Today, the internationalization strategy is an essential growth lever for e-tailers. We reveal the keys to optimizing your international expansion, using the right tools.
The frontiers of e-commerce are becoming increasingly blurred, and access to international e-commerce is opening up for all merchants. The potential of an internationalization strategy for e-commerce companies is immense and much more accessible.
Yet venturing into international territory comes with its own set of challenges. So how can you optimize your performance in international markets? What tools and strategies can you implement to successfully navigate these sometimes tumultuous waters? We tell you all about it, in this guide to international sales!
Why go international?
Today’s global economy offers a myriad of opportunities for companies seeking to extend their reach beyond national borders. A well-planned and executed internationalization strategy offers a number of tangiblebenefits.
First of all, going international gives a company access to a much larger market, since according to Bpifrance, in 2021, France will represent just 0.8% of the world’s population. The Internet has connected previously isolated markets, and now offers you the chance to reach billions of potential consumers worldwide. Whether through direct sales or online commerce platforms, your business can dramatically increase your customer base, boosting revenues and growth.
Secondly, by going international, you diversify your risks. By depending on a single market, your company can be vulnerable to local economic fluctuations. On the other hand, a presence in several international markets allows you to spread your risk and offers you a degree of stability in the face of economic uncertainty.
International expansion also enables you to increase your competitiveness. By accessing new markets, you find yourself in competition with other local companies, which can stimulate innovation and improvement in your products or services.
What’s more, internationalization can help you extend the life cycle of your products. Products nearing the end of their life cycle in one market can find new life in another, prolonging their profitability.
Finally, going international can also help enhance your company’s reputation and credibility. A global presence can strengthen your company’s image with your customers.
But for an internationalization strategy, all this needs to be accomplished with the challenges of international sales in mind.
The challenges of international sales
Before you embark oninternational e-commerce, it’s crucial to understand the challenges inherent in such a venture. While the lure of a new market may seem irresistible, you’ll face challenges that can vary considerably depending on the region you’re planning to expand into.
The language barrier
Language is undoubtedly one of the first challenges you face when expanding internationally.
Communicating clearly and precisely with your customers is essential to building a relationship of trust. Every word, every sentence, every message must be accurately translated to respect the nuances and subtleties of the local language.
This extends far beyond the translation of your website pages: you’ll also need to adapt the content of your marketing emails, product descriptions and customer service materials.
Different buying habits and customs
E-commerce is not just about selling products, but also about understanding local culture and buying habits.
Consumer preferences, behaviors and expectations vary widely from country to country. For example, while American consumers may prefer convenience, those in France may value craftsmanship and quality more.
So it’s essential to do thorough research and adapt your offer to the cultural particularities of each market.
Taxation, a sometimes tricky subject
International taxation is another major issue. Each country has its own tax and customs regulations, and failure to comply can result in severe penalties.
What’s more, these regulations can be difficult to navigate, especially if you’re not fluent in the local language. So it’s essential to keep abreast of current laws, sales taxes, customs duties and export formalities in each country where you plan to do business.
Distribution
Ensuring fast, reliable distribution is another major challenge for international e-commerce.
Each country has its own logistics rules and regulations, not to mention the potential difficulties associated with distance, delivery times and shipping costs.
What’s more, you may need to manage several warehouses and optimize your supply chain for each new market. This requires rigorous planning and efficient management to ensure that every order arrives on time and in perfect condition.
How to build an internationalization strategy
Overcoming these challenges requires a well-conceived internationalization strategy and the use of appropriate technological solutions. This strategic approach must be thought through and adapted for each specific market, in order to optimally meet the expectations of local consumers and comply with country-specific regulations. That’s why Shippingbo offers you access to its ecosystem of partners, all specialists in their field.
Adapting to the local market
Adapting to the local market is a crucial step in your internationalization strategy. To increase your international sales volumes, it’s imperative to understand and respond to the specificities and expectations of the target country.
Players like Webinterpret are here to help you do just that. Their mission: to help you increase your business volume and sales, by helping you enter new markets or improve your performance in existing ones.
For a first step towards internationalization, the publication of adapted product sheets is a good place to start. With Webinterpret, your product sheets are localized and translated, enabling you to offer a local shopping experience to your international customers. This is an essential strategy for ensuring that your products meet the expectations of the local market, and for enabling you to effectively communicate the details and benefits of your products to an international clientele.
Webinterpret’s second major offering is linked to marketing and traffic. We support you in generating traffic on international marketplaces through a variety of marketing mechanisms. This customer acquisition strategy, adapted to the specificities of each market, will enable you to attract and convert local consumers more effectively.
