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7 mistakes to avoid when managing your e-commerce logistics internally

7 mistakes to avoid when managing your e-commerce logistics internally

To not get overwhelmed and keep everything under control, here are 7 mistakes to avoid to better manage your e-commerce logistics.

Mistakes

Preparing for orders can be tedious, and even more so if your orders increase, you are understaffed or space is tight. Mistakes can quickly happen: reverse orders or labels stuck on the wrong cardboard ...

There are several ways to organize your space to avoid these pitfalls:

  • Use scotch tape that you will place on the ground to clearly define the spaces in your order preparation room.

  • Consecrate each table to a specific type of package, including nearby the supplies and tools necessary for their realization.

  • Do not mix the spaces for ordering, assembling or checking.

Mistake 2 - Buy only one or two kinds of cardboard sizes and neglect the packaging 📦

A poorly wrapped package obviously increases the risk of breakage during delivery, but it can also damage your reputation (and your wallet). This is your last point of contact with the customer! Putting too many protections, too much cardboard, or leaving too much vacuum can leave a bad impression with customers, to whom you will transmit an unprofessional image.

To limit incidents, we therefore advise you to multiply the references to buy to use boxes whose size will be closest to the content. And then, the smallest boxes are easier to transport (and to fit in a mailbox!). If it is better to overprotect than not to pack well, still think of doing tests to optimize your process and be ready when the day you will have to send similar packages.

Mistake 3 - Promising attractive delivery times but impossible to keep up 🚚

Even if it is true that online consumers are more and more demanding on delivery times, and that marketplaces have competitive offers, we should not fall into the trap of over-promise.

It is better to take an additional day to send your parcels and ensure the quality of your service rather than quickly sending a poorly packaged parcel whose processing has been botched.

Finally, it is important to communicate your delivery times clearly from the start of the purchase tunnel. If customers have the right information about your delivery times, they will have no expectations and will therefore not be disappointed.

Mistake 4 - Do not track your shipments 🔍

On the client side:

After making the purchase, your customers expect to be able to track their order. Order tracking is an integral part of the customer journey.

91% of French people are used to following their orders online and the quality of a delivery rests for 59% of consumers on tracking their order.

Informing in real time about the status of orders reassures your customer, and also relieves congestion in your customer service.

On your side :

Tracking packages allows you to quickly become aware of problems. You can be reactive for handling incidents with carriers (which can take time), and anticipate a refund or return of goods to avoid your customer's frustration.

Mistake 5 - Stop communicating when there is an incident with an order 🙊

If something unexpected happens, it is important to contact your client immediately to notify them of the incident.

Moreover, 2 out of 3 buyers wish to be alerted in the event of a delivery problem.

Do not wait for the carrier's response or the resolution of the incident to communicate with your customer and reassure him. This may increase his frustration and dissatisfaction.

Mistake 6 - Neglecting the 

Returns count as much as the original shipment of the product and must be taken care of as well. Consumers expect simple and quick returns and offers.

For this you can use all the features offered by your CMS to facilitate returns and restocking.

Also, do not hesitate to communicate about your return policy, and to anticipate potential disappointments as well as possible (non-exhaustive description of the product, incorrectly indicated sizes, little described use, etc.)

Mistake 7 - Do not anticipate anything 📆

You should anticipate the key dates of e-commerce to be able to overcome the increase in volume, but not only. It is also necessary to anticipate weekend sales, so as not to be overwhelmed on Monday and Tuesday and fall behind at the start of the week.

You also need to anticipate your logistical capacity, in terms of human resources, time and packaging supplies. It is a good idea to make up early on catch-up on public holidays, return from vacation or extras for periods of bad weather (snow) or heavy activity.

Mistake 8 (bonus) - Go through an inflexible provider 🙅‍♂️

Engaging in the medium / long term with a service provider is risky, because your activity (and therefore your logistical needs) may change between the signing of the contract and the end of the latter.

Even on a daily basis, your needs change: the activity is uneven during the week (Mondays are often busier), but also during the year depending on your market (toys for Christmas or jewelry for Valentine's Day for example ).

If you want to go through a provider, think about your needs in the medium term, and ask yourself if the solution is flexible enough to support you during your growth.

Ship with Cubyn and improve your sales!

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