted in 2006, its first-party fulfilment service, known as Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), was the forerunner of the order fulfillment revolution. Amazon takes advantage of its position to offer the best services possible, including running numerous fulfillment centers around the world, providing consumers with free shipping, providing picking and packaging services, managing returns and much more. Additionally, by providing free order processing, warehousing and other services, it helps retailers to control their costs. However, sellers must keep in mind that it can only be used to fill orders placed on Amazon and a few other specific eCommerce selling platforms. A few features that make Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) one of the best alternatives to Eshopbox are: It has no limits for minimum ordersIt answers all customer questions and handles returns and refundsIt can handle orders on a few different outside selling channelsIt uses inventory pooling to combine similar items from several sellersIt offers customers free shipping Read our blog on Amazon FBA alternatives if you are an Amazon seller looking for other fulfillment solutions. DTDC Source DTDC was one of the first providers of eCommerce logistics in India. The company established its headquarters in Bangalore in 1990 and remains there today. It has a customer base of more than 10,000, with 75% being online shoppers. It provides extra services, including warehousing, a tracking API that may provide order updates and issue non-delivery notifications, and services more than 17,500 pin codes in India. In addition to the standard options of same-day and next-day delivery, it also provides a range of other delivery alternatives, such as ultra-fast delivery, hyperlocal delivery, scheduled delivery and slot-based delivery. The company sets itself apart from its competitors by being able to complete requests for a wide range of commodities, such as expensive items, hazardous goods and bulky products. A few features that make DTDC one of the best alternatives to Eshopbox are: It accepts all popular forms of paymentIt offers specialised delivery for expensive, large and dangerous goodsIt provides real-time tracking capabilities through a tracking APIIt facilitates more than 17,500 pincodesIt offers express delivery Ecom Express Source Ecom Express is a logistics and courier service provider that offers eCommerce fulfillment services. It was established in 2012 and has its current headquarters in Gurugram, Haryana. Their ability to successfully deliver high-value goods like jewellery and electronics by offering extra security and safety safeguards is one of their distinctive selling factors. The business is open every day of the week, including holidays and guarantees delivery within 72 hours after the order's confirmation. They also offer a 72-hour return guarantee in a similar manner. A few features that make Ecom Express one of the best alternatives to Eshopbox are: It has improved security features for all ordersIt operates around the clock and on vacationsIt guarantees all orders will be delivered within 72 hoursIt provides services for reverse logisticsIt services more than 27,000 pin codes Feature Comparison Table of Eshopbox Competitors [Updated 2024] [table id=52 /] Suggested Article: Shiprocket Alternatives for eCommerce Business Conclusion: What Makes WareIQ One of the Best Alternatives to Eshopbox? By comparing your options and deciding which company fits your requirements the best, you can get access to the best service and the lowest prices while ensuring that your customers get the same. Eshopbox has been in the eCommerce fulfillment game for a while now but there are many additional competitors that have entered the market since then that may place more focus on the facets that are important to you. If you are looking to expand your operations or introduce new products into the market, it may serve you well to identify existing pain points that your customers may have and also areas where you can save financial resources to increase your profit margins. There are many Eshopbox alternatives that offer facilities such as RTO insurance and do not impose minimum order requirements so you only need to subscribe to what you need. While there are many options available, WareIQ offers the perfect blend of the latest features at the most affordable prices. WareIQ is one of the fastest-growing fulfillment companies in India. We differentiate ourselves from the competition by providing advanced and unique features such as a custom WMS, an app store with multiple downloadable apps, and much more. A few of our key offerings are listed below: Pan-India system of Dark Stores and Fulfillment Centers Provides a straightforward plug-and-play setup with no minimal requirementsOffers integrations with eCommerce marketplaces such as  Myntra, Flipkart Assured, Amazon Seller Flex, and many moreProvides access to local sourcing hubs to cut out on first-mile costsUses internal warehouse managementImproved network planning and inventory managementProvides industry-leading AI models for auto-replenishment thresholds and sales forecastingOffers product classification depending on SKU type (regular, non-regular, seasonal, etc.) to increase sales conversions Stack of Vertically Integrated IT Services Provides connections to more than 20 popular channels and D2C sitesEnables integrations with over 27,000 pin codes worth of regional, national, and hyperlocal courier providersOffers a single, integrated technology stack for OMS and WMS App Store with Downloadable Productivity-Boosting Apps Provides an RTO Shield, which offers 100% protection from returnsEnables branded tracking, which improves the post-purchase experience of customersNotifies customers of order statuses by email, SMS and WhatsappAids in gathering feedback from clients through our Customer Feedback app Ultra Fast Delivery With WareIQ Rush Provides same-day delivery service without requiring minimum order amounts or distance-based billingOffers up to 30% more revenue conversionEnables almost zero RTO%Provides NDR & COD verification via Whatsapp.Lowers cost per shipment (CPS) Eshopbox Alternatives: FAQs What is Eshopbox?Eshopbox is an eCommerce fulfillment and logistics company that was founded in 2012 and is currently headquartered in Gurgaon. Its primary focus is to provide easily-accessible and fast shipping facilities to eCommerce companies. Does a fulfillment company need to have a nationwide network of fulfillment centers?The importance of having a nationwide network of fulfillment centers is that it enables retailers to store their products wherever they need to, based on factors such as proximity to areas of high demand, transport facilities and manufacturing plants. What is the primary objective of 3PL fulfillment firms?In order to draw in clients, the main goal of 3PL fulfillment companies is to offer a variety of eCommerce services, such as order fulfillment, inventory management, shipping and distribution, at lower costs than their rivals. Why is ultra-fast delivery crucial?Providing customers with ultra-rapid delivery options like same-day and next-day delivery enables businesses to differentiate themselves from the competition. Ultra-fast delivery is now expected by customers, and businesses that don't provide it risk losing business to rivals. What makes WareIQ one of the best eCommerce fulfillment providers in 2024?Utilizing cutting-edge technology, WareIQ offers customers the best, quickest and most affordable eCommerce fulfillment services, including order fulfillment, inventory management, reverse logistics and much more. Additionally, we provide distinctive features such as storage spread across a national network of fulfillment centers, a sophisticated WMS that helps automate numerous operations and an app store where users can download apps to boost the productivity of various services.

October 17, 2022
Top 20 Instagram Business Ideas in 2024 for Aspiring eCommerce Sellers

