Cloud ecommerce platform BigCommerce is partnering with order fulfilment and delivery services provider Shippit in a deal which the two companies say makes it easier for Australian merchants selling on BigCommerce to streamline all components of the shipping process, removing the need to arrange accounts and negotiate contracts.
BigCommerce says that through the integration with Shippit, thousands of BigCommerce merchants will now gain access to enterprise shipping rates and discounts with popular shipping carriers, including Couriers Please, Fastway, Star Track Express, Star Track Premium, DHL Express, DHL ecommerce and TNT.
“Since 2012, Australian ecommerce has seen 65% growth, but in order to compete effectively in the global marketplace, Australian merchants need tools that cater to their particular needs,” said Will On, co-founder and joint chief executive at Shippit.
“As an Australian-born company, BigCommerce has always been a great resource for local businesses, and this partnership with one of the world’s largest ecommerce platforms will allow us to offer enterprise capability to thousands of local merchants – small and large – a robust and turnkey shipping offering that will enable them to easily and consistently grow at scale, both locally and internationally.”
{loadposition peter}According to On, unlike alternative services, Shippit doesn’t require credit checks or a complex IT set-up, “enabling BigCommerce merchants to create an account in a matter of minutes and start shipping immediately”.
He says Shippit uses each package’s requirements to determine the best courier or shipping provider, then fulfils the order, prints a label and sends a manifest to the selected provider with pick-up details, and customers are kept informed of the shipping progress through email or text notifications, ensuring a positive customer experience.
“An increase in regional competition, combined with Amazon’s impending arrival in the region, has driven local merchants to seek new ways to improve the customer experience, and shipping is a critical element in that,” says Jordan Sim, group product manager at BigCommerce.
“There’s been high demand for a shipping integration that specifically addresses the needs of Australian merchants, and Shippit provides fast, reliable and affordable post-purchase logistics options, making them an ideal BigCommerce partner.”
The integration with Shippit follows a number of recent BigCommerce partnerships to enhance the platform experience for merchants in Australia and New Zealand.
Earlier this year, BigCommerce announced an integration with Afterpay, giving merchants the ability to offer payment plans at checkout, as well as a partnership with Hike POS to help merchants sync inventory across retail channels and TradeMe, New Zealand’s largest marketplace.