Pack Link, the online parcel service comparison platform, has created the ECommerce Logistics White Paper from the hand of ECommerce Observatory y EY, and with the collaboration of Tipsa, 3Consultores, Envialia and Celeritas. This book contains a complete X-ray of logistics and its integration in the world of E-commerce. According to this book, the value of information, the possibility of choosing between two or three logistics providers and internationalization, are the three main challenges and trends in the relationship between logistics and eCommerce.
El White Paper on eCommerce logistics collects the conclusions of a survey carried out on more than 4.500 online stores by the ECommerce Observatory of the Digital Economy Forum. It is a practical manual that measures and analyzes all the perspectives of eCommerce, where the logistics strategy is a fundamental piece to achieve a successful project, and that understands logistics not as a variable, but as the differential value to achieve the best experience of online shopping.
In the presentation, it was recalled that according to the ONTSI, it is estimated that they will bill more than 22.000 million euros in 2016 in Spain and 40% require logistics and transport, which is a key element for the success of the online channel and that in the book is approached from its different perspectives. The first thing is to determine the category of the product for sale; to pass to the suppliers and the different strategies of movement of the stock; control of the supply chain; packaging, own or subcontracted warehouse and the choice of the best logistics provider according to needs.
One of the keys in these not always easy relationships between logistics and e-commerce was offered Easter Epiphany, General Manager in Spain of PackLink, "E-commerce businesses must adapt to their customers." And from here, logistics is structured, an important activity for some clients who express the need to trust eCommerce "in all purchasing processes", from payment security to delivery.
According to the study, one of the logistics processes that generates the greatest value is that of tracking shipments (37%), an aspect that underlined John Sandes, CEO of Celeritas, "The client must be kept informed, it is what he demands." The study also points out more controversial aspects such as the same day delivery service, which the customer is not always willing to pay and which can impact operating profit.
Challenges and trends in logistics in eCommerce
El White Paper on eCommerce logistics offers truly valuable insights and data that uncover future logistics trends that will undoubtedly be very useful for anyone who wants to take advantage of the opportunity that eCommerce offers them. The most relevant are the following:
The value of the information
The trend in the logistics process that generates the most value is the increase in shipment tracking systems, as manifested in 37% of cases. Customers demand the need to trust eCommerce and feel safe in all phases of purchase, and logistics is one of the fundamental steps to achieve this.
The power of choice of logistics provider
One of the aspects that has evolved the most in recent years is the use of different logistics providers and the possibility that the end user himself selects them. According to the study, 75% of those surveyed consider it important to have at least 2 to 3 logistics providers to choose from.
Until now, eCommerce did not have the possibility of closing competitive agreements with large logistics companies, but thanks to the new comparison services it is easier to find competitive prices.
Access to global markets
Globalization has made eCommerce companies value the internationalization process more than ever, and most plan to grow in these markets.