Welcome to our fortnightly update for all things eCommerce shipping! Keep up to date with the latest shipping news, trends and advancements. This update is designed to help you stay one step ahead of the competition. Whether you are an eCommerce entrepreneur, logistics provider, or just interested in the industry, check out the latest in this fast-paced and ever-changing market.
KSA Invests in 14 New Smart Warehouses
The Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (Modon) has confirmed a deal to establish, develop and operate 14 new cutting edge warehouses. These modern, smart warehouses will be located in Jeddah First Industrial City and operated based on a public-private sector partnership (PPP) model.
According to Modon, the new warehouses will be fully digital and automated, with whole areas not needing human intervention. Using the latest technology, businesses will even be able to access their storage through a smartphone app (smart door locks). These high-tech, smart warehouses are part of a wider investment aiming to develop the kingdom's retail sector and help businesses meet rapidly increasing eCommerce demand.
Source: Saudi Arabia Builds Smart Warehouses to Meet Booming eCommerce Demand
Amazon and AliExpress Top Cross Border eCommerce sites
According to a recent International Post Corporation study, Amazon and Alibaba are the world leaders in cross-border eCommerce. 27% of global consumers have stated Amazon as the last overseas online store they made a purchase on, while 17% stated Alibaba's AliExpress. These results are from a survey of over 33K consumers in 39 countries, who made at least one cross-border online purchase in the last 3 months.
Interestingly, clothing and footwear are ranked as the most frequently purchased cross-border products, while consumer electronics followed as the second most purchased category. The third, personal care and beauty, is a growing category and is predicted to potentially grow through an explosion in social content. This is especially prominent in Asia, as shoppers tend to buy personal care products from overseas online stores.
Source: Amazon and Alibaba lead in cross-border ecommerce
eBay Continues to Roll Out New International Shipping Program
eBay continues to migrate sellers to the new eBay International Shipping program (EIS), with the process broken down into phrases continuing over the next few months. EIS was announced in September by eBay CEO James Iannone, explaining that eBay listened when it heard sellers wanted international shipping to be easy as domestic.
In the latest update, eBay informed its sellers that it continues to replace the Global Shipping Program (GSP) launched in 2012. eBay states this will allow sellers to reach more buyers around the world with less hassle and no international fees, while keeping all the benefits of the GSP. For example, shipping to a US hub will allow sellers to receive extra protection against claims, chargebacks and negative feedback.
Source: eBay International Shipping continues to roll out
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