ECommerce store article and permission to publish here provided by Laura Jones.
The world of ecommerce is a minefield, and cybersecurity should be at the forefront of your mind when you’re designing or setting up an online store. But, here’s the snag; with so many cybersecurity tips and tricks to learn, it’s hard to know where to start.
So, this blog post will go over some best practices for securing that all-important data to prevent any devastating security breaches down the line through less than savory methods such as hacking, leading to considerable revenue losses.
Customer shipping expectations article and permission to publish here provided by Connor Dedi.
The evolution of e-commerce has paved the way for a new standard of shopping. Especially with COVID-19 restrictions still being enforced around the world, shopping online has truly become both the safest and most convenient option for many around the world.
This is in part due to the amount of information that prospective customers can research about the products they’re interested in prior to purchasing them. One Google search of a particular product allows customers the ability to review its unique features and capabilities, price check amongst similar competing products, read customer reviews, and even find a way to bargain through the use of online coupons before deciding which product to ultimately purchase.
Online retail has become an enormous industry in the past few years. In 2019 alone, e-tail commerce totaled more than $3.5 trillion globally, with more than 1.92 billion people shopping online for products and services.
Supply Chain Systems article and permission to publish here provided by Dave Joseph at veridian.info.
E-commerce will continue to grow significantly through 2020 and beyond. As evidenced by the most recent peak shipping season, the need for effective, high-quality logistics and warehouse management has never been higher.
The demands for faster, more affordable processes are growing in stride. As reported by Jeff Berman of Supply Chain 24/7, “[up to] 70% of B2C companies and 60% of B2C companies are focused on the full implementation of their respective ecommerce supply chain strategies, with 70% of total respondents viewing ecommerce at ‘very important’ or ‘extremely important,’ as it relates to volume and revenue.”
To stay competitive and relevant in the world of e-commerce, supply chain leaders need to understand the value of a few core Supply Chain systems that promote retail fulfillment and provide strategies for success for those within the e-commerce supply chain.
Prior to one Holiday season several years ago the volume that was coming into the Distribution Centre receiving area was unprecedented and unpredicted. We were out of room on the docks and we were out of storage space but trucks kept on coming. And we were still weeks away from being able to ship product to stores to relieve the pressure.
We were gridlocked. We kept inching our way along but we were very, very close to having this traffic jam of activity shut us down.
E-Commerce business model article and permission to publish here provided by Claire Glassman.
The shift from offline retail to online businesses is an unstoppable trend. E-commerce has arrived decades ago, and its relevance now booms in the current advancement of technology.
Now, more and more entrepreneurs are building and starting their e-commerce businesses. For your e-commerce business to have a greater chance of success, you need to think long and hard about what E-Commerce business model you’re going to pursue.
You have just started an online business and you want your store to be user-friendly and loaded with great products.
One of the most important things to running a business is to manage your supply chain effectively and consider 3rd party integrations, or partnerships.
Ecommerce Fulfillment is Critical article and permission to publish here provided by Nikitha Kanumuri.
Technological advancements have made our lives more convenient. Different sectors of the economy have benefited from novel innovations; however, businesses can be considered as the biggest winners. From manufacturers to retailers, technology has greatly improved the efficiency and operations of these sectors. The emergence of ecommerce redefined how entities and their customers relate. Today, the ecommerce sector has made it easier for people to purchase their desired products hassle-free.
The introduction of ecommerce fulfillment centers has made it easier for traders to outsource warehouse facilities and shipping services, thus making their operations much more manageable. It relieves the pressure of operating and managing the physical storage spaces. All the seller needs to do is outsource fulfillment services and the chosen company will handle the shipping and returns.
Future of E-Commerce article created for Supply Chain Game Changer by Josh Wardini. Infographic originally published by Subscriptionly at https://subscriptionly.net
Thanks to digital technology we can carry out commercial transactions online. We can buy and sell items or services, pay bills, make orders, and so much more.
Online enterprises are heavily relying on this commodity. This is why we have numerous online businesses nowadays.
The infographic below from Subscriptionly will inform you about the current and future tech trends that will influence the ecommerce sector. Some of the main trends are as follows.
Tracking information article originally published by, and permission to publish here provided by, Jake Smith at https://www.gopeople.com.au
Online shopping has become an integral part of many consumers’ lives. The increased volume of parcels shows that this new way of acquiring goods and services is here to stay.
While a lot of packages are successfully delivered, sometimes, they can get misplaced, damaged, and in worst cases, lost. For these reasons, many customers will want to know the exact location and status of the items they ordered to ensure that it will safely arrive in their homes.
Golden Age article and permission to publish here provided by John Howard of couponlawn.com.
For the last two decades, the field of e-commerce fulfillment (logistics) has been going through the golden age because of the equally growing market of e-commerce providers (online sellers). However, other logistics companies improved their fulfillment game in 2018. New players in the field, such as ShipBob, presented the public with cheaper fulfillment solutions.
With all the changes in the e-commerce industry, customers are expecting faster services and response times. Amazon suddenly changed the game by introducing the 2-day shipping program of Amazon Prime. Target tried to counter this move, but Amazon launched ‘Amazon Prime Now,’ which ensures deliveries over two-hour delivery time.
After the launch of these fantastic services, customers’ demand will only increase.
Returns article originally published at https://www.bringg.com and permission to publish here provided by Raanan Cohen.
A new survey from Brightpearl found that 42 percent of U.S. retailers say they have seen an increase in the number of “serial returners” over the last 12 months.
What’s more, 61 percent of the retailers surveyed said they would ban serial returners.
This is an interesting change in an industry that has put so much emphasis on facilitating free returns and exchanges.
