‘The world is your oyster if you know the nitty-gritty of international market expansion!’

Integration of technology and logistics has made eCommerce scalable and opened the scope for international market expansion for small, medium, and big companies alike. Entrepreneurs are better equipped for eCommerce cross-border challenges with uninterrupted analytical access to information through AI and machine learning.

There is no denying that cross-border eCommerce requires rigorous brainstorming, strategizing, and planning before going global. Navigating into international markets successfully means familiarizing with language, currency, social norms, way of living, weather conditions, costs, rules, government trade policies, and several other localized integrities. The focus of this article is to navigate readers through cross-border challenges and talk about global eCommerce solutions, for launching a successful international eCommerce.

5 Common Challenges for eCommerce in Emerging Markets

For taking eCommerce in emerging markets, entrepreneurs or big brands require patience and observation to launch successful businesses through cross-border customer acquisition. An understanding of common challenges also provides information for global eCommerce solutions.

• 1. Government Trade Policies: With change in boundaries, trade policies differ. Rules and regulations for trading are of foremost importance in international eCommerce strategy.
• 2. Language and Social Barriers: Unless a business can communicate about the USP of a product, and send messages, it would be a tough task to create a strong base of potential buyers.
• 3. Logistics and Transportation: International shipping methods are a combination of roadways, waterways, airways, railways, and some local means of transportation. Along with that, it faces a lot of challenges as crossing borders requires customs permission, clearance, and proper paperwork. Delays due to holdups or government policies are quite common.
• 4. Understanding of the Market: International market expansion can only be a reality if the market is well understood. Marketing in a zone without a connect can lead to failure. Marketing team must have insights into customer expectations, demand graphs, and how to break in and influence the customers positively.
• 5. Cost of Global eCommerce: The success of eCommerce depends on the robustness of logistics, warehousing, inventory management, order fulfillment and returns as well as exchanges. Each activity involves a cost and must be managed to incur profits and not losses.

Global eCommerce Solutions

Cross-border eCommerce has a host of challenges but for each there is a solution. To run a smooth operation at the international level, partnering with local operations management is a smart move. eCommerce in emerging markets is full of opportunities and it requires definite planning to attract and acquire customers.

• 1. Regulatory Compliance in eCommerce: For paperwork required for regulatory compliance in eCommerce, partnership with local vendors helps. They can guide, initiate, acquire required licenses, and complete the work for entering the market.
• 2. Language: Locals can speak, communicate, and convey about products or services’ utility to the market.
• 3. Partnering with 3PLs: Local third-party logistics solution provider can handle order fulfillment at low cost and deliver order without delays.
• 4. Localized Marketing Efforts: Think global but do not forget to adopt local marketing strategies. This would win customers and increase customer base.
• 5. Costing: When partnered with a local service provider, cost comes down significantly. All local order fulfillment of eCommerce is handled by the local vendor and reaps profit for businesses.

Cross-border eCommerce Strategies

Expanding into international markets requires meticulous planning and developing strategies, which hit the right chords of the emerging markets for strong eCommerce. Strategizing for eCommerce is generally very specific in nature, but there are a couple of points, common to each business. One should not forget that all these begin with partnering with a reliable local service provider, who can handle the business and help in international expansion plans.

• Cross-border Competition Analysis: For profitable eCommerce in emerging markets, eCommerce businesses need to review cross-border competition analysis. The analysis provides an overview of market opportunities, impending challenges, competition in emerging markets, and how it can be tackled. Powered by AI and Machine Learning, an analytical information can be previewed and discussed, and strategy can be planned.
• Addressing Regulatory Complexities: Each market has its own regulation, policies, regulatory compliance, pricing, and taxes. When considering international market expansion, it is important to comply with them and address regularity complexities before marching ahead.
• Currency and Pricing: Online retailing has numerous opportunities and a very vast global customer base. This is just one aspect; the other ruling component is purchasing power and currency that change with border. Online retailers need to understand and price their commodities accordingly.
• Shipping and Transportation: One of the biggest hindrances in cross-border eCommerce is shipping. Most of the delays happen due to customs clearance, sudden change in trade policies, or political reasons. Logistics should be streamlined in a way that these do not interfere with order fulfillment and provide a seamless customer experience.
• Logistics: To control delays, expedite order fulfillment process and smooth returns or exchanges, logistics should be strong. Cross-border eCommerce strategies should incorporate ways for warehouse and inventory management. With an access to a local automated warehouse, it is manageable to facilitate faster dispersal of orders and returns at a low cost. Also, if there is a continuous sharing of information through a single dashboard in real time, inventory can be managed before a surge in demand.
• Demand Analysis: Festivals, holidays, weather, climatic conditions, and other external factors that influence demand varies with change in borders. Cross-border eCommerce strategy must have a demand analysis for better customer experience and response towards the products.