The rapid development of cross-border e-commerce has promoted the upgrading and transformation of cross-border logistics.
The traditional logistics logic of the past is no longer applicable. We should adapt to the development of the cross-border e-commerce era and logistics companies to break through difficulties. However, the new business form of cross-border e-commerce has also brought new opportunities for the transformation of traditional logistics.
With the vigorous development of export e-commerce, the direct import and export method of transporting goods can no longer meet the actual needs of the market.
The disadvantages of direct mail gradually emerged, and “overseas warehouses” became a new demand.
At present, the overseas warehouse forms in the market are mainly divided into three categories:
1. Amazon FBA
Amazon FBA is a series of logistics services provided by Amazon, including warehousing, picking and packaging, delivery, collection, customer service and return processing.
As the world’s largest online retailer, Amazon has a warehouse the size of 28 football fields in Phoenix, USA.
Data shows that in 2016, Amazon FBA delivered more than 2 billion items to sellers around the world, and the number of active sellers around the world using FBA services increased by more than 70%.
Outside the United States, the number of goods distributed by FBA has increased by more than 80%.
Amazon provides many incentives for users: for example, helping sellers improve their product rankings on Amazon’s webpages, making them featured sellers, etc.
However, the cost is not cheap, and the customer service is average, the flexibility is not high, and it also brings a lot of trouble to sellers.
2. Sellers build warehouses by themselves
This type of problem requires the seller to personally solve various problems such as setting up a company, warehouse, customs clearance, taxation, logistics and distribution.
Large sellers choose customized warehouses, small and medium-sized sellers choose third-party overseas warehouses, and super-large sellers will choose to configure their own overseas self-operated warehouses.
The advantage of self-operated warehouses is that sellers can control and manage them by themselves, and they are more flexible.
The solution to a series of problems such as lack of warehousing, customs declaration, logistics and transportation requires sellers to operate and complete them by themselves, and the construction cost and risk of self-built warehouses are not small.
In addition, if the volume of goods transported is small, it is difficult to get a favorable transportation price.
3. Third-party overseas warehouses
There are two main ways for transnational e-commerce sellers to cooperate with third-party overseas warehouses.
Leasing: At this time, there are many costs such as operation, leasing, transportation and logistics.
(2): Cooperation and construction: Only transportation and logistics costs
Compared with the above two types of overseas warehouses, third-party overseas warehouses are more suitable for sellers.
Sellers do not need to invest a lot of money and energy, and can build their own warehouses, and they do not need to worry about inadequate customer service.