In some ways, picking a shipping technology partner is like picking any business partner. Pick correctly, and you have a smooth and happy relationship. Make the wrong choice and you not only can lose time and money, but you are also guaranteeing yourself added stress and headaches.
As we point out in our latest eBook, “10 Things to Look for in a Perfect Parcel Shipping System Partner,” in today's eCommerce-fueled shipping world it is vital that shipping systems can handle the challenges of going global.
eCommerce consumers are increasingly willing to buy goods from other countries
According to a study by Pitney Bowes, 66 percent of consumers hop online to purchase everything from food to furniture, and 40 percent have purchased goods from another country.
In all, cross-border eCommerce accounts for 15 to 20 percent of the world's online traffic and is growing at about twice the rate of domestic eCommerce, according to a study reported by DC Velocity. Furthermore, it’s expected to hit 22 percent of global online sales by 2020, the report states, with plenty of room for further growth, giving rise to the current parcel tsunami. If your technology can’t keep up, you can get stuck in the storm dragging your overall business down.
A parcel shipping platform should have the ability to support international locations with user interfaces that include localized language, currency, time in transit, and cultural settings, as well as cross-border compliance documentation.
If not, your business may be constrained by regulations, customs delays, unexpected costs, and perhaps worst of all, unhappy customers who won’t come back to shop at your store again.
A partnership with a shipping system company takes the right mix of good business and adaptable technology to help you both be successful such as:
- Speed
- Omni-Carrier Support
- Deployment Flexibility
- IoT Connectivity
- Scalability
Read the full eBook to learn more about all 10 things to look for in a perfect parcel shipping system partner.