Several e-commerce business platforms split the shipments to offer a better customer experience by allowing the parcels to ship quickly. But, it can be challenging to split each shipment and send them to different warehouses as it involves huge delivery charges and results in a great package waste in the environment. There is always a way to use eco-friendly methods to avoid harming the environment and save yourself from huge parcel costs. It is by using shipment consolidation to cut costs and mitigate package wastes without compromising the customer experience. In this article, you will understand what is an order consolidation and how it can benefit the party as well as the audience.
Order consolidation refers to sending out various separate items in only a single shipment. Suppose the business owner finds multiple orders to the same shipping address; all the orders would be combined and shipped together in order to avoid packaging waste and extra costs. It also saves the customer from waiting to receive the items one by one on different days. Order consolidation improves customer satisfaction to a great extent.
What are the benefits of opting for order consolidation?
It mitigates extra shipping costs and saves time
Cost and quick delivery are the main aspects needed to be considered in an e-commerce business platform. Speed delivery and less cost lead to a positive customer experience, further enhancing your business flow at a reasonable price. Consolidating orders into one shipment reduces the cost because you will only be paying one time for all individual items rather than paying for each of them separately.
Eco-friendly method
Consolidating the orders removes the extra workload of packaging all items in different packs and boxes. It is a sustainable and more convenient way to reduce carbon emissions, which would result in a positive influence on your audience. Practicing eco-friendly ways would enable you to reach millions of young people who prioritize the safety of the environment.
Easy to track different orders
Consolidating all the orders enhances the customer experience as the customer would not have to go through every single order to track them separately. When several items in different shipment orders are sent out at different dates and times, neither the retailer can accurately cross-check the order items, nor the customer can track down each of them and remember to be available during each order. With consolidated orders, the end customers can quickly type the track ID number and track all different orders that would ship in a single order.
Quick to recheck the items before shipping
When you pack all the orders in a single shipment, it also gets easier for you to trace every item before shipping. When you combine the items and recheck them, it reduces the risk of mixing up an incorrect order. It helps minimize the need for returns or replacements.
How to start with the order consolidation method?
Trusted partners
To go further with the order consolidation method, you require to trust the partners and collaborate with different parties like business partners and distribution partners. It is important to find a trusted shipment partner for the process, who would professionally handle the consolidated orders. Make sure that the professional shipping partners take care of the further process, as shipping is the main aspect that tells about your services. For a better customer experience, the shipment needs to be accurately delivered to the end customer at their door.
Make an outline plan
Plan out every detail of the people and partners involved in the consolidated order process. Ensure that every trusted partner understands their role and delivers their service with professionalism and dedication. Make sure there is a mutual agreement between different parties before stepping into the process. It is essential to plan every detail and allot the duties and responsibilities to different parties beforehand. It reduces hard work and confusion during the shipment process.
Test the plan
Bring various parties and trust your implementation before you make an official agreement with the parties. Check with different services to see if there is any delay or disruption during the shipment. Consolidated orders need patience and accuracy, without any delays. So, make sure you test your plan thoroughly. Check the transaction process and once you review the accuracy and timely shipment of the order as per the tracking details, you can go ahead and give your level best.
Conclusion
Order consolidation is one of the best methods that every e-commerce platform should follow. It guarantees great customer satisfaction and relieves the business retailers from wasting time, money, and effort on making separately packaged items for the same delivery address. With the order consolidation method, it gets easier and more user-friendly for customers to get access to several orders in a single shipment, which is quick and affordable.
