Profit Analytics Blog
Read expert articles with insights about e-commerce profitability from analyzing thousands of e-commerce businesses' data.
Is Dropshipping Still Profitable in 2022 or Will You Lose Money?
Dropshipping has emerged as one of the most popular business models for e-commerce store owners in the digital age. With a dropshipping strategy, business leaders list products from manufacturing partners on their websites. Whenever an order is placed, it’s automatically transferred to the dropshipping vendor, who deals with fulfilling the order. Dropshipping allows entrepreneurs to enter the e-commerce landscape without the common expenses and challenges associated with holding and shipping inventory. However, while dropshipping is great for improving the e-commerce order fulfillment process, it has its challenges too. As dropshipping apps and tools become more popular in 2022, it’s worth asking whether this model is still a profitable strategy for your business. Read on to find the answer to this and the challenges faced by potential dropshippers in 2022. The Challenges Faced by Dropshippers in 2022 Disrupted Supply Chains One of the most significant issues this year has been the disruption in supply chains and logistics around the world. A disruption in the dropshipping supply chain could leave customers waiting weeks or months for an order, which damages a brand’s reputation. Rising Customer Expectations Post-pandemic customers are less likely to settle for slow delivery times and unpredictable product quality. This means companies in the dropshipping industry need to work harder to find suppliers who can deliver products fast and provide consistently great items. Rising Competition Another major issue dropshippers have faced in 2022 is the struggle to differentiate themselves from other merchants. With various forms of Shopify, Wix, and Amazon dropshipping for beginners now available, the barrier to entry for this mode of selling is lower than ever. This means competition is rising, making it much harder for companies to find unique products to set themselves apart from the crowd. Additionally, you'll also have to compete with different shipping costs, product qualities, and e-commerce ads. Profitability of Dropshipping in 2022 Though dropshipping professionals have seen a number of challenges during 2022, this doesn’t mean the potential of the market has diminished. According to some studies, the dropshipping market is set to reach a value of over $621 million by 2028, growing at a rate of 20.7% CAGR. Since the pandemic, more customers have begun shopping almost exclusively online. By the end of 2022, e-commerce is set to account for around 20.4% of all global sales. Even as the impact of the pandemic damages the logistics and supply chain landscape, the opportunity for e-commerce sellers is growing astronomically. This means dropshipping professionals have plenty of chances to profit. Can Dropshippers Cope With the Challenges? Indeed, dropshipping companies may even be more suited to withstanding the complications of the problematic logistics environment than most. After all, with the best Shopify dropshipping apps and similar tools, business leaders can quickly and easily find new suppliers if their chosen vendor isn’t able to deliver the products they need. Interest in dropshipping is growing too. The number of people searching the word “dropshipping” has increased exponentially over the last couple of years. Plus, virtually every e-commerce site-building tool now comes with integrations and apps to make dropshipping easier. Despite the challenges, dropshipping companies aren’t just surviving in 2022; they’re thriving. Today, dropshipping and e-commerce sales are accelerating towards a value of $5.49 trillion, and they’re growing at a consistent rate of around 10.98% per year. Evolution of Dropshipping Best Practices Though it’s clear that dropshipping still has significant potential in 2022, companies do need to make sure they’re approaching this landscape carefully. The challenges of the evolving e-commerce environment have led to the adoption of new best practices, such as: Leveraging the right dropshipping tools Companies are investing extra time and effort into ensuring they have the right tools in place for dropshipping. This could include comparing Wix vs Shopify for dropshipping or exploring different apps in each e-commerce ecosystem to ensure you’re getting access to the right suppliers. Putting the customer first As customer expectations continue to rise, companies in the dropshipping environment need to make sure they’re prioritizing “CX”. This means implementing new strategies to deliver products faster and making sure the right policies are in place to respond to queries at scale.Increasing vendor relationships In an unpredictable logistics environment, it’s often a good idea to have multiple relationships with different vendors. Drosphippers are beginning to form connections with a wider selection of suppliers, so they can rest assured they’ll always have access to the inventory they need.Leveraging analytics To differentiate and stay one step ahead of the competition in the dropshipping world, companies need to keep a close eye on business insights. Brands are now using more tools to keep track of their most popular products and boost customer experiences.Brand marketing There are many different ways to market your brand, from advertising on Snapchat and Facebook, to using influencer marketing, and much more. Dropshipping Isn’t Dead Although dropshippers, like all e-commerce business leaders, have experienced some challenges in recent years, there’s still exceptional potential for growth in this environment. Companies capable of leveraging the dropshipping environment correctly can still make a fantastic profit in the years to come.