Top 20 Instagram Business Ideas in 2024 for Aspiring eCommerce Sellers

We live in an age where social media has taken precedence over real-world interactions for people of all ages but especially Millennials and Gen-X. Looking at the impact that it has had on the younger generation, older audiences as well want to be a part of the hype. Social media embodies all the conveniences of the modern internet. You can check up on what your friends and colleagues are up to in their daily lives. You can watch and share pictures, videos, TV shows, and movies with the click of a button. And most importantly, you can see something you like online and instantly get a link to purchase it from multiple different sources and choose the best option with the lowest price. Apps like Instagram have made this possible through their various business integrations that allow eCommerce to take place, without ever needing to leave the app. It has features such as an in-built web browser that can load fully-fledged web pages right from the post or ad that you clicked on, links to various online payment options, and access to customer tracking pages. It also enables sellers to boost their product’s visibility through paid ad campaigns that show up directly in users' feeds. This adds a whole new dimension of convenience to eCommerce, which had already revolutionized the world of shopping. In this blog, we will take a look at 20 Instagram business ideas you can use to get your eCommerce business up and running. Introduction to the Use of Instagram for Business When it first launched in 2010, Instagram was a social media site that used the relatively new idea of photo sharing as its main form of communication rather than text. With over 2 billion members, Instagram has grown into one of the most well-liked social media platforms in the world thanks to the enormous increase in smartphone sales over the coming decade and their improved capabilities. It has also played a significant role in the emergence of "social media influencers," a phenomenon where marketers pay people with large followings a particular sum of money to promote their goods on their feeds or take part in digital marketing campaigns. Instagram has been able to actively expand its business focus since being acquired by Facebook (now Meta) in 2012 and many users now utilise the network to sell on Instagram and earn a living. Many customers also use Instagram to offer eCommerce customer feedback about their experiences with a brand. [contactus_lilgoodness] 5 Methods to Make Your Instagram Business Ideas a Success Increase Your Account's Follower Number The number of sales and conversions your Instagram business ideas will make may not be directly correlated with the number of followers an account has. However, establishing your business as a respectable household name could raise consumer confidence in it. There are numerous ways to boost the number of followers on your page. You will need to publish frequently and make sure you stay on top of specific trends if you want to accomplish them naturally. Though Instagram can fine you if it catches you in the act, there are companies that sell followers and likes for a predetermined price. Modify Your Posts to Reflect Your Brand We advise you to maintain a consistent brand image throughout all of your posts, which may involve employing the same filters or editing programs. Although Instagram includes some decent editing tools, it would be wise to use services like Canva or Snapseed to give your posts, reels, and stories a little extra zest so that they will resonate with your more deeply with your followers. This will give your business ideas for Instagram more chances of being successful. Use Imaginative Hashtags and Captions Since Instagram is an image-focused app, captions might not seem like a crucial component, but they do matter, especially among those who actually choose to read them. They can often mean the difference between people viewing your brand as just another company versus them being inspired to purchase the products you are selling. The fun prospect of captions on Instagram is that they don't have to be as serious and direct as they are on platforms for online shopping. They can evoke humour, wit, or any other feeling you choose. Additionally, using hashtags is important if you want the relevant audience to see your content. Examine the Newest Instagram Features Instagram frequently introduces new features and emphasises the formats that generate the most engagement. It used to be stories but now the focus is on reels, which are brief videos that are usually under two minutes long. You must modify your posting approach in accordance with the most recent trends in order to profit from the buzz and ensure that as much attention as possible is automatically given to your content. This will help your Instagram business ideas stay on top of the latest trends. Utilize All Postable Formats Stories, posts, videos, and reels are the four main forms available on Instagram, and each one has a specific function in the overall appeal and aesthetic of your account. Stories may be used to highlight events; posts can be informative about your business and its products; reels can be used to boost publicity and videos can be targeted as how-to guides for using certain products, among other things. Utilizing all of these formats regularly will guarantee that your account is active at all times and that your followers have new content to interact with, in addition to generating more visibility about Instagram business ideas. 20 Best Business Ideas for Instagram to Generate Sales and Boost Profit in 2024 Photographer The core functionality of Instagram is still centered around pictures and videos so a good way to monetize yourself is to provide this service to other people. There are plenty of aspiring influencers and regular people that want to have nice photos and videos of themselves or their surroundings on their feeds but don’t have the means, confidence, or technical know-how to pull it off. Many people will pay a premium for well-taken and edited photos so it could be the first step to making your business ideas for Instagram a reality. Source Digital Artist Artists have always been an important element of society by providing refuge to people through their beautiful creations. Digital artists offer the same relief but in a modern sense. Instead of a physical canvas, they employ tools such as iPads, laptops, and even their phones. There are plenty of tools out there to help you create various forms of digital art. Given that there are plenty of people that would pay for well-made digital art and some who require it for their own brand, this could one of the most profitable Instagram business ideas out there. Source Makeup Artist Makeup is one of the most profitable industries in the world and due to Instagram being a very visual-oriented space where people want to look their best, there is definitely a market and an audience for people to provide makeup tutorials, suggestions, and tips. Just like most other business ideas for Instagram, this can be done from the comfort of your own home while reaching a potentially unlimited number of people. Source Web Developer In order to build up their own websites or improve the operation and performance of their current websites, more and more eCommerce retailers will eventually be obliged to resort to specialised businesses or independent web developers. When you start providing website development services, a huge number of potential clients will be made available, given the rapid growth of the eCommerce industry. Source Marketing Professional Internet traffic is the main source of visibility and sales in eCommerce. Since there is fierce rivalry in practically every business, brands can stand out from the crowd by implementing distinctive and interesting marketing techniques. Numerous organisations are continually searching for marketing firms that can increase their reach and raise sales, which can be accomplished through traditional marketing, social media marketing, or a combination of the two. Instagram can provide the link you need to these prospective clients, which is why it is one of the best Instagram business ideas to make a quick profit. Source On-Demand Printing Services Printing services are necessary for eCommerce businesses in the fashion and textile sectors to produce items like t-shirts, backpacks, hoodies, coats and much more, which is what makes this one of the best business ideas for Instagram. You can instantly reach the enormous number of eCommerce apparel manufacturers that are still figuring out their manufacturing and operations and don't yet have an on-demand printing partner by offering on-demand printing services on Instagram. Source Tattoo Artist Tattoos have been considered taboo in the past but more and more people are opening up to the idea of getting something meaningful inked onto their bodies. While there are plenty of tattoo artists around, there aren’t many that have a profound following on Instagram, so it could be good means of getting into an untapped segment.  Source Graphic Designer Many people and companies require good graphic designers, either to post cool stuff on their feeds or to showcase their business in a professional and unique light. Being a graphic designer is one the business ideas for Instagram that requires a special skill that isn’t possessed by most people, so it is easy to post your designs and get inquiries from people that like them. Source Interior Designer Many people are getting accustomed to the minimal interior designs they see on Instagram reels and Youtube videos but not many of them are aware of how to spruce up their homes to get the same effect. This is one of the easiest Instagram business ideas to accelerate because you can simply post images of your projects and instantly get people interested because they want something similar. Source Event Planner While you are trying to search for Instagram business ideas, there are many others that are trying to do the same and need help planning and organizing events that will get them on the map. Being an event planner is a highly demanded position because the number of people starting their own companies or ventures is at an all-time high. Source Event Promoter In a similar vein to being a marketing professional, being an event promoter is one of the best Instagram business ideas because not only do people need help in organising events but the planners themselves need help with promoting it. Getting something to go viral is pretty simple nowadays with the right message, caption and hashtags. Source Personal Trainer Gone are the days when you needed a gym and a person to be physically present with you to ensure that you meet your targets. Becoming a personal trainer is one of the quickest Instagram business ideas to implement because there is a strong desire for people to improve their lives and become healthier without breaking the bank. You can simply post videos and tips about how to get fit and people will instantly want to learn more and sign up permanently. Source Personal Dietician Just like being a personal trainer, being a personal dietician is one of the best Instagram business ideas if you want to tap into a highly demanded market. There are many people that don’t have time to work out and are just looking for simple ways they can lose weight, which can easily be done through a healthy diet. By posting the right content, you can attract this audience and get them to subscribe to a monthly plan where you can curate their diets daily, weekly or monthly. Source Baker Instagram is constantly flooded with posts and reels about cute and well-made baked goods that make all of our mouths water, which makes this one of the best business ideas for Instagram. By posting the right content to the right audience, you can instantly have people inquiring about where they can get these products in their city, to which you can be the solution. Source Influencer If there was ever such a thing as an Instgrammable profession, this it is. Being an influencer involves posting nice pictures of yourself in exciting settings and making people want to do the things that you do. Hence the name influencer. You do need to come up with a dedicated strategy because it seems like just about everyone is giving this a go, but the benefits in the form of paid promotions, sponsored meals and travels to up-and-coming restaurants and resorts and much more, seem worth the effort, which makes this one of the best business ideas for Instagram. Source Brand Ambassador Brand ambassadors are like influencers but committed to only a select few brands. If you have a big enough following and reputation, certain brands will want to adopt you full-time to promote their offerings and will offer you all the perks that influencers get, in addition to a predetermined amount of money per post or per month. Source Food Influencer This is one of the nicest Instagram business ideas if you like food and want to capitalize on it. By simply visiting a few of the hippest spots in town, taking mouth-watering images of good food and highlighting the ambience, you can generate a large enough following that will have new and existing restaurants pining for your publicity. Source Dancer Tik-Tok style videos have been doing the rounds on Instagram and other social media platforms for a while now so finding a way to monetise it would be one of the best Instagram business ideas. You simply need to hop on the latest trends and find ways to have unique moves so that you can get some of your own videos trending and copied by other people. Source Repair Services There are many people that require many different items repaired, such as smartphones or televisions, and do not want to pay the premium that the official manufacturers charge. By posting videos and tutorials of simple fixes to common problems, you can amass a loyal following that will come to you whenever they need anything repaired. Source Product Reviewer Given the access that most people have to the latest goods and services, they often need a helping hand to determine which option is worth their money. This is can be one of the most successful Instagram business ideas because if you get a big enough following, you will have companies sending you sponsored items for free so you can review them.  Source Conclusion: Choosing a Fulfillment Partner to Bolster Your Instagram Business Ideas Making use of Instagram as an opportunity to turn your business conceptions into a reality is a very intelligent and relatively risk-free choice, especially due to the current popularity of social media in general. You have complete flexibility over what products you want to sell, what audience you want to target and how you want to market your brand to them. You also do not need to pay Instagram a cut in relation to any of your sales so what you make is all profit. However, because Instagram does not provide any first-party fulfillment options as it is not marketed directly as an eCommerce marketplace, you will need to either fulfill orders on your own or partner with a 3PL fulfillment company. We recommend choosing the latter as you will gain access to a wide range of facilities, especially with a company like WareIQ. WareIQ is an eCommerce fulfillment company that is based in India. Being one of the fastest-growing providers in the country, WareIQ offers a vast suite of services and technology that can enhance the experience that customers have with your business. Some of the solutions we offer are listed below: Network of Fulfillment Centers and Dark Stores Across India Every one of our fulfillment centers, which are dispersed throughout the country, is furnished with specialised SKU-specific amenities, including cold storage, temperature-controlled warehouses, specialist storage materials for fragile goods and more. We also offer hyper-local fulfillment through dark stores, which allow inventory that needs to be fulfilled right away to be stored and delivered to surrounding areas. Personalized Packaging Services We offer specialised packaging services based on your company's needs. You can highlight your brand with your logo and the colours of your choosing. You can also choose materials that will protect your products, especially those that are delicate, such as jewellery or electronic items. Super-Fast Same-Day and Next-Day Delivery To make sure that your products are always delivered on time, we have worked with more than 20 of the major shipping aggregators in the nation. Additionally, we automatically select the fastest and most economical option for each order. Personalized WMS with Several Integrations In order to track, store and update your inventory and in real-time, our bespoke WMS can interact with a variety of eCommerce selling platforms, including Amazon, Flipkart, eBay and more. You can access all of your significant data through a single dashboard. No Minimum Order Quantity No minimum order requirements apply to our services. You can only choose what you need because you only pay for the facilities and services that you utilise. Instagram Business Ideas: FAQs Does Instagram charge a commission for selling on its platform?No, Instagram does not describe itself officially as an online marketplace and since it does not provide any assistance to its sellers in terms of payments, orders and fulfillment, it does not charge any fees. Where does Instagram rank in popularity among other social media apps?Instagram is ranked as the 4th most popular social media app by user base, after Facebook, Youtube and Whatsapp. However, it is ranked as the top photo-sharing service in the world, as the other apps on this list have their own core offerings. Why do you need a fulfillment partner to sell on Instagram?Since Instagram does not provide any official fulfillment assistance, it is up to retailers to do this task on their own, which can get daunting. Partnering with a fulfillmnent service such as WareIQ, can provide you with all the tools and technology you need to successfully fulfill orders, not just on Instagram but on other selling platforms as well. What is the top user demographic on Instagram?The top user demographic on Instagram is people between the ages of 18 to 34, which make up an overwhelming majority of users at 60%. If you sell products that are targeted at this age group, Instagram could be the perfect option for you. Can WareIQ integrate with other selling platforms?Yes, WareIQ has a WMS that can integrate with multiple online marketplaces, including Amazon, Flipkart, eBay, Meesho and much more. [signup]

October 15, 2022
Can You Lower Shipping Costs by Reducing Package Sizes? A Comprehensive Guide on Ways to Reduce Sizes of Package For eCommerce Shipping [2024]

Can You Lower Shipping Costs by Reducing Package Sizes? A Comprehensive Guide on Ways to Reduce Sizes of Package For eCommerce Shipping [2024]

