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Lately, the jump in the number of online businesses operating in the country has led to severe competition in the eCommerce industry. Businesses are exploring different ways and means to establish their market leadership in the crowded marketplace. One approach that is reaping great results is the use of third-party services to complete non-core activities such as ground shipping, supply chain management, logistics and last-mile delivery.
To help eCommerce businesses gain insight into the advantages of ground shipping, we explore the basics of and how it can steer businesses to become profitable.
In simple terms, ground shipping or road freight is the transportation of goods on land surfaces using vehicles like trucks, vans and even railways. The average time taken for ground shipping is one to five shipping days to metros and most Tier1/Tier2 cities.
In India, road transportation is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8% to reach a market size of USD 330 billion by 2025. The market share of intercity and intracity road transportation services is expected to reach 14% and 86%, respectively, by 2025.
Ground shipping helps businesses in the following ways:
These are some of the advantages that your business can enjoy by choosing ground shipping services.
Considering the innumerable ground shipping advantages, eCommerce stores must explore this transportation option. Here are five strategies you can use for an effective shipping process:
1. Optimise packaging for efficient handling: Standardised parcel sizes will minimise excess space, and your ground shipping partner will charge you less for it.
2. Partnering with localised carriers: The best ground shipping partners for your eCommerce store will be providers who have a strong local network. Localised networks are cost-effective and ensure on-time deliveries.
3. Real-time tracking: Implementing real-time tracking keeps customers informed, and they are reassured of the progress of the order with live updates.
4. Zone Skipping: Another way you can optimise ground shipping is to embrace zone skipping. In this method, you will need to consolidate packages before handing them to carriers for faster deliveries.
5. Delivery Window Options: To increase ground shipping capabilities, you should offer multiple delivery windows. Give your customers options like expedited or standard shipping so they can plan the delivery of their orders according to their availability.
These practical tactics help eCommerce stores enhance their ground shipping and make their customers happy.
Let’s delve into a comprehensive comparative analysis of leading ground shipping carriers, each with its distinct service offerings, coverage areas, and value-added features:
Carrier | Service Coverage | Delivery Speed | Tracking Options | Special Features |
---|---|---|---|---|
Apollo Logistics | Nationwide | 3-4 days | Real-time | Integrated Logistics |
APT Logistics | Regional | 3-7 days | Advance tracking | 16 branch offices |
Blue Dart Express | Nationwide | 3-5 days | Real-time | On-cash-delivery |
DHL | Nationwide | 3-5 days | Advanced tracking | Preferred time slot delivery |
Maersk | Nationwide | 3-4 days | GPS tracking | Signature confirmation |
Mahindra Logistics | Nationwide | 3-5 days | Online tracking | 15,000 trucks |
OM Freight Forwarders | Nationwide | 3-7 days | Advanced tracking | 700 destinations |
Shree Maruti Courier Services | Regional | 3-7 days | Real-time | Strong local network |
VRL Logistics | Regional | 3-4 days | GPS tracking | FMCG, Furniture industries |
TCI Express | National provider | 3-4 days | Tracking options | 13,000 delivery locations |
TVS Supply Chain Solutions | Regional | 3-7 days | Real-time tracking | A subsidiary of TVS Group since 2004 |
While these are only the top-10 ground shipping service providers in the country, you should consider the merits of every provider to assess their capabilities and make informed decisions.
At the same time, there are a number of providers who offer customised and all-in-one solutions.
Let us look at one such provider.
Ideally, eCommerce stores should use technology and tools to improve their services and to match the demands of their customers. While a number of ground shipping providers operate in the country, a handful are able to provide all-in-one solutions. Shiprocket is one such ground shipping services provider that leverages technology to ensure eCommerce stores satisfy the delivery needs of their customers.
Let us look at how Shiprocket makes this possible:
These services are some of the ways in which Shipocket can make a difference to your company.
To learn more about Shiprocket ground shipping services, click here.
As the online selling and buying model becomes popular, there is intense competition among stores to offer the best products and fastest delivery at the least cost. These factors have ensured great customer satisfaction. Moreover, many eCommerce stores have been able to build their brand visibility through consistent on-time delivery. Their success has been their partnership with ground shipping service providers. Businesses of every size should leverage the advantages of using dedicated logistics and ground shipping service providers to build operational excellence and remain profitable.
For international shipments, transport by sea is most effective. Ground shipping can become a cost-effective choice if you are shipping to neighbouring countries that are connected easily by road to your country.
The service factors you need to consider to choose a ground shipping provider for your eCommerce store are delivery speed, the regions or destinations they can deliver, and the price at which these services are available to you.
Yes, most of the ground shipping providers offer shipment tracking facilities. Providers such as shiprocket offer real-time tracking features. This enables the customers to actively monitor the current status and location of their shipments during transit.
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