Essentials of Profit & Loss Statements: A Beginner's Guide for E-Commerce
Business leaders need to track the money going into and out of their organization to ensure it remains viable, particularly in a competitive and unpredictable economy. There are various documents an entrepreneur or CEO can create to assess the financial standing of their venture, from gross profit and gross margin statements to revenue analytics. One of the most valuable tools for the e-commerce financial team is the profit and loss (P&L) statement. What Is a P&L Statement? A profit and loss statement is a report designed to highlight the revenue and expenses of a company over a specific period. It can help to determine whether you're increasing profit margin in e-commerce and whether your operational expenses are rising to unmanageable levels. Why Is a P&L Statement Important? A P&L statement is valuable for several reasons, but the primary benefits for e-commerce companies fall into three main categories: 1. Decision Making With your profit and loss statement, you can examine how your business has performed at certain times and determine situations that led to improved or reduced revenue growth, even highlighting things like the best products for big profit margins in 2022 and 2023. Conducting a profitability analysis for your e-commerce store can help you to make better decisions about what your business should do next. 2. Proof of Profitability A P&L statement also provides a chronological record of your company's increasing rate of success. These records provide clear information about a company's ability to generate different kinds of profit margins. This can help companies looking to attract the interest of investors or apply for business loans. It can also be helpful when you're gaining the trust of important clients who might not be sure whether to do business with you. 3. Tax Filing Updating your profit and loss statements regularly, alongside other financial documentation, will help to ensure you have all the information you need to complete your business tax returns. P&L Terminology Explained It's important to understand the terminology related to the components of a P&L statement. While the exact elements of a P&L statement may differ from one business to the next, the record will often include the following: Top line revenue Your P&L statement will start with a record of how much revenue you've collected within a specific time (known as the top line). Once you have your top line numbers, you can extract various costs to get your "bottom line" or net income. Expenses incurred A profit and loss statement will highlight all the costs of doing business, including operating expenses, interest, tax expenses, costs of goods sold, and any extraordinary one-time fees. Bottom line income Your bottom line income outlined in the profit and loss statement highlights the amount of money made by your business after all expenses have been removed from your revenue. Realized profits and losses The realized profits and losses on your P&L statement compares your total revenues to your total costs and expenses. This shows your company's ability to increase profit, either by reducing costs or increasing sales. A Simple P&L Analysis Method for E-Commerce The easiest way to create a profit and loss statement is using specialist accounting software. There are tools that can manage the entire process for you by continually analyzing incoming revenues and outgoing expenses. However, if you're not using accounting software, you can create your profit and loss statement by following these seven steps: Step 1: Calculate Revenue You'll need to collect all the information you have on the revenue received by your e-commerce business. You can obtain current account balances from account receivable balances and your general ledger. You'll need to include all the revenue from the time frame you're calculating your P&L statement for, even if you haven't received this revenue through collection yet. Step 2: Examine the Cost of Goods Sold Calculating the costs of goods sold is crucial to a profit and loss statement for any e-commerce business model. For instance, if you're selling clothing online, you'll need to add up the materials and supplies used to make those garments. If you're selling services, you'll need to consider the cost of the time spent by your employees when providing the service. Step 3: Subtract Your Costs From Your Revenue Subtract the cost of goods sold from your revenue. This will give you your gross profit. Step 4: Track Operating Expenses Calculate your operating expenses for keeping your business running, such as rent, travel, equipment, and payroll. These will all count as "losses" in your business which you'll need to subtract from your revenue. Step 5: Subtract Your Operating Expenses From Your Gross Profit Take the price of your operating costs away from your gross profit to gain your "operating profit" amount. Step 6: Add Any Additional Income to Your Operating Profit If you have other income not included in your current revenue, such as interest, dividends from investments, or other sources of money, you can include them here. This will give you your EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization). Step 7: Calculate Interest, Depreciation, and Taxes Calculate any interest, taxes, and depreciation costs, and subtract them from your EBITDA to gain your "net income" or net profit. This will serve as your bottom line for your P&L report. P&L Statements: A Golden Opportunity for E-Commerce These seven steps are simple to follow, but are also essential for the key insights generated by a P&L statement. Keeping a close eye on your profit and loss statements as an e-commerce business can give you excellent insight into your business growth and improve your chances of attracting investors. It can even offer insight into opportunities, like boosting profit through the localization of e-commerce websites or increasing revenue with trending products.
