Reliable shipping a crucial component to e-commerce

November 18 2013

With the holiday shopping season just about to kick off, there is a new wrinkle that many businesses need to be aware of. That is the growing use of e-commerce solutions in the way that consumers shop. This has become even more important for companies as access to the internet either in-home or on mobile devices has become more prolific, not to mention preferable to the crowded shopping malls.

To have a proper e-commerce solution, businesses need to consider several different areas of operation. These include having a functional website, a secure credit card processing system and a reliable shipping and logistics system. The latter is one that even the biggest online retailers have struggled with.

A recent New York Times article highlighted a move made by Amazon. The company announced a partnership with the United States Postal Service that will see the service handle Sunday, same-day deliveries. It is available now in the New York metropolitan areas and Los Angeles. In 2014 it will expand to other cities including Dallas, Houston, New Orleans and Phoenix.

According to a spokesperson for the USPS, the e-commerce market is worth $186 billion and shipping is one way to get involved in it. The postal service was chosen because of its ability to reach every home and business in the area.

A reliable shipping option is crucial for businesses during the holiday shopping season. Any package that is lost or delayed in transit can ruin a company's reputation as well as someone's holiday.