eCommerce is one of the most talked-about sectors today, as more and more people prefer online shopping. Looking at the changing buying patterns of consumers, an ever-increasing number of retailers are showing interest in expanding their businesses through eCommerce platforms.
However, online selling comes with its challenges, hence one needs to keep updating their services and operations. They need to maintain services as per the latest eCommerce shipping trends and remain competitive in the market.
When it comes to eCommerce, shipping is recognized as one of the most critical aspects. eCommerce sellers realize that they need advanced shipping solutions to meet drastically changing requirements in 2022 and years to come. These include same-day delivery expectations, strong customer support, easy return order management, customized product and delivery services and more.
Meeting customers’ expectations is definitely the foremost priority of eCommerce sellers, or else they are likely to be left behind.
To fulfill these expectations, brands these days are working on digitizing the logistics solutions, using technology to enhance operations, improve the transparency of services, and invest in sustainable solutions.
They are also putting in efforts to meet challenges in eCommerce shipping like one-day delivery commitment, loss of packages, carbon dioxide emissions in eCommerce transportation, and more.
We have covered these challenges and the way eCommerce shipping is changing in our list of eCommerce shipping trends 2022. Read on to know what these trends are.
1. Fast eCommerce Shipping Solutions
An increase in market competition to meet customer satisfaction is driving the need for the global same-day delivery market. According to the PR Newswire report (original source: Brandessence Market Research), the global same-day delivery market is valued at USD 4810.1 Million in 2020. It is expected to reach USD 16739 Million by 2027 with a CAGR of 19.5% over the forecast period.
Besides convenient, easy, and choice-based shopping through the eCommerce store, sellers focus on taking their eCommerce shipping solutions to another level through speedy delivery.
In this regard, concepts like on-demand delivery and hyperlocal delivery are gaining popularity to meet the demands of consumers, while strategic fulfillment solutions are helping eCommerce sellers ship their products at the earliest. Expectations from the fulfillment centers are likely to increase in the upcoming years with the increasing demand for fast delivery services.
The Indian eCommerce space and demand for fast delivery is growing at a fast pace. Owing to this, eCommerce giants and medium and small-scale eCommerce sellers are investing in logistics services to keep themselves competitive in terms of fast delivery.
2. Technology-driven Logistics Solutions
Logistics in eCommerce is facing an ever-increasing change as technology takes the center stage and customers’ needs keep evolving. New technologies offer effective eCommerce logistics solutions and help in streamlining different operations.
According to Statista, in 2020, 57% of the supply chain industry representatives revealed that they have already integrated cloud computing and storage technologies into operations fully. Inventory and network optimization tools have the highest rate on the adoption list of supply chain companies in the upcoming years.
Maximum and intelligent use of technology helps automate services and minimize faults in logistics. AI, data analytics, and big data are important technologies that help extract data, share it across the supply chain, generate customized reports, and more. A well-compiled data of this magnitude is useful to analyze performance management and optimize the use of resources.
Companies rely on AI in logistics to make predictions and analyze risk in the supply chain. Using technologies, the logistics service providers help businesses access milestone-based tracking through dedicated portals, thereby enabling them to view shipment details.
Robotics, augmented reality, drones, digital twin technology are some of the latest technologies that are slowly occupying the logistics space and it is going to be the future of logistics and warehousing.
3. Demand for 3PL Services
As sales on an eCommerce platform grow, sellers find it more convenient to connect with third-party logistics (3PL) companies to meet their order fulfillment requirements.
A business wire report shows that the third-party logistics market in India is likely to grow by $10.74 bn during 2021-2025, progressing at a CAGR of 8%.
According to a Knight Frank Research report, the 3PL companies occupy 31% of warehouses in India. The 3PL industry will continue to expand as eCommerce sectors increasingly outsource shipping solutions and fulfillment centers to companies that specialize in the field.
Pickrr is a technology-based 3PL company that has achieved a remarkable 3X growth in the financial year 2020 compared to 2021. The company is focusing on scaling its tech-enabled solutions to improve the last-mile deliveries.
4. eCommerce Customers’ Experience
eCommerce customer experience refers to the sum of engagement, feelings, services exchanged between the customer and brand. On an online platform, customer experience can make or break a business. When they like a brand, they take the liberty to share their experience, whether good or bad on eCommerce platforms or social media.
Nowadays, people crave more experience through fast shipment, discounts on delivery, customized services, and more. Hence, there is an ever-rising need to offer services that can meet the satisfaction level of customers.
According to SuperOffice, 86% of buyers are willing to pay more for a great customer experience. As a result, more than two-thirds of companies now compete primarily on the basis of customer experience
Brands are focusing on offering pre-purchase experience and post-purchase experience. Here are some of the ways through which customers’ experience is enhanced:
- Delivery before the expected date of delivery
- Worldwide tracking
- 24/7 customer support
- Quick query resolution
- Personalized product suggestions post-purchase
5. Sustainable eCommerce Shipping Solutions
The ease of selling and buying products online has come up with an undeniable impact on the environment. Logistics transportation adds to carbon dioxide emission and plastic dump in the background.
According to Statista, road transport and shipping account for 30 and 10 percent of transportation CO2 emissions worldwide. More than companies, online consumers are concerned about over-packing and are more conscious of sustainability than ever before. They wish brands to be more responsible towards sustainability. Particularly, generation Z cares deeply about sustainability.
eCommerce sellers are coming up with solutions to ensure sustainable supply chain management. Order consolidation, use of eco-friendly packaging materials, less use of plastics are some of the practices being followed to go green with the shipment.
Conclusion
As an eCommerce seller, you need to upscale your logistics services as per the eCommerce shipping trends and changing demand of customers.
When choosing a 3PL company to manage the shipping for your eCommerce business, you must consider various factors like shipping cost, speed of delivery, technology-driven eCommerce shipping solutions, customized solutions, warehousing services, and more.
Pickrr is a tech-enabled logistics company that is dedicated to offering enhanced logistics solutions to companies. Sign up with Pickrr to avail following services and grow your eCommerce business to the next level in 2022:
- Pickrr Select: Connect with 30+ courier partners
- Pickrr Connect: Connect with customers through WhatsApp and SMS, share Branding Tracking Page, and more
- Pickrr Predict: Minimize RTO, predict order fulfillment before shipment
- Pickrr Plus Fulfillment: Access warehouse service solutions pan-India
- Pickrr Shipping Calculator: Check shipping rates based on the volumetric weight and shipping distance
- Early COD Remittance: Collect money within one day of product delivery