Would you like to find out more about international marketplaces and which are the most suitable for your first step into internationalization? Discover our dedicated webinar.
In short, to succeed in international e-commerce, it’s essential to adapt your product sheets and marketing strategy to the specificities of each market.
International tax management
To sell internationally, it’s essential to comply with the tax rules of the destination country. However, taxation can be a labyrinth, especially when it comes to selling abroad.
Avask is expanding its international presence with offices around the world, enabling them to communicate directly with tax authorities in different countries. Their main mission is to provide you with tax services that operate in various countries.
The first way Avask can help is by making it easier for you to understand the tax situation in each of the countries you wish to sell to. They guide you through the various costs you may encounter, such as customs duties and VAT, enabling you to adapt your sales accordingly.
Avask also helps you stay compliant with regulations in the European Union and in the country where you wish to sell. Whether you need help with VAT registrations, audits or other issues, Avask offers a personalized service to meet your specific needs. They offer personalized consultations to help you apply the tax obligations specific to your situation.
In short, tax management is an essential aspect of your internationalization strategy. Avask is here to help you navigate this complex area, helping you understand, adapt and stay compliant with international tax regulations.
Ensuring proper delivery of your parcels
A crucial aspect of internationalization strategy is distribution. This is particularly important when you decide toship from warehouses in France.
Maersk gives you simplified access to local carriers. Thanks to their relationships with numerous carriers, especially local ones, in every destination where they operate, they can help you reach your customers efficiently and reliably.
What’s more, with warehouses in several European countries, they can ensure faster, more efficient shipping. This means your parcels can be stored closer to your customers, reducing your delivery times.
Finally, Maersk offers a range of delivery solutions to suit the specific needs of your customers in each country. Whether it’s home delivery, relay points or other, they can help you choose the most appropriate solution for your customers.
In short, good distribution management is an essential part of your internationalization strategy. With theright tool, you can not only access local carriers, guarantee rapid shipments thanks to warehousing in several European countries, but also offer several delivery options to satisfy your customers’ needs.
Managing new orders
Mastering logistics is essential, especially when you’re expanding part of your business internationally. Managing new orders from different markets can seem an insurmountable task. That’s where Shippingbo comes in, to help you simplify and optimize the management of your international logistics.
In addition to connections to the above-mentioned partners, Shippingbo offers you access to over 50 connected carriers and freight forwarders. This guarantees Europe-wide and international delivery coverage, making it easy for you to deliver your products to your customers wherever they may be.
When it comes to managing your international orders, Shippingbo’s solution lets you centralize orders from all your sales channels, whether in France or abroad.
Faced with increasing sales, due to the expansion of your business internationally, it can be difficult to maintain efficient efficient inventory management. Shippingbo offers a solution for this, enabling you to improve your inventory management by automating and optimizing your picking sessions. As a result, your shipments will be faster and your customers more satisfied, wherever they may be.
When deploying a multi-warehouse strategy, it’s crucial to maintain perfect synchronization of your inventory, whether you choose to locate one of your warehouses internationally, or use local players to outsource part of your stock. Shippingbo enables you to do this by synchronizing all your stocks, wherever they may be, in real time.
Finally, Shippingbo allows you to track all your carriers, whether in France or abroad. This gives you complete visibility of your transport operations, and enables you to quickly resolve any problems that may arise.
In short, Shippingbo is your ally for successfully implementing your internationalization strategy. Thanks to the solution, you can efficiently manage new orders, ensure good inventory management, closely monitor transport activities and manage your multi-warehouse strategy.
The Best-of-breed vision, for an optimal internationalization strategy
International sales come with their share of challenges, and to seize the opportunities offered by internationalization, the Best-of-breed vision is an extremely interesting strategy.
The Best-of-breed strategy involves calling on expert technological solutions for each of the areas of your e-commerce business: logistics, translation, etc. As you will have realized, going international is no easy task if you don’t know all the elements of the market in the country where you want to market your offer. And that’s why turning to experts for every stage of your internationalization can be a real lever for both sales and customer satisfaction.
Towards an internationalization strategy with Shippingbo
The ambition to expand beyond local borders is a major step in the life of an e-tailer. However,international e-commerce is not without its challenges, and it’s essential to be prepared to navigate these uncharted waters effectively.
Best-of-breed vision can be a cornerstone of your internationalization strategy. By entrusting the various stages of your internationalization to expert technological solutions, such as Shippingbo for logistics, you’ll be able to seize all international opportunities, stand out from the competition and ensure the growth of your business.
Want to learn more about internationalization strategies and tools? Discover our dedicated webinar!
