Your e-commerce startup has grown from an idea into a full-fledged company with real customers and real revenue. However, your success could lead to your downfall if you're spending too much on logistics or not shipping products the way customers expect.

This why logistics is the livewire of any e-commerce business.

The more ineffective your logistics chain, the more complaints you get from customers and with so many eCommerce companies now available in Nigeria, they won't return due to their not very palatable experience. So, as an entrepreneur or business owner, you should know these things as it relates to logistics.

Plan ahead

Retailers typically base their inventory forecasts on historical data. So how do you know how much inventory you'll need? There are a few techniques to use until you build your own sales history. First, monitor site traffic and social sharing. If your social media efforts start to pay off, demand could spike, and you'll want to be ready. Look at seasonal trends such as changes in the weather and holiday-driven purchases.

Free shipping

The thought of no-cost shipping spurs many online purchases, but of course, the shipping is only free to the consumer. The shipper must be as disciplined as possible to reduce cost while providing the service customers expect. Your customers now expect two to three days for delivery, but don't want to pay for it. Marketing techniques like minimum order sizes or promotional offers can help drive orders with free-shipping offers. Discipline in your supply chain can reduce costs to make free shipping a competitive advantage rather than a financial drain.

Last mile delivery

Certain consumers may judge their entire interaction with your company based on the delivery experience. A sustainable last-mile strategy must satisfy consumer expectations while balancing costs requirements.

Managing returns

Managing returns may be the most challenging aspect for e-commerce sellers. To handle returns properly, a retailer should consider a return as a reverse purchase with all the same care and oversight that goes into managing the original purchase. Your return policies help incentive buyers who can purchase with confidence that they won't be stuck with products that don't suit their needs. However, your enterprise must have a clear understanding of the costs and logistics implications to those returns.

Decentralised Warehousing

The latest trend in e-commerce is moving the product closer to the customer. Rather than fulfilling orders from a few regional million-square-foot distribution centres, companies are using smaller facilities closer to population centres. The smaller facilities are more responsive to customer orders and can reduce delivery times.

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http://giditechlab.com/5-things-you-need-to-know-in-an-e-commerce-logistics-business/

YOu dont mention of SEO
Without SEO the site with withing 5 Years..

2nd just pick a niche for example
pick bag and sell bag alone or pick ladys show and sell it alone
with this you will have more sucess

Rank any bususiness to Google page 1
chat up now

Wow

Nice write up.

Basic stuff for newbies

I see... good logistic

One part of ecommerce that's always difficult to figure out at the beginning of business is logistics. The model of operations and also the metrics.

To a very large extent this is even the first customer trust decider before the return or refund policies. A customer is more interested if he/she is gonna get the item paid for.

One thing has worked and will always work and that's a third party ecommerce logistics partner. You cannot work on leads, handle inventory and warehouse and do logistics at the same time. Logistics alone is a whole body and a determinant. Part of the function of a logistics partner is measure your sales strength, analyze the metrics to determine the region with highest sales and move your store or warehouse closer.

Every ecommerce company should be powered by their USP. That to me is brand identity. I know almost every store does free shipping at least to some cities, another issue for a customer will be...despite your free shipping policy, how fast can I receive my items? Some will chose to even pay if it will be delivered in 3 days instead of 7 days for free shipping.

Logistics is key! It's the soul of any ecommerce because ones the sales comes in and customers aren't getting their items or even on time, there's a problem and to be effective in delivery, a proven logistics partner can come to the rescue. It's a win-win situation.

Nice tips

Story

OriginalZombiE:
Nice write up.

Basic stuff for newbies

I guess you're too old in the business to learn

Nice one

My desire...but no motivation

Revolva:

Your e-commerce startup has grown from an idea into a full-fledged company with real customers and real revenue. However, your success could lead to your downfall if you're spending too much on logistics or not shipping products the way customers expect.

This why logistics is the livewire of any e-commerce business.

The more ineffective your logistics chain, the more complaints you get from customers and with so many eCommerce companies now available in Nigeria, they won't return due to their not very palatable experience. So, as an entrepreneur or business owner, you should know these things as it relates to logistics.

Plan ahead

Retailers typically base their inventory forecasts on historical data. So how do you know how much inventory you'll need? There are a few techniques to use until you build your own sales history. First, monitor site traffic and social sharing. If your social media efforts start to pay off, demand could spike, and you'll want to be ready. Look at seasonal trends such as changes in the weather and holiday-driven purchases.

Free shipping

The thought of no-cost shipping spurs many online purchases, but of course, the shipping is only free to the consumer. The shipper must be as disciplined as possible to reduce cost while providing the service customers expect. Your customers now expect two to three days for delivery, but don't want to pay for it. Marketing techniques like minimum order sizes or promotional offers can help drive orders with free-shipping offers. Discipline in your supply chain can reduce costs to make free shipping a competitive advantage rather than a financial drain.

Last mile delivery

Certain consumers may judge their entire interaction with your company based on the delivery experience. A sustainable last-mile strategy must satisfy consumer expectations while balancing costs requirements.

Managing returns

Managing returns may be the most challenging aspect for e-commerce sellers. To handle returns properly, a retailer should consider a return as a reverse purchase with all the same care and oversight that goes into managing the original purchase. Your return policies help incentive buyers who can purchase with confidence that they won't be stuck with products that don't suit their needs. However, your enterprise must have a clear understanding of the costs and logistics implications to those returns.

Decentralised Warehousing

The latest trend in e-commerce is moving the product closer to the customer. Rather than fulfilling orders from a few regional million-square-foot distribution centres, companies are using smaller facilities closer to population centres. The smaller facilities are more responsive to customer orders and can reduce delivery times.

--




http://giditechlab.com/5-things-you-need-to-know-in-an-e-commerce-logistics-business/

That's a cool write up

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Needed this. I'm about to start conversation with a grocery store retailer regarding increasing sales by adopting ecommerce in addition to their bricks and mortar store. I'm stuck at some decision making points like should I go with Shopify or deploy and manage an open source ecommerce platform. I'm techy enough to deploy one but clueless about SEO. I'm also confused about how to manage ecommerce inventory to minimise stock outs. I plan to offer same price as in store but have the retailer "sell" to me at 20% off. How about order handling and processing charges? Many many more questions I'd like to ask

This was how Nairaland was before o. Because information wasn't drawing traffic they had to change their pattern to that used by bloggers.

E.g woman caught her boyfriend in bed with her best friend.

airsaylongcon:
Needed this. I'm about to start conversation with a grocery store retailer regarding increasing sales by adopting ecommerce in addition to their bricks and mortar store. I'm stuck at some decision making points like should I go with Shopify or deploy and manage an open source ecommerce platform. I'm techy enough to deploy one but clueless about SEO. I'm also confused about how to manage ecommerce inventory to minimise stock outs. I plan to offer same price as in store but have the retailer "sell" to me at 20% off. How about order handling and processing charges? Many many more questions I'd like to ask

Please think about this well, I did my analysis one time, but didn't see the prospect in it

Sayboy:


Please think about this well, I did my analysis one time, but didn't see the prospect in it

Thank you for your candid response. Given your analysis what pitfalls did you encounter. Because I agree that when an idea consumes one person no dey think straight again