Shipping for e-commerce: How to calculate freight cost

When opening an online store, some factors related to its operation must be considered very carefully, such as the shipping for e-commerce costs.

You need to understand how this quote works, so that your e-commerce can offer the best shipping options for your customers.

How to calculate shipping for e-commerce

Freight rates are the price at which a given load is delivered from one point to another. 

Freight calculation for e-commerce depends on the mode of transport (road, air or sea freight), the size and volume of the load and the distance traveled to the delivery destination.

The shipping method selected also influences this rate. In the case of stores that ship small products and generally do not have enough cargo to fill a shipment, freight transport becomes the most viable and economical option.

For companies that work with the fast delivery of products and services, such as restaurants, pharmacies, markets and even stores with more local operations, hiring delivery people who use their own car, motorbike and even bicycle is generally the best option.

As you can see, several factors influence the delivery cost and this must be quoted accurately and immediately, so that the customer knows how much they will pay before finalizing their order.

Providing consumers with a simple-to-use and agile tool for calculating shipping for e-commerce is one of the main challenges for online retailers.

The lack of an efficient resource to carry out this type of operation is one of the worst enemies of online sales, as it takes up the consumer’s time and encourages procrastination. 

In other words, the longer the customer takes to check out, the greater his chances of abandoning the purchase.

Research shows that numerous customers abandon their shopping carts when they do not have access to the shipping cost until the end of the transaction, even more so when these costs turn out to be higher than expected.

When making an online purchase, consumers seek agility and clarity, so it is no surprise that they are not willing to wait to find out what the delivery cost will be and what the shipping conditions and deadlines are.

Aware of this, virtual store owners are looking for tools that can be inserted into their website to calculate the shipping for e-commerce.

Online shipping calculator for e-commerce 

Company that seeks the best logistics solutions in e-commerce, Delivery365 developed an exclusive online shipping calculator for its customers. 

With the help of this system, the customer can consult values ​​more quickly and dynamically.

The software automatically calculates the shipping cost of the order based on the following parameters:

• Total weight of the products;
• Package weight;
• Delivery location or zip code;
• Progressive discount, according to the total order;
• Choosing the shipping table used for bulky products.

It operates through the import of logistics operator CEP/cost spreadsheet, the most recommended mode. 

Through this system, the platform can import a table with zip code ranges and costs for the operator that will serve the store. 

These spreadsheets, together with weight and volume data, make it possible to instantly calculate the shipping cost to be paid by the customer.

Advantages of online shipping calculation

Using this type of software brings several advantages for company and buyer, among which we can mention:

• Fast, on-the-spot shipping calculation;
• No need to access third party website;
• Transparency in operation;
• Agility in the buying and selling process.

Ensure the best shipping for e-commerce

Every company that sells goods through e-commerce or carries out any other activity that requires the transportation of products, unless it has its own fleet, will need a freight service.

To do this, it is important that you carry out careful research and analysis on the best way to request and make this service available to your customers.

Factors like shipping options, coverage of the service area and agility in delivery are some of the aspects in which your business must stand out to please consumers and sell more.

It is also necessary to make sure that the contracted company is agile in the cargo quoting process, offering technology and process automation.

To ensure agility in operations and peace of mind for the customer, the app Delivery365 provides an online front-end calculation system and tracking code, so that the buyer can monitor his order in real time. All of these benefits add value to the product and please the consumer.

Specialized in the delivery of goods/services, the Delivery365 allows you to create your own e-commerce quickly and easily and also connects you with a base of hundreds of couriers.

With the aim of serving companies of all sizes and segments, Delivery365 offers differentiated services, which fit the needs of each business. 

To learn more, visit our website and check out this true revolution in the way we make deliveries.