The new choice of the last mile of online retailer, foreign trade business logistics

Internet retailers attach importance to establishing relationships with consumers, paying attention to investing in technology development and employee training (thus providing consumers with the best online shopping services), attaching importance to the deployment of tight supply chains (thus filling warehouses in a timely manner and establishing customer service systems to meet their needs) ... But if an Internet retailer cannot deliver goods in the right packaging, good state of goods, and the time and place required by the customer, all efforts may be futile.

In addition, customers often want to receive free delivery services. In fact, many retailers have generously provided transport services, which have become part of the standard operating procedures, and even provide better services during the busy holiday shopping season.

Paulsenbram, managing director of a research and consulting agency (RSR study LLC), said: "The company has to provide free delivery services, this is the trend." ”

Achieve profit

While shippers will not face the same fuel surcharge as they did last year, the cost of shipping services could be a bigger challenge in the 2009 shopping season, as retailers compete on product price promotions and freight promotions.

Meanwhile, many retailers this year are worried that consumer spending will fall, as if they are planning to reduce inventories for the holiday shopping season, "Rosenblum said," which will make it harder for retailers to sell their products at a good price under the double pressure of product promotions and shipping costs. ”

These challenges make it all the more important to take full advantage of multiple delivery methods. For example, over the years, retailers have been using manual or automated software systems to select the best freight and route combinations for quantity discounts. Today, the development of the network system makes the transportation-shopping tools more accessible through the network, and in a large number of operators to get better integration.

There are many good ways to solve transport-related problems (some are occasional problems, such as how to calculate fuel surcharges when choosing an operator). For example:

More and more transportation companies are starting to calculate the cost of packing size and weight, not just weight.

Retailers use the method of rapid calculation of packing size to ensure the lowest cost of packaging materials for transportation products. They use more flexible packaging (such as black plastic bags) to replace high-cost packaging.

Flexible shipping

Retailers will be able to handle the payment flexibly when they find the goods to be delivered to the carrier. For example, the shipper can take advantage of freight charges to deliver the parcel to the US local post office.

Other carriers that work with the USPS will receive parcels from retailers and hand them over to the USPS to complete local delivery. Cooperative services cover up to 70 pounds of parcel transfer operations and provide online tracking of postal status within two to four business days, and standard shipping.

FedEx's SmartPost Service (part of FedEx Ground service) specializes in parcel transport services to consumers (consumer) through the USPS, which provides low weight, low sensitive time for the last kilometer to reach the customer.

The USPS also cooperates with other transport companies in providing package return services: The post office receives parcels from consumers ' homes and returns them back to the retailer or retailer's supplier via a partner's long-distance shipping system.

The U.S. Postal Administration also upgraded its website--usps.com. The website is designed to make it easier for direct consumer-oriented retailers to get information and services from bulk mail centers, domestic and international postal freight, and certified suppliers of transport software, the postal Service said. For example, the new Business section of the Web site provides a list of software vendors certified by the Postal Administration for shipping and shipping information, network Tools for checking address accuracy, and management methods for business/residential address lists. The shipper can use the software to determine which addresses are residential and which are commercial buildings, thereby avoiding the carrier from paying extra for a false vote.

"We are committed to making usps.com one of the best government websites, as well as one of the best national websites." "These improvements will ensure that our website is relevant and customer-centric," said Robert Bernstock, president of USPS Freight and mail services. Most importantly, it is easy to use. ”

Towards the global

Retailers can get more services in foreign markets. For example, FedEx provided services in Canada to U.S. shippers by using the home service of the Canadian National postal system.

Compatible with the Canadian system, Cross-border functions are provided to shippers, including paperless electronic customs clearance, packaging scanning and sorting techniques, and return services within Canada, including refunds of cross-border tariffs and taxes.

"FedEx SmartPost's success in the United States is driven by our unique and economic services for cataloging, electronic retailers, and other companies that transport low weight packages." "We are now expanding our services in Canada at the request of shippers," said Federal Express President Ward B Strang. They demand the same price and require additional revenue from a comprehensive customs clearance solution. ”

FedEx said: "All the residential address can enjoy the service, including the Post office box; In Canada, you can see updated information on all day transportation tracking through fedex.com. (pictured below)

FedEx offers a one-or-week delivery service and recently added its business in Mexico. The company is expanding its air cargo terminals and bonded warehouses at Guadalajara International Airport. Jalisco, is a FedEx in Mexico to deal with international and domestic transportation business important center.

In addition, FedEx opened a new center in New Saint LOUISPO to support the FedEx Alliance. The center began its domestic courier service in Mexico in October 2008.

"FedEx is committed to enhancing its global portfolio through intellectual and strategic investments in major potential markets," said Michael L. Ducker, the international FedEx chairman, "Our expansion in Guadalajara and Saint Louis Potosí to meet Mexico's domestic business and meet the country's growing international trade opportunities." In short, our investment reflects the company's confidence in Mexico's economic growth and global trade. ”

After editing this article will be included in the "business of the operator-Web business Success" expected publication date December 2009