In 2020, e-commerce sales accounted for 18% of all retail sales worldwide, and this figure is forecasted to keep rising, reaching 21.8% by 2024. As online sales continue to form an increasingly large share of the overall retail industry, major online businesses like Amazon and Walmart are growing in popularity too. As they become the default one-stop shop for customers, it’s difficult for small-to-midsize businesses (SMB) to compete.
Last year Statista reported 38.7% of e-commerce sales came from Amazon, and nearly 50% of the market share in countries like the U.S. stems from three companies. This figure includes Amazon, Walmart, and eBay. These companies are continuing to expand their offerings with competitive pricing, flexible return policies, and lightning-fast delivery options. Globally, consumers are starting to see free delivery with short turnarounds, such as same-day delivery or two-day shipping, as the standard.
If you’re an SMB looking to compete in the e-commerce space, you’ve come to the right place. Getting your e-commerce shipping strategy right is an important step in starting an e-commerce business. Our in-depth guide can help you develop a solid shipping strategy, so you can gain a competitive advantage against larger companies.
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about e-commerce shipping, how to choose a shipping partner for e-commerce, and e-commerce shipping best practices. You can also use the links below to jump ahead to the sections that are most relevant to you: