Running an e-commerce business demands a seamless shipping process.
In fact, the vast majority of consumers say efficient, accurate shipping is one of the most desirable amenities that any online retailer can offer during the present day. If you’re selling online and using NetSuite as one of your platforms for order management, you already know how important shipping is for your bottom line.
Why E-commerce Shipping is Crucial
E-commerce shipping is more than delivering products. It encompasses packaging, tracking, insurance, and handling returns. A well-structured shipping process can significantly boost sales and customer retention.
On the contrary, inefficient shipping can cost online retailers their sales and valuable customer relationships. According to a survey, over two-thirds of online shoppers have refrained from purchasing an item due to high shipping costs. Around 93% of online buyers are inclined to buy more when presented with free shipping options. This is why your online store needs to have a comprehensive strategy for shipping in place from the start.
The Power of NetSuite in E-commerce Shipping
NetSuite offers a seamless and integrated process to boost overall order fulfillment efficiency for its users. NetSuite streamlines shipping operations by connecting order management, inventory, and shipping processes in real-time. It allows online retailers to manage shipping carriers, rates, and service levels, enabling them to choose the most cost-effective and timely shipping options for their customers.
NetSuite’s integration with major shipping carriers such as UPS, FedEx, and USPS facilitates automated shipping label creation, tracking, and order updates. Furthermore, it supports diverse, complex shipping models like dropshipping and multiple shipping locations to meet the needs of modern e-commerce businesses.
Building a Successful Shipping Strategy
Creating a successful shipping strategy is critical for e-commerce businesses. It involves setting your shipping rates, selecting your packaging, incorporating insurance and tracking, and being diligent about international shipping.
Software Matters
You can streamline your fulfillment process with the right tools. In this case, customizable NetSuite shipping software that supports multiple carriers is essential for any retailer looking to expedite their logistics.
Set your Shipping Rates
Options include offering free shipping, charging real-time carrier rates, implementing a flat rate, or providing local delivery.
Select your Packaging
Packaging is critical to your shipping strategy, influencing costs and brand image. Utilizing corrugated paper box options can enhance both efficiency and sustainability in your packaging approach.
Incorporate Insurance and Tracking
Shipping insurance and tracking can provide you with worthwhile peace of mind.
Be Diligent About International Shipping
For international shipments, proper customs documentation is required.
Use Business Accounts
Setting up business accounts can be advantageous, offering benefits like discounts, improved expense tracking, and online tools for efficient shipping process management.
NetSuite Shipping Features You Shouldn’t Miss
Here are six features that can significantly enhance your shipping experience with NetSuite:
- Fast Volume Fulfillment: Meet customers’ fast and reliable shipping demands by offering more immediate volume fulfillment.
- Custom Label Options: Create custom labels at high speeds to add a professional touch to packages and improve brand visibility.
- Built-in Shipping Discounts: Get built-in shipping discounts via Flat Rate Select, providing instant savings on popular USPS Priority Mail box sizes.
- Multicarrier Support: Choose from all major U.S. shipping carriers, including FedEx, UPS, and USPS, to offer flexibility in shipping options.
- Better Order Filtering & Tracking: NetSuite shipping software provides industry-best order filtering and sorting options, automatically creating customer profiles with comprehensive order data.
- NetSuite RMA (Customer Return Authorization): Returns are managed efficiently with ReadyReturns, a part of the ReadyCloud suite, allowing e-tailers to deliver a hassle-free returns experience.
The Edge of NetSuite in E-commerce
NetSuite offers cloud-based ERP services. It’s packed with helpful tools that help businesses manage key functions and processes such as accounting, inventory, orders, purchasing, customer support, and more, all at a very reasonable cost. Moreover, it offers real-time functions, flexibility, global operations, a fully customizable dashboard and forms, a built-in email engine, two-way Microsoft Outlook integration, project management software, excellent material requirement planning (MRP) capability, and top-tier cloud security.
Final Thoughts
Your online store is only successful when it can compete with the rest. This means making sure that your products are priced competitively and attractive to consumers and shipped in a timely and accurate manner until they reach buyers’ doorsteps. Understanding how you can improve processes related to shipping with Netsuite can give your store the upper hand. Mastering the art of managing shipping on NetSuite can streamline operations, enhance customer satisfaction, and propel your online store toward massive success.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the role of shipping in e-commerce?
Shipping in e-commerce is crucial as it affects sales and customer retention. It involves packaging, tracking, insurance, and handling returns.
Why is a well-structured shipping process important?
A well-structured shipping process can boost sales and customer retention. It ensures products are delivered efficiently, accurately, and in a timely manner to customers.
How does inefficient shipping affect online retailers?
Inefficient shipping can cost online retailers their sales and valuable customer relationships. Consumers may refrain from purchasing due to high shipping costs or poor delivery services.
What is NetSuite?
NetSuite is a platform for order management that offers an integrated process to enhance overall order fulfillment efficiency.
How does NetSuite streamline shipping operations?
NetSuite connects order management, inventory, and shipping processes in real time. This integration allows online retailers to manage shipping carriers, rates, and service levels.
What are some of the shipping carriers that NetSuite integrates with?
NetSuite integrates with major shipping carriers such as UPS, FedEx, and USPS.
What features does NetSuite offer for e-commerce shipping?
NetSuite offers features like automated shipping label creation, tracking, order updates, and support for complex shipping models like dropshipping and multiple shipping locations.
What is involved in creating a successful shipping strategy?
Creating a successful shipping strategy involves setting shipping rates, selecting packaging, incorporating insurance and tracking, and being diligent about international shipping.
How can NetSuite shipping software be customized?
NetSuite shipping software can be customized to support multiple carriers, thereby providing flexibility in shipping options to customers.
What benefits can setting up business accounts provide?
Setting up business accounts can offer benefits like discounts, improved expense tracking, and online tools for efficient shipping process management.
How does NetSuite support international shipping?
NetSuite aids international shipping by supporting the necessary documentation and offering integrations with international shipping carriers.
What are some of the benefits of using NetSuite for e-commerce shipping?
NetSuite offers benefits like automated shipping label creation, tracking, order updates, and support for diverse shipping models.
How can NetSuite help with customer retention?
By offering efficient and reliable shipping, NetSuite can help improve customer satisfaction and retention.
What is the impact of shipping costs on online shoppers’ purchasing decisions?
High shipping costs can deter online shoppers from making a purchase. Offering free or discounted shipping can encourage more purchases.
Can NetSuite handle returns?
Yes, NetSuite manages returns efficiently with ReadyReturns, a part of the ReadyCloud suite, allowing e-tailers to deliver a hassle-free returns experience.
How does NetSuite help in enhancing brand visibility?
NetSuite allows for the creation of custom labels at high speeds to add a professional touch to packages and improve brand visibility.
What features does NetSuite offer for international shipping?
NetSuite supports necessary customs documentation for international shipments and integrates with international shipping carriers.
Does NetSuite offer shipping discounts?
Yes, NetSuite offers built-in shipping discounts via Flat Rate Select, providing instant savings on popular USPS Priority Mail box sizes.
What is the advantage of using multiple carriers in e-commerce shipping?
Using multiple carriers provides flexibility in shipping options, allowing retailers to choose the most cost-effective and timely option for each shipment.
What tools does NetSuite provide for managing shipping processes?
NetSuite offers industry-best order filtering and sorting options, and automatically creates customer profiles with comprehensive order data.
