March 19, 2025
Ramin Popal
When you run an eCommerce business, you hear a lot about improving sales and attracting customers. However, few people talk about the importance of shipping. Shipping can make or break a sale. 56% of customers have abandoned a cart due to unsatisfactory shipping options. Finding the right shipping partner is just as crucial as learning how to find a supplier for your product, as both impact your overall success. You can avoid this scenario and improve customer satisfaction by implementing effective eCommerce shipping best practices.
This blog will introduce you to ten shipping best practices to help you reduce costs and improve customer satisfaction. AI-powered solutions like Aisle Planner's economic calendar are valuable tools for implementing eCommerce shipping best practices. This tool lets you identify shipping trends to plan and prepare for upcoming changes to avoid surprises.
Order processing begins as soon as a customer completes their purchase. First, the e-commerce platform verifies the payment and checks whether the ordered items are in stock. Next, the system automatically alerts the business’s warehouse or fulfillment center to prepare the order for shipping.
This step can take a few hours to a few days, depending on the business’s operations and whether they use an automated order management system (OMS). The quicker the order is processed and verified, the faster the customer will receive it. Speeding up this process reduces errors and delays that can lead to unhappy customers.
To successfully ship an order, businesses must follow these steps:
Before businesses can set up their shipping process, they need a reliable e-commerce platform that supports order management, fulfillment integration, and carrier selection. Here are some of the most popular platforms:
Customers have unique delivery preferences. Some prioritize low costs, while others want speedy delivery regardless of the price. Many shoppers wish to have flexible delivery options. This is especially true for younger consumers. For example, a 2022 survey from logistics firm Convey found that 79 percent of millennials want flexibility in delivery. Only 61 percent of boomers feel the same way. You can cater to different customer segments by offering multiple shipping options at checkout. Consider providing standard, expedited, and eco-friendly shipping options. Integrate multiple shipping carriers into your online store to compare rates and delivery speeds. Also, it provides customers with real-time delivery estimates at checkout.
Packaging impacts shipping costs, sustainability, and customer experience. Overpacking leads to unnecessary expenses, while improper packaging can result in damaged products and returns. Use right-sized, lightweight packaging to minimize shipping fees. Consider biodegradable or recyclable materials to appeal to eco-conscious shoppers. Optimize box size selection to reduce dimensional weight pricing.
Shipping costs can quickly eat into profit margins, especially for businesses fulfilling high order volumes. Negotiating rates help secure lower shipping costs and better service levels. Compare bulk shipping rates across multiple carriers. Join third-party logistics (3PL) programs that offer discounted carrier rates. Set up regional fulfillment centers to reduce delivery distances and costs.
Manually processing orders slows down fulfillment and increases the risk of errors. Automation speeds up label generation, carrier selection, and inventory updates, reducing operational inefficiencies. Use shipping automation software to print bulk labels and assign orders to fulfillment centers. Sync inventory management tools with shipping platforms to update stock levels automatically. Reduce order processing times by automating shipping label creation at checkout.
Customers expect instant updates on their order status and prefer to track shipments in real-time. Integrate tracking systems with carrier APIs to update customers automatically. Send real-time tracking notifications via email and SMS. Allow customers to track their orders directly on your website.
High shipping costs discourage customers from completing their purchases. Free shipping can increase conversion rates and average order value (AOV). Set a minimum spend threshold to qualify for free shipping (e.g., "Free shipping on orders over $50"). Offer free shipping exclusively to loyalty program members. Use AI-driven pricing tools to offset shipping costs within product pricing.
Expanding into international markets unlocks new revenue streams, but shipping logistics can be complex. Customers expect transparent shipping fees, customs duties, and predictable delivery timelines. Provide clear information on duties and taxes at checkout to prevent hidden fees. Work with international fulfillment centers to reduce shipping times. Offer multi-currency payment and localized shipping options for different regions.
A complex return process discourages new customers from buying. Forty percent of shoppers won’t order unless the returns period is at least 30 days. European consumers expect refunds within 5 to 6 days after returning an order—longer delays lead to dissatisfaction. Display a clear and easy-to-understand returns policy on product and checkout pages—Automate return label generation for smoother processing. Issue quick refunds to prevent negative reviews and increase trust.
AI-driven logistics solutions help reduce shipping expenses by analyzing carrier rates and optimizing fulfillment routes. Automated shipping systems prevent human errors and improve processing speed. Use AI-powered shipping calculators to provide accurate rates at checkout—Automate carrier selection based on cost, speed, and customer preference. Implement inventory forecasting tools to prevent backorders and delayed shipments.
Tracking performance metrics helps businesses identify areas for improvement and reduce unnecessary shipping costs. Regular monitoring improves efficiency, customer experience, and overall profitability. Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) such as average shipping cost per order, On-time delivery rate, and customer complaints related to shipping. Adjust shipping strategies based on real-time performance data. Test new packaging methods, carrier partnerships, and fulfillment centers to optimize logistics.
At AI Store Builder, we create a complete Shopify store for you in under 10 minutes. We include 20 trending products, trusted suppliers, and a dropshipping course that others charge thousands for. Plus, you get live support calls and community access. Skip the headaches of store setup, product research, and supplier hunting - we handle it all so you can focus on growing your business. Get your store built for you in less than 10 minutes today!
.jpeg)
Shipping costs can eat into profit margins, making it harder for businesses to stay competitive. Customers expect low-cost or free shipping, but offering it without optimization can lead to financial losses. Last-mile delivery fees, surcharges, and fuel costs make shipping expenses unpredictable.
Late deliveries damage customer trust and lead to negative reviews and refund requests. Unpredictable carrier delays due to weather, holidays, and peak seasons impact order fulfillment times. Inaccurate delivery estimates cause frustration and customer complaints.
Packages can get lost, stolen, or damaged in transit, leading to refunds, reshipments, and customer frustration. International shipments are at higher risk of theft or loss due to longer transit routes and multiple handling points. Carriers do not always take responsibility for lost or damaged packages, leaving businesses to cover replacement costs.
Cross-border shipments face customs clearance delays, import taxes, and regulatory restrictions. Shipping rates vary significantly between countries, making it difficult to set standard pricing. Customers are often surprised by hidden fees, leading to order cancellations and disputes.
Unexpected shipping costs at checkout are a significant reason for cart abandonment. Unclear return policies and estimated delivery times lead to customer hesitation.
Returns processing delays frustrate customers and increase negative feedback. Refunds that take longer than expected discourage customers from buying again. Forty percent of shoppers will not purchase from a store unless the return window is at least 30 days.
The platform also helps businesses integrate automated refund processing tools, ensuring quick customer reimbursement.
Businesses that experience rapid growth struggle to scale fulfillment and shipping operations efficiently. Managing multiple warehouses, carrier integrations, and inventory across regions becomes complex.
At AI Store Builder, we create a complete Shopify store for you in under 10 minutes. We include 20 trending products, trusted suppliers, and a dropshipping course that others charge thousands for. Plus, you get live support calls and community access. Skip the headaches of store setup, product research, and supplier hunting - we handle it all so you can focus on growing your business. Get your store built for you in less than 10 minutes today!
Finding the right supplier for your dropshipping products doesn’t have to be complicated. With AI Store Builder, we do the supplier research for you. We’ll find trusted suppliers for the products you’ll sell on your Shopify store so you can focus on what matters: growing your business.
Get your free store in less than 10 minutes today
%20(1).png)