Catch Newgistics this week at Green Mountain Consulting Summit

April has turned to May, and event season continues in full swing. This week, you can find Newgistics at the 8th Annual Green Mountain Consulting Leadership Summit, this Wednesday and Thursday in downtown Memphis, Tennessee.

This year’s focus is on the “Parcel network evolution: Executing for today, planning for tomorrow.” Summit participants will learn from case study driven sessions to gain a better understanding of the characteristics of each stage of the parcel network lifecycle and the strategies that can be used to optimize each stage, as well as how to better manage parcel networks at different points of maturity and growth.

Our director of sales, Patrick Allard, will lead a session Wednesday, May 15 at 4 p.m. He’ll speak on the topic Creating the Best Returns Processes in an Evolving Direct to Consumer Market.

Customers and prospects consider shippers’ returns policies and processes an important factor in their buying decision and brand loyalty. Yet, most merchants agree that their returns processes are far from perfect, especially in a continuously evolving “omnichannel” world. This session will present a case study on how Newgistics helped a shipper create a roadmap for implementing returns handling best practices to address customers’ needs for today and tomorrow.

Navigating the complexities of omnichannel retailing is daunting. We hope you’re able to attend this week’s summit, but if you won’t be there, please don’t hesitate to contact Newgistics to learn more about how delivering boxes can help you deliver the best customer service no matter how, where or when your customers shop.

Have a question about a package?

Both Newgistics and the retailers we serve want you to have the best order experience possible. Here are a couple of tips for how to find answers to your questions regarding a package being handled by Newgistics.

Questions about the status of your order?
Newgistics recommends you call or email the retailer from whom you made your purchase. The retailer’s customer service department will be able to review your order history, provide you a tracking number and an updated shipment status, as well as answer any questions or address any additional concerns you may have about the merchandise or shipping.

Can Newgistics answer my questions about my package?
No. Newgistics cares about the privacy of personally identifiable information and our privacy policy is designed to protect your privacy. Because of that commitment, we are unable to answer any questions from consumers in regards to specific orders or shipments. Only the retailer from whom you purchased can discuss your personal order details.

Newgistics is committed to your complete satisfaction, and we work hard behind the scenes with retailers to provide you with a great shipping experience.

Give Your Online Shoppers More Confidence to Click “Buy Now”

For most Americans, shopping online is nothing new. In fact, 53% of Americans purchased something online in 2011. But while shopping online is not exactly novel, it’s still a process that can be fraught with indecision, uncertainty and, when something occasionally does not meet expectations, frustration for consumers. For some online shoppers, there are a lot of unknowns when buying sight unseen, such as:

• Am I sure this is the right color?
• Will the quality meet my expectations?
• Will it fit?
• What if it arrives broken or damaged?
• What if the package gets lost?
• What if the package is delivered, but I’m not home?
• How long will I have to wait for a refund after I make a return?

Fortunately for e-tailers, many of these concerns can be addressed and minimized in two simple steps.

1. Have a clear, well-defined returns policy.
Returns policies that clearly state when an item can be returned and for what reasons can give would-be purchasers the confidence to click “buy.” Review your current returns policy and ensure that it includes specific instructions on how and where online returns can be made—can they be returned in-store? Do they include a pre-paid returns label? Can they be dropped off at any U.S.P.S. location?

2. Provider your customers with detailed package tracking information.
Partner with a reverse logistics company that provides detailed data for both retailer and consumer. Newgistics’ Transit Triggers service starts with dynamic barcodes on our delivery and SmartLabel® return shipping labels. They’re embedded with an extraordinarily rich level of data, integrating tracking information with order-specific details.

Here’s how Transit Triggers Work:

Once an order ships, parcel scan events can generate automated customer emails containing updates on shipment status as well as precisely targeted marketing messages. So while you’re providing peace of mind, you can cross-sell similar merchandise or offer promotions based on the customer’s order history. Newgistics even enables you to start notifying customers about tracking events sooner, since we provide visibility on outbound parcels as soon as they enter our network.

Even when orders are returned, you can transform the anxious wait for an account credit into a positive brand interaction that promotes repeat purchases.

Eliminating the “black hole” of uncertainty with an easy-to-understand, customer-centric returns policy and an accessible package tracking system goes a long way toward building a shopper’s confidence and improving their willingness to purchase online.  While shopping online may have lost its novelty, shopping online with greater confidence will not go out of fashion.

