Ready to go global with your ecommerce business? Remember these 6 things when expanding internationally

Ready to set out for your big international break? We at Axla are here to support you through the process the best we can. To help you get the ball rolling, we wrote out a handy checklist for you to follow. Let’s get to it:

If you ask us at Axla Logistics, going international with your ecommerce business is an absolute must in today’s globalizing world. Expanding to international markets might seem like a big hurdle, but odds are all the tools and services you already use support international operations. Once you have all the mandatory things in place, going global can only create extra opportunities for your business!

Ready to set out for your big international break? We at Axla are here to support you through the process the best we can. To help you get the ball rolling, we wrote out a handy checklist for you to follow. Let’s get to it:

Make sure things are in English

As every ecommerce business knows, a good and streamlined customer experience is everything. You want to ensure that there are as little obstacles as possible on your website that keep people from purchasing your product. When taking your business beyond your country’s borders, this means having a website that your customers can understand!

When starting an ecommerce website project, whether you’re renewing your website or building one from scratch, make sure the English-language version is the priority. Going with this global lingua franca means that your website will be accessible to most international customers from the get-go.

Tweak your website to serve new markets

Know the saying “When in Rome…”? This applies to ecommerce business, too. When going international, you’ll want to study and get a sense of your new market, and adapt your website and ecommerce platform to serve their specific needs.

Here’s an example: while Finns may love their online banks and invoices as payment methods, these are pretty uncommon anywhere else in the world. Credit cards tend to be the favored payment option internationally. Do your homework and localize your website to best serve the markets you are entering.

Deliver on delivery options

One thing’s for certain: flexible and fast deliveries are an ecommerce must, no matter the country. When entering a new market, find out which delivery options are most popular in this specific country or area. Do customers like to pick up their parcels from a pickup point, or is home delivery the favored delivery method? Odds are their preferences differ from those of your current market.

Looking to diversify the delivery options of your ecommerce business? We at Axla have partnered with all the major last mile partners and closely cooperate with them. This way we ensure your packages are delivered just the way your international customers like them.

Headed outside of the EU?

Especially if you’re planning to expand your ecommerce business beyond the EU, there are some bureaucratic tasks to check off your to-do list. As the official sender of your products, you must comply with a few international regulations before our international courier partners will take your parcels to their final destinations.

If you sell to non-EU countries, remember to enter the following information in your ecomms platform for each parcel:

  • CN22 or CN23 customs/tariff code
  • Product value
  • Product country of origin
  • Recipient’s correct address
  • Recipient’s correct phone number and email address

Once all the mandatory information is filled out and everything is in order regulation-wise, we take care of the rest! Our UI integration ensures the information from your ecommerce platform makes it onto the parcel and to our courier partner.

Sort out your licenses

Not 100% sure whether you need licenses or permits to sell your consumer goods abroad? Especially when selling cosmetics and food, for example, you’ll want to be extra vigilant that you remain compliant with national legislation. Be sure to check that you have all the necessary paperwork in place before you begin selling internationally.

Sorting out your licenses is a lot easier than you might think! Simply contact the destination country’s authorities and describe what items you are selling and what substances they contain. Then, ask them what requirements you need to meet in order to remain compliant. Once everything is sorted, you can rest assured that you are meeting legal requirements. Now you can focus on making your business flourish!

Be prepared for your business to skyrocket!

All set to go global? Last but not least, make sure your supply meets international demand. It’s easy to forget that international expansion means you’re entering drastically bigger markets.

To ensure you have enough product at hand in your warehouses, stay on top of sales and be quick to react when your stock needs some topping up.

Looking for a logistics partner for your ecommerce business to take you global? Get in touch with us!