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• Domestic and European Road: 11.25%
• Domestic Freight: 11.25%
• International Air: 19.75%

The EU Oil bulletin provides petroleum product prices related to road shipments for EU member states

The US Energy Administration EIA provides jet fuel prices related to air shipments.

The fuel surcharges are linked to these with a 2 month lag in the application due to release dates of spot pricing data.

If you have any queries regarding the fuel surcharges please contact your Account Manager.

The post Fuel Surcharges for September 2019 appeared first on GFS.

Eco-Friendly Transport

One of the most obvious ways that delivery companies will look to tackle their carbon footprint is through vehicles. Haulage lorries are far behind cars in terms of innovation in electric motors, although as more cars become electric, we are likely to see more vans and lorries become electric too. Companies are also looking at switching from diesel lorries to help reduce emissions. Robot and drone deliveries are still a futuristic prospect, but another innovation that will help companies go green.

Reducing Delivery Failures

Ordering products online always raises questions around the environmental impact. However, some of the major costs and carbon outputs for delivery companies come in the last few miles of the delivery journey. When there is a failed delivery, it sets of a chain of events that involves extra miles being driven to try and re-deliver, or for the consumer to pick it up from another location. Cutting down on failed first time deliveries is a key way to reduce carbon footprint. It might seem like a hard thing to achieve, but the best way to do this is by giving customers more delivery options such as nominated day, timed delivery and click and collect. This gives customers more control over when they can get the delivery, which cuts down on failed deliveries and those extra miles.

Maximising Performance Of Your Carrier

Many eCommerce companies work with multiple carriers to get the best service for their customers. As well as being complicated and time-consuming, this means more collections, more emissions and more delivery vehicles on the already-clogged-up roads. By reducing the amount of pickups, companies can improve efficiency, and maximise delivery performance. Working with GFS enables you to simplify multi-carrier shipping with a single collection service, so you can make your deliveries greener.

Environmental impact is more important for customers, businesses and governments as global warming becomes a pressing issue. However, there are ways that delivery companies and eCommerce businesses can help reduce their own environmental footprint. Plus, with 43% of UK shoppers saying that they are more likely to shop with a retailer if they offer a greater range of sustainable delivery options, its not just about the environment, but also about retaining your customers and staying ahead.

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The Top Marketplaces Are Located in North America

The biggest opportunity when it comes to marketplaces is in North America. 61 of the top 100 marketplaces are located there, with Europe trailing at only 14. It’s clear there is a big opportunity for retailers to tap into the USA eCommerce market and grow their online sales.

The Fastest Growing Opportunity Is In The Netherlands

Russia, Indonesia, Turkey and Brazil all have fast-growing eCommerce markets, ranging from 8% to 20% growth. The Netherlands, however, is the fastest-growing. Dutch shoppers have spent around 20 billion Euros in the year 2016, showing a growth of around 23%. Add to that that the Internet penetration in the Netherlands is more than 90%, its an attractive eCommerce market with a lot of potential over the coming years.

It’s Important to Choose Your Marketplace Well

Retailers may be tempted to sell on every marketplace going. However, it’s important to identify your priorities in order to decide which market will work best for your business. Consider the demographics, product availability, consumer culture, delivery, duties and compliance. Shortlist the potential marketplaces based on whether it suits your brand, and how much competition there is for your products. It’s also important to look at what kind of support you will get and how easy it will be to integrate with your technology and way of working.

There’s More to Marketplaces than Amazon 

As one of the biggest eCommerce websites, Amazon is usually the first thought when it comes to online marketplaces. However, there are many marketplaces out there, and more and more are emerging as rising stars in the industry. These include Catch (based in Australia) with 5 million monthly visitors, The Market (based in New Zealand) with 3.6 billion visits, New Egg, which is operating in 80+ countries with 49 million users per month. These are just a few of the emerging websites that are grabbing attention, with many more to choose from. Make sure you look beyond Amazon and get in at the ground floor with one of the companies that are growing quickly.

Delivery Is Still Key When It Comes to Selling in Marketplaces

Delivery can be a barrier for many retailers when it comes to selling abroad. Logistically it can seem like a headache, with different customs and documentation needed for different countries. Where it might seem like a logistical problem, it’s also a marketing opportunity. Having quick and effective delivery globally means repeat business and better customer experience. Working with GFS can help you with reliable service, expertise on delivering across the world, and easy technology integration. Contact us to talk about how we can help you solve your delivery problems.

The post 5 Key Takeouts From Our Online Marketplace Masterclass appeared first on GFS.

• Domestic and European Road: 11.25%
• Domestic Freight: 11.25%
• International Air: 19.75%

The EU Oil bulletin provides petroleum product prices related to road shipments for EU member states

The US Energy Administration EIA provides jet fuel prices related to air shipments.

The fuel surcharges are linked to these with a 2 month lag in the application due to release dates of spot pricing data.

If you have any queries regarding the fuel surcharges please contact your Account Manager.

The post Fuel Surcharges for August 2019 appeared first on GFS.

Availability

Make sure the partner you choose is readily available for you. Once you are ready to send the product, you want them to be able to pick it up in an efficient and timely manner. It sounds simple, but larger companies service multiple businesses so you want to make sure your parcels are just as important to your supplier as they are to you.

Tracking

Communication is key. You need to know where your shipments are and whether they have been delivered in time. A partner that offers comprehensive and detailed tracking capabilities is valuable for your piece of mind, and your customer service. Make sure you have access to robust online tracking so that both you and your customers know exactly when a package will be delivered on a specific day.

Technology

As well as tracking, having updated and useful technology helps you to optimise your despatch processes and boost efficiencies. Delivery and logistics is teeming with innovative technology, so make sure your delivery partner offers more than basic tracking and is at the forefront of industry technology. Consider how the technology can serve your specific needs and scale with you as your business grows.

Cost

Low costs don’t always offer the best value and could mean you are cutting down on other value-added services such as tracking, customer service, communications, and delivery performance. Having a quality delivery service will give your customers a better experience which can lead to overall growth. It’s important your delivery partner can provide you with the services, tools and expertise to sustain this continued business growth.

Customer Service

The importance of customer service cannot be understated. 52% of customers have made an additional purchase after getting a positive customer service experience and 70% have made a choice to support a company who has great customer service. Having good customer service for both you as a company when you need to deal with them and for your customers can have a huge affect on your business.

Additional Services

Make sure you get more from delivery than just sending a parcel from A to B. You could have a full range of additional services including carrier management, labelling, warehouse automation, customer care and reporting. It may mean that you can outsource certain aspects to take the pressure off your business and help you focus on growth.

GFS offer a variety of services, including connecting up your different sales channels, access to different couriers, a wider variety of delivery options, track and trace, label production, and innovative technology to make things smooth and easy. Contact us to talk about your delivery needs today.

*https://www.nextiva.com/blog/customer-service-statistics.html

The post How To Find The Best Delivery Partner For Your Business appeared first on GFS.

• Domestic and European Road: 11.25%
• Domestic Freight: 11.25%
• International Air: 19.75%

The EU Oil bulletin provides petroleum product prices related to road shipments for EU member states

The US Energy Administration EIA provides jet fuel prices related to air shipments.

The fuel surcharges are linked to these with a 2 month lag in the application due to release dates of spot pricing data.

If you have any queries regarding the fuel surcharges please contact your Account Manager.

The post Fuel Surcharges for July 2019 appeared first on GFS.

The post How can we help you grow sales in the USA? appeared first on GFS.