How to plan and implement a shipping strategy 

A well-planned shipping strategy is not about delivering products to your customers; it’s about handing over shipments with trust, reliability, higher customer satisfaction, and better user experience. A compromised shipping system can result in delayed orders, unhappy customers, and negative reviews that are destructive for an eCommerce business.

That’s why it’s important to plan and implement a powerful shipping strategy that can positively influence your business and lead to higher growth and success. So, in this blog, we’ll learn in-depth regarding why a strong shipping strategy matters, what to consider while planning and how to implement it effectively in your WooCommerce store.

Importance of planning a strong shipping strategy

A broken or faulty shipping system can damage your business as no customer can gather the courage to shop with uncertainty. Besides, it can destroy the reputation of your business. So, it’s crucial to establish an efficient shipping strategy.

Here are more reasons why you should focus on planning and implementing a systematic shipping strategy for your business:

• Shipping strategy plays a great role in ensuring on-time delivery.
• It helps to boost customer satisfaction with timely delivery.
• Shipping policy, including delivery time, rates, return, etc. will be transparent.
• WooCommerce butik conversion and sales will both increase along with customer satisfaction.
• This will assist you in establishing a credible business.
• A proper shipping strategy can increase recurring customers.
• These shipping strategies decrease product damage.
• Customers feel more comfortable shopping from your store with a clear policy.

Things to consider while planning a shipping strategy 

WooCommerce shipping strategy needs to be planned and prepared, considering some key factors. Without providing proper attention to these factors, your complete shipping process can be disrupted.

So, before planning a fruitful shipping strategy, let’s dive into the core aspects that you must consider while planning a shipping strategy:

• Types of products: Fragile and oversized products need to be delivered with extra protection so that you can minimize damage rates. You need to be careful in every stage, from packaging to delivering.
• Delivery area or locations: Your shipping option will be different based on delivery locations. Set different policies, rates, packaging, etc. for regional, national, and international shipping.
• Shipping time: Standard and express shipping options should be available to ensure higher customer satisfaction.
• Optimal shipping rates: Shipping rates should be competitive and standard. Because an illogical shipping rate can drastically reduce order numbers.
• Proper packaging: Ensure products are packed with proper care. For example, fragile products need bubble packing to minimize damage. Set a packaging policy for each category of products.
• Standard shipping policy: Add a clear shipping policy to your site, highlighting costs, delivery time, locations, etc.

How to plan and implement a shipping strategy on WooCommerce

Since you learned the importance of shipping strategy and factors to consider while planning for them, let’s have a look at the tips and tricks to plan and implement a shipping strategy:

Set up a website with a shipping policy

First, you need to make sure your website is updated with a proper shipping policy. It means from delivery time to rates, all information should be included in that policy so that your customers never get confused. Besides, this policy should be made considering the betterment of your business and customers.

Let’s dive into what you should keep in mind while preparing this shipping policy:

• Keep optimum shipping rates for standard and express shipping.
• Fast and promising shipping time.
• Include a complete and reliable refund, return, and cancellation policy.
• Conditions, rates, and other details for domestic and international shipping.
• Include opportunities for order tracking.
• Unexpected reasons that can delay shipping time.

Free shipping after spending a minimum amount

The survey of 2023 says approximately 70% of people prefer free shipping in USA. This is a clear indication of how much people want free shipping. Free shipping motivates your target audience to shop from your store. For regional or national orders, facilitating your customers with free shipping is possible.

However, it can be difficult for international orders. In that case, you can promote free shipping after shopping for a fixed amount from your store. This can drastically boost order value. You can mention on your site that if customers spend a certain order value, free shipping will be automatically applied.

Fixed WooCommerce shipping rates and time

Shipping rates and time are important factors that can influence customers’ buying decisions. The way unreasonable shipping costs and time can hamper your business, in the same way, lower shipping rates and time can damage your business reputation. So, while setting shipping rates and time, set logical rates and time that is appropriate for your business, along with affordable for your customers.

Add the WooCommerce shipping widget

You have to display all available shipping methods on your WooCommerce checkout page. For integrating and displaying different shipping services, you will require a WooCommerce sidbyggare that has this facility. The ideal example of it is ShopEngine, which comes with the Checkout Shipping Methods widget.

So, install and activate ShopEngine first and navigate to ShopEngine >> Widgets och enable the “Checkout Shipping Methods” widget. Efter det, tryck på "Spara ändringar" knapp.

Then, you need to add a “Checkout page template“. Next to adding a checkout template, navigate to ShopEngine >> Templates och tryck på "Redigera med Elementor" option of the template.

This will redirect you to the Elementor editor, from where you need to search for the “Checkout Shipping Methods” och dra och släpp it to your desired area.

Det kan du också style and customize the checkout shipping method section by adjusting the Titel, Etikett stil, Checkout style, och Global font. Thus, tryck på "Uppdatera" button after editing all.

Highlight product packaging

The packaging system of a fragile product is not the same as the durable one. Breakable goods need proper packing so that products don’t get destroyed during shipment. This plays a highly significant role in safely handling products for your customers. So, you have to categorize products and set packaging rules for each category. Also, ensure your staff strictly maintains packing rules to minimize product damage during shipment.

Avoid common shipping mistakes

There are some common shipping mistakes that you must avoid to effectively and efficiently execute a shipping strategy. Here are the most common and frequent shipping mistakes:

• Don’t set higher shipping rates, as it will discourage customers from ordering from your store.
• Having no return or refund policy can deprive your customers of ordering from your store. 
• Ignoring shipping complexities is another common mistake that can increase product damage. 
• Lengthy shipping methods can kill your customers’ interest in shopping from your store. 
• Inadequate product packaging can cause frequent product damage.
• Delivering products to the wrong shipping address.
• Underestimating international regulations such as taxes, customs policies, etc.
• Not having a transparent shipping policy on your website.

Avslutar

Now you have the guide to prepare a potent shipping strategy that fosters your business growth and credibility. Additionally, combining the tools ShopEngine and WooCommerce, implementing shipping options becomes easier and more flexible. So, it’s high time to take necessary actions and apply a productive shipping strategy for the betterment of your eCommerce store. Also, avoid common shipping mistakes that can destroy your business reputation in the long run.

A potent shipping strategy fosters your business growth and credibility. Additionally, combining the tools ShopEngine and WooCommerce, implementing shipping options becomes more easier and flexible. Now, you will get 20% rabatt on ShopEngine by claiming the “insider20” coupon. So, it’s high time to take necessary actions and apply productive shipping strategy for the betterment of your eCommerce store.