The Next Big Opportunity: Shipping to Canada

Canada is much like the United States in many, many ways, though there are a few key differences within the respective retail industries. Not only do grocery stores sell milk in plastic bags instead of plastic jugs or cardboard cartons, Canadian shoppers also face a limited selection when shopping online with U.S.-based retailers due to restrictive shipping policies that do not accommodate shipping to Canada.

Newgistics believes this is an opportunity for, not a weakness of, U.S.-based e-commerce merchants and multichannel retailers. In this two-part blog series, originally featured at RIS News, we’ll share six key principles U.S.-based retailers should keep in mind when considering the expansion of shipping into Canada.

Reaching a ripe, untapped market
Eighty two percent of Canadians reported having shopped online by October 2011, and the rate at which Canadians click to buy is rising rapidly—Canadians spent C$16.5 billion ($16.0 billion) in online sales in 2010, and this is expected to double to C$30.9 billion ($30 billion) by 2015. Eighty three percent of online shoppers purchased goods through Canadian e-Commerce merchants, while only 60 percent reported they purchased from U.S.-based retailers or brands. The time is right for U.S.-based companies to tackle international shipping to Canada.

#1: Keep deliveries timely and cost-effective
Canada is massive, but fortunately for U.S.-based retailers, 75 percent of Canadians live within 100 miles of the U.S.-Canada border. As a result, Canadians across the country expect competitive transit times for U.S. goods at cost-effective rates. Target delivery times should be within 3-7 days to all Canadian provinces and territories.

#2: Simplify the returns process
One of the biggest hassles for online shoppers is when they decide a purchase must be returned for any number of reasons. This negative experience—a shirt that doesn’t fit, or a lamp that arrived broken—is a critical moment for an e-Commerce merchant, and they can reduce a customer’s inconvenience by simplifying the returns process. Make returns easy and create the opportunity to build loyalty by providing your Canadian consumers with a prepaid return shipping label, available in the delivery package or online, to be attached to the order and returned via any Canada Post location.

#3: Minimize Customs headaches
International shipping is complicated by the customs process, which includes taxes and duties and the reclamation of taxes and duties on returns, currency exchange, and product import restrictions. Eliminate paperwork problems and accelerate the process by providing documentation to customs before the shipment reaches the border.

Though the sales growth possibilities are quite lucrative, it is no small decision to begin shipping to Canada. However, the process need not be overwhelming for retailers and e-tailers. Stay tuned for the final three key principles to efficiently make the expansion into Canada, from handling returns and transit time to customer loyalty and shipment partner relations.

Decoding the shipping gene

Retailers everywhere constantly ask themselves the question, “What makes our customers tick?” This question is quickly followed by, “What makes the consumers we want to be our customers tick?” These questions are difficult to answer, and can take an immense amount of resources to solve. At Newgistics, we liken this work to mapping consumer DNA. And we’ve decoded the shipping gene for you.

Newgistics recently sponsored an independent survey of consumers to study their shopping habits. Out-of-store shopping—particularly e-commerce—is booming; in fact, just this week Deloitte estimated that shopping online, or via mobile device or catalog will grow 15-17% this year. This comes on the heels of several consecutive years of very strong growth—e-commerce in particular had a banner year in 2011. Not only did online spending have its biggest day in history on Cyber Monday, but fewer customers waited until the Monday after Thanksgiving to shop online, spending 26% more online on Black Friday 2011 than in 2010. The research conducted by the third party looked at U.S. shoppers who had ordered from a catalog, e-commerce website, mobile device, television or ad, or home shopping party in the preceding three months, and at least one of the purchases was delivered via ground shipping, and what these consumers proved quite telling in what makes online shoppers tick.

It’s not surprising that traditional websites are the leading direct sales channel, but you may be surprised to learn that mobile and catalog shopping are now comparable to one another in popularity. You also might not realize the key role that shipping plays in selecting and staying loyal to a merchant, either. Here are a few other statistics that bore out how and why consumers decided to purchase (or not purchase) from a particular e-tailer:

• 85% of shoppers admitted to not completing the purchase after selecting an item to order
• The #1 reason consumers cited for not completing a purchase after selecting an item was shipping cost
• More than half of consumers surveyed said they had returned merchandise to an e-tailer at some point, and the among these shoppers the overwhelming top expectation for the return was a prepaid, preaddressed shipping label
• 9 out of 10 consumers have tracked an order or return, the vast majority said the ability to track shipments is at least somewhat important in deciding whether to patronize an e-tailer
• 90% of consumers said they’d hold off on calling customer service at least a day if a package wasn’t delivered on time if they could track the delivery online, and the majority said they would be very unlikely to contact customer service at all