Simplest Way to Install and Use TikTok Pixel on Shopify
TikTok Pixel is a measurement tool that helps track the impact of your TikTok ads on your website. It allows you to see how many people clicked on your ad, how long they watched it, and where they clicked next. Using it, you can optimize your TikTok ad campaigns to ensure you're getting the most out of your investment. How to Install TikTok Pixel on Shopify To install TikTok Pixel, simply: Head to the Shopify app store and, using the search bar, search for TikTok Pixel.Select the app, and click "Add app" to install.Accept the integration by clicking "Add sales channel."Then select "Connect."To create a new pixel, click the "Create Pixel" button. To ensure the integration is successful, navigate to your TikTok Business account, hover over "Assets," and click on "Events." Once the page has loaded, you should be able to find your Shopify Pixel in the "Create Pixel" panel if the installation was successful. If you're yet to create a Shopify store, see our step-by-step guide on how to start a Shopify store. How Does TikTok Pixel Work? If you're running a website, you know that generating traffic is only part of the battle. You also need to determine how to measure and track the results of your advertising efforts. TikTok Pixel is one of the most effective ways to do this. Here's how it works: First, you add a small piece of code to your website that tracks all the traffic coming from TikTok. Then, when someone clicks on one of your ads, TikTok Pixel will record the click and report back on how many impressions and clicks your ad generated. This information can help you assess whether your current advertising strategy is working and make necessary adjustments. If you discover that your ads alone are insufficient in generating enough traffic and sales, you should consider a more omnichannel marketing strategy. As an example, you could utilize other social media platforms like advertising on Facebook or using Instagram to boost conversions. Can You Use Cookies With TikTok Pixel? Yes, cookies work with TikTok Pixel. This means that the tool can track users who visit multiple websites that use the tool, which increases its accuracy. As a result, advertisers may end up spending less money on ads that are targeted and effective. TikTok Pixel Events Supported on Shopify TikTok Pixel has a number of events that are supported by Shopify. These include: Add payment info The integrated TikTok Pixel app tracks visitors that add their payment information in the checkout flow. Add to cart When a visitor adds an item to the shopping cart, the TikTok Pixel app tracks this data. Complete payment TikTok will also report when a visitor makes a payment.Initiate checkout The app will record if a visitor is ready to make a purchase and is checking out. Search If a visitor performs a search, the app will record the search term. View content TikTok Pixel also tracks when a visitor views a previously nominated page. TikTok isn't the only application available on the Shopify app store that e-commerce merchants can use to track various metrics. Check out 40 more Shopify apps to increase profits here.
Learn eCommerce with Digital Experts
As eCommerce continues to grow, user penetration of the market is expected to reach 82% by 2024. This industry has proven to be able to withstand economics and geopolitical storms, which is why many want to be part of this fast-growing sector. It may be your dream to become a successful eCommerce seller, but how do you get there? eCommerce training can be an ideal solution for anyone who is starting an online store or wishing to enhance the customer experience on their platform. Courses on eCommerce can provide information about the basics and new advances straight from people who have experienced it all and came out on top. The Launching Method Introducing the Launching Method, called "Shitat Hahashakot" in Hebrew, is an online course from the Israeli marketing agency EZ Social. Their experience in dropshipping and sales led them to develop an online course that has become extremely popular. As part of the course, students learn everything from scratch, including: Setting up a store on Shopify Identifying winning productsEstablishing a financially viable website, one that generates sales with large carts, repeat customers, and a year-round varietyAdvertising on Facebook, Instagram, and Google Working with influencersCustomer service basics About the Instructors As they began their careers when they were only 18, Ziv Habob and Elon Allouche both have a great deal of experience in digital marketing. After pursuing their own distinct paths in the world of digital marketing, they founded their agency together in 2015. Businesses of all sizes are advised by EZ Social on how to generate digital sales. The agency offers consulting services in the field of digital marketing, digital stores, dropshipping stores, and creative marketing strategies for businesses and entrepreneurs. By developing a successful; marketing strategy, they help business owners and entrepreneurs sell more, at a higher price, and to a greater audience. For now, the course is taught in Hebrew only. Check it out here.
