Shipping

Why Shipping Must Be a High Priority for Online Retailers
September 19, 2019 at 12:09 pm

The global e-commerce market is continuing to boom, and as the industry matures it’s clear that shipping is as important to success as any other aspect of business. Shoppers might love the product, but if they don’t like the shipping options, they won’t buy. Offer them cheaper or better choices at checkout, and they’ll probably…

FedEx Announces 2020 General Rate Increase
September 18, 2019 at 1:13 pm

FedEx announced on Monday its annual general rate increase for 2020. Effective Jan. 6, 2020, FedEx Express (Domestic, U.S. Export and U.S. Import), FedEx Ground, and FedEx Home Delivery shipping rates will increase by an average of 4.9 percent, while FedEx Freight will increase rates by an average of 5.9 percent. How will this affect…

Take a Page From Amazon’s Shipping Playbook
September 5, 2019 at 3:05 pm

Every retailer and shipper is constantly trying to keep up with Amazon.com. Some are even chasing the ultimate accomplishment of surpassing the online retail giant. Similarly, even Amazon pushes itself to be the best, as it knows that with each conquered goal there's higher expectations from customers waiting for it. As retailers imagine Amazon flipping…

FedEx Ending Ground Deliveries for Amazon
August 8, 2019 at 12:56 pm

FedEx will not be renewing its ground-delivery contract with Amazon.com, which expires at the end of this month, CNBC reported. A spokesperson for FedEx said the decision is consistent with the company's strategy to focus on the broader e-commerce market. “We're constantly innovating to improve the carrier experience and sometimes that means re-evaluating our carrier relationships,”…

Walmart Pilots a Driverless Delivery Program
July 29, 2019 at 12:48 pm

Walmart, in conjunction with autonomous vehicle company Gatik, is launching a driverless delivery pilot to deliver orders between two of its stores on a two-mile route in Bentonville, Arkansas, according to a company blog post. In March, Arkansas passed legislation allowing for autonomous vehicles to operate in the state. The Gatik vehicles, which will be staffed during the…

Ask the Experts: 3 Questions About Retail Cash Flow and Inventory
July 29, 2019 at 11:40 am

The retail sector is undergoing tremendous change, with a growing volume of sales shifting to e-commerce sites. But for owners of all types of retail businesses, issues related to cash flow and inventory remain a primary concern. According to an exclusive Kabbage survey of independent retailers, more than 40 percent cite inventory as their largest…

eBay Launching End-to-End Fulfillment Service for Sellers
July 26, 2019 at 12:35 pm

eBay is launching its first end-to-end fulfillment service for sellers next year, the company announced Wednesday. The fulfillment program, dubbed Managed Delivery, will "provide sellers the ability to store, pack and ship their products through expert logistics partners managed by eBay" in third-party warehouses across the country, according to a company press release. Millions of products from…

Here’s How to Get the Most From 2019’s Holiday Shopping Season
July 19, 2019 at 11:38 am

In the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas in 2018, U.S. consumers spent a record $850 billion. While Thanksgiving 2019 is still four months away, the competition for holiday dollars is already under way. Discerning retailers are looking to win back some of the holiday dollars going to Amazon.com every year. Amazon had more traffic on…

Survey: Dropshipping Drives the Future of Omnichannel
July 3, 2019 at 9:41 am

As the competition between retail behemoths Amazon.com and Walmart heats up, other retailers are paying close attention to the factors driving demand for home delivery. At DiCentral, we have front-row seats to the evolving online retail landscape and recently partnered with the Center for Supply Chain Research at Lehigh University to investigate the motivations and expectations…