Although shipping isn’t the top factor for consumers in deciding where to shop, it certainly is important. Specifically, the following emerged as the top considerations regarding shipping:

• Reasonable costs
• Timely delivery
• Receiving undamaged merchandise
• Convenient returns process

Meeting and managing the shipping expectations of consumers makes them more comfortable with the order experience. It can also help you allay any lingering concerns they may have about buying from e-tailers rather than brick- and-mortar stores. At Newgistics, we believe that meeting the expectations identified in the survey can help retailers not only retain customers—but also acquire them in the first place.

It’s all part of understanding consumer DNA and adapting accordingly.

Increasing the Lifetime Value of Your Customers While Controlling Costs

By David Marinkovich, VP Marketing and Field Sales, Newgistics

Trends in consumer behavior continue to indicate a changing attitude toward shipping options within the overall shopping experience. Market analysis shows that, despite relatively flat growth rates in the U.S. shipping market as a whole, the acceptance of value-based shipping is rapidly displacing premium time-definite services.

Why this transition? Aside from consumers watching their spending more closely, some carriers are facing continued pricing pressures (tied to core transportation services) and high fixed operating costs, leading them to modify their billing procedures and negotiate service agreements with shippers – and the higher rates get passed on to consumers. However, there are alternatives that can help shippers not only control costs, but also improve base service levels by leveraging untapped information and opportunities.

This is about more than just shipping: a company’s brand and reputation is on the line every time a customer places an order. While some merchants get consumed with evaluating each individual transaction, intelligent merchants look at the lifetime value of customer and implement services that meet the customers expectations in price, service, and performance – encouraging the customer to continually ‘invest’ in their brand.

Certainly, there are still customers who want the option to purchase time-definite, higher-cost shipping services – but considering the growing number of consumers demanding economical alternatives, prudent shippers must offer an variety of services in order to appeal to a the needs of the their most valued asset, the customer. Otherwise, they risk losing that customer to the big box retailer who may not offer the same level of convenience, but doesn’t tack on inflexible high-cost shipping, either. A comprehensive shipping offering can tackle these challenges and more – from increasing the lifetime value of a customer and reducing call center costs, to creating new marketing opportunities and streamlining IT processes.


Reverse Logistics Conference Wrap Up: Reducing Costs

Every year, more than 1,500 people from around the globe descend upon Las Vegas on Super Bowl weekend for the annual Reverse Logistics Association Conference & Expo. The audience is comprised largely of supply chain executives from the world’s best-known technology companies and consumer electronics retailers. The conference is a great forum to exchange ideas as companies improve their reverse logistics processes, identify opportunities to refine their sustainability programs, look at solutions offered by service providers supporting the industry, and reduce costs. Today I’d like to take a look at that last topic, reducing costs.

Limited product lifecycles and complex supply chains
To put it simply, the consumer electronics industry is cut throat. You are only as good as your last product, and nobody is safe from consumer backlash if a product does not “Wow!” them and deliver bottom-line results for the manufacturer. And unlike many retail products, the effective lifespan of a product and its ability to win big in the market is not just seasonal, it may have only days or weeks to perform before it is more or less obsolete. For that reason, the complexity of the supply chain required to support returns in such an industry can be accurately described as a maze littered with the remains of products that need to find a resting place at the end of their useful life. But these questions remain: where do they go?; how do they get there?; and what is the most cost-effective way to make sure they get to their final destination?

Measuring costs
Once the consumer is through with the device, the challenge becomes to identify the most optimal way to manage the flow of goods and materials. Unfortunately, many companies look at isolated areas of cost (such as transportation, for example) rather than the big picture, and are dissatisfied because they have a difficult time addressing other areas of the business where cost overruns are apparent. It is imperative to understand that any business, regardless of industry, is a delicate ecosystem that involves every area of the operation that relies on open communication among all channels. So while operations may try to save a few cents in one place, customer service may have a difficult time managing call center costs because the data required to support their environment is not necessarily provided through the ‘low cost alternative.’ As for marketing, well, if they cannot monitor consumer behavior and proactively market to them based on specific events observed through the use of the data, customer satisfaction may suffer and the business may miss critical revenue opportunities. It is enough to drive finance nuts, as the business as a whole may be headed in the wrong direction and with no clear answers as to how to go about fixing it.

