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In the ever-evolving world of TikTok creator marketing, brands are constantly seeking innovative ways to collaborate with influencers and maximize their return on investment. Amidst the sea of creators, each with their unique strengths and niches, the challenge lies not only in finding the right partners but also in evaluating their true potential to drive meaningful engagement and conversions. Enter 4Seller ERP – the revolutionary one-click creator screening plugin designed to empower brands with data-driven insights, streamline their creator discovery process, and unlock unprecedented growth opportunities.
In this article, we’ll delve into the most popular TikTok collaboration models, explore strategies for finding top-tier creators, and reveal how 4Seller ERP can be your ultimate ally in navigating the creator economy landscape.
What is the Popular Collaboration Models in TikTok Creator Marketing?
1. Content Marketing Collaboration with Creators
Inviting creators to engage in short-video content marketing collaborations is the most common approach. Brand merchants can identify suitable creators based on their product categories and specific needs.
There are numerous creative formats to explore, such as skits, lifestyle vlogs, product reviews, talent showcases, and unboxing/try-on sessions.
2. Hashtag Challenges & Creator Collaboration
On TikTok, 80% of users enjoy participating in challenges! These challenges are characterized by their low entry barriers, high replicability, catchy music, and strong viral potential, making them highly effective at sparking trends.
The mainstream strategy involves brand merchants selecting KOLs (Key Opinion Leaders) aligned with their brand identity as the initial challengers, then leveraging mid-tier and micro-influencers to amplify the campaign. This approach utilizes the creators' influence to attract a wider audience to join the challenge.
3. Ad Placement & Creator Collaboration
On TikTok, brands can not only harness creators' organic reach but also supplement it with paid advertising.
The most prevalent collaboration method involves integrating creators with In-feed ads, which appear as users scroll through their "For You" feeds. This approach offers significant exposure and drives effective traffic and conversion benefits.
4. TikTok Creator Live Streaming for Product Sales
Compared to short-video content marketing, live streaming by creators offers enhanced interactivity, a stronger focus on stimulating consumer purchases, and a better way to gauge audience demand.
The key to successful TikTok creator marketing lies in finding creators who align with your target market. Brands need to collaborate with creators to devise creative strategies that not only pique their audience's interest in your brand and products but also foster brand loyalty and strengthen fan engagement.
How to Find TikTok Creators Who Can Bring Sales?
The process of finding creators is somewhat similar to finding customers, but creators differ from customers in key ways. While customers purchase products based on interest or need, creators prioritize whether a product aligns with their video style and resonates with their audience. They also consider the product's quality, as they must maintain their reputation and protect their fan base. So, specifically, through which channels can we locate them?
1. Social Media Platforms
Sellers can search for creators on platforms like YouTube, Twitter, Facebook (though note that direct creator outreach on Facebook may be limited compared to others), Instagram, etc., by entering product-related keywords. Review their profiles to gather information. If you can't find their contact details on these platforms, conduct a broader web search using their names.
2. Purchasing Creator Information from Peers
Sellers can utilize third-party software available in the market to purchase creator information from competitors or peers within the industry.
3. Industry Referrals
Every profession has its own circles where information is shared and resources are exchanged. The creator community is no exception. Once you establish stable cooperative relationships with some creators, you can ask them to recommend familiar creator friends. Similarly, you can introduce other sellers to creators, fostering a mutually beneficial and supportive environment.
4. Sending In-Platform Messages
Sending in-platform messages is a fundamental yet delicate approach. Care must be taken to avoid violating platform policies, which could result in warnings, account restrictions, or even suspension. The key is to engage in natural, user-focused communication, gradually nurturing interest and rapport. When the creator shows genuine interest and affinity for your product, a collaboration becomes more likely.
5. Searching via Google or Blogs
Use blog search engines like Blog Search Engine.org or directly search keywords on Google to find relevant creators or their content.
6. Waiting for Creators to Approach You
Well-known brands like Anker provide collaboration channels on their self-built websites for creators. They leave information such as name, address, email, follower count, blog links, social media profiles, product descriptions, and preferred contact methods for collaboration inquiries. However, this approach typically requires sellers to have a strong brand presence.
When seeking creators, sellers should also be mindful of several considerations:
Selecting Suitable Creators for Product Promotion: It's a common pitfall to judge collaboration potential solely based on a creator's follower count. Instead, prioritize creators whose content and audience align with your product. This alignment often yields better promotional results.