Shipping costs form a significant part of the overall expenditures that eCommerce businesses need to incur to successfully fulfill orders. While it is a necessary and unavoidable cost, practising a few sensible strategies can enable sellers to save a large amount of money, which is especially crucial for small and medium-sized businesses that are already operating on thin profit margins. We can reduce shipping costs in a variety of ways, but one of the most attainable ones is by reducing package sizes for every shipment. It may not seem like an obvious solution but if every package comprises a reduced footprint on the delivery vehicle, more parcels can be added and delivered in the same shipment, rather than needing multiple attempts. A large portion of shipping costs is calculated depending on the size and weight of the shipment. By having small package sizes, retailers can offset additional costs by either having smaller package sizes or using the extra space to ship more orders. In this blog, we will take a more detailed look at the importance of reducing package sizes, how it can help lower shipping costs and 5 ways to enable small package sizes. Importance of Reducing Package Sizes in eCommerce Lowers Shipping Costs The primary reason for reducing package sizes is to lower shipping costs. Since shipping costs are largely determined by the size and scale of the shipment, having small package sizes can be beneficial to retailers by saving them a significant amount of money that they can then reinvest in other aspects of the business, such as product development and marketing. For eCommerce sellers that are in the process of expanding their services to other regions, having lower shipping costs due to reduced package sizes will enable them to offer lower prices to their customers, ship more orders in bulk and attain positive customer feedback as a result. Reduces the Amount of Packaging Material Needed By optimizing all the processes involved in packaging, retailers can reduce the amount of material they need for each delivery. eCommerce packaging generally requires many layers to keep the product safe and intact in transit, such as the product box, bubble wrap, plastic covers and the outer box. If the entire package is stripped of any unnecessary materials and is only delivered with the components that are needed, it will not only reduce shipping costs by creating smaller, less weighty shipments but will also reduce the amount of wastage that customers need to get rid off when they unpackage their order.  Related Article: Eco-Friendly Shipping for eCommerce Companies in 2024 to Go Green & Be Sustainable Takes up Less Space in Storage and Transit We have already established that reducing package sizes enables lower shipping costs but the central way that this is achieved is through the use of lighter and smaller packaging. For instance, 1 large television will cost more to ship than 2 smartphones, even though the value of the smartphones may be higher. This is due to the fact that the television will take up more space in transit, thereby reducing the storage capacity of the eCommerce shipping company. Additionally, heavy items are more challenging to load and unload which increases labour costs. Therefore, it is important to try and store as many items as you can while shipping out orders. [contactus_uth] 3 Areas Where Reducing Package Sizes Can Lower Shipping Costs Weight  One of the biggest trends in eCommerce shipping is the effort companies are making to reduce the weight of their packages, which can be done by removing certain elements such as bubble wrap or plastic. The heavier the package, the more costs they inspire due to the difficulties associated with loading and unloading them, shifting their position, and additional strain they put on the delivery vehicle, causing higher wear and tear, and lower fuel efficiency, not to mention the increased risks of them damaging other, more petite products. Dimensions When it comes to eCommerce, bigger does not always mean better. Larger packages are always more expensive to ship than their smaller counterparts. Therefore, it is important for retailers to find ways to reduce their package dimensions. A relatively well-known example of this would be the recent trend of smartphone manufacturers opting to ship their phones without headphones or chargers, initially pioneered by Apple. This has enabled box sizes to reduce dramatically, while devices themselves continue to get bigger. This allows companies to ship more of their products in the same cycle, reducing the number and frequency of shipments they require to fulfill a certain amount of products. Handling Packages that are larger in size translate to many physical constraints such as more workers required to load or unload them, or heavier vehicles needed to transport them. For instance, maybe 50 boxes of a small product, such as AirPods, could be loaded onto a vehicle by the time it takes to load 5 washing machines. This is one area value isn’t directly associated with size as smaller products are often more expensive than larger ones. To make product handling easier, faster and cheaper, consider investing in lightweight and more durable packaging materials so that products can have the same protection, without the added bulk. 5 Ways to Successfully Reduce the Package Sizes of Your eCommerce Business Optimise Your Product Placement The way a product is placed inside a box can have massive implications on its overall footprint. Analyse your product's dimensions and figure out the most efficient way to place it inside of its original box. This will automatically reduce the size of the outer storage layers. Practices like vertically stacking product elements on top of each other instead of side by side can have a positive impact on reducing package sizes. Source Bundle Similar Products / Orders Together One way to reduce shipment sizes is by placing similar products or orders together. For instance, if a shipment comprises multiple beauty products, they can all be packaged together in the same overall consignment. Similarly, if many orders are placed from the same location, all the products needed to fulfill those orders can be bundled together (also known as product bundling), which will result in a reduced shipment size as opposed to having scattered packages for the same order location. Source Use Custom Packaging Solutions Custom packaging services offered by 3PL companies can immensely help in creating small package sizes. In contrast to companies like Amazon that just have a standard package design for every order, regardless of the nature of the product, customized packaging can tailor every aspect of the package to your liking. This will enable products to be packaged more optimally, taking into consideration the design and dimensions of the product. Additionally, you can have more control over how you highlight your brand. Source Reduce the Use of Plastic Plastic packaging materials in the form of bubble rap and protection film can significantly increase the size and bulk of shipments. While products do require some amount of protection from mishaps that can occur in transit, a large amount of space can be saved by only cutting it down to the bare essentials. You can also conduct research into how to make boxes stronger so that they will be able to withstand more pressure rather than relying on heaps of plastic materials within the box. Source Opt for Multi-Function Packaging If you sell a wide range of products with similar sizes, consider having one standard box design that you can use among all of them, with just the design and product information varying based on the product. Additionally, you can make your packaging itself double as the brochure instead of including a separate one. There are also a wide variety of box designs that can fold in when stored and expand when unpackaged. Source Conclusion: Can WareIQ’s Services Help Reduce Package Sizes for Your Company? If you need to reduce your logistical and operational costs, shipping expenses would be a good place to start. To enable significant savings on shipping and last-mile delivery, reducing package sizes to their smallest possible occupancy is essential. eCommerce packaging generally comes with a lot of bloatware that is ultimately wasted once the product is unpackaged. It is important to ascertain what materials are essential to keep the product safe and what materials can be removed to save space. Additionally, how a product is placed in a box can also have an impact on its size. By having small package sizes, you will be able to reduce the amount of space that is taken up by each SKU, resulting in lower shipping costs and additional space to place more items. If you are an eCommerce retailer that needs assistance with reducing package sizes to lower shipping costs, WareIQ can be the answer you are looking for.  WareIQ is one of the fastest-growing eCommerce fulfillment companies in India. We provide a swathe of solutions encompassing every aspect of eCommerce. In terms of reducing package sizes and lowering shipping costs, we offer the following solutions: Custom Packaging We provide all our customers with custom packaging facilities so that they can offer a truly personalised experience to their customers. You can choose to highlight your brand, choose your design, colour, materials, product placement and much more. We can help offer your customers a one-of-a-kind unboxing experience while also reducing package sizes to help you generate more space in storage and transit. Partnership With Multiple Shipping Companies We have partnered with 20 of the largest shipping aggregators in India. We will automatically assign the fastest route and most cost-effective delivery option for every order. If there is a delay with any provider on any route, we will transfer the order to the next-best option, ensuring that your orders are always delivered on time. Additionally, you can avail of bulk discounts if your orders are over a certain threshold. No Order Restrictions We do not impose any minimum or maximum restrictions on your inventory, either in storage or transit. You can simply opt for the amount of space you need in any of our fulfillment centers or transport vehicles and pay for what you use. Additionally, you can add or remove space according to your requirements. Reduce Packaging Sizes: FAQs What are all the factors that affect shipping costs?- Delivery speed- Distance- Package dimensions- Shipment Weight- Handling fees What percentage do shipping costs generally make up of the total costs of an eCommerce company?Shipping expenses can easily comprise 15 to 20% of a company’s total expenditure so it is important to reduce them as much as possible. Why are bigger items more expensive to ship?Bigger items are more expensive to ship because they are more cumbersome to load, unload, handle and take up more space in a delivery vehicle, thereby reducing its overall capacity to store other products. What are the predictions for shipping costs for the remainder of the year?Shipping costs are expected to fall at least 30 to 40% compared to 2020. Does WareIQ offer any other fulfillment services?Yes, WareIQ offers a wide suite of eCommerce solutions such as inventory storage across a nationwide network of fulfillment centers, warehouse management through our custom WMS, last-mile delivery, reverse logistics, an app store and much more.

October 10, 2022
How to Reduce Transportation Costs in Distribution Networks in 2024 for eCommerce and D2C Business?

How to Reduce Transportation Costs in Distribution Networks in 2024 for eCommerce and D2C Business?

