Jamie C. Winters

Common and Costly Shipping Mistakes

Shipping products is a necessary component of running a business. According to a new report from Pitney Bowes, parcel shipping exceeds 131 billion in volume globally and is likely to double by 2026. Companies must correctly manage shipping and delivery expenses to prevent negative effects like slowed productivity, dissatisfied consumers, and burgeoning shipping budgets. Unfortunately, these six common and costly shipping mistakes affect even the most diligent organizations. The good news is that all of them can be limited with a few simple changes.

Invoice errors or miscalculations are more common than you might expect. Nearly 2% of all shipping invoices contain errors. The most common inaccuracies include:

• Fuel and Shipping Miscalculations – Fuel prices fluctuate, so it’s no surprise that miscalculations happen regularly. Make sure shipping contracts clearly state acceptable margins of error on fuel charges. In addition, shipping miscalculations are related to inaccurate weights and dimensions of packages.
• Accessory Charges – relate to special instructions or tools required for delivery. For example, charges can be added to access a gated community or deliver a heavy load up or down stairs. Another common accessory charge is for unique tool usage, like lift gates, forklifts, etc. These charges are hard to know whether they are legitimate. Ensure you trust your carrier and have the relationship to question when something seems out of the ordinary.
• Detention – occurs when your shipment isn’t ready for pickup during the allotted time. Often these terms are set beforehand, but you can be overcharged for the time the carrier waits.

The best way to avoid common shipping mistakes is to audit invoices. Whether you take the time to review them or invest in automated invoice technology, it is crucial to double-check for accuracy. Given the numbers, you could save your company 2% on shipping costs annually.

Incorrect Measurements and Dimensions

Incorrectly measuring or weighing parcels is probably one of the easiest shipping mistakes, yet it is one of the most costly. Shipping charges are calculated based on actual dimensions, density, weights, and volumes of parcels. If an estimate is off by even a few ounces, it can result in thousands of dollars of surcharges, especially when shipping more than a few daily orders.

Depending on the carrier, they could even return the package to the warehouse and make you pay for redelivery at the correct amount! This delays the package, costs your company double the shipping, and doesn’t provide your customer with a good experience.

Ensure your packages have precise dimensions and weights, using a tape measure and calibrated scale. It is a simple step that busy entrepreneurs often miss.

Packaging your products in a box that is either too big or too small can cost you money. Improperly packaged products are prone to damage and breakage. Furthermore, you could be overpaying for shipping using an oversized box (albeit standardized). Here are four ways right-size packaging can boost profitability. Packages that are delivered that have sustained shipping damage also do not showcase your brand well. Utilizing packaging and materials that protect your product and showcase your brand saves you money long-term.

A common and costly shipping mistake is offering free shipping when it doesn’t make financial sense. Of course, customers want free shipping but do not offer it if it will place your business in a financial bind. A quick evaluation of your accounting records will tell you whether or not it is viable. Here are a few “free-shipping” options that might still allow you to offer it as a special event without breaking the bank.

This is an easy mistake, especially when you want to cut corners. Unfortunately, the sender covers any shipping damages or losses. This is why it is crucial to insure your products. Regardless of shipping insurance, you can recoup losses and damages when the unexpected occurs.

A silly but common and costly shipping mistake is inaccurate or incomplete delivery details. From incorrect addresses to vague delivery details like the floor or suite number can cause delivery delays, returns and cost you money. Double check address details and ensure if there are special delivery instructions that either the customer covers the expense or verify you can absorb the cost. Invest in online address verification technology. When a customer inputs their address it will confirm the details by cross-referencing them against known addresses. If there is a mistake, it can autocorrect at the input point.

5 Essential E-commerce Website Features

Whether you are a well-established brand or just getting started, a well-designed and executed website is essential to success. A recent forecast by statista.com reveals that e-commerce is expected to grow by over 50 percent during the next four years. E-commerce revenues could reach an incredible 7.4 trillion dollars by 2025. To capitalize on the growing market, e-commerce websites and features must cater to new consumer tastes.

Your website is your storefront. From the homepage to the product pages, each segment has specific elements that cannot go ignored if you want to minimize cart abandonment and increase sales. This article will share 5 essential e-commerce website features that contribute to conversion and customer satisfaction.

Now more than ever, consumers are using multiple devices to scroll, shop, and learn. Screen sizes vary from a watch to a 65” monitor. Furthermore, purchases from mobile devices are on the rise. Retail mCommerce sales (mobile purchases) hit $359 billion in 2021, a 15% increase over 2020.

Your e-commerce brand cannot afford to lose market share because your design isn’t optimized for mobile. Investing in responsive design will make your site mobile-friendly, improve the aesthetic of all screen sizes, and increase the time visitors spend on your site. Nixon.com has an excellent responsive design and great design overall. They cater to a youth lifestyle and have invested in ensuring their buying experience is easy across all devices.

There is nothing worse than having to search for what you are looking for and being unable to find the navigation menu. The navigation is like the foundation of your website. It is where every user will go to locate what they are looking for. Make sure the navigation is prominently placed and easy to use. Eye-tracking research shows people spend 80% of their viewing time on the left portion of your website and only about 20% on the right. Consider using secondary navigation on the left side.

