Simplify International Shipping for Your Business

International shipping can be a challenging task for ecommerce sellers, but it doesn't have to be. With almost 250 billion parcels sent internationally every year, it's clear that buying from abroad is no longer rare, it's part of the reality of buying and selling online. 

As an online shopper, we all expect international shipping to be fast and stress-free. But behind the scenes, it's not all smooth sailing. For businesses like yours, venturing into international shipping, it's a world of customs, regulations, and the occasional disappearing act by parcels. 

It sounds like a lot, but we've got you covered. Whether you're exploring international shipping or aiming to enhance global sales, this guide is a valuable resource for ensuring smooth operations from the start.

7 easy steps to simplify your international shipping workflow

Here are 7 fundamental parts to understand how international shipping works, and make your shipping process as smooth as butter. 

1. Know your target market

Before starting shipping, you must know your audience. Especially in today's globalized marketplace, where consumer preferences, behaviors, and expectations vary widely across regions and demographics. 

Sendcloud’s E-commerce Delivery Compass 2023 report highlights trends in consumer behavior, emphasizing the importance of customer-centric services for successful online stores. 

Here are the main takeaways to consider.

1. Addressing checkout abandonment: High shipping costs (62%) and slow delivery times (45%) are the main reasons shoppers exit before checking out, indicating a preference for affordable and fast shipping options.

2. Delivery expectations: The average customer expects delivery within 3-4 days, with a preference for free delivery over fast delivery.

3. Flexible delivery options: Flexible delivery options, such as next-day delivery, choosing your day of delivery, and pick-up at local stores, are becoming increasingly popular among consumers.

4. Managing returns: 51% of shoppers expect the option to return a product if they are not satisfied with it, highlighting the importance of flexible returns policies.

By creating detailed customer profiles outlining expectations for shipping times, costs, carrier preferences, and returns policies, you can tailor your international shipping strategies to meet the specific needs of your target audience. 

Learn how to create a shipping policy

2. Choose your international shipping partners

When it comes to using multiple carriers for different shipment services, there are both pros and cons to consider. While it can save you money, it can also make the process more complex. 

By working with multiple carriers, you can provide your customers with a range of services catering to their needs and preferences.

Let’s see your options.

• Postal services, which offer a cost-effective solution for shipping internationally, with established networks and infrastructure for cross-border delivery. However, they often lack speed and reliability and may offer limited tracking capabilities.

• Global courier companies like DHL, FedEx, and UPS, which offer expedited delivery options with robust tracking and delivery guarantees. These services are more expensive, but can give customers greater visibility and control over their shipments, which can lead to higher satisfaction levels.

The choice of shipping carrier should align with your business objectives, customer expectations, and budget constraints.

Shipping platforms like Sendcloud can benefit you by using their scale and size to pass on bulk discounts and preferential rates. 

Factor in your international shipping costs 

It is absolutely crucial to ensure the accuracy of your costs. This is not only important for maintaining proper records, but also for making your pricing completely transparent to consumers. But this goes beyond the actual shipping price. Your cost breakdown must include the following components:

• Cost of the product

• Cost of packaging

• Cost of international shipping

• All handling charges

• Duties and taxes

Learn more about calculating shipping costs 

3. Get to know the legal requirements

From prohibited items to import duties to customs declarations, businesses must ensure compliance with all relevant laws and regulations to avoid costly penalties and delays.

Prohibited items vary widely depending on the destination country and carrier, but common examples include:

• Firearms

• Explosives

• Narcotics

• Counterfeit goods

Certain items may also be subject to restrictions or require special permits for importation, such as:

• Agricultural products

• Pharmaceuticals

• Hazardous materials

Furthermore, it’s helpful to stay informed about changes in import/export regulations and trade agreements that may impact your shipping operations. Check a reliable source for requirements whenever you ship internationally. Or use a shipping service that carefully tracks these regulations for you. An integration like Sendcloud ensures you have the right forms for every shipment.

By staying vigilant and proactive in addressing legal requirements, you can minimize the risk of customs delays, seizures, and other compliance issues that may disrupt any international shipping.

4. Fill out your paperwork properly

To avoid delays or complications, you’ll need to make sure you have all required documentation complete, accurate, and compliant with regulations or international shipping.

Be transparent with customers about the fees associated with importing goods, if there will be any. This includes import duties, VAT, and processing costs for carriers. 

