Blogging Heros
If your dropshipping company has taken off, it’s a sign that you are doing something right. However, upscaling quickly can cause you some headaches. You may suddenly wonder how you will fulfill orders and promptly keep up with customer inquiries.
You can help speed up your processes by increasing your efficiency. Here are five tips to make it happen.
1. Automate Routine Tasks
You don’t need to spend hours doing tasks manually that you can automate with the right software. Investing in digital tools that support you by taking over routine processes is a good idea.
One essential tool for your dropshipping company is a high-quality shipping API. The right software package can create labels, manage multiple carriers, provide shipping discounts, verify addresses, track packages and more.
Accounting software is another must-have for small businesses. Whether you keep employees on your payroll or you’re operating solo, a solid accounting application saves you time. It streamlines your tax information, generates reports, manages payroll and maintains organized financial records.
2. Use Several Suppliers
Working with just one or two suppliers may seem more straightforward, but you don’t want to put all your eggs in one basket. If several suppliers stock the same products, you don’t have to worry if one company runs low. You can probably get the stock from another supplier and keep your business running smoothly.
Having several suppliers ensures you’ll be flexible if something unexpected happens. Say, for example, one company raises its prices without warning or decides not to partner with you. You won’t have to panic if you have other companies on which to rely. In an uncertain economy, a company could suddenly shut its doors. You won’t have to close yours along with them if you have several other businesses on your roster.
3. Avoid Storing Credit Card Numbers
Storing your customers’ financial information at your business is a risky move. If you experience a data breach, equipment failure or natural disaster, you risk losing your customers’ personal information. A security breach is especially heinous. You could face hefty lawsuits if your practices put their information at risk — and a case can really slow things down for you.
Fortunately, you can avoid the need to store customer information. Partner with a third-party payment company that keeps customer data. These software tools often reduce checkout time and payment processes, and you’ll never need to know the customers’ credit card information. If you use a well-known payment company, your customers may feel more secure buying from you because they trust the company handling the transaction.
4. Keep a Clear, Well-Written Return Policy
Returns are a normal and expected part of dropshipping. Customers don’t see items in person before purchasing from an online store, and if the item isn’t what they expected, they need to return it. You will run into time-wasting snags and delays if you don’t explain the return process to your customers.
Before writing an accurate return policy for your store, you must determine what your suppliers do. Here are some questions to ask:
- How many days is your return window?
- What is your restocking fee?
- How do you handle defective merchandise?
Your return policy will probably be based on the most restrictive supplier policy. You wouldn’t want to have different policies for different products — that would confuse everyone, especially the customer.
5. Simplify Your Shipping Process
Just as you want a consistent return policy, a simplified shipping process makes it easier and faster for you to ship items. It also makes your fees more apparent to the customer.
Consider the different shipping models to use and choose what best meets your needs: flat rate, actual cost based on weight and distance, and per-type rate. Each has its advantages, and your choice will depend on the products you sell.
When your dropshipping business escalates, it’s an excellent practice to streamline where you can so that you can focus on your growing company.
