For quite some time now, shipping costs have been a major obstacle for many ecommerce businesses, taking a toll on their bottom line. When it comes to shipping your products, several factors, including packaging materials and weight, can drive costs. If you’re not careful, these costs can quickly accumulate, leading to unnecessary extra fees.
在本文中, we’ll share the top 10 ways you can save money on shipping. From leveraging technology to embracing strategic packaging practices, 你可以 reduce shipping costs, enhance your business, and maintain financial prudence and efficiency.
Let’s dive in!
Optimize Your Packaging
这些日子, 包装不仅仅局限于盒子或纸箱. 影响产品可靠性, 质量, 速度, 运输费, 和灵活性. 如果您使用更少的材料并优化包装，您可以为您的企业节省资金.
此外, 因为越来越多的公司正在走向绿色, it is best to utilize more environmentally friendly packing supplies, 其生命周期更长，对环境的影响更小.
以下是优化包装和降低运输成本的一些方法:
- 选择 lightweight and custom packaging materials to reduce package weight.
- Reduce the dimensional weight (height, 宽度, 长度) of your packaging. You can do this by choosing smaller boxes, eliminating filler materials (例如, packing peanuts or bubble wrap), and arranging the items efficiently. Minimizing empty spaces and using packaging tailored to the product’s size can significantly reduce dimensional weight. It is very unnecessary to send a little product in a huge box.
- Try using corrugated boxes, as they are sturdier and cheaper (boxes that are shaped with ridges or folds).
Speaking of more sustainable options, Samsung introduced eco-friendly packaging made from corrugated cardboard boxes that can be repurposed as cat furniture, 货架, 以及其他常见的家居用品.
Samsung’s packaging is recyclable but also reusable
Go For Discounted Supplies
It’s worth looking into discounted shipping supplies as they can have a substantial impact on your shipping expenses. By taking advantage of sales and discounts, you can stock up on packaging supplies 比如盒子, 磁带, 以及任何成本较低的包装材料.
建议对下一季度的销售进行预测，提前备货. 这最终可以为您的产品带来更具竞争力的定价，并让您节省未来可避免的成本.
批量购买
除了寻找打折的包装材料, 另一种节省运费的方法是批量购买. Buying in bulk saves money in the long term since you obtain a lower overall cost when you buy more at once. It also guarantees that you always have enough supplies on hand to fulfill requests quickly, reducing the need for reordering.
Buying in bulk also avoids the risk of sudden cost spikes, as material cost fluctuations can wreck a business’s bottom line. 此外, it allows for more accessible organization and storage of shipping supplies, 使整个运输过程更加高效.
全面的, 对于任何希望简化运输流程并节省资金的企业来说，批量购买运输用品是一项明智的投资.
使用折扣运输公司
运输折扣直接影响利润率, 允许有竞争力的定价和潜在的销售增长. 这些折扣运费还可以为客户提供有吸引力的奖励, 例如免费或折扣运费, 增强他们的吸引力.
在线企业在考虑折扣运费时有很多选择:
- 使用运费计算器进行准确估算
- 利用批量运输选项
- 根据运输量协商运费
- 加入航运忠诚度计划和其他独家折扣
- 随时了解运输公司的季节性促销和特别优惠.
Discounted shipping carriers vary by location, 在谷歌上快速搜索“我附近的折扣运输”应该会给你一些不错的选择.
如果您使用 Ecwid by Lightspeed 在线销售, 为您的订单购买折扣运输标签非常简单. 实际上，您可以在 Ecwid 管理员中直接执行此操作! 这边走, purchasing and printing shipping labels is as cheap, efficient, and convenient as possible.
在您管理订单的地方购买运输标签
在下面的文章中了解有关该过程的更多信息:
如果您刚刚开始开设商店, you’ll also find this instruction on initial shipping setup helpful.
战略性地为客户提供运输优势
在运输包裹时，战略性地为客户提供福利至关重要. 在竞争激烈的市场中, 强调所有运输优势对于增加销量至关重要, 保留, 和品牌认知度.
以下是提供运输优势以增强客户购物体验的一些战略方法:
- Implement tiered shipping choices, 以优惠的价格为客户提供更快的交付，或者为预算紧张的客户提供更实惠的解决方案 (你知道吗 88% 消费者 will pay for same-day delivery?)
- 创建 free shipping thresholds to encourage larger purchases
- Introduce hassle-free returns with prepaid shipping labels, 增强客户信心
- Collaborate with 忠诚度计划 to grant shipping perks, 激励重复购买
- 经常 communicate shipping updates and provide tracking information for transparency.
根据客户偏好定制运输策略可创造竞争优势并培养客户忠诚度, 带来更牢固的品牌关系和持续增长.