5 Strategies to Reduce Your eCommerce Return Rates
A strategic approach to reducing returns is crucial to eCommerce success. The average return rate for eCommerce has doubled in the last few years, bringing it up to 20.8%, and many eCommerce merchants are left scratching their heads about how to cope with this new situation. Consider how you can simplify the return process and learn from it to prevent returns before they happen. What is a Return Rate? Return rate refers to the frequency that your customers return products at your eCommerce store. Return rates are represented as a percentage of the total number of products sold within a specified timeframe. To calculate your product return rate, divide the number of returned items by the total number of items sold and multiply by 100. For example, if you sell 10,000 products in a year, and 2,000 of them were returned, your eCommerce return rate would be 20%. Why Reducing Your Return Rate is Important A high return rate can have a big impact on your profit margins, and can often signal the end of customer relationships. While it’s inevitable that every company (no matter the size) will have to deal with a certain amount of returns, there’s a lot you can do to optimize your customer experience to reduce the chance of customers wanting to send products back. 5 Ways to Reduce Your Returns If your eCommerce business doesn’t already have an effective strategy in place for handling returns, now’s the time to take action. Here are a few hand-picked strategies you can use to reduce your return rates. Optimize Your Product Descriptions The best way to make sure that your products meet your customers’ expectations is to provide them with as much detail as possible. Customers can’t touch or feel online products, so your product descriptions matter. Make sure your customers know exactly what they’re ordering.Make sure each product has a clear headline, a paragraph with details of what makes the product unique, a bulleted list of product specifications and features, and user-generated content like reviews and images.Include high-quality product photos from different angles, and consider incorporating product videos for an even more detailed look at the products. Provide detailed sizing charts with all the measurements your customers need to know or offer a sizing guide based on the sizes they wear in other brands.The more information your customers have before they make a purchase, the less likely they are to return their order.Create a Clearly-Defined Return Policy Your return policy is a key tool for reducing returns by clearly setting expectations.Over 60% of customers check return policies before buying. A well-crafted return policy can act as a prevention barrier for product returns as well as boost sales and reduce cart abandonment.Give your customers the confidence to buy from you, knowing exactly what the terms are for returning an item, and how they would go about doing so.Ensure your returns policy is clearly displayed on your website and is written in an easy-to-read format using bolding, subheadings, and bullet points.Automate Your Returns Process Customers want to support businesses that make their lives easier. When your customers have confidence in your returns process, they won’t hesitate to purchase from you again. 92% of customers say they will buy again if the returns process is easy.Use a post-purchase returns solution like ReturnGO to automate your returns process and simplify things both for your customers and for your team.Provide customers with an online return portal where they can return items without having to deal with back-and-forth emails or wait for someone to get back to them. Set up your return portal to automatically follow your return policy, and give your customers a convenient self-service returns experience.The ideal return process is hassle-free for your customers and cost-effective for your business. Having a good system in place for handling eCommerce returns differentiates your brand, creates a competitive advantage, makes you more profitable, and reduces your return rate. Analyze Your Customers’ Return Patterns Just like you can track which products sell most, you can also track which products are most frequently returned and why. Part of using a returns management system includes having access to insights into your customers’ return patterns, which can help you take data-driven actions to reduce your return rate. Track common return reasons and how your customers like to handle returns. Products that are frequently returned may be defective, packaged poorly, or have an unclear product description. Identifying problematic products and correcting the issues can help you avoid potential future returns for those products.Encourage Exchanges Over Refunds Your return and exchange policy should make the returns process seamless and hassle-free, and give customers a clear incentive to choose an exchange over a refund. A hassle-free exchange process helps keep your customers happy by giving them what they need. Prioritizing exchanges over other types of returns can save your eCommerce store a lot of time and money.More than half of Shopify returns are due to customers ordering the wrong size or style. Giving customers the option to exchange their order for a more suitable product leaves them with an excellent customer experience and increases the chance they’ll buy from your store again.Incentivize customers to request an exchange instead of a refund by offering coupons, discounts, or free shipping specifically on exchanges.Exchanges enhance the customer return experience, increasing customer loyalty and retaining revenue that would be lost with a refund. Prioritizing Reducing the Rate of Your Returns Making sure customers have all the information they need will help provide your customers with a clearer picture of your products and ensure that a higher percentage of them are satisfied with their purchases. Streamlining the return process will help to leave your customers satisfied and provide you with information on how to serve them most effectively. Reducing the number of returns is in everyone’s best interest. Having fewer returns saves you money and creates a better customer experience. Start small - pick one strategy and take the first step towards reducing your return rates.