Transportation and eCommerce logistics are a vital part of a company’s eCommerce operations as they enable goods to be successfully delivered to the customers that ordered them. Companies today are embroiled in stiff competition as they try to outdo each other in terms of who can provide the fastest and cheapest possible delivery to customers so that they do not need to incur additional shipping charges. However, this could also have a negative as these costs may fall onto the shoulders of the companies themselves, which could ultimately reduce their profit margins. While efficient transportation is a must for any self-respecting eCommerce company, they also need to find the sweet spot between good service and ways to reduce transportation costs in their distribution. In this blog, we’ll be discussing just that, in addition to what transportation costs in eCommerce are and a few examples of them. What are Transportation Costs in eCommerce? Transportation costs in eCommerce involve any expense that goes into transporting raw materials to the supplier, transporting finished goods to their relevant fulfillment centers and warehouses, and delivering the products to their final customers. The costs involved in the management of returns and picking up the goods from customers and transporting them back to the warehouse can also fall under transportation costs as it involves the entire logistical procedure to be repeated but in reverse. If a company is not careful in the way it manages its transportation and distribution costs, it can easily be caught off-guard by skyrocketing expenses, which can result in unforeseen delays and unfulfilled products. If a customer does not receive their product in time or is not satisfied with the overall delivery experience, it may cause them to leave negative reviews and reconsider purchasing from that company again. This is why it is important for companies to find ways to reduce transportation costs and keep them in check. Transportation costs can be calculated using the following formula: Transportation Costs = Total Transport-Related Expenses ÷ Total Sales Revenue [contactus_lilgoodness] 5 Factors That Impact Transportation Costs in a Company’s Distribution Network Fuel Prices We live in an age where almost all major transportation networks still rely on fuel and thus, retailers are at the mercy of whatever global or local occurrences cause fuel prices to fluctuate or stabilise. Stable fuel prices allow companies to accurately gauge how much would be spent on transportation. However, as we have seen recently, fuel prices can easily fluctuate and skyrocket, which in turn, causes transportation costs in a company’s distribution network to also increase, resulting in higher prices to fulfill orders and transport goods. Weather Conditions Just like fuel prices, there is little to nothing a retailer can do to positively affect weather conditions in their favour. In the case of extreme weather such as excessive thunder or hail storms, most major transport facilities such as planes, ships, trains, and trucks are affected, which causes unforeseen delays and negative sentiments among customers that are waiting for their deliveries. This increases the time needed for each delivery and thus, also increases transportation costs. On-ground transportation can also easily be affected by natural calamities such as landslides, fallen trees, roads being damaged due to harsh weather, traffic pileups, and more. Travel Distance If you would assume that the further the destination is from the point of dispatch, the more expensive it would be to transport an item, you would be right. Sheer distance necessitates the use of more fuel, longer travel times and a generally longer waiting period for an order to be delivered. However, to offset the challenges associated with the increasing distances needed to fulfill cross-country orders, many companies are opting to partner with 3PL warehousing companies with large warehouse networks so that they can store their merchandise closer to areas of high demand and transport their products from there which will reduce distribution costs as opposed to from a central warehouse where distances could be near or far depending on the final destination. Total Shipment Weight This is another instance where larger translates to more expensive. The bigger a shipment is, the more space it will take up on a vehicle, so the more expensive it is to transport. This is why companies generally prefer to ship orders in bulk, find ways to package their products to take up as little space as possible and strategically place them, so they have a reduced footprint compared to stacking them side by side. These practices aid in helping reduce transportation costs. Related Article: How to Reduce Package Sizes? Delivery Speed Generally, faster delivery means more expensive delivery because more resources and planning are necessary to ship an order in a day compared to a week. Every aspect of the delivery, from the picking and packing to the shipping and last-mile delivery needs to be meticulously planned in order to achieve an ultra-fast delivery. Additionally, the order may require faster and more costly vehicles to make up time in transit. Here is how you can increase shipping speed keeping in mind the affordability. 5 Methods to Reduce Transportation Costs for Your eCommerce Firm in 2024 Consolidate Deliveries in a Single Shipment Shipping companies generally provide discounts if the order value is beyond a certain threshold. To take advantage of these discounts and more efficiently transport products, you can club as many orders as you can into a single shipment without compromising the safety and quality of the delivery. This will enable you to reduce transportation costs as many orders can be delivered in one single shipment as opposed to many separate shipments while also making use of bulk discounts provided by the operator. Source Outsource Your Warehousing Requirements to a 3PL 3PL companies generally have vast networks of warehouses and fulfillment centers, scattered across the country, which means that you can store your products closer to areas where you are getting the most demand or in proximity to major transportation hubs. This will reduce the distance that each parcel has to travel and will ultimately reduce distribution costs. Partnering with a 3PL is a good idea because their warehouses are fully stocked with all the latest technology so you do not need to worry about anything getting misplaced because every SKU and order placed can be monitored through a WMS software from wherever you are. Source Utilize Automated Container Loading Systems Loading or unloading items on or off vehicles are part and parcel of eCommerce transportation. One way to speed up the process, lower the number of errors that can occur, and reduce transportation costs, is to use an automated container loading system. It is a simple mechanism where a leading plate can slide under the container and load or unload the entire shipment in a single attempt. Using it will allow you to shorten the amount of time that is needed, reduce the amount of labour needed and thus, reduce your overall loading and unloading expenditures. Source Automate Important Processes Gone are the days when an entire warehouse could be run offline. In the current scenario, eCommerce companies rely heavily on the use of technology for important processes such as automatically assigning orders to a shipping company whenever they are placed, identifying which product needs to be selected and packaged through a WMS, and mentoring important data across warehouses and selling platforms through a single dashboard. These processes remove clutter and allow all your processes to be carried out smoothly. Additionally, you can purchase robots that further automate the picking, packaging and loading of goods. Source Ensure That Vehicles are Consistently Maintained The most important aspect of eCommerce transportation is the vehicles themselves and ensuring that they are running smoothly is extremely important. The last thing you or your customers would want is a random breakdown, adding multiple hours or days to the delivery timeline. By ensuring that the vehicle fleet of either your company or the shipping company you have partnered with is constantly maintained and checked for any issues that could cause a delay, you will save yourself a lot of time and money in the long run. Your customers will receive their orders on time and you will not have to waste time and money sorting out various issues that could happen during the delivery process. Source Conclusion: What Services Does WareIQ Offer to Reduce Distribution Costs? Finding ways to reduce transportation costs in their distribution network is of utmost importance to retailers that understand the implications if their expenses go beyond the budget. With just a little bit of effort and common sense, reducing distribution costs is very achievable for even the smallest retailers. It will help them provide better service, limit their expenditure and also leave more room to expand in the future. If you are an eCommerce retailer that is looking for ways to reduce transportation costs in your business, WareIQ can be the solution you need. WareIQ is an eCommerce fulfillment company based in India and has emerged as one of the fastest-growing options in the country. We provide a wide range of eCommerce services that will help your business thrive. In relation to reducing your eCommerce transportation costs, we offer the following solutions: Pan-India Network of Fulfillment Centers and Dark Stores We provide a nationwide network of fulfillment centers and dark stores with smart inventory placement that will suggest the best storage location for each SKU based on its demand and target audience. This will enable you to store your goods closer to your customers and reduces the distance and time it takes to fulfill every order. We also offer dark stores for hyper-local delivery in specific locations. Ultra-Fast Shipping We have partnered with more than 20 of the biggest shipping aggregators in the country and will automatically assign the fastest and most cost-effective option for every order, resulting in quicker fulfillment and reduced shipping prices. If there is a delay on one route, we can instantly assign your order to another company. Custom Packaging We offer custom packaging facilities to help you reduce the overall footprint of your products, which will help it take up less space so that more units can be fulfilled at the same time. Your orders will also take up less space while being transported, which will reduce distribution costs even further. Reduce Transportation Costs: FAQs Why is reducing transport costs important for an eCommerce business?eCommerce relies on the transportation of products to customers and these costs can accumulate over thousands of orders and over time. To be as cost-effective as possible, sellers need to figure out ways they can reduce costs so that they can be more profitable. What are some examples of transportation costs?Some examples of transportation costs are listed below:- Vehicle maintenance- Shipping costs- Last-mile delivery costs- Fuel expenses- Driver salaries What are the 3 types of transportation costs involved in a business?The 3 types of transportation costs are as follows:- Standing costs- Running costs- Overhead costs What are the economic drivers that impact distribution costs?There are 7 economic drivers that impact transportation costs. They are mentioned below:- Distance- Weight- Density- Storability- Handling- Liability- Market Does WareIQ outsource transportation?Yes, WareIQ has partnered with more than 20 shipping companies to ensure that orders are always fulfilled via the quickest route and cheapest price. If one company has a delay, the order is automatically assigned to the next best option.

October 10, 2022
Fulfillment of Nutrition and Wellness Products: Trends, Challenges and Tips to Ace Nutrition and Wellness Category Supply Chain Operations in 2022

Fulfillment of Nutrition and Wellness Products: Trends, Challenges and Tips to Ace Nutrition and Wellness Category Supply Chain Operations in 2022

