How to Create a Successful Cross Border eCommerce Strategy

August 26, 2020 | 5 MIN READ

Taking your regional eCommerce business to cross-border is a tough task, but it is the primary factor in the growth of online eCommerce.

Over the last few decades, cross-border eCommerce sales have surged high because of an increase in demand for foreign goods, and an upgrading middle class, especially in Asia-Pacific countries.

As per the reports of Invesp, international shopping is growing, and cross-border eCommerce is estimated to grow by 1 trillion US dollars by the end of 2020.

ecommerce strategy

The Overview

The high internet penetration and increase in social media users have made online shopping popular among consumers.

They have been showing interest in cross-border online products, and there is high competition with so many brands fulfilling the needs of their customers.

The effect is evident in Asian Pacific countries, like Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and more.

They are quite a prominent destination for online retail and cross-border eCommerce in the upcoming years.

But to create a successful seamless online business cross-border, you need to develop a strategy and look into specific factors to gain a competitive edge.

Steps for successful cross-border eCommerce

Though cross-border generates high revenue and global awareness, traders are still not sure how to establish it.

Undoubtedly, cross-border eCommerce requires comprehensive information and insights that can be tedious and confusing to understand, but not acting on it will let you miss opportunities for your business to multiply.

Let’s focus on key objectives to get your cross-border trade started.

Identify local demand

Research for potential marketplace and demand for your product. Note down the countries and their buying trends because customers’ purchasing habits vary from region to region.

A country commercial guides on export.gov provides comprehensive information about international trade. After marking the potential countries, evaluate the regional competition, their culture, and climate.

Check the regulations of the foreign market

To check foreign rules and legal policies are an essential aspect, as each country has its terms and condition for shipment of goods.

For example, Australia prohibits the import of certain tobacco products, which means a person or company selling it will have to show a permit issued by Home Affairs.

Moreover, some countries restrict certain cultural practices and communication. Secondly, keep your tax and customs issues clear for hassle-free shipment.

Opt for trustworthy logistic partnership

Partner with relevant logistics companies to provide a seamless delivery option to your customers.

On-time delivery is one of the factors to sustain in the global market as customers don’t prefer late delivery or any shipment cost.

It is beneficial to connect with local logistics to have better control in the market. To have a wider reach, make sure to integrate with multiple marketplaces as they are cost-effective and connects to a vast audience.

Manage payment methods

Customers generally abandon the shopping cart when they have to make payments in foreign currencies.

Hence, choosing reliable payment methods and tie-up with regional banks and gateways will facilitate your international conversion rate.

They also provide customer data protection and security. Some countries prefer cash on delivery options, so it is essential to manage your payment options.

Choose multiple selling channels

To increase brand awareness and faster reach choose multiple selling channels-

Apart from running a user-friendly online store, choose various eCommerce marketplaces like fruugo, which is an emerging marketplace in Europe, Amazon, eBay, and many more.
There are several eCommerce platforms available cross-border that connect buyers and sellers. Some of them are Magento, Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and more.

Develop your pricing strategy

One of the reasons why people prefer cross-border shopping is low price tags on various brands. Therefore, to keep up an active and dynamic market, you need to adopt evolving pricing strategies.

Several discounts, offers, coupon codes are some of the ways to gain loyal customers and stay competitive.

Optimize and translate your website

Expanding your business requires elements like optimizing and localizing your website.

By translating your website into regional language and adopting multiple tools will build trust among customers.

Customizing your product content according to the geographical boundaries, will create a significant brand across the border.

Consider real-time insights and brand promotion

Before diving into the market, you should consider real-time insights data to strategize your cross-border eCommerce.

There are tools to generate insights and sales reports. Analyzing the data will help you know about your consumers, your revenues, and the scope of improvement.

Also, focus on brand promotion through social media channels as they are the best means of communication.

There are several more factors, such as store inventory management, employment of the latest technologies, and local competitions.