Dropshipping on Amazon for Beginners—All You Need to Know
Amazon dropshipping is a business model which involves e-commerce entrepreneurs selling products without having to carry any inventory, but instead using the services of Amazon for fulfillment. Let’s disclaim the above statement by stating that “Amazon dropshipping” isn’t, by definition, technically dropshipping. Yes, some Amazon merchants use the platform’s fulfillment services to fulfill customer orders. However, unlike the traditional dropshipping model where suppliers do not charge a fee for fulfillment (the cost is added to the price of the wholesale product), Amazon merchants that use the platform to deliver have to pay Amazon for customer order fulfillment. How Does Amazon Dropshipping Work? Just like the traditional dropshipping model, when a store owner receives an order from a customer, they simply contact the supplier (Amazon), who then ships the products directly to the customer’s door. The difference between Amazon and traditional dropshipping? Amazon dropshipping involves signing up for Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) program and using these services to fulfill customer orders. FBA is a service offered by Amazon that allows sellers to store their products in Amazon's fulfillment centers, and Amazon will pick, pack, ship, and provide customer service for these products. Sellers who use FBA can set their own shipping rates, track their inventory, and access Amazon's customer service. You can think of FBA as a just-in-time (JIT) supply model. A JIT supply model is a system in which suppliers produce just enough inventory to meet current customer demand. This system relies on frequent and accurate forecasts of customer demand in order to ensure that the correct amount of inventory is produced. It also relies on quick and efficient distribution channels so that the right products are delivered to the right customers at the right time. Cost of Dropshipping on Amazon The cost of dropshipping on Amazon varies depending on the scale and breadth of your business operations. Essentially, there are two payment plans that Amazon charges merchants for their FBA services. The first is a flat fee of $0.99/item sold + additional shipping fees. This is used for merchants that are selling 40 items or fewer per month. The second costs $39.99/month + additional shipping fees. The additional shipping fees vary depending on the weight, size, and destination of a package. For a full breakdown of these fees, see Amazon’s FBA fulfillment fee guide. So is using FBA affordable? Again, that depends on the circumstance. For instance, if an online business is renting a third-party warehouse in an expensive area, shipping costs are high, and inventory management fees are added on top; thus, the cost (and hassle-free services) of FBA starts to look rather attractive. Although, if an online business is relatively small, localized, or a merchant is happy to take on fulfillment with flat-rate shipping to save costs, FBA services can start to seem a little less attractive. To really hone in on the costs of operations compared to profit margins, see our guide on the best profit calculators for Amazon. Additionally, this is only one way of selling products on Amazon. Read our guide on Amazon FBA vs FBM to learn more. Pros and Cons of Dropshipping on Amazon We’ve touched on the downside of fees and the upside of convenience, but there are other pros and cons that online merchants should take into consideration when choosing whether to use Amazon as a dropshipping option. Pros Increased sales and visibility One of the biggest benefits of using FBA is the increase in sales and visibility you'll enjoy. When customers search for products on Amazon, they are more likely to find your items if they are sold through FBA than if they are sold through a third-party seller.Prime members love FBA Prime members love buying products that are sold through FBA because it means that they can get free two-day shipping on those items.Increased customer satisfaction Since Amazon is known for its excellent customer service, using its fulfillment services can help increase customer satisfaction rates for your products. Cons Some products are competitive One downside of using FBA is that your products may be less visible to shoppers on Amazon since they are competing with larger brands that are well established in the marketplace.Business operations are dictated by Amazon Another downside is that Amazon has a lot of rules and regulations that sellers must follow. If you don’t comply, your account could be shut down. To bypass the competition, learn how to promote your Amazon products on the marketplace successfully. Something else that might interest you: our guide on Shopify vs Amazon to help you decide whether this is the right platform for you.
