Consumers are increasingly shopping on foreign websites. The threshold is getting lower, and it is becoming easier by the day to order products online from countries like Brazil or China. Of course, this works the other way around as well. Your webshop can also sell to foreign consumers. With the right strategy, you can turn your local webshop into an international success. Does that sound appealing? Then check what steps you need to take to successfully ship your orders. International shipments require a bit more attention and administration than domestic shipments.
What impact does Europe have on my international shipments?
Do you want to ship internationally? Then Europe plays an important role in the administrative work. Within the European Union, different rules apply.
Within the EU: Shipping packages within the European Union is relatively simple. Since Belgium is a member of the EU, you can easily ship to other countries within the European Union. The legislation is generally the same, and you enjoy a financial advantage as your customers do not need to pay customs duties. The only things to consider are delivery times and shipping rates, but administratively no extra steps are required.
Outside the EU: When you ship packages outside the European Union, more work is involved. You need to comply with international laws and ensure the paperwork is in order. A significant detail is that shipping rates are also much higher, and delivery times will be longer. Your preferred shipping method plays an important role here. Some shipping partners outsource the parcel, which means it goes through many hands and sorting centers, while other partners keep the parcel in-house, leading to faster delivery. These are factors you need to account for in your marketing strategy.
International shipments require administrative tasks
When shipping internationally outside of the European Union, you must account for certain administrative formalities. Many webshops handle this carelessly, though it’s particularly important for smooth processing. Missing the necessary documents can result in your parcel not being delivered or even being destroyed. When you include the required documents, customs can monitor what enters and exits the country. This ensures safety, health, and environmental protection. Additionally, they also check if your customer needs to pay any import duties. What documents are needed?
- Customs Declaration (CN23) and Shipping Note (CP71): You need to include a CN23 when sending parcels with a postal service like Bpost or DHL. This document specifies the type of shipment (sold product or gift). It also provides a description of the contents, weight, and value. You also include the HS code. Customs uses the HS code to identify the products in the parcel. This code is universal and used worldwide. Based on this code, customs can determine the import duties to charge. You can also add a CP71 shipping note if you want to hide the information on the CN23. The CP71 form acts as an address card and must be affixed to the parcel in a transparent envelope, while the CN23 form can go in a sealed envelope.
- Invoice: You need to attach a commercial invoice to the outside of the parcel when using a CN23. The invoice includes the sender’s details, shipping terms, and information about the goods.
- Certificate of Origin: Some countries require a certificate of origin due to trade policy measures. This certificate indicates the country where a product was manufactured.
Brexit
Since January 1, 2021, you can no longer send packages to the United Kingdom as you did before (as an EU member). From that date, you must treat packages sent to the UK as shipments outside the European Union. This means you need to fill out the required documents and have an EORI number. The EORI number is an identification number you need when dealing with customs for package shipments. Do you already have an EORI number for shipments outside the EU? Unfortunately, this number is no longer valid in the UK. You will need to apply for a new EORI number.
Do international shipments take too much time and energy?
As an entrepreneur, you’re always looking for ways to expand your market. International shipments can contribute to that. However, we notice that many webshops are not fully exploiting their potential. Many avoid international shipments due to the administrative tasks involved. A wrong approach! Maybe you should seize this opportunity and look for solutions that simplify international shipments. For example, you can bundle all the necessary information on a sales order in Webship Online, our WMS system. But if you truly want to get started with international shipments without losing much time, you can rely on Webship Fulfilment. Webship’s fulfillment center takes over the entire logistics process for you, so you can ship wherever you want without worrying about paperwork.