例如, the online fashion retailer, 时尚新星, 超过以下订单可享受免费 1 天送货服务 $100. 这鼓励客户增加购物车尺寸，以实现免费快速送货.
Fashion Nova 为某些订单提供免费送货服务
如果您想鼓励客户将更多产品添加到购物车以获得免费送货, you can do so by adding a promo bar or using the apps from the Ecwid App Market. Check out apps like Free Shipping Bar 和 AOV Progress Bar.
保护您的货件
Shipping insurance is an ideal way to safeguard investments and provide peace of mind. 运输保险可防止损失, 损害, 或运输途中被盗, 确保发生意外事件时您不会承受经济负担.
虽然小企业必须支付保险费, 它比支付所有运费和其他潜在损失要便宜. 除了节省运费之外, 它增加了客户的信任，因为客户更喜欢从提供保险支持的送货的商店购买. 我们都需要一点安慰.
选择理想的装运保护, 你可以考虑这些要素:
- 评估您的运输量, 产品价值, 和风险承受能力
- 研究为特定项目提供全面保险的信誉良好的保险公司和承运人
- 比较免赔额, 覆盖范围限制, 和保费保险费用以找到平衡的选择
- 仔细阅读保单条款, 注意排除和索赔流程
- 优先考虑具有透明索赔处理和积极客户评价的提供商.
顺便一提, 当您在 Ecwid 管理员中购买运输标签时, 您可以查看标签的价格是否包含保险:
Shipping labels with insurance will have a note about it
Use Flat-Rate Shipping Rates
Flat-rate shipping is a pricing method where a fixed fee is charged regardless of the package’s weight, 尺寸, or distance to be traveled. It offers simplicity and predictability, making it easier for sellers and customers to estimate shipping costs.
This method is beneficial for sending items of various sizes within a predefined packaging type. While it might not always be the most economical choice for all shipments, it can be advantageous for heavier or bulkier items, providing cost savings compared to standard shipping rates.
You can maximize flat-rate shipping benefits with these helpful steps:
- Fit the expensive items or heavy packages into the predetermined packaging, utilizing cost predictability.
- Upgrade packaging to maximize space within the box. 例如, when you’re shipping shoes. You can upgrade packaging by using shoeboxes that fit each pair snugly, stacking them efficiently, and adding shoe inserts to prevent movement. This minimizes wasted space, reduces shipping costs, and keeps the shoes protected, all while optimizing space within the box.
- Promote flat-rate shipping’s perks to customers, emphasizing convenience and savings.
- Consider using it for free shipping offers to boost order values.
- 经常 review its suitability based on market trends and customer preferences.
如果您使用 Ecwid 在线销售, here’s how to set up flat-rate shipping 在您的在线商店中.
You can set up flat rates per item or order
比较运输成本
您应该始终进行研究并比较运费，以最大限度地提高利润率和客户满意度. You can determine the cheapest way to ship packages for specific products and destinations by comparing rates from multiple carriers.
因此, you can offer competitive shipping charges and prevent excessive delivery costs.
比较成本确保客户获得负担得起且高效的运输, enhancing their shopping experience. 此外, it enables you to adjust to shifting market conditions, maintain competition, and allocate resources wisely.
To accurately compare shipping rates, you should follow these steps:
- Gather the necessary details about the shipment, such as shipping destination address (mainly when you ship internationally)
- Get quotes from multiple shipping companies, especially major carriers, to identify your shipment’s most competitive rates. Many of them provide shipping calculators on their website
- Include any extra fees like fuel surcharges, 住宅送货费, 或特殊处理费
- Compare the delivery speeds, 例如优先运送, 紧急运送, 和快速运输, 根据发货紧急程度选择最合适的发货方式
- 什么时候 shipping internationally, it is important to think about customs duties, 税收, 潜在的延误, 以及更高的运输成本. 这些在运营商之间差异很大, 所以请留意.
如果您有 Ecwid 商店, it’s easy to compare shipping rates using the apps from the Ecwid App Market.
Comparing rates using the ShippingEasy 应用程序
利用在线运输工具
电子商务运输工具是基于网络的平台，可简化管理和优化运输运营的流程. 这些工具提供多家运输公司的实时费率比较, 运输标签生成, 追踪, 和订单管理. 该运输软件使您能够轻松访问选项, 选择最实惠的方法, 并直接从您的计算机打印标签.
这些工具提高效率, 削减开支, 并帮助您为您的客户提供可靠且具有成本效益的运输解决方案.
顺便一提, 关于埃克维德, 您可以在在线商店中设置实时运费. 这边走, 客户将在结账时看到实时价格并支付准确的运费. Learn how to set up real-time carrier rates at checkout in our Help Center.
