5 eCommerce shipping practices to boost customer acquisition and retention when you’re a small business

Quick and timely delivery is the key differentiator in eCommerce shipping. Covid-19 has only intensified consumers’ burning desire to get hold of their ordered goods. Even if you cannot ensure same-day or next-day delivery, making customers a part of your post-sale strategy will never fail you. With increasing platforms and spends, customers have become more fickle and businesses leave no stone unturned to acquire and retain customers for life.?

Here are 5 of the best eCom shipping and distribution practices that might dramatically boost customer engagement and brand loyalty.?

i. Provide Free Shipping

Many eCommerce portals lament the sheer number of customers who go back on their buying decision after seeing the hefty shipping charges at checkout. No wonder “Free Shipping” is one of the favorite filters used when shopping online! It could be that one factor that tilts the buyer in your favor and significantly reduces cart abandonment. If there is a precondition for a minimum order amount to qualify for free shipping, most people buy more to reach that number. A win-win situation for you and your customers!

ii. Send Regular Shipping & Delivery Updates?

Stoke the anticipation by enabling your customers to track their parcel and watch the distance grow shorter until they deliver it to your house. Automate status updates in a persistent cadence on phone or email. It is imperative to find an inexpensive way to update people regularly: compare the existing options and see what suits your business the best. You can also activate web notifications for customers who do not want to check email or text messages that take them directly to the tracking page.

iii. Get Smarter With eCommerce Shipping Software

Explore SaaS solutions that unify the entire eCommerce shipping, distribution, and delivery on a common dashboard – integrated with top online platforms like Amazon, Shopify, and WooCommerce. It empowers your operational teams to respond to new orders within seconds, while buyers can track the delivery status. The bird’s eye and granular view of the analytics, trends, and buyer personas, ensure a steady flow of management logic and best shipping practices. Investing in a shipping tech stack will be worth it in the long run as your business continues to grow.?

iv. Don’t Forget Customers Post-delivery?

Ecommerce today is more than selling. It’s also going deep into data insights on shoppers’ intent and mission, which enable you to deliver the best online shopping experience. Any unaccounted delay or lack of communication would send them straight to the arms of your competitors. A seamless shipping option is what propels them to take action and continue to return to the website.?

v. Remember, the Last Mile is Crucial

The final miles can be tedious and expensive as it requires a driver to deliver goods to the doorstep. It is also the stage when the buyer directly interacts with the delivery person – an opportunity to foster lasting relations with merchants and buyers that use your platform. For instance, Amazon uses stores and upped the game with its next-day delivery, giving its competitors a run for their money.?

Bottom Line

With rising competition in the online marketplace, the only way forward is to connect emotionally with every stakeholder as they check package tracking numerous times. What are the steps you have taken to tailor the details and timing of the eCommerce shipping strategy at each phase?

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