Clarifying Product Promotion Objectives: Define clear goals for your creator collaborations, such as driving traffic to your website, enhancing brand awareness, or reaching specific consumer demographics. Having these objectives in mind will guide your efforts effectively.
Identifying Target Consumer Groups: Understanding your target audience is crucial for successful creator marketing. This knowledge ensures that your collaborations resonate with the right people and achieve your desired outcomes.
Finding creators is the first step in launching a creator marketing campaign. However, with the rapid growth of social media and the internet in recent years, the creator landscape has become increasingly diverse, with varying levels of quality. Many creators may have inflated follower counts that don't accurately reflect their true influence, often resorting to artificial means to boost numbers. Choosing the wrong creator or conveying inaccurate messages can harm your brand. Therefore, thorough research and due diligence are essential when selecting creators for your campaigns.
How to Evaluate TikTok Creator Quality?
To achieve the best results in creator marketing, it's crucial to select creators who are the most suitable for your products and brand from a vast pool of options. So, how exactly can we evaluate the quality of a creator?
1. Influence
When assessing a creator, the first metric many people look at is follower count. Based on this, creators can be categorized into three levels: micro, macro, and mega.
Micro-influencers (1,000 - 100,000 followers): Although their follower count may not be as high, they typically have high engagement rates and a loyal, trusting fan base. They often specialize in a specific niche, resulting in a higher return on investment (ROI). They are also more willing to invest time in interacting with their followers. Micro-influencers are relatively easy to find, and many offer product reviews free of charge.
Macro-influencers (100,000 - 1,000,000 followers): They have a large reach but generally lower engagement rates. They prioritize content quality and often charge higher fees. Collaborating with macro-influencers can be more challenging, and it usually involves a cost.
Mega-influencers (over 1,000,000 followers): These creators have an enormous following and generate significant traffic.
2. Sponsorship Status
If you frequently watch YouTube videos, you may have noticed creators disclosing sponsorships at the beginning, end, or in the description, stating, "This video is sponsored by xxx brand." This is in compliance with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations in the United States, which require creators to disclose any paid promotions to avoid misleading the audience.
The choice between sponsored and non-sponsored creators depends on your marketing objectives or content type. If your goal is to generate short-term brand exposure through simple product placements, sponsored creators might be suitable. You can discuss specific requirements with them in advance. However, if you aim to obtain a creator's endorsement to validate product functionality, especially for reviews, non-sponsored creators are preferable. They typically only require a free sample, which they may even return. They may also earn through affiliate marketing without additional fees, allowing them to present the product authentically without being influenced by the brand.
3. Relevance of Published Content
It's essential to review a creator's past product reviews, competitor collaborations, and channel consistency to determine if their content aligns with your product positioning. Thematic relevance directly impacts content conversion rates.
4. Audience Engagement
A large follower count doesn't necessarily mean genuine likability or trust. Some creators may purchase fake followers, so audience engagement is a better indicator of a creator's influence.
Three common metrics used in YouTube marketing to evaluate video performance can also be applied to assess a creator's audience engagement:
Average views per 100 followers: For instance, if a creator has 100 followers and an average of 20 views per video, the engagement rate is 20%. Generally, mega-influencers may have around 10%, macro-influencers 20%-30%, and micro-influencers over 30%, sometimes even exceeding 100%. A higher percentage indicates greater video popularity. However, this metric alone doesn't guarantee authenticity, as views can also be artificially inflated. Therefore, sellers can also focus on:
Likes per 100 views
Comments per 100 views
These two metrics best reflect video quality, content value, and audience affection for the creator. Building genuine interaction takes time, and comment fraud is costly.
5. Audience Reception to Creator's Recommendations
The authenticity and authority of a creator's statements can significantly influence fans' purchasing decisions. To gauge this, read the comments under their videos to see if there are more endorsements or criticisms. If your brand is well-known and receives numerous collaboration inquiries from creators, ensure they provide relevant data and past collaboration cases for your review, using the criteria mentioned above.
6. Utilizing Official Third-Party Applications - 4Seller ERP (One-Click Creator Screening Plugin)
By installing the 4Seller ERP plugin, you can filter creators suitable for your business growth based on creator type, video performance, and audience demographics.