To ensure that your packages reach their destination successfully, there are some documents you should be familiar with depending on the carrier and destination.

• Customs Declaration CN22: Used for goods weighing up to 2 kg (4.4 lbs) and up to €425 ($460 USD) in value. It must be attached to the outside of the package.

• Customs Declaration CN23: Required for shipments weighing over 2 kg (4.4 lbs) and/or exceeding €425 ($460 USD) in value. It is larger than the CN22 and must also be attached to the outside of the package, with a second copy placed inside.

• Despatch Note CP71: This document accompanies the CN23 declaration and is mandatory for international shipments.

• Commercial Invoice: Essential for shipments going to countries outside the EU, the commercial invoice provides details about the package contents and agreed terms, such as who bears the customs charges (Incoterms).

Managing customs declarations can be complex and time-consuming. However, automated solutions can simplify the process and save time. With Sendcloud, you can accurately generate compliant customs forms and shipping labels. 

5. Pack and label parcels correctly

Whether shipping domestically or internationally, we recommend sticking to best practices for packaging and labeling parcels to minimize the risk of damage, loss, or theft.

If you want to ensure that your parcels survive the journey abroad, try these expert tips.

• Reinforce the corners of your package with packing tape that is at least 48 mm (2 in) wide.

• Make sure there is a space of 6 cm (2 in) between the product and the shipping box.

• Fill the package with padding material, such as bubble wrap or foam peanuts.

• Use boxes made of two-ply corrugated cardboard for fragile goods, and add extra protection with layers of bubble wrap.

It's worth noting that in some countries, addresses don't necessarily have a house number, street name, or postal code. 

Carriers have specific formatting requirements for shipping labels to ensure successful delivery. 

To avoid errors when filling out shipping labels, it can be helpful to integrate a shipping platform like Sendcloud with your Squarespace account. Sendcloud platform adds extra power to your shipping options on Squarespace. The extension helps you to automatically generate pre-filled shipping labels using order details, which saves you time and reduces the likelihood of human error.

6. Reassure your customers with post-purchase notifications 

Providing clear instructions for tracking an order is essential to establish trust among your customers and ensure a smooth delivery process. 

Include detailed shipping information in shipment confirmation emails and your store’s website.

1. Use visuals. Consider including a visual guide or infographic summarizing shipping methods and times to make the tracking process easier for your customers.

2. Anticipate customer questions. Consider the most common questions that customers might have when tracking their order and provide easy-to-understand answers to these questions in advance.

3. Direct customers to the tracking system. Tell your customers where they can track their package. Provide a link to your tracking page or the carrier's website and include instructions on where to enter the tracking number.

4. Use simple language. Avoid using technical terms that may be unfamiliar to your customers. If you need to use them, briefly explain what they mean.

7. Handling international returns

Managing international returns is an essential part of ensuring a positive customer experience. It can have a significant impact on customer satisfaction and loyalty. 

To provide customers with a seamless shopping experience and increase customer satisfaction, it’s important to offer flexible return policies.

• Provide extended return windows beyond the standard 30-day return period.

• Offer prepaid return labels to make the return process easier for customers.

• Allow your customers to return items to local or regional fulfillment centers for faster processing and refunds.

• Provide a self-service online returns portal for customers, streamlining the returns process and saving time and energy.

Having a simple and customer-friendly return policy can lead to higher order value and more repeat customers.

Learn how to write a returns policy

Improve your international shipping with the Sendcloud extension

Developing a solid international shipping strategy is crucial for any business looking to expand their reach abroad. It involves understanding customer requirements, international regulations, and practical considerations about costs. 

While international shipping can be complex, it doesn't have to be with the right strategy in place. Here's how Sendcloud can streamline your international shipping process.

• Prioritize preferences: Choose between cost-effectiveness, speed, or insurance coverage.

• Integration with Squarespace: Automatically import your Squarespace orders for seamless management.

• Method selection: Edit or choose from preselected international shipping options.

• Price calculator: Use the tool to find suitable shipping methods based on parcel details.

• Customs documentation: Automate generation to ensure accuracy and compliance.

• Printing labels: Print labels and customs documents together for efficiency.

• Paperless trade: Reduce paperwork with digital customs declarations for supported carriers.

• Automated notifications: Send customizable notifications to your customers when their order is shipped, out for delivery, or delivered.

Ready to take your shipping to the next level?

Note: This Making It article was created in collaboration with Sendcloud.