Amazon FBM vs. FBA: Which Is Better for Your E-Commerce Business?
No matter what type of e-commerce business you run, there’s potentially no better way to reach an endless amount of potential customers than with Amazon. Amazon is the most visited e-commerce website in the world, and it's no secret that shoppers prefer to buy items there. In fact, nearly half of all online shoppers start their product searches on the platform. But should you be using Amazon FBM or FBA for your business? Read on to find the answer. How Fulfillment by Merchant Works When customers order items from Amazon.com, they have the option to choose "Fulfillment by Merchant" (FBM) as their shipping method. FBM orders are fulfilled by the seller of the product, rather than Amazon. This option is available for products that are sold by third-party merchants on Amazon. The biggest benefit of choosing FBM is that the seller is able to control the entire fulfillment process, from packing and shipping, to the method of calculating shipping costs, to customer service. Sellers also have the ability to customize their shipping and handling options and can choose to include a note or gift message with each order. Since sellers are responsible for fulfilling FBM orders, they must maintain an inventory of products and be prepared to ship orders within one business day. Sellers also need to be familiar with Amazon's policies and procedures for fulfilling orders, including shipping requirements and restrictions. How Fulfillment by Amazon Works If you are an Amazon merchant, you have the option to use "Fulfillment by Amazon" (FBA), which allows you to store your products in Amazon's fulfillment centers and let them handle shipping. Here is how FBA works: Either you or your suppliers send products to an Amazon fulfillment center.When a customer orders one of your products, Amazon ships it from the fulfillment center closest to the customer. Costs of Selling With Amazon FBA vs. FBM FBA The cost of selling through Amazon's FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) service can be expensive for small businesses. For example, businesses are charged a monthly fee for storage space—$0.75 per cubic foot and up to $2.40 per cubic foot through the holiday months—and they are also charged a fee for each item that is shipped through the FBA program. In addition, businesses must pay Amazon's commission on each sale which can be as high as 15% of the sale price. Therefore, it is important for businesses to calculate these costs carefully before deciding whether or not to use the FBA program. Amazon also charges $39 per month to access their warehouses and order fulfillment services. FBM On the other hand, Amazon charges anywhere between $0 to $39 for merchants using their FMB services. The $39 is only applicable to those merchants that opt into Amazon’s Pro FBM service, which is completely optional. Of course, merchants that choose to use FMB will need to cover their own shipping, storage, and handling costs. But, depending on the size and scale of the operation, these are potentially more affordable than the FBA services that Amazon provides. Talking about costs, check out the best Amazon profit calculators here. Pros & Cons of Amazon FBM Pros When you use Amazon FBM, you can potentially take advantage of their lower costs. This can help keep your expenses down and improve your profit margins. More control over your customer’s orders and the ability to provide better customer service.By using Amazon FBM, businesses can take advantage of Amazon's world-class marketplace while controlling the logistical side of the business. Cons Using FBM requires managing your own inventory and shipping. This can be a lot of work, especially if you are not used to it, which is why many e-commerce sellers choose flat-rate shipping. You have to package and ship the items yourself, which takes time and effort. You need to have a good understanding of Amazon's requirements in order to make sure your products are compatible with their system. If you do not meet their requirements, your products may not be eligible for Prime shipping or may be removed from Amazon altogether. Interested in some further reading? Learn the difference between digital marketing and e-commerce here. Pros & Cons of Amazon FBA Pros Amazon FBA can help you take your business to new heights by making it easier for customers to find and buy your products.FBA can save you time and money on shipping.FBA can increase your sales because Prime members receive free two-day shipping on eligible items. Cons One of the biggest cons of Amazon FBA is the cost. When you send your products to Amazon, you have to pay for shipping and storage costs.You have to give up a lot of control. With FBA, you're handing over your products and your brand to Amazon. Amazon has been known to be less than stellar when it comes to customer service. If something goes wrong with one of your customer’s orders, or even if you just have a question, you may not get a response from them in a timely manner. If profits are on your mind, learn what profit margins are considered high here. Which Is Better: FBM or FBA? This depends on the size, scale, and budget of your online business. If you have the patience to package orders, ship them out, and handle customer service, FBM is the choice for you—so long as you ensure that you have an efficient and effective e-commerce order fulfillment process. However, if you’d like to use the convenience of not having to deal with shipping, handling, and dealing with customers, FBA is your number one choice. If you’re still not sure in which direction to head, maybe calculating costs will help. Do so by checking out how to calculate profit on Amazon FBA here. Alternatively, if you're still unsure about the platform you wish to use, take a look at our guide to Shopify vs. Amazon.
