E-Commerce: How to Manage your International Deliveries?

Today, one in three French e-tailers already sells its products abroad, and this figure is growing all the time! Both in Europe and abroad, there are numerous opportunities for brands looking to expand their market. But before you start selling abroad, you need to consider a number of parameters. From the choice of carrier to customs regulations and customer expectations, managing your international deliveries can seem complex. Fortunately, with the right preparation – and, above all, the right partners – this step can be transformed into a powerful growth lever

What are international deliveries ?

International deliveries refer to the shipment of parcels from one country to another. This includes shipments within the European Union, as well as to destinations outside the EU.

Unlike domestic deliveries, there are a number of factors to consider when selling abroad:

• Costs that vary according to geographic zone and shipping method.
• The importance of using adapted packages, whether in terms of labeling or the languages used.
• Strict customs regulations, depending on the goods being shipped and the country of destination.
• Payments in foreign currencies, which can impact your margins depending on exchange rates and conversion costs.
• Various modes of transport (road, sea or air) to choose from, depending on delivery times.

Let’s take the example of a French seller of natural cosmetics whose warehouse is in mainland France and who decides to launch in Germany. To send his parcels abroad, he must not only translate his shipping documents into German, but also ensure that his goods comply with local regulations. Labeling must also be rigorous to facilitate customs clearance and avoid any blockage during shipment.

How to manage your international deliveries successfully?

Every step counts when it comes to successful international deliveries, from the preparation of your parcel to its receipt by the customer. Here are the points to master to ensure smooth, professional shipping.

Preparing your parcels

Packing and wrapping your parcels is the first step in ensuring smooth international deliveries. To do this, you need to :

• Sturdy cardboard packaging.
• Protect fragile products with cushioning materials (kraft paper, foam, etc.).
• Adapt the size of the parcel to its contents, to avoid the extra cost of over-wrapping.
• Seal carefully with reinforced adhesive tape.

Labeling:

• Use the right barcodes and labels according to the weight and nature of the parcel. Check that your packing slips correspond to the correct postage.
• Respect country-specific address formats.
• Add an inner label with the international deliveries address (useful in case of external damage).

Example of a mailing label for Germany:
Herr Max Müller
Berliner Straße 12
12345 Berlin
Deutschland

Select the right carrier

Every international carrier offers different services. To avoid costly and time-consuming mistakes, you should compare different service providers and test several solutions before making a long-term commitment. Here are some points to consider:

• Shipping rates.
• Delivery method: home delivery, letterbox or locker delivery, collection point, etc.
• Delivery times.
• Geographic coverage
• Carrier’s reputation in target country.
• Quality of customer service.
• Carrier options and partners: express delivery, Mondial Relay or Colissimo parcel relays, etc.

Customs clearance

For all international deliveries outside the EU (or even within it in some cases), customs clearance can be a real headache: extra charges, products blocked at the border, regulations… To make customs clearance as straightforward as possible, it’s important to think ahead, especially when it comes to..:

• Prohibited, regulated or dangerous products in the destination country.
• Mandatory labelling (e.g. CE marking for certain equipment).
• Including customs charges in the final price, to avoid unpleasant surprises and protect your margins.
• Bulky parcels, which can quickly inflate shipping costs.

Anticipating the unexpected

Your international deliveries may encounter problems beyond your control: delays, loss, breakage… There are, however, solutions to prevent these problems:

• Take out parcel insurance adapted to the value of your products and the countries served.
• Set up a responsive customer service department capable of handling incidents efficiently.
• Provide your customers with a tracking number so they can easily follow the progress of their order.

Would you like our experts to help you with these issues?

Opting for a logistics provider for international deliveries

Outsourcing your logistics is an excellent solution for managing your deliveries abroad.

Calling on a specialized logistics provider allows you to :

• Save time: no need to manage individual shipments, your logistics partner takes care of them for you.
• Simplify operations: a single point of contact, even for several countries. Reduce superfluous exchanges and bonus: you manage your logistics in a single language
• Optimize costs: logistics service providers generally offer shared costs with other merchants and carriers. You benefit from competitive rates.

So you can concentrate on your core business and what you do best: selling.

Rakuten Fulfillment Network: an ally for your international deliveries

Rakuten Fulfillment Network (RFN) is a turnkey e-commerce logistics service designed to support your local and international development. Combining unique technology and responsive experts dedicated to your growth, this solution offers merchants :

• A network of warehouses across Europe;
• Trusted carriers;
• Pooled transport costs (up to 5 times cheaper than individual shipments), enabling you to offer competitive shipping rates;
• A centralized dashboard (with order management, real-time alerts and optimized tracking).

By choosing Rakuten Fulfillment Network, you offer yourself the peace of mind of controlled international logistics, with efficient overseas deliveries, optimized costs and a customer experience to match your ambitions. Take advantage!