Last updated: February 2023
What’s the difference between DHL Express and DHL eCommerce? Not sure? Don’t worry – that’s what we’re here to answer.
DHL is a household name – and it has been ever since it was founded back in 1969. Now, decades later, the DHL is still one of the world’s largest couriers, delivering a staggering number of parcels every year. They also haven’t lost a step with the growth of eCommerce. Now, DHL offers a variety of services specifically aimed at eCommerce businesses.
But things can get complicated when it comes to picking your shipping providers – especially when providers like DHL have multiple options. That’s why we’ve written this article. We’re going to cover what DHL is and exactly what you need to know about DHL Express and DHL eCommerce.
DHL is a global shipping giant founded in 1969, with multiple subsidiaries which ship to every corner of the globe.
Here are some key facts about the shipping giant:
Finding the right shipping provider is always tricky, especially when one company offers multiple sub-brands and services. Let’s look at the differences between DHL eCommerce and DHL Express, and some of the services they offer.
DHL eCommerce is a courier service focused on international shipping services. It’s not as well-suited to deliveries where speed is a requirement. It’s best for shipping lightweight packages where speed isn’t a concern.
DHL Express is a courier service with domestic and international shipping services. DHL Express is aimed at customers who prioritise speed, as it offers a range of speedier delivery options, including same-day. It’s best for shipping time-critical packages and shipping packages internationally.
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There’s no one right answer when it comes to selecting a courier – both DHL Express and DHL eCommerce are great options to add to your list of couriers.
The best approach is to maintain a network of couriers. Whenever you’re evaluating your courier mix, make sure you’ve got a good spread of options based on time, price and ability to handle your different package types (dangerous goods, for example).
Given that you need to offer different shipping options to your customers, you’re probably thinking through the logistics of managing multiple couriers – especially the manual task of going in and out of different courier systems.
Add the process of providing tracking options, returns and customs documentation and you’ve got a recipe for order delays and stressed staff.
This is where courier management software comes into play. It's helpful to think of this software as a superpowered platform that connects your online store (like Shopify) to the different couriers you’ll need. Oh, and a whole lot of other useful functionality.
Next, we'll learn about some of the main shipping challenges our courier management system (Starshipit) can handle.
What challenges can a courier management system resolve?
We’ve already explored the benefits of introducing a courier management system into your retail business. But how do these systems work with DHL eCommerce and DHL Express? Quite easily!
With Starshipit, for example, you can simply integrate the shipping platform into your existing workflow:
Note: DHL Express is best suited if you need to ship to any country, domestically or internationally, whereas DHL eCommerce is best for international shipments from Australia.
We’ve talked a lot about DHL in this article, but that’s not to say they’re the only option for your retail business.
In fact, given just how important it is to give your customers choice, you should aim for a solid mix of couriers.In turn, this will allow you to cater for every option and every customer, whether that’s someone who wants a package shipped across the globe in 3 days or someone who’s happy to wait a bit longer.
What’s more, with the right courier management system in place, you’ll be able to easily swap couriers out as your business evolves – not to mention negotiate better rates for your shipping!
Get in touch with us today to learn more about how a powerful shipping platform like Starshipit could revolutionise your shipping and fulfilment.
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