Online shipping helps small businesses

A new automated e-commerce capability designed to support e-commerce merchants across sub-Saharan Africa aims to help small businesses to efficiently manage shipments online.

FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corporation, has enhanced its FedEx Ship Manager (FSM) solution to allow businesses to create shipments and paperwork from online orders instead of manually entering information to create shipping labels.

Available across 45 countries and territories in the Middle East, India Subcontinent and Africa (MEISA), the updated FSM now includes time saving features and enhanced integration with e-commerce platforms and marketplaces.

Customers are able to synchronise e-commerce platforms such as Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, and PrestaShop with FSM.  

Additional features enable the following:

• Linking an e-commerce platform or marketplace with FSM to automatically download order information.
• Creating and printing labels for multiple orders and syncing with electronic trade documents for a smooth clearance process.
• Synchronising updates of tracking numbers and order status on sales channels and notifying buyers that orders have been shipped.

"Our mission at FedEx is to make shipping effortless for everyone. Prioritising service excellence through flexible, straightforward, and innovative solutions helps us create smart logistics, ensuring a seamless and hassle-free shipping journey. This, in turn, empowers small and medium enterprises to gain a competitive edge and foster business growth," said FedEx Express MEISA VP Nitin Navneet Tatiwala.

FedEx e-commerce offerings have expanded to include a range of solutions, including business-to-business marketplace integration through FedEx Compatible and Alliances programs, customisable last-mile delivery options plus direct messaging and convenient tracking through digital tools like FedEx Mobile solution and FedEx Reporting which helps assure consumers that packages are delivered efficiently and accurately.