Along with the growing awareness and utilization of the internet and eCommerce by customers to get access to the products and services they need in a speedy and hassle-free way, the demand for nutrition and wellness products to help people live healthier lifestyles is simultaneously increasing. This is coupled with the trend of more people gaining access to lifestyle amenities due to India becoming a more prosperous and wealthy country on a daily basis. As a result of this, customers have become less worried about scraping by and putting food on the table and are able to focus on more granular aspects of their lives, such as the well-being of themselves and their families. The expanding availability of nutrition and wellness products, especially through eCommerce, has made many consumers enthusiastic about purchasing them, as they do not need to visit a dedicated store. They can simply browse through all the available products and get all the information they need at their fingertips. In this blog, we take a deeper look into the fulfillment of nutrition and wellness products, trends in the industry, challenges faced by retailers, and 5 tips to improve fulfillment processes. What Constitutes the Fulfillment of Nutrition and Wellness Products? The conventional eCommerce processes that go into delivering nutrition and wellness products to the locations of relevant customers, such as picking, packing, shipping, and last-mile delivery, constitute the fulfillment of nutrition and wellness products. These products can be anything health or fitness-related such as herbal teas, protein shakes, diet supplements, grains, pulses, ayurvedic medicines and much more. They generally add value to a person’s daily routine by providing solutions to problems such as obesity, stress, weight gain, and high cholesterol, among others. [contactus_uth] Significant Trends in the eCommerce Growth of Nutrition and Wellness Products  In a Mckinsey survey of 7,500 people across 7 countries, 79% of them agreed that wellness is important, while 49% indicated that it was a top priority for them.The global nutrition and wellness product market are currently valued at $1.5 trillion, with a growth rate between 5 to 10%, annually.The industry experienced an overall decline during the pandemic, with more people being inactive but demand has started experiencing a significant uptick since then.In a recent study, participants spent the majority of their income on healthcare and wellness products.Services, as opposed to products, account for 30% of nutrition and wellness-related purchases. 3 Unique Challenges That Sellers Face in the Fulfillment of Nutrition and Wellness Products Need for Specific Warehouse Facilities Nutrition and wellness products often have very specific storage requirements such as being stored at a certain temperature, being stored away from direct sunlight, being stored away from other grocery products due to risks of cross-contamination, and much more. This necessitates that fulfillment warehouses be equipped with specific features to safely and efficiently store so that they can successfully be shipped to customers without getting visually damaged or deformed. Greater Risk of Expiry and Damage On the same note as the first point, because wellness and nutrition products need specific facilities to prevent them from getting spoiled or damaged, their chances of premature expiry are generally higher compared to conventional eCommerce products. Moreover, since they are tailored toward improving the health and well-being of customers, there is a lower threshold for any deformities to occur as the product will not be salvageable and will have to be written off. In the event of an RTO, the package could risk getting damaged in transit due to the fact that it hasn’t been stored in the required conditions for a long period of time, which could not only increase the logistics costs but also result in the product cost being borne by the seller.  Suggested Article: How to Handle RTO? Requirement for Specialised Packing In continuing with the theme of wellness and nutrition products being a lot more fragile than other categories, they require specialised packaging. This helps increase their lifecycle and prolong their shelf life and ultimately, their expiry. However, if you are a retailer that is aspiring to deal in these products, it is important to note that these packaging facilities, like the dedicated storage facilities, don’t come cheap. It is simply an additional step and cost to think about, that is unique to nutritional and wellness products. 5 Tips to Enhance the Fulfillment of Nutrition and Wellness Products Through a 3PL in 2022 Have Enhanced Inventory Management and Quality Control Source Wellness and nutrition products are subject to some of the most strict guidelines of any product category in relation to storage, shipping and delivery since the entire aim of them is to improve health and wellness among the people that buy them. Therefore, you need to implement enhanced quality-checking procedures and invest in an inventory management system to oversee your inventory compliance and identify when products are close to expiry or need to be replenished with fresh stocks. This will help you stay on top of the game and help customers view your brand as a legitimate option for the fulfillment centre of nutrition and wellness products. Related Article: Stock Replenishment Have Exceptional Product and Operations Management  Source Management of important departments is a crucial aspect of any company, especially one that sells nutrition and wellness products as there can be a vast number of challenges and unforeseen circumstances that could occur. Competent management can offset the negative effects of such circumstances by providing solutions to problems and leadership to various teams around them. For instance, if there is a product recall of a major SKU that you sell due to manufacturing defects or safety hazards, you need proper management to take the appropriate steps in dealing with agitated customers that have already purchased it, ensure that all the defective stocks are rounded up and replenish the inventory with a close substitute and offer that to customers as a replacement. Implement Batch Tracking at the Warehouse Level Source Some important batch tracking methods are FEFO (First Expired, First Out), FIFO (First In, First Out) and LIFO (Last In, First Out), among others. In the case of wellness and nutrition products that have a greater risk of expiry and damage if they are not stored in the required conditions or are kept in storage for too long, it is best to use the FEFO method to mitigate any additional risks. This will ensure that the products with the closest expiry dates will be prioritized and fulfilled first. Offer Ultra-Fast Delivery Source A recent study concluded that 48% of eCommerce customers in India received their orders within 2 to 3 days of placing them, which is a major step up from just a few years ago. Fortunately for customers, this number is only slated to rise as ultra-fast 2-day, same-day and even 10-minute deliveries are taking precedence. eCommerce selling platforms like Amazon and Flipkart, along with 3PL fulfillment companies, are constantly seeking to out-pace each other in terms of order fulfillment and the parties that ultimately benefit our retailers and their customers. This is especially beneficial for the fulfillment of nutrition and wellness products as it is advisable not to keep them in transit for too long. Provide a Unique Unboxing Experience Source Wellness and nutrition products generally have great packaging that hits home the message of health and sustainability. Therefore, it is imperative that your brand also follows this trend in order to catch the eyes of customers, among a sea of other manufacturers that are also trying to jostle for their attention. You can use materials that maintain the lifecycle of your products while also promoting your brand and its message. This can easily be done through a 3PL company that has custom packaging facilities. You can also insert pamphlets, coupons and vouchers in your packaging to encourage customers to purchase from you again. Conclusion: Why is WareIQ a Good Option for the Fulfillment of Nutrition and Wellness Products? As the world becomes more health conscious, the demand for nutrition and wellness products will only keep increasing. People are seeking to live healthy, prosperous lives now, more than ever. As the global economy becomes wealthier as it recovers from the pandemic, the focus shifts from survival to personal well-being and that is exactly what is taking place. This is even more pronounced in a country like India, where more and more people are getting the capability to pursue luxuries that enhance their lifestyles. However, it is important to be aware of the specific features and costs that are unique to this category of products and plan accordingly. If you need specialised facilities that are associated with the fulfillment of nutrition and wellness products, WareIQ might be the perfect fit for you. WareIQ is one of India’s leading eCommerce fulfillment companies, trusted by a lot of brands in nutrition and wellness categories like Gynoveda, UTH Beverages, Lil' Goodness, Wingreens etc. We provide a vast array of eCommerce services from inventory storage to order delivery. Some of our unique services that could benefit your company if you sell wellness and nutrition products are listed below: Pan-India Network of Fulfillment Centers with Cold Storage & Temperature Controlled Warehouses We have fulfillment centers scattered across the entire country and each one is equipped with specialized SKU-specific facilities such as cold storage, temperature-controlled warehouses, specialised storage materials for fragile goods and much more. Additionally, we also provide hyper-local fulfillment through dark stores where inventory that needs to be fulfilled quickly can be stored and delivered to surrounding areas. Custom Packaging Facilities We provide customized packaging facilities as per the requirements of your business. You can choose to highlight your brand with your logo and designs of your choice, while also choosing materials that will secure your products, especially fragile ones such as wellness and nutrition products. Ultra-Fast Same-Day and Next-Day Delivery We have partnered with more than 20 of the best shipping aggregators in the country to ensure that your orders are always on time. We also automatically assign the quickest and most cost-effective option for every order.  Custom WMS With Multiple Integrations Our custom WMS can integrate with multiple eCommerce selling platforms such as Amazon, Flipkart, eBay and more and can monitor, store and update your inventory and order data across all of them, in real-time. You will also have access to all your important data in one central dashboard. No Minimum Order Requirements We do not have any minimum order restrictions. You only pay for the services and facilities that you use so you can pick and choose what is important to you. Fulfillment of Nutrition and Wellness Products: FAQs What products would generally come under the nutrition and wellness category?A variety of products could be considered as nutrition and wellness products. A few examples are listed below:- Herbal teas- Body gels- Face creams- Protien powders- Ayurvedic medicines- Aloe vera products- Organice toothpastes- Minerals- Sunscreens- Disinfectants Why do nutrition and wellness products require special storage facilities?These products are often highly fragile and can expire if they are not stored in the proper conditions such as at the appropriate temperature, away from sunlight, on certain types of shelves, etc. Why do nutrition and wellness products require special packaging?Since nutrition and wellness products are often composed of organic and sustainable ingredients and materials, they require special packaging to prevent product damage and extent the product lifecycle. What are some good survey questions to help customers understand what type of products they need?Some good questions to ask your customers to understand their requirements are as follows:- What does your normal diet consist of?- What do you perceive as a healthy diet?- How often do you eat fruits and vegetables?- Are you currently taking any medication?- Do you currently have any health disorders? What services can WareIQ provide for sellers of wellness and nutrition products?WareIQ provides services such as customizable packaging where you can customize the design and materials used, specialised fulfillment centers that can store a variety of different products, dark stores that can enable hyper-fast delivery, same-day delivery services through a variety of shipping companies and much more.

October 06, 2022
eCommerce KPIs: 20 Most Important eCommerce Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) & Metrics to Track for Measuring Business Performance in 2024

eCommerce KPIs: 20 Most Important eCommerce Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) & Metrics to Track for Measuring Business Performance in 2024

eCommerce retail as an industry is subject to a larger number of variables than conventional retail due to all the different factors and processes that need to be monitored and successfully implemented. In order for businesses to be successful in the hyper-competitive space of online selling, they need to consistently keep an eye on certain metrics that will help give them detailed insights into their performance regarding sales figures, profit margins and more. By doing this, they will be able to ascertain which components of their business are doing well and which aren’t and necessary changes can be made in order to streamline the ones that are lagging behind or causing a disruption to their overall achievements. Key performance indicators (KPIs) are used across various industries and businesses to help achieve this. In this blog, we will take a detailed look at what eCommerce KPIs are, why they are important, the characteristics that form successful KPIs and the 10 top eCommerce KPIs for online retailers to track. What are eCommerce KPIs? Key performance indicators, abbreviated as KPIs, are trackable metrics that provide detailed insights to businesses about their real-world performance in relation to their predetermined goals and estimations. Because of the competitive nature of online retail, eCommerce KPIs are necessary for businesses to be able to gauge where they stand compared to their own objectives and those of their competitors. This enables them to understand which aspects of their business processes are successful and which aren’t, which allows them to make relevant changes and adopt well-performing strategies on a broader scale. Suggested Read: What are Inventory Management KPIs? [contactus_uth] Importance of eCommerce KPIs to Online Companies Identifies Areas That Require Improvement eCommerce KPIs measure important aspects of a company’s eCommerce operations and hence, is able to identify areas where performance is lacking compared to prior estimations. For instance, perhaps the rate of order fulfillment has stagnated in relation to the anticipated rate, sales numbers are lower compared to initial projections or operational costs are higher than previous estimations. These sub-par results can easily be identified by analysing the eCommerce KPIs that a business uses to track its performance.  Provides Detailed Insights Into Business Performance The entire goal of tracking eCommerce KPIs is so that online businesses can get a better idea of where they stand in relation to their goals and the performance of their competitors. Identifying important information such as which products have the highest demand, which products are generating the highest profit margins, which products are incurring a loss and more, can help businesses focus on what is making them money and eliminate what is resulting in wasted time and resources.  Streamlines eCommerce Processes Because businesses are able to keep track of important metrics by analysing eCommerce KPIs, they are able to streamline processes across the board, including order fulfillment, and customer support and adjust their marketing budget, among others. This ensures that every process is operating at their highest and most efficient capacity which will ultimately make the business more profitable. Pinpoints Recurring Trends Many eCommerce KPIs involve the inspection of historical data for similar events or seasons during prior years to help estimate budgets and sales objectives. This can help companies identify where they stand in comparison to similar circumstances during previous years and can provide insight as to whether they are on the right track by observing whether they have grown, maintained similar numbers or stagnated during the current financial period. Improves the Overall Success of the Business Since eCommerce KPIs enable retailers to improve their operations and adjust their objectives according to their actual performance, it helps them to adopt practices that make them more successful and eradicate practices that are wasting time and resources and resulting in a negative outcome. By analysing the results of tracking the top eCommerce KPIs, firms can make well-informed decisions and ensure that they do not stray away from financial prosperity. Tips to Choose the Top KPIs & Metrics for Your eCommerce Business Determine Your Business Objectives Retailers need to identify their business objectives before shortlisting eCommerce KPIs so that they will not know what their desired outcomes are. KPIs relay information but their value is limited if the information provided is out of context and cannot be compared to a set of predetermined goals. To maximise the value of KPIs, eCommerce businesses need to understand what metrics they need to be measured. Select Easily-Measurable KPIs Not all eCommerce KPIs are created equal and some can be more easily measured than others. Retailers need to choose KPIs that can be easily quantified and provide trackable insights with a numerical value. This will enable firms to concisely monitor and analyse the information that is provided to them so that they can come up with accurate conclusions. Identify the Growth Stage of Your Company eCommerce consists of a wide variety of companies from small homegrown startups to large multinational conglomerates. Every business requires different KPIs that are tailored to its specific requirements, based on the growth stage that they are in. Bigger companies may need to place more emphasis on tracking sales numbers while smaller firms might gain more importance from tracking profit margins so they can stay afloat. Choose KPIs That Showcase Desired Information As mentioned above, eCommerce companies that operate in the same sector can be at many different stages of development so it is important to use eCommerce KPIs that provide the necessary information at a glance so that they can use it to further the growth of their company. Not all KPIs will be useful for all companies so it is important for businesses to identify the relevant ones to them. Opt for Quality Over Quantity It usually isn’t a good idea to clutter your analysis with eCommerce KPIs that don’t provide any valuable insights into your business performance. While it is good to have all aspects covered, not all information is necessary to track for all businesses, especially for small and medium-sized businesses that only need to keep an eye on a few vital KPIs. 20 Best eCommerce KPIs & Metrics to Measure Business Success in 2024 Conversion Rate Conversion rate is one of the top eCommerce KPIs to measure. It refers to the total number of people that ended up purchasing a product from your website or online listing after visiting after browsing a single or multiple pages, subscribing to a newsletter or online service and much more. It implies that a user has been “converted” from a prospect to a customer by taking the necessary actions that a retailer wanted them to. It provides insights as to how fruitful your website is at coaxing customers into making a purchase. A high conversion rates signifies an efficient website and marketing strategy whereas a low conversion rate signifies that users aren’t interested in the products because of the way it is displayed, described or some other reason. The average conversion rate of eCommerce businesses is between 2.89% to 3.31% and a conversion rate of 5% and up is considered good. Formula: Conversion Rate = (Number of Conversions ÷ Number of Leads) x 100 Customer Lifetime Value Customer lifetime value refers to the average net profit that a customer spends at a business during the span of their association. It is one of the eCommerce KPIs that is used to measure the ROI of a company and can help with framing future objectives and strategies. It also helps businesses increase their efforts to appeal to existing customers since they have already shown that they are willing and capable of purchasing their products. By providing customers with a seamless experience during their first encounter, the profit margins of retailers can skyrocket if those same customers return multiple times for repeat purchases.  Formula: Customer Lifetime Value = Average Order Value x Average Number of Times a Customer Buys Per Year x Average Customer Retention Period in Months or Years Customer Retention Rate Research estimates that just a 5% increase in customer retention can result in a 25% to 95% increase in profits. Similarly, trying to acquire new customers can be 5% to 25% more expensive for retailers than encouraging existing ones to purchase again. Lastly, repeat customers spend 67% more on purchasing products from businesses that they have bought from before than new customers trying out a retailer for the first time. All these studies indicate that retaining customers is of the utmost importance to eCommerce retailers if they want to be profitable and expand their revenue. Customer retention rate is one of the most important eCommerce KPIs to measure in this regard as it quantifies the number of existing customers that have returned for repeat purchases.  Formula: Customer Retention Rate = [(Customers a Firm Had at the End - Customers Acquired During the Measured Period) ÷ Customers a Firm Had at the Beginning] x 100 Return on Marketing Investment Marketing is one of the most crucial aspects of the current eCommerce climate due to the amount of readily available publicity that can be had on social media apps or video streaming platforms. Firms need to keep aside a significant chunk of their budgets to promote their products and increase the visibility of their brands due to their competitors trying to do the same thing. Ultimately, people buy what is readily and easily accessible to them and the firms that place their products in the right place at the right time will win that particular battle. However, firms also need to track the amount of money they are spending on marketing and also the returns they are getting for their efforts. Return on marketing investment is one of the top eCommerce KPIs that can help companies determine which campaigns are successful and which aren’t so that they can double down on the ones that are fetching them a high rate of returns and alleviate the ones that are wasting their money. Formula: Return on Marketing Investment = (Sales Growth - Marketing Cost) ÷ Marketing Cost Average Order Value Average order value or AOV is one of the top eCommerce KPIs for measuring the average purchase value spent by each customer per order. It helps firms understand how much the average customer spends on a shopping spree on their website or listing pages and can also help them figure out ways to get people to spend more money on each order by employing various marketing or promotional campaigns. One of the primary goals of eCommerce companies is to get their customers to spend as much as possible and to keep them engaged so that they continue to browse their websites as opposed to their competitors and AOV provides insights into their current performance and how they can improve it. Formula: Average Order Value = Revenue ÷ Number of Orders Bounce Rate Contrary to conversion rate, bounce rate signifies the number of users that have visited your website or listing page but left abruptly without purchasing anything. It is one of the most predominant eCommerce KPIs that is used to measure how many customers have scrolled through a web page of an eCommerce retailer but have left without any major interaction and can also help firms identify patterns as to why this may be the case. For instance, if the majority of users all leave while they are on a certain page, it could indicate that something on that page is causing them to lose interest which will enable sellers to make edits to encourage users to stay longer and keep them engaged. Formula: Bounce Rate = Number of One Page Visits ÷ Total Number of Visits Cart Abandonment Rate Cart Abandonment refers to when customers have items in their online cart but leave the website before making the purchase. Cart abandonment could be due to multiple factors such as a cumbersome checkout process, frequent prompts to enter sensitive contact information and more. Cart abandonment rate is one of the top eCommerce KPIs that can help retailers determine what percentage of their customers leave without purchasing anything while they have added products to their cart. While many customers add items to their cart to compare prices between websites, many of them can be recovered if a few minor changes are made to the checkout process. Read here how to optimise checkout page for good customer experience. Formula: Cart Abandonment Rate = 1 - [(Completed Transactions) ÷ (Created Carts)] x 100 Add to Cart Rate In a similar vein to the cart abandonment rate, add to cart rate can provide visibility to retailers as to the proportion of the total amount of customers that visit their website or listing page and actually end up adding products to their cart. It is one of the eCommerce KPIs that acts as a precursor to cart abandonment and when calculated along with it, can help firms to understand the rate at which people end up purchasing products after they have added them to their online cart. Formula: Add to Cart Rate = Sessions With Items Added to Cart ÷ Total Number of Sessions Customer Acquisition Cost Customer acquisition cost refers to the cost of acquiring each customer that ends up making a purchase from a business. Understanding it is vital for firms to determine how much they want to spend on their marketing and promotional efforts while also ensuring that the cost of acquiring each customer is within reach and doesn’t end up costing too much. While a firm can acquire large amounts of customers, if they spend more on acquiring them than the customers do purchasing goods and services from the firm, it may not end up being worth it. This is one of the top eCommerce KPIs that enables firms to plan and budget their customer acquisition strategy accordingly. Formula: Customer Acquisition Cost = Total Expenses to Acquire Customers ÷ Total Number of Customers Acquired in the Same Timeframe Gross Profit Margin The main goal of eCommerce companies is to generate revenue and have the highest possible profit margin they can muster. Gross profit margin provides an insight into the total amount of profit that a firm is left with as a percentage after reducing all the operational, promotional and logistical expenses associated with selling their products. It is one of the top eCommerce KPIs that assist firms in understanding if their strategies are ultimately fetching them a profit and if so, how much they are getting in return for their risk and struggles. Formula: Gross Profit Margin = (Revenue - Costs) ÷ Revenue x 100 Organic Search Rankings Organic search rankings are one of the most important eCommerce KPIs to track where your website stacks up on search engines such as Google and Bing. Search engine optimization or SEO, is crucial for businesses that want their website or product pages to rank highly so that they can receive the maximum amount of visibility from potential customers. Customers tend to explore the top 1 to 5 search results when they enter their query into a search engine so if a page ranks below that, odds are that very few customers will end up visiting it. Keeping track of this KPI will enable retailers to take efforts to improve their ranking if they aren’t happy with their position. Note: Organic search ranking does not have a specific formula. Instead, a website or listing page can be tracked using SEO tools such as Semrush. Customer Satisfaction Rate High rates of customer satisfaction is what every eCommerce retailer strives to achieve because it can have a vast array of positive implications in terms of other top eCommerce KPIs such as lowering cart abandonment rates, increasing average order values, enhancing conversion rates and much more. If customers are satisfied with their overall experience with a particular brand, chances are they will return if they have similar requirements, recommend the company to friends or family and leave positive reviews and feedback on websites and online forums. Tracking the customer satisfaction rate is important because it provides genuine insights into what customers truly think about a brand. Formula: Customer Satisfaction Rate = Satisfied Customers ÷ Total Number of Customers Surveyed Revenue Per Website Visitor Tracking the revenue that is generated per user that has visited the website of a retailer is important to track as it provides an impression of which customers are spending money on purchasing items and which are just browsing and exiting without buying anything. This can give online sellers a detailed look at which audience they need to focus on and which products are being purchased at the highest rates. Formula: Revenue Per Website Visitor = Total Revenue of Specified Website ÷ Total Number of Website Visitors Return on Investment Return on investment is one of the top eCommerce KPIs as it provides a detailed look at whether a business is generating a profit or loss while also offering insights as to whether certain marketing, production, and logistics operations are running efficiently. This enables firms to streamline all their processes and make them as efficient and cost-effective as possible so that they can receive a higher return on their investment and eventually become more profitable. Formula: Return on Investment = (Net Return on Investment ÷ Total Investment Cost) x 100 Gross Merchandise Volume Gross merchandise volume is a KPI that indicates the total monetary value for all units of merchandise that are sold on a particular online marketplace during a specified amount of time. This can give retailers a detailed look at which online selling platforms are serving them the best and generating the most demand and sales out of all the marketplaces they sell on. For example, if the gross merchandise volume on Amazon is higher than Flipkart's, retailers can spend more time and effort on marketing and selling their products on Amazon than on other platforms. Formula: Gross Merchandise Value = Selling Price of Goods x Number of Goods Sold You may like: What is Merchandise Inventory? Orders Per Active Customers Orders per active customers offers retailers insight into the number of orders made by active customers during a specific timeframe. It lets businesses know how frequently their existing customers make repeat purchases and how many of them have been actively engaging with the business since their first interaction. It can indicate whether the customers are satisfied with the business or just make one purchase and do not make another one for a long time. This lets businesses know how quickly they are growing and if the number and frequency of orders from existing customers are high, it generally means that the company is successful. Note: There is no specific formula to calculate orders per active customers. It can be observed by analysing the orders placed by each repeat customer. Net Profit Rate Net profit rate refers to the amount of net profit that is generated in relation to the total amount of revenue. It is expressed as a percentage and takes into account the profit after subtracting all the expenses that are business has to incur to sell its products. Fluctuations in net profit can indicate the profitability of a business and whether it is on the right path or not as it provides businesses with its actual profitability after paying all the costs that are associated with selling, producing and transporting their products Formula: Net Profit Rate = (Net Income ÷ Revenue) x 100 Average Time Spent on Website The average time spent on a website is one of the key eCommerce KPIs that provides insights into the success of a company’s website. It indicates the amount of time each customer spends on a retailer’s website on average. This in cohesion with the bounce rate, can provide information as to which web pages are generating the most engagement and time spent on scrolling and browsing which will enable retailers to understand how they can improve their website to be more successful.  Formula: Average Time Spent on Website = Total Time Spent on Website in Minutes ÷ (Page Views - Page Exits) Return on Advertising Investment Online advertising involves the use of paid ad campaigns on platforms such as Google Ads and Facebook Ads. Each campaign is liable to charges depending on factors such as the duration, reach, target audience and visibility of the campaign. While some ads will generate more leads than others, they do not always end up converting. The efficiency and effectiveness of an ad campaign depend on how many prospects end up converting into customers. Thus, it is important for retailers to analyse and track every metric of their ad campaigns so that they can determine which ones were successful and continue to employ similar tactics in the future. Formula: Return on Advertising Investment = (Net Return on Investment ÷ Total Advertising Cost) x 100 Return on Influencer Investment In a similar manner to running advertising and marketing campaigns, the use of social media influencers to create hype and generate enhanced visibility around a brand and its products is increasingly being used. Since many influencers have large followers on their respective platforms, businesses use them to promote their products to create awareness among their audience. However, not all audiences will have the same willingness and capability to purchase products. Some might consist of people that are too young while some may contain people that don’t have enough income. For these reasons, it is important for businesses to track the return on their investment when they choose to partner with influencers. Formula: Return on Influencer Investment = (Net Return on Investment ÷ Total Investment Spent on Influencers) x 100 Conclusion: Keep Track of the Top eCommerce KPIs With WareIQ eCommerce KPIs are essential for online businesses to have a realistic picture of their performance in relation to their estimated objectives. While different KPIs are suitable for various kinds of businesses, identifying and measuring the ones that directly correlate with their goals can have positive implications for the way they are able to streamline their business procedures and expand their operations. eCommerce is a numbers game and companies that have statistical data to analyse will have a competitive advantage against those that don’t. If firms want to be successful, it is critical that they measure every important aspect of their operations so they can understand how to improve their performance and out-pace their competitors. If you are an eCommerce retailer that needs assistance with tracking vital historical data and other fulfillment requirements, WareIQ can be the solution for you. WareIQ is one of India’s leading eCommerce fulfillment companies that uses a centralized tech platform to tackle a vast range of eCommerce challenges from order fulfillment to reverse logistics and everything in between. In relation to giving you access to a significant number of trackable metrics and solutions, WareIQ offers the following services: A custom WMS that tracks and consolidates order and inventory data across fulfillment centers and integrates with more than 12 eCommerce marketplacesYou can monitor and analyse various analytics such as incoming orders, bounce rate, conversion rate, cart abandonment and othersA custom app store that can enhance the productivity of multiple eCommerce processesA central dashboard where all your inventory and order data is stored and can be easily accessed [signup] eCommerce KPIs: FAQs Why are KPIs important in eCommerce?eCommerce KPIs are important because they allow sellers to monitor and analyse vital information that could help streamline their operations and grow their business. Do eCommerce businesses have to keep track of every KPI?No, businesses only need to track the KPIs that are relevant to their business and their business objectives. Determine your goals and adopt KPIs that will help you gain more insights into them. How can a WMS help track important information?A WMS is an advanced software solution that records and stores important information related to inventory levels, replenishment timelines and much more and can help provide insights into various warehouse and inventory management proceedings. What are some popular eCommerce KPIs?A few KPIs that are useful for eCommerce sellers are listed below:- Conversion Rate- Conversion Rate Per Traffic Channel- Customer Lifetime Value (CLTV)- Customer Retention Rate- Annual Repurchase Rate Does WareIQ offer other eCommerce services?Yes, WareIQ offers services such as inventory storage in a nationwide network of fulfillment centers, ultra-fast shipping through a choice of more than 20 shipping aggregators, returns management and much more.