How to Improve Your E-Commerce Order Fulfillment Process
E-commerce order fulfillment is the process by which a customer's order is filled and delivered. This can include ordering and shipping merchandise, as well as handling returns and refunds. To ensure that orders are fulfilled quickly and efficiently, e-commerce businesses often use automated systems and warehouses. Improving your e-commerce order fulfillment process is essential to having a great business. Read on to learn how to achieve this. Steps in the E-Commerce Order Fulfillment Process The e-commerce order fulfillment process can seem complicated and daunting, but it doesn't have to be. Here are the steps you need to take to ensure a smooth and successful transaction: Receive the order from the customerCheck that the order is complete and correctProcess the paymentShip the order to the customer's addressConfirm that the order has been delivered successfully Improving Your Fulfillment Process For sure. In fact, there are many steps in the e-commerce order fulfillment process that can be improved: Package protection Often, e-commerce companies will just throw products into a box without any thought of protecting them. This can lead to products being damaged in transit, which can cause customer service issues.Update couriers Many e-commerce companies still rely on outdated shipping methods, such as FedEx and UPS. These companies often charge high rates and do not offer tracking information for packages., potentially leading to lost or delayed packages, which can cause customer service issues.Allow customers to track packages Many e-commerce companies do not provide customers with enough information about their orders. This can lead to customer service issues once clients have to contact you in order to access information that should be readily available. Another factor that you could improve about your e-commerce store is monitoring your ROAS. Learn what a good ROAS for e-commerce is here. Importance of Order Fulfillment for E-Commerce When it comes to e-commerce, order fulfillment is one of the most important aspects of a successful business. In order for customers to be satisfied with their purchase, they, of course, wish to receive their order timeously and in good condition. There are a few key things that you can do to ensure that your order fulfillment process is as smooth as possible. First, make sure that you have a good tracking system in place to ensure that you know exactly where each order is in the process so that you can resolve any issues that arrive as fast as possible. You should also have a solid plan for shipping orders. You need to make sure that you have enough stock on hand to meet the demand, and that you are shipping orders out as quickly as possible. If you can't ship an order within a 24-48 hours time period, it’s best practice to let the customer know when they make their order. Struggling to figure out what to charge for shipping? Read our post on calculating shipping costs for e-commerce and our guide to flat-rate shipping. Types of E-Commerce Order Fulfillment There are three types of e-commerce order fulfillment: In-house fulfillment This is when a company completes the order from its place of business, which may increase your profit margin as you don't have to pay for external warehousing or branding. Dropshipping This is when an e-commerce company sends customer orders to a supplier who then ships the product to the customer from the dropshipping company’s own warehouse. If this is your chosen business model, be sure to take a look at the best dropshipping apps.3PL Third-party logistics, or 3PL, is when a company uses a third party to complete an order. So, Which Fulfillment Technique Is Best? Well, each type of order fulfillment has its own benefits and drawbacks that may or may not suit an e-commerce business depending on factors like budget, location, or staff availability. To give you a rough idea, in-house fulfillment is best for companies that want control over the entire process, from ordering to shipping. Dropshipping is good for companies that want to outsource shipping and do not have the time or resources to handle it in-house. 3PL is best for companies that require help to fulfill large orders or need access to specialized shipping and handling equipment. How to Determine Your E-Commerce Order Fulfillment Strategy By taking the time to evaluate your options and make a decision that best suits your business, you can ensure that your customers receive the best possible experience. If possible, consider using a fulfillment center to help manage your shipping and order processing. They can take care of everything for you, from packing and shipping to customer service and returns. If you're just starting your Shopify store, then you should know that there are many dropshipping fulfillment centers available directly from the Shopify app store that can free up your time to focus on other aspects of your business. Want to learn more about e-commerce? Start with either this guide on the advantages and disadvantages of e-commerce or check out this post on the different types of e-commerce business models.
