According to the International Trade Administration, Hong Kong stands out as a digital powerhouse with a remarkable 93% internet penetration rate. About 80% of households in this tech-savvy region own personal computers, and approximately 99.7% of residents can conveniently access the internet through their smartphones.
This extensive digital access lays a solid foundation for a vibrant digital economy, naturally paving the way for a flourishing e-commerce market, which was estimated to have reached an impressive US$20.32 billion in 2023. However, this surge in e-commerce is not confined to the region; globally, the business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce sector is poised to reach a revenue of US$5.5 trillion by 2027.
In response to this growing demand, DHL Express Commerce (DEC) offers customised solutions that optimise e-commerce order and returns management to boost operational efficiency, facilitate smoother transactions, and enhance customer satisfaction.
What is the DHL Express Commerce (DEC) system?
The DHL Express Commerce (DEC) system is a robust e-commerce integration tool developed to streamline online business operations. By centralising the management of orders across various platforms, DEC significantly simplifies the e-commerce process, allowing merchants to manage their orders with unparalleled ease and efficiency.
This order management system seamlessly connects with leading e-commerce platforms such as Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, Amazon, Etsy, and eBay, among others. It acts as a single e-tool that imports all your orders, offering a consolidated view that facilitates better management and decision-making.
For e-commerce business owners looking to enhance their operational capabilities and streamline international shipping from Hong Kong, DEC provides a powerful, integrated solution that supports the growth and scalability of their businesses by simplifying complex logistics and backend processes.
How does DHL Express Commerce work with an e-commerce business?
DHL Express Commerce enhances e-commerce fulfilment services by ensuring efficient and reliable order processing. Here’s how it works:
Checkout
DEC integrates with e-commerce platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce to calculate and display shipping rates and estimated transit times. This feature is critical for providing customers with transparent and immediate shipping information as they finalise their purchases.
Order Import
Immediately after an order is placed, DEC automatically imports the order details from the merchant's platform. This automation eliminates manual data entry, reducing errors and saving valuable time.
Label Printing
Merchants can review shipment information before printing shipping labels. DEC supports both individual and bulk printing options, catering to different business needs. The system can send print jobs directly to label printers, streamlining the packaging process.
Order Update
Once labels are created, DEC updates the order status within the merchant’s e-commerce system. It automatically writes back the DHL shipment tracking number and marks the order as complete, which triggers the dispatch of tracking information and order completion notifications to customers.
Tracking
DEC provides real-time tracking updates, keeping both merchants and customers informed from the moment of dispatch to delivery. This real-time tracking is essential for maintaining transparency and enhancing customer satisfaction by keeping them informed about their shipment's status.
To utilise DHL Express e-commerce solutions and ensure proper functionality, activate the DHL Express plugin for your specific platform. For instance, if using WooCommerce, verify that WordPress is installed and the WooCommerce plugin is activated. Similarly, the necessary plugins for other platforms like Shopify should be activated to ensure seamless DHL Express integration and operational efficiency.
How does the DEC returns portal help manage returns in e-commerce?
While the DEC portal excels in order management, it also offers a comprehensive e-commerce returns solution. It simplifies the return process with a user-friendly interface that allows customers to initiate returns online quickly, choose their preferred form of refund (e.g. store credit, their original payment method, etc.) and generate return labels. Customers can also select from courier pickup and drop-off at DHL ServicePoint and track their international return shipments in real time.
Additionally, this system benefits merchants by automating return processing, reducing manual workload, and allowing them to set criteria to refuse specific returns, ensuring better control over their inventory and operations. This makes the returns process straightforward and efficient for both customers and sellers.
Benefits of using the DHL Express commerce portal for your e-commerce businesses
Find out how the DHL Express commerce portal can transform your e-commerce business with advanced solutions that streamline operations and enhance customer interaction:
- Streamlined order and returns management: By centralising control over both outbound shipments and returns, the DHL Express commerce portal enables businesses to efficiently manage and track all aspects of their logistics operations from a single, unified platform.
- Customer empowerment: Enables customers to initiate returns easily with user-friendly tools, providing a seamless return experience that boosts satisfaction and confidence in their purchasing decisions.
- Customisable interface and automated notifications: Businesses can tailor the returns process to match their brand's look and communication style, enhancing brand consistency and customer engagement while providing timely updates.
- Seamless website integration: Easily integrates with e-commerce platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce, simplifying the setup process for merchants and ensuring a smooth operational flow without disrupting the existing e-commerce website structure.
- Display flexible return preferences: Offers various return options, such as refunds, exchanges, or store credit, which cater to different customer needs and preferences. This flexibility improves customer satisfaction and loyalty by providing convenient and tailored return solutions.
- Convenient drop-off or pickup options: Provides customers with easy drop-off or pickup choices, enhancing their experience by making returns simple and hassle-free, thereby increasing satisfaction and retention.
- Rule-based customisation: Allows businesses to tailor their orders and returns processes to match specific policies and requirements. For instance, sellers can specify conditions for returned goods, such as only accepting items in their original packaging or setting a reasonable return window, like 30 days post-purchase. By customising these rules, businesses can ensure consistency and maintain control over their e-commerce fulfilment services.
Simplify your e-commerce operations with DHL Express Hong Kong
Effectively navigating order and returns management is pivotal for any e-commerce operation. With DHL Express Hong Kong's e-commerce solutions, businesses can streamline these processes to enhance operational efficiency.
Whether you must deliver parcels overseas or manage local returns, DHL Express's integrated services ensure smooth online logistics management. These tools support your business at every step, from initial order to final delivery.
Our technical support team is available to help you understand our shipping tools and answer any questions you may have. Contact us for Technical Support Or, if you would like to speak to a DHL Express technical support agent, please call +852 2400 3308 or email us at hkgwebmaster@dhl.com.
Transform your e-commerce operations with world-class logistics solutions by opening a business account with DHL Express Hong Kong today.
