Elements to Consider to Ensure Smooth E-Commerce Logistics Operations
by Varun Sharma E-Commerce services and logisticThe e-commerce industry has
witnessed unprecedented growth over the last decade across the globe, and this
trend is likely to boom in the coming years as well. Many e-commerce start-ups
have come up in India in recent years so as to enjoy the lucrative
opportunities offered by this flourishing field. According to certain reports,
the Indian e-commerce industry is growing at an annual rate of 51%, and much of
it can be attributed to the fact that many new companies have forayed into this
domain over the last decade or so.
The digital native vertical brand
start-ups are not saddled with any type of legacy procedures and systems, and
they can incorporate the most efficient practices right from the start of their
operations rather than discovering them along the way. These companies tend to
integrate competent analytics and technologies from the ground up, which can help
them to control expenses, as well as deliver on their brand promise.
Managing logistics is one of the
core aspects of any e-commerce business, as spending too much money on
logistics or not shipping products as per the expectations of the customers can
eventually lead to its downfall.
To fulfill their tasks
efficiently, e-commerce start-ups may require to partner with third parties.
There are several reliable logistics
partners for e-commerce in India who can help online start-ups
significantly in their product fulfilment and shipping process.
For the e-commerce start-up
entrepreneurs planning for the future of their business, here are a few
elements they need to take into consideration to ensure smooth logistical
operations:
- Demand Planning: While experienced companies usually base their inventory forecasts on historical data, start-up firms do not enjoy this benefit. Hence, in such a scenario, monitoring site traffic and social media sharing would be the best option for them. The demand for their products may rise in case their social media efforts are successful, and hence, they should be ready for it. Seasonal trends, like holiday driven purchases and changes in the weather, should also be kept in mind. Scalable warehouse space can aid e-commerce start-ups to prepare for increasing demand without having to invest in any long-term leases.
- Fast Shipping: In 2014, the standard expected delivery times for e-commerce products was about ten to six days, by 2016, it got reduced to four to three days, and now, most customers expect their products to be delivered just two days after placing their order. While assurance of fast delivery helps in driving sales to a significant extent, it often becomes difficult for an e-commerce start-up to complete this task due to lack of infrastructure and manpower, especially if deliveries are required to be made in a different state. In such a situation, seeking out the assistance of any good logistics partner for e-commerce in India would be a prudent move. Many of these firms provide the services of same-day/next-day delivery, time-defined/slot-based delivery, as well as on-demand delivery to their discerning e-commerce clients.
In addition to the
above-mentioned two factors, managing returns is also a crucial component of
modern-day e-commerce businesses. Many third-party logistics providers offer
efficient reverse logistics services, which they can avail to competently
handle this challenging aspect of e-commerce operations.
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Created on May 1st 2020 03:31. Viewed 600 times.