An excellent example of solid navigation design is Rothys.com. They have anchored their navigation in the left quadrant with a responsive and extensive dropdown navigation menu for their unique sales verticals. User-friendly navigation enables your consumer to find what they are looking for quickly and effortlessly if a customer has to look too hard for something, they will simply find what they need from a competitor.

A return policy is often an afterthought for most e-commerce owners, but it can be an effective marketing tool. With more customers shopping online, the details, clarity, and ease of making a return can make the difference between a “sale” and a “save for later.” Ensure your return policy is easy to find and prominently displayed at the point of sale. Use easy-to-understand language. Lastly, make it as simple as possible for a customer to make a return. The more flexibility they have to change their mind, the more likely they will make the purchase.

In fact, 92% of consumers will buy again if the return policy is easy. A great example of a generous return policy is from Zappos.com. They are so confident in their return policy they have placed it in their top header!

Consumers want to be able to pay with whatever platform, card, or app is most convenient for them. Credit and debit card options are standard. In order to improve conversion and attract a broader audience it is important to offer multiple payment options. Payment options that are gaining traction include; Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, Amazon Pay, Boleto, Stripe, Venmo, Square, and E-wallet. With so many ways to pay it can be hard to narrow which will cater to your specific audience. The essential e-commerce website feature to have is more than one way to pay at checkout. This gives consumers flexibility to give you their money easily. After all, you don’t want to prevent a purchase simply because you didn’t offer a payment gateway that was easy for them.

Omnichannel is the new buzzword in the world of e-commerce for good reason. An omnichannel platform, simply stated, is where a consumer has a seamless shopping experience across every location and channel that offers your product.

This means that the website, social channels, third-party retailers, and the brick-and-mortar stores create a singular brand experience. Omnichannel development requires unification across point of sales systems, inventory tracking systems, marketing efforts, and UI/UX design. A daunting task, especially if your sales efforts have become fragmented. It is worth the time and energy to refocus your brand and your technology integrations though. Expect to see more omnichannel fulfillment and growth in the future.

Rail Transport: Unveiling the Dynamics

Rail transport, inherently reliant on dedicated tracks, emerges as a resilient mode for long-distance shipping. Additionally, it relies on specialized freight trains, strategically engineered to efficiently transport significant cargo volumes across extensive networks that stretch across continents and nations.

Advantages of Rail Transport:

1. Economies of Scale:
Freight trains capitalize on economies of scale, leveraging their ability to carry enormous loads per trip. This scalability translates into a cost advantage, particularly for long-haul shipments.

2. Environmental Sustainability:
Embracing rail transport contributes to environmental conservation. Its reduced carbon footprint per ton-mile compared to road transport aligns with eco-friendly logistics solutions.

3. Reliability in Long-Hauls:
For time-insensitive shipments, rail excels in reliability, delivering cargo without being significantly affected by external factors that often impede road transport.

Road Transport: The Wheels of Localized Logistics

In contrast, road transport maneuvers goods using trucks, catering adeptly to localized logistics, especially for shorter distances within a country’s boundaries.

Advantages of Road Transport:

1. Door-to-Door Service:
A distinct edge for road transport lies in its capability to offer door-to-door service, providing flexibility and convenience that rail transport might lack.

2. Time-Sensitive Deliveries:
Trucks excel in ensuring timely deliveries, especially for time-sensitive cargo, thanks to their ability to navigate through shorter distances swiftly.

3. Flexibility in Schedules:
Unlike rail, road transport grants the flexibility to tailor schedules according to specific delivery requests, accommodating varying logistical needs.

Comprehensive Analysis of Key Differences

When comparing rail and road transportation, there are important differences to consider. These differences affect things like cost, distance covered, how long it takes to deliver goods, safety, flexibility, and how much can be transported. Understanding these differences is important for making smart choices about how to move things from one place to another. It helps in planning the best way to get things where they need to go, making sure it’s done efficiently and smoothly.

1. Cost Consideration:

Rail transportation triumphs in cost-effectiveness for long distances, leveraging its capacity and reduced fuel consumption.
Conversely, road transport’s cost efficiency shines on shorter routes, often with lower shipping charges and adaptable pricing structures.

2. Distances Covered:

Rail thrives on long-haul routes due to its ability to transport larger volumes across extensive networks.
Roads cater effectively to shorter distances and offer more direct routes with a door-to-door service.

3. Transit Time:

Road transport typically ensures quicker transit due to its agility and flexibility in navigating through various terrains.
Rail transport, while having longer transit times, provides predictability and reliability not hampered by external factors.

4. Safety Measures:

Road transport is more susceptible to accidents due to factors like traffic congestion, weather conditions, and human errors.
Rail transport, with fewer accidents, boasts enhanced cargo safety through fewer handling instances.

5. Flexibility and Customization:

Roads grant flexibility in scheduling and customizing routes to meet specific delivery demands.
Rail operates on stringent preplanned schedules, limiting customization but ensuring adherence to timelines.

6. Capacity and Coverage:

Trucks have significant weight-bearing capacities, but rail haulage triumphs with its capability to move substantial cargo volumes in a single trip.
Rail networks have limitations in coverage compared to roads, necessitating intermodal transportation for comprehensive door-to-door service.