September 02, 2022
What is a Logistics Center? Definition, Types, Functions and Components of Logistics Distribution Hub in 2024

What is a Logistics Center? Definition, Types, Functions and Components of Logistics Distribution Hub in 2024

Logistical operations are a primary aspect of eCommerce as it is responsible for important processes such as transporting finished goods from suppliers to the storage facilities of retailers and, ultimately, successfully delivering orders to their end customers. A variety of different operations involved in the organization of resources, storage of inventory, transportation of goods and more can be grouped under the logistics umbrella. While some retailers separate their storage facilities and logistics procedures into distinct segments, others consolidate them into a single function through logistics centers that provide standard warehouse functions and logistics facilities. Read along to get an in-depth look into what a logistics center is, the various types that are used, the components within them and elements that are involved in the functioning of a logistics center.  What is a Logistics Center? A logistics center is a warehouse-like facility where conventional warehouse operations such as storage of inventory, picking and packing of goods and preparing orders for dispatch are carried out alongside various logistical processes such as first-mile delivery, transporting goods, last-mile delivery and others. Logistics centers can comprise a single location or multiple locations depending on the requirements of a business, and they can also vary in terms of the functions they perform. For instance, some logistics centers can be used as storage facilities, while others are primarily used as distribution hubs. This assists retailers in streamlining and monitoring multiple important fulfillment processes under one roof that are divided into many different categories. [contactus_lilgoodness] 5 Typical Functions of a Logistics Center Storage and Handling of Materials The primary function of a logistics center is the storage of inventory till it needs to be transported to another location or delivered to a customer. Logistics centers also act as distribution hubs by receiving inventory and materials from suppliers or other destinations and arranging them in an organised way so that they can be easily accessed when they need to be shipped out.  Preparing Orders for Dispatch The ultimate goal of storing inventory is the hope to eventually sell it to customers to generate revenue. Since logistics centers are responsible for storing inventory, they are also required to prepare orders when they need to be dispatched and this involves locating the item, packaging it, labeling it, and loading it onto the relevant vehicle so that it can be transferred to its next destination. Inventory Management This involves using a warehouse management system (WMS) to accurately store inventory based on various criteria such as popularity, dimensions, expiry date and more. The goal is to make products as easily accessible as possible so they can instantly be located and dispatched. Additionally, the WMS software also keeps track of changes to inventory levels in real-time and updates it to reflect when items are added or removed from storage. Transportation of Products Logistics involves transporting goods to various destinations until they are successfully delivered to their final customer. Logistics centers act as dispatch points for various products to be stored till the time they need to be dispatched or transferred to an alternative location. Thus, they are often equipped with loading facilities such as parking bays, cranes, forklifts and more to enable products to be transported to their next location. Providing Information and Insights Since there are so many different activities that take place in a logistics center, with most of it being tracked by a WMS or other advanced software, insights into many different aspects such as identifying high-demand and low-demand products, order frequency, success rates and performance of various processes are provided. This enables firms to monitor and analyse this data to streamline important processes and remove obsolete ones. 5 Types of Logistics Centers in eCommerce Fulfillment Centers This type of logistics center can handle a wide variety of processes in addition to the storage of inventory. Retailers can often access fulfillment centers through 3PL companies and are often equipped with state-of-the-art inventory management software and automated machinery to optimise tasks such as selecting, packaging and dispatching products. Fulfillment centers are generally part of a much larger, nationwide network so inventory can be stored based on certain factors such as proximity to customers and distribution hubs. Fulfillment centers are often the starting point for last-mile delivery operations and are designed to swiftly dispatch orders so that delivery executives can fulfil them. Distribution Hubs Distribution hubs are often used interchangeably with fulfillment centers. However, they lack many of the facilities and services that are offered by fulfillment centers and are primarily used as transit stops for inventory to be distributed to its final location, whether it is to be stored in a fulfillment center, dispatched to be shipped to another destination, sent out for last-mile delivery or transported to a brick and mortar store in the case of brands that follow a hybrid system of online and physical retail. On-Demand Warehouses On-demand warehouses are a type of logistics center that retailers can use to store their inventory on a temporary basis. The amount of storage they require is leased to them by an external company or warehouse operator for the specific timeframe they need it for and hence, it is a lot cheaper than conventional fulfillment centers or storage hubs. This works for retailers that deal in seasonal products or that may not have the resources to store products on their own or acquire large amounts of storage space. On-demand warehouses offer enhanced flexibility due to their provisional nature but they do have some drawbacks such as a lack of consistency and uncertainty when the lease is up. Dark Stores This type of logistics center, also referred to as a micro fulfillment center, behaves like a scaled-down version of a fulfillment center. It is a retail store that is designed to cater to local customers in a given area by allowing retailers to store their goods so that they can quickly dispatch customer orders. While it does not directly sell goods to the public, the minuscule nature of dark stores allows them to be quickly set up in different localities in large numbers and are best used by retailers that sell perishable products such as food, beverages, groceries and other items that have a short expiry date, because they are located in close proximity to customers. They also allow sellers to separate their inventory storage into multiple dark stores to avoid excess strain on their primary fulfillment centers.  Processing Centers These logistics centers work in a similar manner to distribution hubs but consist of heightened order processing capabilities. While conventional distribution hubs can do basic processing tasks such as locating, packing and shipping an item, processing centers take a more nuanced approach by being able to deal with specialized goods such as fresh seafood, assemble and install product components, having value-added features such as temperature controlled, dust-proof storage facilities and much more. Their functions are like a fusion between a distribution hub and a factory due to its increased capabilities. What are the Components Commonly Found in a Logistics Center? Shipping Terminals These terminals are generally equipped with heavy machineries such as cranes, forklifts and other industrial-grade machinery in order to be able to lift and load bulky and regular-sized items alike onto transit vehicles such as ships, trains or trucks. This is an important component of a logistics center as it is responsible for being able to initiate the transport of products and raw materials to their final destinations. Intermodal Dispatch Points This aspect of a logistics center is responsible for loading, unloading and transporting products by different means such as air, road, rail or sea. They generally comprise large loading docks, parking bays for multiple large vehicles and separate entries and exits for different purposes such as transfer, dispatch or loading of products. They also have many facilities to store high-risk goods, ensure that products are stored safely and provide the appropriate amount of security to ensure that there is no theft or pillaging of items. Last-Mile Transport Hubs They act as distribution hubs and are designed to cater to fulfill orders to local areas. There are generally at least one or more locations present in cities with a significant customer presence, and products are transported from other fulfillment center locations and stored in these hubs so that they can eventually be picked up by delivery executives so that last-mile delivery to the final customer can commence. Conclusion: How WareIQ can Help Improve Your eCommerce Logistics Through Its Wide Network of Logistics Centers in 2024? Using a logistics center is a must for an eCommerce business, regardless of which type they choose. Inventory storage and logistics are 2 key components of eCommerce and a logistics center provides a way to merge them so that they can both be operated and monitored from the same location. This enables more transparency across processes and can assist firms in streamlining their inventory management and logistical procedures. If you are an eCommerce retailer that needs help with storing your products or improving your logistics, WareIQ can be the solution. WareIQ is an Indian eCommerce fulfillment company that is one of the most rapidly growing in the country due to our use of advanced technology to tackle a wide range of eCommerce requirements from inventory management to order fulfillment. A few ways we can help improve your storage and logistics requirements are listed below: We offer a nationwide network of fulfillment centers and dark stores with intelligent inventory placement that stores your inventory in close proximity to your customers and transport hubsWe provide a custom WMS that can integrate with more than 12 eCommerce selling platforms and can track inventory across multiple fulfillment centers in real-timeWe offer a choice of more than 20 of the biggest shipping aggregators in the country and always assign the quickest and most cost-effective option for every orderWe offer value-added services such as an app store that has a catalogue of multiple applications to enhance the productivity of various eCommerce functionsWe provide an RTO Shield to mitigate the damage caused by returns and provide insurance against RTOs Logistics Center: FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) What is the primary purpose of a logistics center?Logistics centers perform the functions of both a fulfillment center and a distribution hub. The main purposes are to store products and get them ready to be dispatched to other locations. Why are dark stores useful?Dark stores can provide additional storage space and take pressure off the primary fulfillment centers of a retailer. Additionally, they provide quicker delivery to areas that immediately surround them than conventional warehouses as goods only need to travel short distances to reach customers. Is there a difference between a warehouse and a logistics center?Yes, warehouses are only concerned with the storage of inventory whereas logistics centers have mutiple other functions such as transportation of goods and order processing. Can logistics operations be offloaded to a 3PL company?Yes, there are multiple 3PL companies that provide logistics services. However, we recommend WareIQ for the use of advanced technology and transparent pricing. Does WareIQ offer other services in addition to logistics?Yes, WareIQ offers a variety of eCommerce services in addition to logistics such as order fulfillment, branded tracking, a custom WMS, NDR support and much more. 

