So, your business is up and running. Congratulations! But before you start plotting how to grow internationally, you should be fine-tuning your domestic shipping strategy to ensure your products get to your customers on time and with minimal hassle to you. Here’s everything to consider, with tips and best practices.
What is domestic shipping?
Domestic shipping refers to the movement of goods between two points within a country’s borders. For example, a retailer based in Dublin sending products to a customer in another city in Ireland like Cork, is domestic shipping. Often, domestic services are extremely fast.
Domestic vs international shipping
Domestic shipping differs significantly from international shipping. While domestic shipping involves transporting goods within a country’s borders, international shipping deals with moving goods between countries and across borders. International shipping is understandably a more complex operation due to several factors:
Customs and border regulations: International shipments are subject to customs clearance procedures, which involve inspections, documentation, and potential duties or taxes. These regulations vary from country to country, adding complexity to the shipping process.
Distance and transit times: International shipments typically travel longer distances, resulting in extended transit times compared to domestic shipments. This requires careful planning and coordination to ensure timely delivery.
Shipping costs: International shipping costs are generally higher due to factors like increased distance, customs fees, and currency exchange rates.
Logistics and infrastructure: International shipping often involves multiple carriers and modes of transport, requiring more complex logistics and coordination.
How long does domestic shipping take?
The timeframe for domestic shipping depends on several factors, including the carrier and the shipping option selected. Most express carriers offer expedited, next-day shipping as standard to meet increasing customer demand. DHL Express, for instance, goes a step further by offering same-day domestic deliveries in Ireland for urgent shipments. This service provides businesses with the flexibility and speed required to meet tight deadlines and satisfy customers who require immediate delivery.
Benefits of domestic shipping to your business
For small businesses and start-ups, domestic shipping is the best place to begin their journey. There is less administrative work to deal with than international shipping (e.g., no customs documents), leaving them with more time to focus on the many other demands a new business has.
Furthermore, domestic shipping affords better quality control – businesses can conduct on-site inspections when their suppliers are closer, while any problems (such as a customer’s order going missing) can more quickly be resolved.
Perhaps most importantly, domestic shipping is typically fast – and if there’s one thing your customers love, it’s speedy delivery.
Once you have conquered domestic shipping, you can look to grow your business internationally – with support from global logistics experts, such as DHL.
Planning your domestic shipping strategy
Whether your business has just started selling products or is rapidly growing, a well-planned shipping strategy is the key to meeting customers’ expectations and saving your business time. Here are some best practices for domestic shipping:
Think speed
It’ll be no surprise to hear that customers consistently place high value on the speed of delivery when ordering online. Offering your customers an Express option at checkout will ensure they have a great experience with your business and return again and again.
Offer customers flexible delivery
Sometimes a customer knows they won’t be at home to receive their delivery, so they would like the option to divert it to their workplace or a parcel locker. Or they might prefer to save money by selecting slower delivery. In short, the more flexibility you can offer your customers at checkout, the less likely they will become frustrated and abandon the purchase altogether.
A flexible on-demand delivery service can include:
Alternative delivery address (e.g., workplace, neighbour)
Collection from a designated point (e.g., locker, shop)
Time-definite delivery options (e.g., pre-10:30 am, afternoon)
Partnering with a logistics leader with an extensive fulfilment network – like DHL Express – will help you meet expectations.
Evaluate your products – and then pack accordingly
With many carriers charging shipping per dimensional weight, the packaging you use for your products is very important. Products should be packed in suitably sized boxes with minimal excess space. Integrating software to automate the labelling process will save you valuable time and reduce errors, too.
Decide how to charge customers
66% of consumers now expect free shipping on every purchase they make online1. Offering this may seem like a big expense for your business but it’s a huge incentive for customers to shop with you – in fact, 60% of e-commerce businesses report that “free shipping with conditions” is their most successful marketing tool2.
Alternatively, you could offer a flat rate shipping fee or a carrier-calculated shipping fee. These might seem like the cheapest options for your business, but not if they cause customers to abandon their carts. Getting your pricing right may be a trial-and-error process, but you adjust as you learn more about its impact on your sales. Just remember to be upfront with your customers about your shipping fees – no one likes nasty surprises at checkout.
Think green
A survey3 found that over 50% of European shoppers are willing to wait longer for a delivery if it means it’s more sustainable – even if same- or next-day delivery is available. DHL’s GoGreen Plus service has recently launched an initiative that allows customers to reduce the carbon emissions associated with their shipments through the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel. Increase your green credentials with DHL Express today.
Offer full tracking
Customers love to track their shipments. With DHL Express, you can offer them full tracking in real-time, with SMS/email notifications of its status. DHL Express also offers On Demand Delivery, which allows customers to customise their delivery preferences and receive notifications on various channels, including email, SMS, and WhatsApp. This level of transparency and control enhances the customer experience and builds trust in your brand.
Anticipate returns
It’s an unfortunate side of e-commerce that, on average, approximately 30% of all online orders are returned by customers4. You should integrate this factor into your budget, and make allowances accordingly. You may have to charge customers for returns to minimise the impact. Our guide to handling customer returns will help you through the process in more detail. You can’t hide from returns, so be prepared and take steps to reduce the costs!
How much does it cost to ship domestically?
Carriers will set their domestic shipping rates depending on the package’s size/weight, contents, and selected delivery speed. There are some best practices you can follow to keep costs low. As carriers tend to charge depending on how much space your cargo takes up, avoid excessive packaging. Many carriers will offer special deals for B2C clients who ship regularly; be prepared to negotiate!
DHL’s domestic shipping services
DHL Express offers a comprehensive suite of domestic shipping services designed to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes in Ireland. With a focus on speed, reliability, and flexibility, DHL Express can help you optimise your domestic shipping strategy and enhance customer satisfaction.
For businesses seeking fast and efficient delivery within Ireland, DHL Express offers a fully tracked next-day delivery service for domestic shipments and same-day delivery options for urgent shipments. With a MyDHL+ account, businesses can easily manage their shipments, schedule courier pickups, and track deliveries in real-time.
Optimise your domestic shipping operations and benefit from DHL Express’ extensive network and established brand trust to enhance your shipping efficiency and customer satisfaction. Apply for a DHL Express business account today and experience the difference.
