For many people, shipping is what makes the world go around. It has never been easier to get a product within a few days thanks to the likes of Express Shipping and the range of freights that soar and sail throughout the day. It’s fantastic for the customers, but on the other end, companies need to make sure that their shipping is both consistent and affordable, which is why you need to understand four ways to save money on shipping costs.
Know the Perfect Time to Ship Goods
While you might want to fulfill orders as soon as they come through, there’s a risk that this policy could affect your budget. If you are paying high fees for express delivery, it’s important that you reevaluate this policy and see whether it will positively impact your business.
You need to pass this information onto your staff, so they understand when to ship, also. In some cases, you may not have a choice to ship via air, even if it is more expensive. However, you may be able to get away with sea or even land shipping in some cases, which will ensure you can save some money throughout the year.
Establish Charge-Back Policies
Most businesses will happily pay for shipment. However, sometimes this doesn’t work as it is not convenient for your company. Rather than surprise customers with an additional delivery fee on top of the product price, you must establish when you will pay, and when the burden of payment falls onto them.
For standard, three-day deliveries, you can take on the cost yourself. However, if the customer requires the product as soon as possible, you are justified in charging them for the privilege. Again, it’s important to inform your staff of these policies to prevent any upsets once the product arrives.
Consolidate Orders
Sending out several orders within a few hours of one another means you’re paying the base cost for each item. This may seem insignificant at first, but the cost will soon add up if you do it every day.
Instead, try to consolidate your orders as much as possible, even if it means some products will not arrive as quickly as you are used to. If this is a problem, you can adjust delivery estimates, but make sure your customers know about it beforehand. Consolidating orders also reduces the carbon footprint, which can boost your reputation as an environmentally conscious company.
Track Performance
You should not consider the product to be out of your hands as soon as it leaves the depot. Tracking the performance of your dropship suppliers will enable you to identify potential issues that could affect the overall cost or cause delays.
By recognizing where these delays occur, you will be able to take the correct measures to streamline the process, which will help save plenty on your shipping costs.
Shipping Success
The success for many businesses hinges on the dependability and quality of the shipment. If you want your business to hit new heights and maintain the reputation you have worked so hard for, quality shipping combined with affordable costs is a must.