From receiving an order to shipping, each platform must go through order information confirmation, inventory query, document processing and other work. Although the process is the same, the processing methods of each platform are different.
AliExpress shipping is divided into online shipping and offline shipping.
Online shipping is a logistics service system created by Alibaba Global AliExpress, Cainiao Network and many high-quality third-party logistics companies. Sellers who use “online shipping” need to place a logistics order online in the AliExpress backend. After the logistics arrives (or the seller sends it to the logistics company’s warehouse), the seller can pay the freight online and initiate logistics rights protection online. Alibaba, as a third party, will supervise the service quality of the logistics company throughout the process to protect the rights of sellers.
Offline shipping is the traditional shipping method of cross-border e-commerce. It can be shipped through the post office or the four major official couriers, but more people choose to cooperate with freight forwarding companies.
(1) AliExpress online shipping
AliExpress novice sellers have neither a stable order volume nor experience in international logistics. Therefore, AliExpress online shipping is a very good choice. Sellers can choose from three ways to ship online: one is to ship online in the background of AliExpress; the second is to ship online through third-party software such as Global Trading Assistant, Sufu Order Management, AliExpress ERP, etc.; the third is to connect to the online shipping API interface and ship online through their own ERP.
(2) AliExpress offline shipping
From the perspective of operating costs, the price of offline shipping is about 20% lower than that of online shipping, especially in some major traffic countries, because there are dedicated logistics lines, the price is more favorable to sellers. When the store’s order volume reaches a certain amount, some logistics channels will also give a certain discount. However, if there is a compensation problem with offline shipping, the resolution cycle will be relatively long.
Note: If there is a problem with the logistics of offline shipping, it will affect the seller’s service level, and orders with low logistics scores will be included in the “bad experience orders.”