The best solution for your business may not always be the least expensive. Trying to shave a few cents out of your operating costs may wind up costing you dollars in the end if you are not careful.

The future is the consumer
We have seen a complete evolution in the ways in which consumers shop. From the times of Ben Franklin (the original catalog marketer) until the 1990s, very little changed as people purchased through traditional brick & mortar outlets or through catalogs. The revolution in retailing brought on through integration of technology, customer buying preferences, and marketing is still in its infancy, as alternate retail channels accounts for less than 5 percent of total retail revenues. Whereas ‘mobile commerce’ was revolutionary a couple of years ago, we are progressing to the point of ‘social commerce’ as more and more people use alternate devices and mediums to fulfill their needs. As such, they demand that the information and services provided to them be easily accessible, have the ability to be consumed at a time when it is convenient for them, and have meaningful content.

Despite the wonderful advances that consumer electronics companies and their sales channels continue to make to offer products designed to support consumers’ lifestyles, they must also make sure their policies and the way they support the consumer after the sale supports their lifestyles as well. Trying to adapt old processes and unfriendly customer service policies in an effort to reduce costs or prevent returns may cost a company significantly in the new age of merchandising and retailing. As new thought leaders in the market emerge, it is likely that the focus will shift to service – based on a desire to build lifetime customer value rather than the idea of ‘saving’ a dollar here and there. For companies only focusing on the here and now, there may not be much to look forward to down the road.

Renewed Consumer Optimism Drives Need for Greater Awareness of Shipping Services

*Originally published in PARCEL Magazine’s January-February issue.

With the holidays behind us, the logistics industry can finally breathe a collective sigh of relief. However stressful, the past few months of peak season have also shown more signs of economic recovery. Consumers came out in record numbers, making the fourth quarter of 2010 a bright spot on what was undoubtedly a barometer for future retail trends. Some may wonder, “What does this have to do with shipping?” The answer is quite a bit, actually.

Competing in a Changing Marketplace
The days of simply focusing on the creating a positive in-store experience are long past. New technologies, combined with an increasingly perceptive consumer, force all of us to find ways to meet growing customer demands without breaking the bank. The fact that many customers no longer ‘marry’ themselves to a brand (as price is the number one purchase factor) means that merchants’ ability to drive long-term customer loyalty is dependent not only on the products that they offer, but also on the total landed cost of putting those products into their customers’ hands. This is where shipping costs play a critical role in building customer loyalty.

The Rising Costs of Shipping
Nobody likes rate increases when it comes to shipping, especially when it can account for as much as 40 percent of an organization’s total landed operational costs. Nevertheless, there are several things to keep in mind as we negotiate contracts with carriers:

• Fuel rates are volatile and cause uncertainty in cost structures
• Investments in new technologies rise as shipping companies identify ways to reduce their carbon footprint in meeting customer demand
• In some cases, heavy fixed overhead and real estate costs associated with lower volumes must be absorbed

Because shipping is such a large factor in an organization’s budget, it is often one of the first places executives go to identify areas in which to reduce costs to remain competitive. While it’s always smart to work with your carrier to negotiate the best deal, I propose that you look even further than your rate chart for opportunities to save, which many merchants are missing out on today.

Additionally, as you look at alternative carriers, remember that your most loyal customers expect a certain level of service from you. As long as you establish customer expectations through a comprehensive policy that clearly communicates expectations, there is no harm in offering a lower-cost shipping alternative. Reducing costs may even help you attract new customers and build customer loyalty among long-time customers.

Look Inside
As carrier rates increase, one of the largest areas of opportunity is the manner in which corrugate costs are managed. Oftentimes, carriers face the challenge of reducing costs while merchants have not looked at their own shipping practices costs.  Some questions to ask are:

• Am I minimizing the cube required to ship an item?
• Do I have a standardized set of products that allow me to reduce and/or eliminate the number of boxes that I need to keep on hand to meet organizational needs?
• Am I sourcing products locally when at all possible, allowing me to control my total costs and meet the needs of my customer?

There are many questions that can be asked, and my experience is that while many companies take the right approach to managing their business, there are an equal number that truly do not get everything they can out of the existing resources they have at their disposal.

