In an effort to increase brand awareness, as well online purchase rates, U.S.-based retailers are offering shipping capabilities to shoppers worldwide. However, merchants face a variety of challenges in opening international shipping, including meeting requirements of various U.S. export and international import laws and procedures, according to Kris Green, Chief Strategy Officer for FiftyOne.
In an effort to increase brand awareness, as well online purchase rates, U.S.-based retailers are offering shipping capabilities to shoppers worldwide. However, merchants face a variety of challenges in opening international shipping, including meeting requirements of various U.S. export and international import laws and procedures, according to Kris Green, Chief Strategy Officer for FiftyOne.
Other obstacles retailers face in allowing global e-Commerce shipping include estimating, collecting and paying duties and taxes to foreign revenue authorities, as well as managing legal/contractual export restrictions. This infographic from FiftyOne highlights top merchant and export restrictions, as well as specific import guidelines certain countries have.
“The biggest challenges retailers face center on the need to document and categorize new dimensions of merchandise data to meet [these requirements],” Green told Retail TouchPoints. “Some factors that aren’t considered when only selling and shipping in the U.S. can be the reason why a package doesn’t makes it through international customs elsewhere.”
