Some say that online commerce is still in its infancy.
However, you wouldn’t think so, being amongst over 10,000 attendees teeming within Chicago’s McCormick Place during this year’s Internet Retailer Conference and Exhibit (IRCE). In attendance was eTailing Group’s Lauren Freedman, an industry leader with over 25 years of experience in retail strategy consulting, go-to-market platform strategies and point solutions across various product categories. In front of an attentive crowd, Lauren presented on today’s customer expectations and their decision-making processes, leaving us with a key takeaway: Speed of delivery and guaranteed delivery are always a factor in retailer selection for six out of ten shoppers.
Combine the fact that only 4% of the world’s customers live in the U.S.** and eCommerce global revenues are estimated to grow up to $4.5 trillion by 2021, shopping and shipping will continue to grow worldwide. Do international online shoppers expect the same delivery service as they do from a business located in their home country? No. International shoppers are often looking for options that balance cost and speed of delivery. 75% of online shoppers are willing to pay a premium for expedited shipping* and are looking for that guaranteed delivery experience when their package travels across oceans and countries.
Delivery is a differentiator, Lauren remarks. Four key questions run through a shopper’s mind when buying online:
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When do I need the product?
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How quickly can the company deliver?
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How much will it cost me to get it faster?
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Are there alternative delivery locations beyond my home?
U.S. retailers looking to expand their reach and revenues to one or more countries will need to address all four to deliver a customer experience that establishes and builds trust with a new online shopper.
To ensure mail and parcels are delivered to countries on the other side of the globe, strategic partnerships with regional and local delivery hubs are critical.
Point2Point Global’s asset lite network reaches not only international cosmopolitan cities, but also suburbs and rural areas with white glove delivery service from drop-off to final mile delivery. Retailers will see cost-efficiencies in their bottom line that can’t be achieved with traditional consolidators, carriers or integrators. According to IRCE’s keynote speaker Seth Godin, “We live in an economy of connections, not industry.” We couldn’t agree more here at Point2Point Global.
*UPS 2017 Pulse of the Online Shopper Survey Report
** Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council, Weebly