How to Use 4Seller ERP to Screen Creators？
Here is the detailed helping tutorial you could follow to check.
1. Creator Type Screening
Individual vs. Agency Accounts
Individual Accounts: Ideal for small to medium-sized brands, especially in niche verticals (e.g., beauty, 3C accessories) due to high fan loyalty and content specialization. For example, a home decor brand achieved a 30% month-over-month GMV growth by collaborating with individual home decor bloggers with 50,000-200,000 followers and an engagement rate of ≥8%.
Agency Accounts: Suitable for promotional campaigns during major sales events or new product launches due to their strong resource integration capabilities and multi-domain creator reach. For instance, a 3C brand collaborated with an MCN agency, selecting its top 10 digital product influencers based on GMV, resulting in over $1 million in first-day sales for a new product.
Sample Conditions:
Niche Alignment: Choose creators with >80% audience match in the relevant vertical (e.g., a maternal and child brand selects creators in the maternal and child niche).
Historical Collaboration Data: Exclude creators without Amazon sales history and prioritize those with a conversion rate of ≥15%.
2. Video Performance Screening
Key Metrics:
Views: Screen for an average of ≥100,000 views in the last 30 days (with >30% of videos being viral).
Engagement Rate: ≥4% (likes, comments, shares), indicating strong audience participation.
Conversion Rate: CTR (click-through rate) >8%, CR (conversion rate) >15% (benchmark for the apparel category).
Dynamic Commission Strategy:
Increase commission by 3% for creators with CTR <5%; allocate an additional budget of 500forthosewithCTR>102.05 million in sales by selecting high-engagement creators.
3. Audience Demographics Screening
Basic Attributes:
Age: Align with product positioning. For instance, a beauty brand selects creators with ≥70% female followers aged 18-35.
Gender: Prioritize accounts with ≥85% female followers for maternal and child products.
Location: For cross-border brands, select creators with a high percentage of followers from target markets (e.g., ≥60% North American followers for the US market).
Behavioral Tags:
Active Hours: Optimize release times based on audience activity peaks. For example, a clothing brand discovered that its audience is most active between 8-10 PM and requested creators to post during this window.
Spending Preferences: Use historical sales data to identify creators with followers who prefer high-ticket items. For instance, a 3C brand selects creators with ≥40% of followers having purchased products priced at $50+.
Industry-Specific Screening Examples
1. Beauty Brands
Screening Conditions:
Creator Type: Individual beauty bloggers with 100,000-500,000 followers.
Video Performance: ≥200,000 average views in the last 30 days, ≥6% engagement rate.
Audience Demographics: ≥85% female, ≥70% aged 18-35, ≥50% with a history of purchasing beauty products.
Results: A domestic beauty brand achieved a 45% month-over-month increase in video-driven GMV by collaborating with creators meeting these criteria.
2. Home Decor Brands
Screening Conditions:
Creator Type: Home decor vertical agency accounts with top 20 GMV-generating influencers.
Video Performance: Single video with ≥500,000 views, CTR ≥10%.
Audience Demographics: ≥60% aged 25-40, ≥40% homemakers/renovators.
Results: A home decor brand sold over 2,000 mattresses in its initial launch by collaborating with high-conversion creators.
3.3C Brands
Screening Conditions:
Creator Type: Tech vertical individual accounts with 200,000-1,000,000 followers.
Video Performance: ≥300,000 average views in the last 30 days, ≥15% of comments mentioning keywords like "tech-savvy" or "cost-effective."
Audience Demographics: ≥70% male, ≥60% aged 18-30, ≥55% with a history of purchasing 3C products.
Results: An earphone brand achieved over $100,000 in GMV in its first month by collaborating with high-engagement creators.
In conlusion
In the fast-paced world of TikTok creator marketing, the key to success lies in precision, authenticity, and scalability. By leveraging the most popular collaboration models—from content marketing and hashtag challenges to live streaming and ad placements—brands can create impactful campaigns that resonate with their target audiences. However, the true game-changer is 4Seller ERP – the one-click creator screening plugin that transforms the way brands discover, evaluate, and collaborate with influencers.
With its advanced analytics, audience demographics filtering, and dynamic commission optimization, 4Seller ERP ensures that brands partner with creators who not only align with their product positioning but also deliver measurable ROI. Whether you’re a beauty brand seeking niche influencers, a 3C brand targeting tech enthusiasts, or a home decor brand aiming for homemakers, 4Seller ERP’s industry-specific screening criteria empower you to make data-backed decisions.
