We live in an on-demand world where pretty much everything is available to us at the click of a button.

From TV and music to food delivery and online shopping, consumers are used to getting results, and fast! With that in mind, businesses that can’t offer these almost instant results may struggle to keep attracting customers. Especially if the competition always delivers. 

That is why choosing the right e-commerce shipping partner is so crucial for the success of your e-commerce business. You must be able to offer timely, reliable delivery services to your customers if you hope to stand out in your industry. But with so much resting on the right partnership, this is certainly a decision you don’t want to rush, and we’re here to help. 

Check out our six steps below to help you find the right shipping partner for your e-commerce business. 

6 Steps To Find The Right E-Commerce Shipping Partner

1. Understand the shipping needs of you and your customers 

The first and most important thing you need to do for your e-commerce business is to understand your shipping needs. Without this information, how can you possibly choose a partner that is going to meet your demands? 

So, in order to do this, there are serval key points you should consider and these include: 

• The size and weight of your typical packages
• The destinations you’ll be shipping to – Will this be local, national, or international?
• The current average shipping cost for your products
• What your customers expect from you – Whether they want same-day delivery, two-day delivery, savers delivery, etc.

It might take some time to gather all of this information, you might need to do some data analysis or perhaps even reach out and ask existing customers, but don’t rush it. Once you have a better understanding of what you need, you can start to look for a shipping partner that is going to tick all the right boxes. Lastly, when shipping laptops internationally, gather and analyze data carefully to choose the best shipping partner for smooth transactions.

2. Start doing some research 

Now is the time to start looking at what shipping providers are out there and what services they can offer. Again, this will depend on where you need to ship your goods to and the size of your packages, but you can begin to get a better idea of which might best suit your e-commerce business. 

For organizing shipping from China to the US, consider partnering with logistics providers that specialize in international shipping routes and offer competitive rates.

Start by exploring the major shipping carriers out there that you’ve heard of and then look more local. This can be more beneficial if you ship on a national scale. Armed with this information, you can begin to compare basic shipping rates, delivery times, and how quickly they can deliver until you’ve narrowed it down to a much smaller list of contenders. 

At that point, it’s important to consider the reputation of each carrier for reliability and customer service. You can do this with some further online research, and reading reviews to see what other companies and consumers have said about them. 

3. Check for tracking options

Many of today’s consumers prefer to have tracking information available to them so they can see where their goods are and when they will be arriving in real time. This helps ensure they can be there or get measures in place to receive their package. 

As a result, tracking options could be a big selling point for your e-commerce business. So, you need to ensure that the shipping partner you choose provides robust tracking and visibility features. Look at the names of partners still on your list and determine if they do this.

You should also confirm whether the carrier offers delivery notifications and updates to both your e-commerce business and your customers. 

4. Weigh up the costs

Now it’s time to evaluate the shipping costs and weigh up the differences between the providers on your shortlist. To do this, you need to compare shipping rates for your typical package sizes and weights at the moment. If you have yet to send anything off as a business, try to get an average cost from their website based on the size and weight of the products you will be selling. 

It’s also worth looking out for any additional fees or surcharges that may apply to your products, so as to avoid any hidden fees. Taking all of that information into account, you might be starting to get a better idea of which shipping partner is going to be best for you. Additionally, consider using tools that can optimize your shipping expenses to ensure you are getting the best rates and avoiding unnecessary costs. However, there is one more key consideration you have to make first.

5. Consider integration with your e-commerce platform

It’s a good idea to check which of the shipping partners you’ve selected will integrate most seamlessly with your e-commerce platform. While this is not always essential, integration with your e-commerce website can really streamline order fulfilment, reduce manual data entry, and make the process better for both you and your customers. 

So be sure to dive a little deeper into your shortlisted providers to confirm their compatibility with your existing order management systems. Once you have done that, you can now make the most informed decision and choose the shipping partner that is best suited to your business needs. 

6. Negotiate the terms and contracts with your new partner 

The final stage of the process is to negotiate the terms and conditions with your new partner to make sure you get the best price and that all the finer details are straightened out. If you’re going to be sending high volumes of parcels, you might even be able to negotiate a better price at this stage.

But even if their rates are set and you’re happy with them, be sure that you always review and understand the terms and conditions of the shipping agreement carefully before you sign it. 

It’s also important to consider the flexibility of the contract and any penalties for changes or cancellations. So, our final suggestion is if you’re new to the world of e-commerce, you might try asking for a trial or grace period. This gives you the chance to evaluate the actual performance and reliability of the shipping partner before you commit to a longer, more expensive contract.