Logistics- a key factor for success of E-commerce platforms

Since the birth of E-commerce the whole meaning of online retail has undergone a virtual metamorphosis. During the initial phase of this online revolution basically convenience and low prices were the main reasons for buying a product online. Today, the ecommerce retailers are virtually selling any product and service available under the sky - from clothes to furniture to gadgets to property-you name it and they sell it! When a consumer orders a product, it has to be carefully packed and shipped, often over long distances, to reach the rightful owner. So, the challenge before the retailers is to deliver these products and services safely within a given time frame and in a cost effective manner.   

In the fast developing E-commerce sector, a fully integrated logistics system ensures that the right product reaches at the right place and the right time to a specific customer. In fact the success of e-stores depends upon the efficiency of their distribution networks. Logistics has always been an area of concern for the online merchants. They owe a responsibility towards the customers and are accountable for efficiency of delivery by the logistics provider. There is a lot of work involved like shipping & dispatching of orders, tracking services, Cash on delivery (COD) services, printing of bills & shipping labels and other vendor related services. Today, it is expected that a well-organized logistics provider will automatically display the order status as dispatched, shipped or delivered (as the case maybe) and also offer comprehensive pin code coverage. Besides, the customers have to be continuously updated with automatic emails and SMS notifications about the progress of their order.

StoreHippo is a new age E-commerce platform which has recognized the importance of logistics. In order to meet the rising demand of a streamlined logistics system, StoreHippo has tied up with leading logistics providers like FedEx, Blue Dart, Delhivery and Aramex to offer simplified, superfast and smooth logistics solutions to online retailers. The E-commerce merchants, who create their online stores through StoreHippo, get the benefit of hassle-free logistics with integration of known national and international courier companies, and that too at amazing discounts on shipping charges across India.

E-commerce sector faces the big challenge of managing a bulk inventory, which has to be packed in a standardized way and the entire business process has to be synchronized. With a multiple number of suppliers and warehouses, the chances of misplacing an order are high, but with the introduction of latest technologies and automatic softwares for logistics, inefficiencies have been reduced to a minimum.

Over the next few years, online retail will gain a strong foothold in India and all over the globe. As a result, logistics companies will have to play a vital role in providing efficient services that evolve with consumers’ changing shopping habits. We can easily conclude that there can be no E-commerce without an efficient logistics system in place.