Client

Shipping costs are a common issue for shops and customers

——Please tell us about your company profile.

Our company, which operates a cross-border e-commerce support business, was established in June 2015. Our main business is "WorldShopping BIZ," which enables web inbound response in as little as one day by simply inserting a single line of tags into an e-commerce site.

"WorldShopping BIZ" is a cross-border e-commerce service that provides comprehensive support for all domestic e-commerce businesses who want to start selling overseas, from multilingual support and overseas payments to overseas shipping, enabling them to start selling overseas in as little as one day. Currently, the service supports over several thousand Japanese companies, from large corporations to small and medium-sized local sites, and is used by overseas users in 228 countries and regions around the world.

Could you tell us more about your services?

When companies start cross-border e-commerce, they face three major obstacles: language, payment, and logistics. Overcoming these barriers can be surprisingly difficult, as it requires not only multilingualization but also local payment support and knowledge of trade. While there is also the option of using API integration to post product information on external platforms, the reality is that not all companies have a development team and limited budgets.

With "WorldShopping BIZ," by simply adding a single line of JavaScript to your e-commerce site on your own domain, we can handle everything from multilingual customer support to accepting international payments via Alipay, UnionPay, PayPal, and more, as well as international shipping. The workload for companies is completely hassle-free; once an order is placed, we simply send the product to a domestic address. A major feature of our service is that we can "support overseas transactions while maintaining existing operations."

Meanwhile, overseas customers who use "WorldShopping BIZ" can purchase products that were previously only available for delivery within Japan at local (Japanese) prices, and with no complicated delivery procedures and customer support in multiple languages, they can purchase products safely, securely, and easily. We provide this service with the desire to meet the needs of both companies engaged in cross-border e-commerce and overseas customers.

What issues do customers often come to you for advice?

A common issue faced by both companies and overseas customers is the cost burden of international shipping. While free shipping is the norm for domestic transactions, when customers try to buy something from overseas, shipping costs can range from a few thousand yen to tens of thousands of yen depending on the product. This inevitably makes them feel that the shipping costs are too high and they stop making purchases.

The revision of Japan Post EMS and international parcel rates on June 1, 2022 has increased the burden of international shipping costs for overseas customers, leading to a growing need for low-cost delivery services. In particular, in the entertainment industry, which is seeing growth in cross-border e-commerce, many items are light, such as music CDs and key chains, and shipping costs can be as high as 2,000 to 3,000 yen for a single CD, compared to 1,500 yen. As such, we received a lot of feedback calling for a cheaper, safer and more secure delivery service.

What solutions do you propose to address these challenges?

First, we reviewed our system of offering the lowest price for delivery plans based on product size, but we also found that some customers wanted plans that were slightly more expensive but delivered faster. Therefore, we decided to offer other companies' delivery plans and features, allowing customers to choose freely. At that time, we also reconsidered our pricing, and we approached ECMS Japan (hereinafter referred to as ECMS) as our delivery partner with the lowest prices in the industry.

The reason we chose ECMS is because they are an international courier company with a global presence, and their strengths lie in direct shipping services that specialize in small parcels that can be transported easily and at reasonable prices. We felt they could meet the needs of our overseas customers.

We believe that lowering shipping costs is important not only to lower the barrier for customers thinking about starting cross-border e-commerce for the first time, but also to ensure that overseas customers who are accustomed to cross-border e-commerce continue to use our service. Our impression is that ECMS is a natural choice for customers because of its attractive price.

Other than that, we are also working on keeping shipping costs low by bundling products from different shops. In the future, we are considering a service that will further reduce international shipping costs by storing products in a domestic warehouse for a certain period of time, and we are currently working towards making this a reality.

Team up with delivery professionals to smoothly launch cross-border e-commerce

--What are your thoughts on cross-border e-commerce logistics from your perspective as a partner?

A challenge facing the industry as a whole is the lack of delivery services that can handle food. Japanese food and fruit are very popular, so the need for refrigerated and frozen products is increasing. We hope that, at the very least, it will become possible to deliver refrigerated products overseas.

In addition, when starting international logistics, basic specialized knowledge is required to overcome challenges such as invoice declarations and import/export regulated items. Furthermore, as the market size of overseas shopping expands following the COVID-19 pandemic, the Universal Postal Union will make it mandatory to transmit customs data electronically from March 1, 2024, and shippers will be required to fulfill higher hurdles from local customs, such as transmitting HS codes to certain European countries and regions.

In this regard, I feel that ECMS, which specializes in cross-border e-commerce logistics, is reassuring in that they are always sharing the latest information and knowledge. Achieving international logistics with the help of delivery professionals is probably the best solution for companies.

--Is there anything else you would like to know about ECMS Japan from a partner's perspective?

What was great about forming this partnership was that they listened carefully to our situation and opinions, and then made appropriate proposals. We also feel reassured knowing that they offer comprehensive backup and support. Also, because they put the customer first, we can get a response to our inquiries as soon as the next day. Speed is extremely important, so this kind of thing also gives us peace of mind.

--Finally, please give us some advice for businesses involved in cross-border e-commerce.

If you try to implement cross-border e-commerce in-house, costs will be incurred in various areas, such as language, payment, logistics, and customer service. We feel that trying to do everything on your own would be costly and not optimal. Rather than taking on the burden yourself, teaming up with professionals in each field may help you get started with cross-border e-commerce smoothly. Of course, we are happy to provide comprehensive support for cross-border e-commerce, so we welcome any consultations. We will provide maximum support together with ECMS, a professional in cross-border e-commerce logistics.

Official website: https://www.zig-zag.co.jp/

Services provided: Overseas sales can be handled in as little as one day. - WorldShopping BIZ -

https://www.worldshopping.biz/