In the ecological structure of the cross-border logistics industry, e-commerce (source), transporters (flow), postal/distribution (remittance) are the basic layer, freight forwarders, dedicated lines, parcels and agents belong to the middle layer, the threshold for overseas warehouses is higher, and international express delivery belongs to the top. Mainstream overseas warehousing service providers with a global layout require large funds and strong financing capabilities. In the early days, when traditional freight forwarders were involved in cross-border logistics, direct mail was the main line, and overseas warehouses were concentrated in a few self-operated large sellers until FBA was opened globally, which drove the entire overseas warehouse market. Freight forwarders, dedicated lines, express delivery companies and state-owned enterprises such as China Post and Sinotrans have expanded overseas logistics centers to build a linked multi-channel cross-border logistics system, allowing “cross-border e-commerce” to be upgraded to “overseas e-commerce” in the true sense.
The single warehouse order processing capacity of overseas service providers such as Flying Bird and Zebra has reached tens of thousands of pieces per day. Wanyitong is the earliest e-commerce overseas warehouse. Relying on Chinese eBay sellers, it has three overseas warehouses in the east, south and west of the United States. “Multiple warehouses are used for delivery, and orders are intelligently recommended”, balancing timeliness and cost. It also has an agent for the small package Yidibao direct mail service. SF Express’s overseas warehouse has become a European overseas warehouse certified by Wish. The Eastern European warehouse is located in Tallinn, Estonia. It is an overseas bonded warehouse and does not need to pay VAT when entering the warehouse. and tariffs, covering Europe.
Business flow determines logistics, and logistics restricts business flow. Judging from the development trend of cross-border e-commerce B2C, overseas warehousing and distribution integration in mature markets will be more important than direct mail.
On the one hand, it is lean operation. The disordered state of the industry tends to be rational. In addition to the “market thresholds” such as the need for a lot of capital, front-end development, and the establishment of local enterprises, and the “operational thresholds” such as customs clearance, legal affairs, customer service, settlement, and timeliness, the “technological threshold” of overseas warehouses has also emerged, and more attention is paid to the support of technical tools for efficiency, and the systematic integration of resources and services is realized. In today’s homogeneous competition, whether it is overseas warehouses or direct mail, whether it is “big and complete” or “small and specialized”, the market ultimately competes with service, team and meticulous management. The process must be implemented in place, and learn to manage user expectations. Lean logistics efficiency is paramount, and more reasonable landing products are selected for customers; inventory is carefully managed, unsalable goods are cleared, and product turnover is improved. In short, cost management , operational quality control should be developed in a refined direction.
On the other hand, it is service expansion. From the traditional warehouse and distribution to a multifunctional overseas operation center, we can solve the overseas localization demands of cross-border e-commerce, realize global business integration, and better integrate into the overseas circulation system. Create a logistics operation hub with “exports close to consumer markets and imports close to purchasing markets”. Due to the different policies, regulations, taxes, transportation and other environmental factors in each country, it is more difficult to transform from delivering to the world to serving the world. Relying on the linkage between overseas warehouses and domestic bonded warehouses, we provide cross-border e-commerce, foreign trade importers and exporters, and overseas shopping users with two-way localized customer service, quality inspection and maintenance, unsalable product processing, stocking VMI, pledge financing and other supply chain extension services. “Don’t be the first, be the only one”. For vertical or large-scale overseas warehouses, there is no need to consider the differences between different categories too much. It can reduce the tediousness of handling small items in the warehouse and provide more professional and special services in the subdivided fields. Accelerate the development of emerging foreign trade markets, so that cross-border e-commerce and overseas warehouses can support each other, and be vigilant against trade barriers.