Stay Competitive With These
E-Commerce Trends for UPS^® Shipping

It’s no surprise that online shopping sales continue to increase year after year. The e-commerce industry is booming, and it shows no signs of slowing down. But increased demand also leads to increased competition. Business owners must continually optimize their shipping game to keep the online orders flowing in.

As we enter into a new decade, it’s important to understand the e-commerce trends influencing today’s consumers — and how you can stay competitive with your UPS shipping logistics. Read on to learn three e-commerce shipping trends we think you should keep an eye on this year.

Affordable shipping options

No matter the price, additional shipping fees are an unfortunate deterrent for many customers. In a world of free next-day delivery, today’s consumers expect fast and affordable shipping options for their online purchases. And if you’re not offering them, they will likely look elsewhere.

By working with a third-party logistics (3PL) company like Unishippers, you get access to UPS shipping rates that are normally only available to businesses with larger shipping volumes. You can then pass these savings on to your customers. With Unishippers’ shopping cart plugins and API, you can even display these rates directly on your shopping cart at check-out.

Sustainable shipping practices

Consumers are becoming increasingly conscious of the products they buy and their impact on the environment. But your products aren’t the only thing that can be eco friendly. Consider how you can make your UPS shipping more sustainable as well — your customers are sure to appreciate your effort to go green! Read our tips for going green with your UPS shipping.

Hassle-free returns

Your customers expect the same convenient return policies that larger e-commerce sellers like Amazon offer. While “no questions asked” returns may feel like a lot to ask of smaller businesses, a hassle-free return experience ultimately promotes customer loyalty and increased confidence in your product.

To take it a step further, many businesses have started sending return labels with their shipments, making it even easier for consumers to send back returns as needed. Unishippers customers can easily create return labels at the same time they prepare a shipment with the use of our e-commerce integrations.

As the e-commerce industry continues to grow and evolve, it’s important that your shipping practices evolve with it. Contact Unishippers today to get a free shipping assessment and learn how you can optimize your UPS shipping strategy.