Category

Shipping & Fulfillment

Our shipping and fulfillment coverage reflects the expectations of many consumers for free and fast delivery. We address topics that help ecommerce merchants meet those goals, including analyses of carriers, free shipping strategies, fulfillment efficiencies (including the use of third-party fulfillment companies), returns and refunds, multichannel integration, drop shipping issues, and much more.

Shipping & Fulfillment
Holiday Checklist for Ecommerce Operations

October 1, 2015 • Michael Manzione

We’re fast approaching the time of year that typically accounts for more than 20 percent of annual retail sales. It usually defines whether a company is profitable or not. Communication, organization,
Shipping & Fulfillment
USPS Regional Rate Shipping Saves Money

September 30, 2015 • Armando Roggio

The United States Postal Service’s Priority Mail Regional Rate shipping can save ecommerce businesses money and deliver orders somewhat more quickly than similar services. First introduced in 2011, USPS Priority ...
Shipping & Fulfillment
Adjusting to third-party fulfillment

September 25, 2015 • Kenny Kane

My last two posts — “My search for a third party fulfillment company” and “Life after in-house fulfillment” — have addressed Stupid Cancer’s massive change from in-house to third-party fulfillment. While ...
Shipping & Fulfillment
Will Robots Take Over Ecommerce Warehouses?

September 10, 2015 • Marcia Kaplan

Robots have always played a prominent role in movies, television, and children’s toys. They are now navigating a new arena — warehouses — and changing the way businesses handle their ...
Shipping & Fulfillment
8 Obstacles to Drone Delivery, for Ecommerce

September 4, 2015 • Gagan Mehra

The military has used drones for years, for a variety of missions. Now ecommerce retailers are evaluating their use. Consumer research firm eDigitalResearch conducted a survey that found that 33 percent ...
Shipping & Fulfillment
What’s the True Cost of Inventory?

August 31, 2015 • Michael Manzione

Inventory is often the largest asset of ecommerce merchants. Inventory defines merchants’ businesses and their position in the marketplace. It defines customers’ expectations of the business. For most ecommerce merchants, the ...
Shipping & Fulfillment
Life after in-house fulfillment

August 18, 2015 • Kenny Kane

In “My search for a third-party fulfillment company,” I wrote that location, automation, and accommodation were key factors in making my final decision. Once we had penned an agreement that satisfied ...
Shipping & Fulfillment
Drop Shipping: Be Cautious of Automation

August 18, 2015 • Jeremy Hanks

The primary benefit of drop shipping for retailers is the ability to access merchandise without incurring physical inventory carrying costs. It also enables suppliers to open new channels or penetrate existing ...
Shipping & Fulfillment
My search for a third-party fulfillment company

July 22, 2015 • Kenny Kane

I can’t help but reflect on this time last year as one of my greatest ecommerce successes. The Stupid Cancer store had rounded a corner of success that there was ...
Shipping & Fulfillment
Drop Shipping: 5 Tactics of Successful Retailers

July 19, 2015 • Jeremy Hanks

In "Drop Shipping for Ecommerce, Part 2: The Basics," I explained that one of the challenges with drop shipping is sellers believe it will be easy to implement. It sort of oversells itself, in fact. Think of the powerful terms that are often used to describe it: “Inventory Free Retail,” “Endless Aisle.”
Shipping & Fulfillment
Ecommerce Shipping Innovations Just Over Horizon?

May 22, 2015 • Armando Roggio

How orders are delivered to ecommerce shoppers might change dramatically in just the next few years as retailers and carriers come up with ways to reduce shipping costs and speed ...
Shipping & Fulfillment
Drop Shipping: How to Manage Invoices

May 21, 2015 • Jeremy Hanks

Drop shipping requires three major data integrations between the retailer and the supplier: product catalog, inventory, and orders. The final step in the drop shipping process occurs when the supplier ...
Shipping & Fulfillment
Drop Shipping: How to Manage Returns

April 16, 2015 • Jeremy Hanks

Drop shipping requires three major data integrations between the retailer and the supplier: product catalog, inventory, and orders. The order integration and workflow culminates with fulfillment and shipment from the ...
Shipping & Fulfillment
How Shipping Methods and Policies Affect Conversions

April 7, 2015 • Pamela Hazelton

Ask any group of online shoppers their top reason for abandoning a shopping cart and they’ll likely refer to shipping. However, it’s not always about the cost of delivery. The way ...
Shipping & Fulfillment
How to Manage UPS, FedEx Dimensional Weight Pricing

March 26, 2015 • Michael Manzione

The days of being able to offer free shipping may be coming to an end for many ecommerce merchants. UPS and FedEx have implemented dimensional weight pricing for ground packages ...
Shipping & Fulfillment
Drop Shipping: How to Manage Fulfillment

March 18, 2015 • Jeremy Hanks

Recall from my previous posts that drop shipping requires three major data integrations between the retailer and the supplier: product catalog, inventory, and orders. It all culminates with fulfillment and ...
Shipping & Fulfillment
Drop Shipping: How to Manage Orders

February 17, 2015 • Jeremy Hanks

Drop shipping requires three major data integrations between the retailer and the supplier: product catalog, inventory, and orders. If you’re new to drop shipping, read my 4-part series on the ...
Shipping & Fulfillment
Drop Shipping: How to Manage Inventory Visibility

January 20, 2015 • Jeremy Hanks

If you’re new to drop shipping, read my 4-part series on the basics, for ecommerce. Drop shipping requires three major data integrations between the retailer and the supplier: product catalog, inventory,
Shipping & Fulfillment
Drop Shipping: How to Manage Product Catalog Data

December 16, 2014 • Jeremy Hanks

This is my sixth article on ecommerce drop shipping. The first five installments addressed the basics. This month, I’ll leave the installment format behind and discuss deeper topics and trends. Drop ...
Shipping & Fulfillment
Ecommerce Drop Shipping vs. Marketplaces: Pros, Cons

November 25, 2014 • Jeremy Hanks

This is the fifth installment in my series on drop shipping and inventory supply models. In “Drop Shipping for Ecommerce, Part 1: Supply Chain History,” my first article, I addressed basic ...
Shipping & Fulfillment
Same-day Delivery by Ecommerce SMBs Viable?

October 27, 2014 • Armando Roggio

Same-day delivery has the potential to become a significant retail differentiator, potentially raising the ecommerce industry’s barrier for entry, making it harder for new, relatively small ecommerce businesses to start ...
Shipping & Fulfillment
Drop Shipping for Ecommerce, Part 4: Winning Strategies

October 20, 2014 • Jeremy Hanks

In “Drop Shipping for Ecommerce, Part 1: Supply Chain History,” my first article, I addressed the basic supply chain evolution inside of ecommerce. Then, in “Part 2: The Basics,” I ...
Shipping & Fulfillment > Merchant Voice
Beware parcel forwarding services?

October 15, 2014 • Richard Stubbings

There is an industry growing up within ecommerce that offers parcel-forwarding services. It is mainly in the U.S., but there are similar services in the U.K., where I live. The ...
Shipping & Fulfillment
Drop Shipping for Ecommerce, Part 3: Suppliers vs. Retailers

September 17, 2014 • Jeremy Hanks

In “Drop Shipping for Ecommerce, Part 1: Supply Chain History,” my first article, I addressed basic supply chain evolution inside of ecommerce. Last month, in “Part 2: The Basics,” I ...
Shipping & Fulfillment
Drop Shipping for Ecommerce, Part 2: The Basics

August 15, 2014 • Jeremy Hanks

My article last month, “Drop Shipping for Ecommerce, Part 1: Supply Chain History,” was the first in a series about drop shipping as an ecommerce supply management technique. What Is Drop ...
Shipping & Fulfillment
Drop Shipping for Ecommerce, Part 1: Supply Chain History

July 24, 2014 • Jeremy Hanks

To fully address the good and the bad of drop shipping as a supply management technique, I'm going to start with the history and current state of the retail supply chain.
Shipping & Fulfillment
4 Ways Same-day Delivery Will Transform Retailers

June 17, 2014 • Armando Roggio

Amazon and Google are expanding same-day delivery services in major cities. These offerings and similar same-day delivery services from other companies could transform retailers online and off, potentially broadening the ...
Shipping & Fulfillment
Pros and Cons of UPS SurePost, FedEx SmartPost

May 20, 2014 • Christopher Bosdal

If you are looking to save money on shipping, start with a call to your UPS or FedEx representative. Speak with her about UPS SurePost or FedEx SmartPost. These are ...
Shipping & Fulfillment
How to Choose an Ecommerce Shipping Provider

April 29, 2014 • Gagan Mehra

Many merchants struggle with the challenge of shipping goods in the fastest and cheapest manner. There are several variables that determine the best shipping provider for each order. These include ...
Shipping & Fulfillment
12 Apps and Resources for Shipping

March 3, 2014 • Sig Ueland

Product shipping is an essential task for most all ecommerce merchants. And efficient and reliable shipping is one of the best opportunities you have to make a positive impression on your ...

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