Logistics
What is the best carrier for your e-commerce in France?
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Cathy Carpetta
November 24, 2023
Are you tired of watching customers abandon their shopping carts? It's time to have a closer look at your logistics.
In a 2022 Statista survey, nearly 75% of French online shoppers cited high delivery costs as the main reason for cart abandonment, while about 49% mentioned long estimated delivery times as a deterrent in completing e-commerce purchases.
In this article, we'll uncover the unique features of various carriers to help you find the perfect fit for your business.
1. How to select the right parcel delivery service for your e-commerce business?
Choosing a delivery service for e-commerce in France involves several factors:
- Parcel volume and package details: Assess the frequency and size of your shipments.
- Consumer preferences: Home delivery and local pick-up points are popular among shoppers.
- Cost efficiency: Balance affordable rates with reliable service, as high delivery fees are a common concern.
- Geographic reach: Ensure comprehensive national coverage and consider international shipping.
- Added services: Value package tracking, insurance, and flexible delivery options.
- Eco-friendly practices: Prioritise sustainable delivery methods.
- Customer support quality: Effective customer service is key to satisfaction.
- Platform integration: Seamless integration with e-commerce CMS platforms is advantageous.
- Customer feedback: Use reviews to assess carrier performance.
- Business scalability: Opt for carriers that can grow with your business.
Bigblue Tips
At Bigblue, we provide our merchants with a smart solution to optimise shipping costs.
Our carrier agnostic offers enable you to enhance your customers' delivery experience while reducing expenses. Our system chooses for you the most cost-effective carrier service that meets the estimated time of arrival (ETA) requirements.
👉 Collaborate with Bigblue for effortless entry into the French market. Learn more about our offerings and the advantages we bring to your brand here.
2. Carriers at the best price
Once your orders are ready to hit the road, the next step is choosing the right carrier to deliver them to your customers' doors. As an e-commerce business, you want to keep your margins healthy without breaking the bank on shipping.
The solution? Carefully select a carrier with competitive rates.
This way, you can offer affordable delivery without sacrificing the quality of your service. Happy customers and a healthy profit? It's a win-win!
2.1 For standard packages
2.1.1 Metropolitan France
In metropolitan France, when it comes to delivering your e-commerce products, you've got some fantastic options.
Colis Privé shines with its swift service and wide coverage (85% coverage of French postal codes), while Mondial Relay is your go-to for cost-effective deliveries with convenient pick-up points. While Chronopost has got your back with its speedy express services. And for a reliable all-rounder, you can't go wrong with Colissimo, balancing affordability with consistent performance. Each offers a unique blend of benefits, making your shipping as smooth as your customers' shopping experience!
2.1.2 Shipping to Europe
For affordable and reliable shipping to Europe, B2C Europe is the way to go. This aggregator uses local postal networks and carriers like DPD to deliver packages to your customers within 5 to 10 days. Also, GLS is an option as its strength lies in its extensive network across Europe, making it a solid choice for European shipments.
Please note that B2C Europe does not serve all European countries, such as Belgium. In these cases, you may need to use a complementary solution like Colissimo.
2.1.3 Shipping to the rest of the world
When it comes to delivering orders to the rest of the world, you have two main options: Colissimo and express companies like UPS and DHL.
These carriers offer reliable and affordable shipping solutions for businesses of all sizes. With a variety of options to choose from, you can find the right solution for your customers' needs.
2.2 The solution for small packages
As an e-commerce business, you may need to ship smaller, lighter products such as a pair of socks. Are there specialised solutions for sending this type of product?
2.2.1 Metropolitan France and DOM/TOM
The best way to send small parcels at an affordable price is to use La Poste tracked letter service. In addition to offering unbeatable shipping rates, this service uses postal services for added convenience and security.
However, please note that packages cannot exceed 3 cm in thickness, so be sure to pick a carrier that can accommodate the size of your products.
2.2.2 Shipping to Europe and the rest of the world
If you need to send small packages to Europe and the rest of the world, La Poste has a solution for you: Delivengo. This service offers delivery within 4 to 12 days, depending on the destination.
There are still some constraints:
- The total size of the package (Length + Width + Height) must be less than 90 cm
- The length must not exceed 60 cm
- The weight must not exceed 2 kg
3. The fastest carriers
Express delivery is becoming increasingly popular in e-commerce in France, and many customers appreciate the convenience and speed of this option. If you want to offer express shipping on your e-commerce site, which carriers offer the best solutions?
3.1 Metropolitan France
For fast and reliable express delivery in metropolitan France, we recommend Chronopost 18. With this service, your customers:
- can choose the delivery location,
- select a delivery time slot,
- and even reschedule their delivery.
At Bigblue, we offer this option to our customers with preferential rates, and all orders placed before 1 pm can benefit from next day delivery.
3.2 Transport to the rest of the world
For express delivery from France to the rest of the world (including overseas departments, Europe, and the rest of the world), DHL Express is the most efficient carrier. Your package will arrive within 2 to 4 days, depending on the destination. DHL delivers to over 220 countries, giving you the flexibility to expand your business. It gives you the choice to expand your business!
Please note: Express shipping to other parts of the world is often done by air, which can have a greater environmental impact. It is, therefore, a solution that should be used sparingly.
4. Environmentally friendly carriers
With the growing consumer awareness about environmental impact, opting for eco-friendly carriers is a step towards sustainable e-commerce. Fevad reports that over half of online shoppers (53%) consider environmental factors before making a purchase.
4.1 Do not offer express shipping
If your customer wants to receive his parcel as soon as possible, for example, the next day. The carrier in charge of his parcel may make an empty trip. He will surely not have had time to accumulate other orders during the night.
A traditional delivery option will give your carrier time to consolidate deliveries and reduce the carbon footprint of each package.
4.2 Carriers who make the environment their priority
In addition to avoiding express shipping, you can also select carriers that prioritise the environment, such as Colissimo and Chronopost. La Poste, the parent company of Colissimo and Chronopost, works to offset the environmental impact of deliveries through various initiatives.
For example, Colissimo finances environmental projects that offset nearly 1.5 million tons of CO2 each year and has the largest fleet of electric vehicles globally.
4.3 Favour relay points
Delivering to relay points can help reduce the impact of the “last mile” by consolidating deliveries to a single location.
For example, 2 customers who are geographically close order online and have their goods delivered on the same day:
- if both choose a relay point near their homes, the carrier will make one trip for both packages.
- If they decide to be delivered at home, the carrier will travel to both homes. The impact of the last mile makes sense in this case.
This option is most effective in urban areas, where customers can easily access the relay point by public transport or on foot. In rural areas, the benefits may be negated if customers have to drive to the relay point to pick up their packages.
With thousands of pickup points, Mondial Relay offers convenient parcel collection and drop-off.
Bigblue Tips
Boost your checkout conversions with Bigblue's Relay Point Selector! You can offer convenient pick-up options and enhance customer satisfaction directly at the checkout.
Bigblue provides seamless map selection, supports multiple carriers, integrates with Shopify effortlessly, and offers full control and branding customisation.
To sum up...
Choosing the right carrier for your needs is key, with each offering unique strengths like speed, accessibility, or eco-friendliness. Pick one that fits what's important for your business.
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