Smooth& Affordable Shipping and Fulfillment to Attract & retain Clients
The business process is too long; you may be deceived. You've done due diligence as soon as you make the sale until you realize you have one more process; shipping and fulfillment.
You must understand that better shipping & fulfillment equals happier customers. Then from there, you can take the necessary moves to implement frictionless delivery. In other words, shipping is where CX and brand loyalty begins.
Creating a seamless post-purchase experience gives you the chance to build brand reputation and deliver on the shopper expectations you're business has set.
But how do you go about it? Many retailers learn the niceties of shipping through mistakes- which can be very costly. That's why we came up with a guide to help you understand e-commerce shipping and meet shopper expectations from the word "go."

Understanding the Cost of the Product Shipping Process
Creating a seamless post-purchase experience gives you the chance to build brand reputation and deliver on the shopper expectations you're business has set.
Before deciding on the fees and methods to use in your shopping cart, you want to understand how industry experts calculate shipping and fulfillment costs.
That way, you can make more informed decisions on your shipping charges, which services to offer, and how to implement it. Shipping rates
You can calculate shipping rates based on the following factors:

• Weight and Dimension.
• Service and speed of delivery.
• Destination
• Shipping volume.

Destination.
How far your package is traveling will determine the cost of shipment. Carriers look at the distance between the ship-from and the ship-to address. They have even come up with zones to help them coin domestic rates.
All the major shipping and fulfillment centers in the US have their specific zones. You can use the multi-carrier rate calculator to find out how much you'll pay beforehand.
For international shipments, here's what you need to know;

Not all products are shippable. N/B; some products are forbidden in specific destinations.

You'll need to review your shipping policy and rates. Shipping internationally can be expensive.

Service and Speed.
With top retailers getting customers accustomed to quick delivery and multiple shipping options, you must work to offer the same exceptional customer experience. As a rule of thumb, the faster the shipment, the higher a customer pays in the shipping rate. But several other factors influence rates.
With service providers carriers offering several services based on different factors, do not expect to find a one-size-for-all service.
Yet you need to map the right service to the correct request to ensure pocket-friendly shipping. These questions can help you settle on the cost and service you need:

• What's the expected arrival time of the package?
• Do you need delivery commitment or guaranteed delivery?
• Will you need to track the delivery?
• Is the recipient's address residential or commercial?
• Are you shipping liquor or other special or hazardous products?

Shipping Volume.
High-volume shipping can lead to negotiated rates with most major carriers in the US. Consult with your carrier account manager to find out what discounts you're eligible to. This kind of business rapport with your carrier can come with other advantages as well.
eCommerce retailers compare multiple carriers to spot the best service and rates that fit their brand needs.
Using shipping apps that combine all carrier rates is one platform is a more natural way to make a comparison. These third-party shipping apps also show carriers that you aren't exclusive to their services. To rise above their competitor, they'll most likely negotiate shipping rates with you.

Weight and Dimension.
Different carriers have different terms, restrictions, ratings, and requirements. USPS, FedEx, and UPS ratings are based on dimensional weight (DIM).
This means it is calculated based on package size and not its actual weight; therefore, you'll pay more for large lighter parcels and cheaper for smaller, heavy boxes. Enter your package dimensions to help you to determine the best rate.

How to work out DIM.
(Length x Width x Height)/Divisor is the formula for calculating DIM. A higher divisor means a rate will be.
Here are the carrier Domestic Formula for the three leading carriers UPS (LxWxH)/139, FedEx (LxWxH)/139 USPS (*cheapest (LxWxH)/166.
Cubic rates. The USPS goes the extra mile to offer a cubic pricing structure for Priority Mail. Small heavy parcels are not charged the same rate as larger parcels of similar weights. And USPS has a formula for products under 20 lbs: (Length x Width x Height)/ 1728 = Cubic Feet
Flat rate shipping. All the above carriers offer some form of standard flat rate shipping. You choose one standard packaging from the many carriers provided and pay a flat rate regardless of its weight or destination.
With these shipping and fulfillment services pricing structures, you can make wiser decisions on your shipping methods and charges to customers while meeting their needs and ensuring all are satisfied with the experience.

