As the world returns to the new normal after an extended period of stagnation and isolation due to the Covid-19 pandemic, relaxation in trade restrictions in the international business has fueled the B2B market to reach all-time high projections.
The size of the global business-to-business e-commerce industry, estimated at USD 6,883.47 billion in 2021, is projected to rise at a CAGR of 19.7% from 2022 to 2030.
Consumer preferences for online shopping have changed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, opening up new opportunities for industry expansion. The outlook for B2B companies has also improved as a result of the shutdown of physical stores and a rise in online orders. The global e-commerce shipping sector is also growing at an unprecedented rate as more and more B2B e-commerce firms are penetrating international markets.
International Shipping and its Aspects
International shipping refers to the process of transporting goods from one country to another by air, land, or water. Typically, it also involves customs and immigration procedures. Depending on what is being sent, there may also be particular rules that must be followed.
When shipping internationally, it is essential to comprehend the regulations and restrictions of the various countries, as each country has its trade and shipping regulations that specify what can and cannot be shipped over international borders. The sender must ensure that everything transported complies with these regulations. If this isn’t done, there could be delays, fines, or possibly the products being seized by customs officials.
The last thing you want as a retailer is for your shipment to get held up at customs or lost en route, so it’s important to select a trustworthy and knowledgeable shipping aggregator firm that can manage all of the essential paperwork and logistics.
What is B2B Shipment or B2B Order Fulfilment?
B2B shipments typically include big volumes of merchandise that are bought in fewer purchases. These shipments are sent directly between companies via their physical or online stores. Since such orders are always so enormous, a merchant or corporation will only place one when it’s time to replenish its stock.
Batch orders are shipped to businesses as part of the B2B (business-to-business) order fulfilment process. The most basic type of B2B fulfilment involves sending wholesale orders to retailers who will then sell them to consumers. Some B2B warehouses operate more like conventional logistics companies than like distribution centres.
You can outsource a crucial part of your supply chain using B2B e-commerce international shipping. The demanding specifications of wholesale shipping can be efficiently managed by your B2B order fulfilment provider. This provides you with the self-assurance to pursue wholesale agreements with businesses that have the potential to make your company very successful.
7 Best International Shipping Partners Which Support B2B Market
- NimbusPost
Emerging as one of the leading players in India’s logistics industry, NimbusPost was launched in 2018 as a logistics aggregator platform. It offers domestic and international shipping solutions, worldwide warehousing, and fulfilment facilities under a completely integrated logistics platform, NimbusGlobal. The company collaborates with 27 different courier partners across India, including Blue Dart, Delhivery, XpressBees, DTDC, Shadowfax, and others.
A verification system, an automated non-delivery report panel, real-time shipment tracking, automated order import, a shipping rate calculator, post-purchase shipping alerts, and performance tracking are just a few of the features available on the NimbusPost dashboard. It is rapidly increasing its reach in various Southeast Asian and European countries to provide the best e-commerce shipping solutions.
- Delhivery
One of the most dependable internet delivery services for domestic shipments in India is Delhivery. The courier service’s goal is to provide customers with satisfaction at their doorstep in a short amount of time. In addition to local shipments, it also provides services for reverse logistics and overseas shipments. It is renowned for meeting the needs of numerous prosperous Indian e-commerce companies. It allows for on-demand same-day or next-day delivery as well as time-based delivery, at the convenience of the consumer.
- Blue Dart
As one of the well-known e-commerce shipping companies in India, this courier service needs no introduction. Founded by Tushar Jani, Clyde Cooper, and Khushroo Dubash in November 1983, Blue Dart is based in Mumbai, Maharashtra, and they operate a cargo aeroplane division and offer courier services to e-commerce companies. Other services offered in the South Asian Country zone include delivery, express mail, freight forwarding, and third-party logistics, which is renowned for its high degree of customer satisfaction. In India, they have a sizable delivery base. Additionally, the delivery costs are reasonable, making it a more lucrative business that e-commerce businesses favour.
- FedEx
FedEx is widely known for providing exceptional delivery services at competitive pricing. It provides features like managing customer relationships by integrating FedEx service with a warehouse management system (WMS), enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, high levels of customization and flexibility, high-speed shipping requirements, and an on-premises solution with limited internet connectivity. Additionally, the shipping costs which they offer are fairly reasonable.
- DHL
One of the major e-commerce shipping services in the world, DHL is present in 220 countries and territories and operates as an international courier, package, and express mail subsidiary of the German logistics corporation Deutsche Post. Each year, they distribute more than 1.3 billion packages. They are renowned for providing regular domestic and international parcel pick-up, delivery, and return services for corporate clients, including logistical support for e-commerce.
- Ecom Xpress
Ecom Xpress offers both shipping and logistics services. It is a top provider of end-to-end logistics solutions with a focus on fast, secure, and trustworthy countrywide express delivery, particularly for the e-commerce sector. It offers 25,000 pin code coverage in more than 2400 cities and more than 600,000 pleased clients. The prices are fairly reasonable, and they are regarded for providing excellent service and quick response.
- Shiprocket
Given that they offer services at reduced rates, Shiprocket is one of the least expensive e-commerce delivery alternatives in the quick-paced market. It has worked with courier companies like DHL, FedEx, and Ecom Express to offer automated shipping solutions to e-commerce businesses, allowing them to select a delivery partner for each order based on cost, pickup location, delivery region, and personal preference. Additionally, the business can integrate orders from various channels and ship them to a single platform.
Conclusion
India, as one of the major world economies, has a bright future for logistical and shipping services. Given that logistics will become increasingly important in the next years, now is the ideal time to partner with the best international shipping companies, who can ensure the global standing of your B2B business in a highly competitive market. It also becomes important to carefully evaluate the B2B fulfilment services provided by the shipping partner that you are going to choose for fulfilling your international shipments across the globe.