E-commerce is defined as the buying and selling of products or services exclusively through electronic channels. If you’ve made an online purchase through eBay, Shopify, Amazon, and other platforms, then you have made your purchase via an e-commerce site. More and more people spend their time browsing on the internet and the more likely they are to buy stuff online.
Admittedly, the e-commerce industry is booming. Retail e-commerce sales in the United States are projected to grow at a fast pace in the coming years, going from 322.17 billion U.S. dollars in 2016 to just over 485 billion US dollars in 2021.
Why You Need Order Fulfillment Services
If you’re looking for a business that will eventually get you out of your 9-5 job, or looking to expand your existing business, having an online presence and web-based store could fulfill this goal. For beginners in the e-commerce trade, what do you need to do to get more sales, with a lot of online businesses competing for customers’ attention?
Customers want products that will give the best bang for their buck with speedy delivery, and good after-sales support. Here’s where the different companies offering order fulfillment services come in.
What is an Order Fulfillment Service?
Order fulfillment is defined as the steps involved in receiving, processing and delivering orders to end customers. A fulfillment service is defined as a third-party company that provides these order fulfillment steps on behalf of another party, such as an online seller.
Let’s look at the pros and cons of using either Amazon FBA (Fulfillment By Amazon) or a 3PL for your fulfillment needs.
Fulfillment By Amazon
FBA, or Fulfillment By Amazon is a business model wherein e-commerce sellers on the Amazon Marketplace, big or small, can have their products stored in any of Amazon’s giant warehouses, pack and deliver them to customers, handle customer support, and returns.
FBA Pros
Expertise and Reach
Amazon has one of the most advanced e-commerce fulfillment service in the world, can help you scale-up or grow your business and as of the last measured period, the source estimated 90 million paying Amazon Prime subscribers in the United States, up from 63 million in June during the previous year.
Amazon Prime customers are eligible for 2-Day Shipping, Free Shipping and other benefits. If you sign up your products for Amazon Prime, your products are eligible for free shipping, too.
Customer Service and Returns
FBA handles customer service and returns. Listings are displayed with the Prime logo, so customers know that Amazon handles packing, delivery, customer service, and returns.
They handle the fulfillment services side of the business and saves your time, so you can focus on the other aspects of your business.
Multi-Channel Fulfillment
With Multi-Channel Fulfillment, you can fulfill orders from other sales channels using your inventory stored in Amazon order fulfillment centers. Single-source your inventory to streamline your fulfillment operations, manage your inventory through an online user interface and can direct Amazon to return your inventory in e-commerce fulfillment centers at any time.
Cons of using FBA
Customization
Little to no order customization. Sellers must comply with existing Amazon .processes.
Branding
Items are shipped in Amazon boxes. Sellers can ship in generic boxes which may cost extra.
Warehouse Pricing
Storage fees are generally higher compared to 3PLs and usually rise during holidays.
Higher order handling fees for non-Amazon orders.
Communication
Solutions are based in standard processes which may pose little opportunity for dialogue.
Conflict of interest
The fact that Amazon may actually be a competitor to the seller. Amazon is in the business of selling, they just happen to offer shipping services. For Amazon, it’s free product and market research, and they’re making money off you.
Third Party Logistics (3PL / TPL)
Third–party logistics in logistics and supply chain management is a company’s use of third party businesses to outsource elements of the company’s order fulfillment services.
Pros of Using 3PL
Customization
Boxes/bags and all internal packaging are customized to a specific brand. Processes are adapted to your business’ operation and specification.
Warehouse Costing
Attractive storage costs that is variable. Customer pays storage space on a given month. Some 3PLs even offer free warehouse storage for a limited time.
Communication
Has onboarding processes, frequent communication before and after product launch. Collaborative approach is encouraged.
B2B (Business to Business)
Certain 3PLs can handle both B2B and B2C (Business to Consumer) fulfillment, resulting in one e-commerce fulfillment partner for all sales channels.
Cons of Using 3PL
Finding a Trustworthy 3PL company takes time.
Not all 3PL providers are created equal. It takes time to find a good company to work with from the beginning. Once you find someone you can trust, you can rest assured that your goods are being properly cared for. The initial search could be stressful but it will all be worth it once you find a reliable 3PL company.
Bad Service Reflects on Your Company
An inefficient 3PL provider could make your company look bad. Your customers do not care who is in charge of getting the product to them. All they care about is the end result. It is very important to look for a good distribution center early on to avoid customer-satisfaction issues in the future.
Amazon FBA or 3PL in Conclusion
Order Fulfillment Services are a crucial part of your business and a major factor in determining its success or failure. Whether you entrust your fulfillment services to FBA or a 3PL, there is a greater chance that you will be in good hands – these are fulfillment experts, after all. The key difference is you as the owner, – what do you want for your brand and what kind of customer experience you want to give to your consumers.
If you are happy to use Amazon’s existing system and tap into their wide customer reach, FBA may be a perfect fit for your company. If, however, you would like more control over your order fulfillment services, partnering with a 3PL could be the best solution. Make sure your order fulfillment service provider is experienced with the type of operations you need before you entrust them with your reputation.
Originally written for Supply Chain Game Changer and published on March 8, 2018.
My wife recently ordered some nail polish online from a VERY large online retailer. A few days later a large box arrived at the door. Rattling around in this large box were 2 small bottles of nail polish. The overpackaging was absolutely shameful and disgusting.
We’ve written about the topic before, and many years ago. And with all the talk about the environment, sustainability, recycling and waste elimination we would have thought the situation would have improved.
But at least one out of every 4 online orders we receive is subject to overpackaging.
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