by Gary Carlile, Executive VP of Customer Growth
Black Friday is borderless. This global shopping event knows no boundaries when it comes to encouraging consumers to spend. Selling to customers abroad could make all the difference to ecommerce retailers.
Ecommerce delivery is a key concern for consumers
According to reports, over half (52%) of shoppers look for purchases sold outside their home countries. If that wasn’t encouragement enough to serve international buyers, almost two thirds (64%) of consumers are expected to shop online on 29 November.
However, we know from our own data that issues around shipping remain the biggest barrier to selling to international customers. In our recent Consumer Home Delivery Report in partnership with IMRG, we found that 67% of consumers are concerned about long delivery times and their ability to track orders while a further 63% worry about not being able to submit a return and get some form of credit back. The higher costs associated with international delivery and returns also featured in the top barriers for customers (61%).
Turn Black Friday bargain hunters into lifelong customers
The guide provides some practical advice on how retailers can best ship internationally including:
- Easily connecting to new carriers from around the world – it’s simple to add new carriers to reach customers in other countries. By using nShift’s multi-carrier shipping software, retailers and warehouses can deliver to 190 countries around the world
- Facilitating cost-effective bookings – retailers can automate the booking process so that the systems select the cheapest appropriate carrier for the delivery. This helps manage the costs of delivery and can prevent international shipping from becoming prohibitively expensive
- Prioritizing customer communication - when shoppers are ordering from a retailer that has only recently entered their market, they must be assured that their delivery is in safe hands. Regular and relevant communication to the customer during the post-purchase phase, after they’ve clicked “buy”, is an essential means of building trust. Done right, the post-purchase experience can increase both loyalty and additional sales
Overcome the barriers to shipping beyond borders
To put these strategies into practice, and overcome the barriers to shipping beyond borders, retailers require the right infrastructure and shipping management software. They must have sufficient delivery capacity to enable scale, meet demand, increase choice, and reduce costs.
nShift’s delivery and experience management (DMXM) suite is a unique combination of enterprise-class delivery management, a huge library of carriers, and customer-facing applications. It provides a joined-up, end-to-end experience from the checkout to the doorstep.
Download the full guide - “Turning Black-Friday bargain hunters into life-long customers: three ways that a multi-carrier delivery experience can drive customer loyalty during peak season”