大多数主要承运商和运输公司为其客户提供不同的运输软件, 但常见的是:
- Shipping calculators: 该运输软件根据包裹尺寸提供实时运输成本计算, 重量, 和运送目的地.
- Label generation: This shipping software allows you to create and print labels without issues, 减少手动数据输入并最大限度地减少错误.
- Address validation: 该运输软件可以验证和更正收件人地址, 避免交付问题和潜在的退货.
- Tracking and notifications: Tracking and automated notifications keep you and your customers updated about delivery progress.
- Ecommerce platform integrations: Find shipping software that seamlessly integrates with popular ecommerce platforms, 简化订单处理和标签生成.
- Returns management: 这可以帮助您简化货件的退货管理, making the process smoother for both you and your customers.
通过合并发货降低运输成本
装运整合涉及将多个较小的装运合并为一个, 运输前较大的货物. 这种运输策略通过减少单个负载的数量和最大化空间利用率来优化运输效率.
例如, 考虑接收来自不同客户的订单的电子电子商务企业. 他们有多个订单，其中的单个商品要运送到同一城市. 而不是单独发送每个订单, 电商业务整合发货. 他们根据不同的订单编制了物品, 将它们正确包装在一起, 并创建了单个装运负载. This consolidated shipment is then sent to the destination city.
Customers receive consolidated shipments through various methods: pick-up from distribution centers, last-mile delivery, store pickup, locker systems, or residential delivery. The chosen method depends on the shipper’s logistics and customer preferences:
- Pick up from the distribution centers: Orders are first shipped to a central distribution hub where they are consolidated. 顾客可以选择从中心取货或从中心送货.
- 最后一英里交付: 合并后, 订单被发送到当地的配送中心, 然后将它们发送给客户’ 通过传统最后一英里送货服务的地址.
- 零售店提货: 一些零售商为顾客提供在附近实体店提货的选项. 这是 how to set up an in-store pickup 为您的 Ecwid 商店.
- 储物柜配送: 在某些地区, shippers may use locker systems for consolidated shipments, where customers receive a unique code to retrieve their packages from a secure locker.
- Residential delivery: In cases where consolidation happens en route, customers will receive their consolidated orders at their doorstep through standard residential delivery services.
This can help you save money and lower shipping costs, as carriers often offer volume-discounted rates for consolidated shipments. 此外, consolidation minimizes environmental impact through fewer transportation trips.
This approach is handy for businesses shipping smaller quantities of goods to the same destination, allowing them to benefit from economies of scale while maintaining cost-effective and environmentally responsible shipping practices.
You can effectively consolidate shipments by following these simple steps:
Plan Ahead
Planning before consolidating shipments ensures efficient grouping, proper packaging, and smooth logistics, minimizing delays and errors and maximizing cost-saving benefits for sellers.
Check Shipping Policies
It is crucial to check the consolidation services’ shipping policies, as it ensures compatibility with your needs, clarifies rules on package types, 重量, and prohibited items, and helps sellers make wise decisions.
Group Similar Destinations
Grouping packages reduces routing complexities, optimizes delivery routes, and minimizes transit times. This efficient approach enhances customer satisfaction by ensuring timely deliveries while potentially reducing shipping costs through consolidated shipments.
Coordinate Arrival Times
Coordinating arrival times allows sellers to efficiently combine items without delays, minimize storage costs, and optimize packaging.
Packaging Considerations
Thoughtful packaging guarantees secure item handling, avoids damage during merging and transit, and maximizes space efficiency. It ensures that items arrive in perfect condition, assuring customer satisfaction and reducing any additional costs.
Label Clearly
Well-labeled packages enable efficient handling, reduce errors, and maintain order accuracy throughout the consolidation process, leading to smooth logistics and satisfied customers.
Provide Instructions
Providing clear guidelines helps consolidation services combine packages accurately and efficiently. Instructions ensure items are grouped accordingly, minimizing errors, optimizing packaging, and facilitating a seamless consolidation.
Shipping Cost Considerations
Awareness of expenses guides decisions, ensuring that consolidation remains economically beneficial while maintaining quality shipping services.
Documentation and Customs
Properly completed documents ensure compliance with regulations, preventing delays or issues at customs. Accurate paperwork facilitates efficient customs clearance, minimizing the risk of disruptions and ensuring smooth delivery to international customers.
开始节省运费
Shipping is expensive, but it does not have to destroy your margins. You’ll be surprised at how low your shipping expenses can get once you optimize your operations.
By following the tips we’ve detailed in this article, you should learn how to minimize shipping costs, optimize your resources, and choose the best possible service, all while keeping your customers happy.
