Shipping and delivery is one of the most important aspects when it comes to e-commerce. It is perhaps an integral part of the entire system, without which the entire supply chain management process becomes a failure. The main goal of an online business is to deliver items to customers quickly and efficiently. Apart from on-time delivery, there are various practices to follow in e-commerce shipping as an online store in order to provide the best customer experience to your users. At the same time, keep abreast of what it would cost to deliver an item to the customer, so you can closely monitor your expenses. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay Here is the working process of e-commerce shipping explained: Order Fulfillment Order fulfillment is a term for a set of activities required to process the order. carried out by the customer. Each purchase is linked to a specific order and a tracking ID of the item to be delivered. Different teams have different tasks to perform while processing the order. The production and logistics team updates the inventory, closes the purchase order and assigns tasks to the packaging and delivery team. Packing the Order The next step is to properly pack the items before final shipping. Packaging serves a dual purpose: firstly, it prevents the item from being damaged, and secondly, it helps create brand value. Some of the common packaging options include boxes, bundles, envelopes, etc. Depending on the type of item, packaging is carried out. Packaging should always be user-friendly and less bulky. However, it must be strong and durable enough to prevent the product from being damaged during transportation. Additionally, your brand logo (if applicable) should be clearly visible on the packaging as it helps increase brand value and retention. Logistics and Delivery This is the third and most important step of the entire shipping process. E-commerce businesses need to have a reliable logistics process in place for seamless and timely delivery to the customer. In this case, it is helpful to hire or partner with a reliable and reputable third-party logistics or courier agency. They will deliver the items on your behalf. E-commerce giants like Amazon have their own logistics division to deliver orders. Others may opt for online shipping aggregators like ShipRocket, which offer sellers the flexibility to choose from multiple shipping partners, and that too, on pre-negotiated shipping fees. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a custom paper now from our expert writers.Get a custom essayReturnsLast but not the least, shipping also involves processing returns. Once the customer returns the items for various reasons, the logistics agency sends them back to the retailer and the returns process begins. Based on the general return conditions, the refund is processed. The growing popularity of digital platforms has led to the rapid growth of e-commerce worldwide. With innovative shipping techniques emerging almost every day, they are expected to benefit both businesses and customers..