Both Amazon and Alibaba are online retail giants, but they operate in different parts. Amazon is a U.S. company, while Alibaba is a Chinese company. They both offer a wide variety of products, but their target audiences are different.
Amazon is aimed at American consumers, while Alibaba is aimed at Chinese consumers. Amazon has been around for longer, but Alibaba is growing rapidly. Amazon joined the trillion-dollar club in 2020, and now its market cap is well over a trillion dollars. Alibaba is arguably there, but it’s been struggling to stay above a trillion dollars due to unforeseen circumstances.
If one of these companies wants to take over the world, they will need to do radical shifts in their company standings. One way they can do this is by implementing two-day international shipping.
The Race For Two-Day International Shipping
One of the most important goals of e-commerce is to have two-day international shipping worldwide. This would be a monumental task for Amazon or Alibaba, but it’s not impossible. Amazon already has same-day shipping in the United States, and Alibaba also offers that in some cities in China. So, in theory, if either company could figure out how to do this, they could easily take over the world of online retail.
The problem is that neither company has figured out how to make two-day international shipping work. Amazon has been trying for years, but they’ve only been able to make it work in a few countries. Alibaba has been working on it, but they’ve had even less success.
Two-day international shipping is tricky because it requires a lot of coordination between different countries. To make it work, a company would need to have an excellent understanding of the customs regulations in other countries. They would also need to have a good relationship with the postal service in each country.
But they didn’t let that discourage them. Here’s how Alibaba and Amazon are racing towards two-day international shipping.
Robots
Both Amazon and Alibaba use robots in their warehouses to help with the two-day international shipping goal. Amazon has been using robots for a while, but they’re starting to use them.
They have a robot called Kiva that can lift 750 pounds and move around the warehouse very quickly. Moreover, smart collaborative robots can now work together to move large items and even deliver them to local homes. They are beneficial because it decreases the time it takes to pack and ship items.
Alibaba is also using robots in their warehouses. They have a robot called AliExpress that can sort and package items. It’s not as significant or substantial as Kiva, but it’s still helpful. They’re also planning on using robots to deliver items to local homes in the future.
Customs Regulations
As we mentioned before, one of the biggest obstacles to two-day international shipping is customs regulations. However, Amazon and Alibaba are working to better understand customs regulations in different countries.
They’re doing this by hiring people who understand the regulations and building relationships with each country’s postal service. In addition, both Amazon and Alibaba are working on getting their items pre-cleared by customs to be shipped more quickly. This involves working with the customs department in each country to ensure that their products meet all requirements. By doing this, they will be able to ship their products more quickly and efficiently.
Improved Logistics
Another big obstacle to two-day international shipping is logistics. To make it work, companies need to have an excellent understanding of the postal service in each country, and they need to be able to track their items very well.
Amazon and Alibaba are both working on improving their logistics. They’re doing this by building better relationships with the postal service in each country and by using tracking technologies like GPS.
These technologies are essential because they will allow them to ship their products more quickly and efficiently. In addition, by having their infrastructure, they will be able to bypass the postal service and get their products to their destination faster. It can also make a huge difference in handling various cargoes.
The Future of Two-Day International Shipping
It’s still unclear whether or not two-day international shipping is possible. Amazon and Alibaba are working hard, but it’s a challenging task. It remains to be seen if either company will be able to figure it out.
But one thing is for sure: the future of online retail depends on it. If one of them can crack the code, then that company can indeed take over the world of e-commerce.