Quick Tips to Improving Your Product Shipping Processes
No one appreciates receiving a parcel or package later that they anticipated it to arrive. It is what draws the line between a satisfying and annoying product shipping process.
Customers pay for the kind of parcel delivery system that they prefer. But whether they go with Standard, Same-day, or even Next-day delivery, the next thing they expect is to have their product delivered on time and in good shape.
Today, people are shopping online more than they do in physical shops. E-commerce has enabled consumers and retailers to do transactions from the comfort of their homes.
Therefore, the rising need for an effective package delivery system does not end anytime soon as online businesses pace the shift towards a smooth CX all through the buying, shipping, and fulfillment process.
To ensure that your customer is satisfied with your delivery system and save him/her time and money, you should consider implementing these tips to enhance your business shipping process.

1.Proper Documentation.
For an efficient and effective delivery system, simplify your business shipping process by properly documenting all your shipments.
While it's common to see companies use the software, apps, and complex advanced systems to manage internal processes, sometimes tech ends up slowing operations and lead to confusion.
Create a simple list of the shipping process's working sectors, what areas make the process longer, and the solutions to rebuilding an effective business shipping process and solution.

2.Perfect communications Between Business and Warehouse.
Fast and efficient communication with the warehouse is vital in maintaining a fast delivery system. It should take minutes, if not seconds, to process an order in the warehouse and have it delivered.
It not only helps to manage stock by telling you when to import more products but also ensures that you don't experience an influx of orders.
The warehouse should also staff enough members to ensure your parcels are processed in time. If possible, communicate by telephone or email to speed up the process.
While it remains convenient to send mail, face-to-face communication prevents misinterpretation of instructions and facilitates a clear and concise understanding of the order details.
Moreover, if the sending mail intervals are longer, it increases the chances of your letter being compromised.
As an alternative, you can seek asynchronous tools such as Slack and HipChat that index messages. It comes with an extra advantage of integrating with other apps, including valuable software that may help you run operations.

3. Use of the right tech (to locate items faster).
To improve the shipping and fulfillment processes in your business or company, you must be able to identify and locate an item in the warehouse. Contrary to that, it just might be like looking for a needle in a haystack!
The most efficient way to find items in your warehouse is to automate the process. Examples of scanners such as wireless scanners and barcode scanners are great tools to save you valuable time, reduce the likelihood of human error, and cut costs on the workforce.
Besides, using these devices in business can save a significant amount of time in hours, days, or months for companies to focus on tracking packages to and from the warehouse.
An example of a capable barcode scanner is Blik, which brings the table higher visibility of warehouse operations.
While some businesses are still against using technology, there's no doubt that these tools are still an invaluable part of the shipping process.
By automating tasks, human-beings can rule out the possibility for error, enhance efficiency, and at the same time, speed up the processes while cutting on costs.

A Better Alternative: Outsource to Product Shipping and Fulfillment Companies
Creating a seamless post-purchase experience gives you the chance to build brand reputation and deliver on the shopper expectations you're business has set.
To push your product shipping process a step forward, it is essential to create a list of the relevant couriers in your business operation area.
This list should be guided by the urgency and destinations of your packages. If you are looking for a faster delivery system, then a courier service that does not guarantee timely and quick delivery is not your best option.
For you to create an active list, create a spreadsheet of all relevant courier services available and the price, it will cost you to ship your parcel to your customers based on dimension and weight.
By doing this, you can easily put the finger on the best service that offers what you want and integrate it into your transport service.
In addition to the requirements, you should also consider some other factors such as delivery speed, type of delivery service, and your courier service's professional capabilities.
Here are some of the factors that you should consider when choosing a delivery service:
1. Type of service delivery:
this depends much on the number of parcels, the size, and how far your goods will need to go. Remember that the farther the item is shipped, the more expensive the product shipping prices.
2. Speed of delivery:
often, many businesses prefer a fast delivery system because customers are happier that way. It is, therefore, important to select a courier service that guarantees fast timely delivery.
3. Security:
ask yourself, how secure is my courier service? Responsible businesses want to know if a courier service can deliver their parcels safe and sound before outsourcing the service. You can determine the security system's credibility by requesting information regarding your selected courier's policy and if there's the chance of any packages being left unattended during the business shipping process. If so, you don't want to risk delaying your customer's items and ruining your brand name.
4. Reliability:
Can you rely on your courier each time you vow to deliver to a client? Your company's reputation is at stake if your courier does not ensure that your parcels reach their destinations. Be keen to assess the competency of your courier service before signing a deal with them.

Closing Up
Creating a seamless post-purchase experience gives you the chance to build brand reputation and deliver on the shopper expectations you're business has set.
To streamline the process of shipping and fulfillment, consider the above factors. They are the foundation towards developing a frictionless delivery system for your brand and your customers.
In an era where online shoppers are more common than physical shoppers, it is crucial to focus on delivering products because most prospects only want to do business with the best.