Conclusion
In order to continue serving customers profitably, merchants must ensure that they’re doing everything possible to improve the level of service they receive from existing service providers, or be willing to utilize the services of others when their needs aren’t being met. And rather than placing the entire burden of cost reduction on service providers, businesses must also look to ways to reduce their own costs while meeting customers’ expectations. In an increasingly competitive market, your customers are not the only ones looking to you to deliver a better value – your shareholders are as well.

Free Shipping and its Impact on Customer Expectations

We are in the crosshairs of the busiest retail period of the year. As many retailers expect to realize as much as 40% of their annual revenues in the weeks leading up to December 25, most are pulling out all of the stops trying to bring those shoppers in the door — whether it is brick-and-mortar or e-commerce/catalog storefronts. As with years past, one of the biggest promotions used in the direct-to-consumer space is ‘Free Shipping.’ Therefore, the questions some may ask are:

•    How effective is free shipping in bringing customers in the ‘door?’
•    Do consumers expect free shipping after the cheer of the season has passed? and,
•    What is the impact on the retailer’s bottom line?

Some questions are more easily answered than others are, and some may entirely depend on how a retailer chooses to market their products – so let us look.

Bringing Customers in the Door
One of the largest contributors to shopping cart abandonment is shipping costs. Many retailers have gravitated toward low-cost ground shipping to reduce consumer costs, but the fact remains that consumers are watching every dollar — and the carrot of free shipping is almost impossible to pass up.  While that is great news for the retailers, they need to proceed with caution by informing consumers what ‘free shipping’ typically means. The package will typically ship via the most economical channel, and customers need to be aware that there are very specific cutoff times for orders to ensure its arrival on time. It sounds obvious, and to those of us in the industry – it is, but consumers oftentimes see what they want to see, and the frenzy created around ‘free’ anything oftentimes causes them to look past the fine print. A word of advice, proceed with caution when making decisions that could adversely affect the customer experience.

Setting Future Consumer Expectations
Online revenues this holiday shopping season are up, way up. Estimates have identified increases of up to 30% or more, meaning that more people are shopping online and buying more online than in the past. Some retailers have engineered entire marketing programs around free shipping to drive business all year, and others are just beginning to explore the opportunity. For the latter – it’s critical to understand what it may take to ensure future success while understanding free shipping’s impact on its holiday success. If your merchandise selection is unique in that consumers have a limited or no option in securing the same or similar items elsewhere, then it may not be a good strategy. However, if you find that the ability to offer free shipping for the same or similar merchandise to your competitors really helped to drive increased volumes, it may be an excellent opportunity to identify new, long-term customers.

Free Shipping and the Bottom Line
In an extremely competitive environment, every penny counts — as evidenced by some premium retail brands that have steadfastly refused to offer discounts in the past jumping on board to discount products this holiday season. Combined with the fact that total landed transportations costs can account for as much as 40% of a company’s operations budget, there is very little room for absorbing additional costs. So, the scenario any merchant needs to assess is if their business is healthy enough to absorb these incremental costs, how will it immediately impact operating income, and will it open the door to new, sustainable revenue opportunities that will pay dividends down the stretch? All of these are tough questions, and all of them require a merchant’s full attention — because once the decision is made to go down this path, changing course could create a sour taste in the mouth of its most valued asset, the customer.

I appreciate your time during what is undoubtedly a busy time of year for all of us in the industry. I wish you all much success for a strong close and an even better 2011.

Best regards,

Kevin Brown
Director, Marketing

Assessing Performance After Peak

After peak season, how can you take a fresh look at your business and make improvements for next year? Evaluating the previous season and assessing the performance of your company as a whole is one of the largest challenges coming out of peak, particularly when analyzing the impact something as ‘simple as shipping’ has had on the overall operating plan. But considering the fact that transportation can account for up to 40% of a company’s total annual operations budget, an accurate assessment is essential.

By establishing a formal process to measure post‐peak performance, your company can drive improved results for the year ahead. A thorough review of peak performance includes a taking hard look and asking the right questions of areas all across the business, including:

• Operations and transportation,
• Customer service,
• Marketing,
• Technology, and
• Finance.

By establishing a formal process by which post peak performance will be evaluated, your company will be better positioned to drive improved results for the year ahead. So what questions should you ask of each area? Take a closer look by downloading the PDF “Assessing Performance After Peak.”