August 27, 2022
10 Impactful Logistics Innovations & Logistics Industry Trends in 2022 That are Changing the eCommerce Landscape

10 Impactful Logistics Innovations & Logistics Industry Trends in 2022 That are Changing the eCommerce Landscape

eCommerce as a whole refers to online retailers that sell products via their own websites or marketplaces through a variety of processes that entail all the activities involved in driving customers to their page to buy their products by enhancing their brand visibility through ad campaigns, setting up attractive product listing pages and offering value-for-money deals. Once a customer takes the bait and decides to eventually purchase an item, one of the most essential procedures in eCommerce commences - logistics. This includes all the processes involved in selecting, packaging and shipping orders to the destinations of their relevant customers. Because competition in the fulfillment space is getting rife, companies are increasingly required to offer shorter delivery times for reduced shipping and operational costs. This is where logistics innovations can make life tremendously easier for both sellers and their customers. In this blog, we will take a look at what logistics innovations are, their importance and 10 logistics industry trends that are taking the eCommerce industry by storm in 2022.  What are Logistics Innovations? As mentioned above, eCommerce logistics consists of all the operations involved in successfully delivering an order to the end customer, which is made possible by the large number of logistics innovations that have taken place in the past decade or so. Logistics innovations include any factor, including technological advancements, streamlining of logistical procedures, adopting of innovative strategies and more, that can enhance the capabilities of a company’s logistical processes to help them fulfill a larger number of orders in shorter periods of time with lower overall logistics costs incurred and fewer errors that can cause disruptions. [contactus_uth] Importance of Logistics in eCommerce Decreases Delivery Times When firms have a sound logistics strategy in place and employ the use of logistics innovations and technology, delivery times get drastically reduced and this creates an advantage for retailers because there is more breathing space to fulfill a larger number of orders in the same timeframe, and for customers because they will receive their orders in the shortest possible time frame. Results in Innovative Strategies Because retailers constantly strive to fulfill orders in the quickest time and at the lowest possible price to out-compete their rivals, they constantly rely on logistics innovations to streamline various procedures to make them more efficient and cost-effective. This results in companies experimenting with different technologies and tactics, and if something works that haven’t been tried previously, it can gain popularity and be adopted on an industry-wide scale, which will benefit every retailer and their customers. Increases Sales Velocity Efficient use of logistics innovations and having a sound logistics strategy will enable firms fulfill a larger number of orders during a particular time period which will encourage firms to spend more resources on marketing and advertising their products to make use of all the extra logistics abilities on tap. Hence increasing sales velocity. This will generate more income and result in higher profit margins for eCommerce sellers. Improves the Customer Experience When placing online orders, the main thing customers desire is for their purchase and delivery process to be as seamless and quick as possible. Happy customers are key to the success of any business and especially ones that operate in a vastly competitive industry such as eCommerce. By making use of logistics innovations and taking part in logistics industry trends, companies can deliver the highest quality service to their customers, which will result in positive customer feedback and reviews and in turn, more customers.  Segments Expenditures Because logistics encompasses a variety of operations and provides a means to track expenses across different departments, retailers can use it to get insights into the expenses of those procedures and can figure out how to reduce costs wherever possible. Sellers can use this information to budget themselves more methodically and eventually become more profitable. 10 Latest Logistics Innovations and Industry Trends in eCommerce in 2022 Customizable Warehousing Not all eCommerce retailers have the same or similar eCommerce warehousing requirements or the same amount of resources to spend on storage facilities. For firms that require temporary storage facilities, especially those that routinely deal in seasonal products, on-demand warehousing is increasingly being used to fulfill these specific requirements. The premise is that sellers are connected with warehouses that fit their needs and offer storage on a temporary basis for a much lower amount than conventional warehouses. Speedier Last-Mile Delivery As customers grow more accustomed to recovering their orders as soon as possible, the importance of a competent and professional last-mile delivery procedure is imperative to the success of a retailer. Last-mile delivery refers to the final journey of an order from the dispatch point to the customer's destination and firms are constantly trying to find ways to speed it up. With an average of 28% of a firm's total costs being spent on last-mile delivery, they can benefit from streamlining it. You can also know more about how last mile delivery companies can help in the same. Advanced WMSs Warehouse management systems are of the utmost importance for eCommerce firms to manage their warehouse processes, especially those that deal in large amounts of inventory spanning across multiple fulfillment centers. WMSs take care of tasks such as inventory management, order consolidation, tracking data across platforms and more. Investing in a WMS can have a major positive impact on how firms manage their inventory and the speed and accuracy at which they can dispatch orders. know more about how WMS software can help with logistics processes. Enhanced Implementation of Automation There are various components of the fulfillment cycle that are increasingly using automation as a way to reduce the need for manual labour. Automation is one of the most important logistics industry trends as it not only speeds up processes and reduces the amount of effort required from the on-the-ground team but it also reduces the frequency of errors. Automation can be used in various ways starting from the automation of warehouse tasks such as storage and product selection to assigning the relevant last-mile delivery service and more. Cloud-Based Solutions eCommerce as an industry relies on the raw power of the internet for the majority of its services whether it is a customer browsing a website or online listing and paying for it online or a firm tracking its inventory across multiple fulfillment centers and consolidating orders from different online selling platforms in one dashboard so they can be monitored more easily. This is all made possible through cloud computing and internet-based services which are made available to retailers through their marketplaces on the selling front and 3PL companies on the operational front. Geolocation Services Geolocation services are one of the most prominent eCommerce trends that are visible to sellers in the form of tracking inventory and receiving real-time updates across multiple warehouses, and customers in the form of order tracking facilities that keep them posted on every development and update about their order until it reaches them. Geolocation is not only important for retailers to manage their inventory but also to mitigate customer apprehension and increase their confidence by providing more visibility and transparency regarding their purchases. Drones for Delivery Purposes The latest developments in logistics innovations have led to the mainstream adoption of drones to deliver orders, especially to locations with limited accessibility by conventional vehicles. While drones are already being used in developed countries for delivery purposes, they are progressively being adopted in developing markets due to the benefits they offer such as lowering costs, providing faster delivery, not being restrained by geography and much more. Crowdsourced Delivery Methods Crowdsourced delivery is one of the logistics industry trends that is becoming more prominently used. It refers to the leveraging of local courier services by retailers to deliver parcels to customers on a large scale. By consolidating multiple orders together and delivering them one by one, crowdsourced delivery can increase the speed and efficiency of last-mile delivery. This method is already widely used in the food delivery industry and is increasingly being used for eCommerce deliveries as well. Reliance on Data and Metrics eCommerce as an industry relies heavily on numbers and logistics as a process necessitates the use of analytics and data to gauge the efficiency of various operations by analysing costs, performance, customer receptiveness and more. By using data to come to conclusions, firms can make the necessary changes and improvements to whichever processes require it so that the entire logistics process can be streamlined as much as possible. Self-Shipping Vehicles While still in various stages of testing in different parts of the world, self-shipping services through automated vehicles are one of the logistics innovations that should become widely used in the next couple of years. While it would be more difficult to implement in developing countries due to road conditions, hazards, overcrowding and other factors, the technology has gone through multiple successful trial runs in countries like the US and should be ready to deliver products in the not-so-distant future. You May Like: 10 Prominent and Latest eCommerce Shipping Trends for eCommerce Sellers to Watch Out For in 2023 Conclusion: Take Advantage of Logistics Innovations With WareIQ Logistics is a very important part of eCommerce services as it enables products to be successfully delivered to their required destinations. There are many new logistics innovations and trends that are taking hold of the eCommerce space which are bound to improve the experience of retailers and customers alike by enabling faster, cost-effective and more efficient deliveries to a wider range of locations. If you are an eCommerce retailer that needs assistance with your logistics services, you can take advantage of WareIQ’s offerings. WareIQ has emerged as one of the fastest-growing eCommerce fulfillment companies in the nation. Through our wide utilization of technology to provide various solutions, WareIQ’s services are often more efficient, innovative and cost-effective than the rest. When it comes to eCommerce logistics, WareIQ as an eCommerce logistics company offers multiple services, some of which are listed below: We offer a pan-India network of fulfillment centers, logistics centers and dark storesWe provide intelligent inventory storage based on proximity to areas of high demand and transport facilitiesWe offer ultra-fast same-day and next-day shippingWe provide a choice of more than 20 major shipping carriers and always assign the fastest and cheapest option for every orderOur branded tracking pages can be customized to your liking to provide a highly personalized experience to your customersOur custom WMS can integrate with more than 12 eCommerce platforms and can track and update inventory in real-time across multiple fulfillment centersWe provide reverse logistics services and an RTO Shield to mitigate the damage caused by returns Logistics Innovations: FAQs What is the role of logistics in eCommerce?Logistics is responsible for transporting goods from warehouses or fulfillment centers to their dispatch points and ultimately, to the end consumer. What is the importance of logistics innovations?Logistics innovations help improve logistics operations by making them faster, more efficient and more cost-effective. This not only helps retailers but also their customers. What role will data play in the logistics industry in the future?Logistics will place even higher importance on data and artificial intelligence as it moves further towards automation. A study by Gartner has estimated that AI will be utilised across more than 50% of supply chain technology services by 2023. How can logistics operations be improved?5 ways to improve logistics operations are mentioned below:- Reduce delivery timelines- Streamline operational tasks- Optimise transport facilities to be more cost-effective- Enhance warehouse management capabilities- Use logistics innovations What are some popular areas of focus in logistics innovation?Automation, sustainability, real-time tracking, cost reduction, efficiency improvement, last-mile delivery. How does logistics innovation impact businesses?Improved customer satisfaction, increased competitiveness, reduced costs, streamlined processes, greater efficiency. What are some emerging technologies in logistics innovation?Artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, blockchain, robotics, drone technology, 5G connectivity. Does WareIQ offer any other services?Yes, WareIQ offers a variety of eCommerce solutions for different requirements such as storage, inventory management, order fulfillment, last-mile delivery, order tracking and much more.

August 25, 2022