In an era where creator quality often outweighs follower count, 4Seller ERP stands as the ultimate guardian of brand reputation and marketing efficiency. By harnessing its power, brands can navigate the creator economy with confidence, turning collaborations into conversions and influencers into long-term brand advocates.
Ready to elevate your TikTok creator marketing strategy? Install 4Seller ERP today and unlock a world of high-quality, high-performing creators tailored to your business needs. Your next big campaign starts here!
Irene - 25 Apr,2025
In the dynamic realm of cross-border e-commerce, TikTok Shop is a platform brimming with potential, captivating the attention of numerous small and medium-sized (SME) sellers. As it expands globally, the question of whether SMEs should venture into it is a hot topic. The 4seller ERP system, a vital tool for cross-border e-commerce, offers significant support for those eyeing TikTok Shop.
1. TikTok Shop: A Rising Star in Cross-Border E-Commerce
TikTok, famous for its short videos, has a massive user base of 1 billion monthly active users worldwide. Leveraging this, TikTok Shop emerged, blending content and e-commerce. Consumers can now buy products while enjoying videos or live streams, a "see it, buy it" experience that boosts purchases.
TikTok Shop has grown impressively globally. In Southeast Asia, it's a major player in live and short video e-commerce. In Europe and the US, it's steadily enhancing its e-commerce ecosystem, attracting more users and sellers.
2. TikTok Shop: A Boon for SMEs
2.1 Low Entry Barriers
Traditional cross-border e-commerce platforms often have high entry hurdles for SMEs with limited funds and experience. TikTok Shop changes this. With the 4seller ERP system, SMEs can manage store operations easily.
For product listing, the system enables quick collection, moving, and copying of products from various platforms. Its batch editing features speed up title, description, and price updates. Image editing tools make product photos more appealing, increasing clicks and sales.
Order management is simplified too. The system sends real-time updates, and its batch sheet printing and custom settings handle large orders efficiently.
2.2 Vast Traffic Reach
TikTok Shop's large user base is a major advantage. SMEs can use the platform's algorithm to show products to many potential customers. Through engaging videos or live streams, they can attract users and convert views into sales.
The 4seller ERP system's data analytics helps SMEs use this traffic well. It provides the TikTok hot-selling list, guiding product selection. The competitor tracking feature lets sellers monitor rivals' strategies and adjust theirs accordingly.
2.3 Efficient Supply Chain Management
Good supply chain management is key on TikTok Shop. The 4seller ERP system's inventory management updates stock in real-time, preventing overselling. Low stock alerts ensure timely restocking.
It also supports combined product management. Sellers can bundle related items, making shopping easier for customers and increasing order values. This helps SMEs cut costs, boost efficiency, and stay competitive.
3. Challenges on TikTok Shop
3.1 Changing Platform Rules
TikTok Shop's rules change as it develops. SMEs need to keep up to run their stores smoothly. Non-compliance can lead to penalties and lower visibility.
The 4seller ERP system keeps sellers informed about rule changes and offers guidance on compliance. For example, when listing requirements change, it notifies and helps optimize product info.
3.2 Fierce Competition and Market Uncertainty
More sellers on TikTok Shop mean tough competition. Standing out is hard. Also, global economic instability, changing consumer tastes, and politics add market uncertainty.
The 4seller ERP system's market analysis helps SMEs navigate this. By analyzing data on consumer trends and competitors, sellers can spot opportunities and develop relevant products.
4. The 4seller ERP System: A Key Asset
4.1 All-in-One Solution
The 4seller ERP system is a comprehensive tool for cross-border e-commerce. It covers product listing, order and inventory management, data analysis, and customer relationship management.
4.2 Tailored for TikTok Shop
Compared with other similar erp systems,the 4seller erp system has obvious advantages in docking with TikTok Shop. It has in-depth understanding and optimization of the rules and interfaces of the platform,and can achieve more stable and efficient docking. Secondly,the 4seller erp system has specially developed a series of targeted functions for the operation characteristics of TikTok Shop,such as TikTok Best-selling list,competition tracking, real-time update reminders of platform rules,etc,to better meet the operational needs of small and medium sellers in TikTok Shop.In addition,the operation interface of the 4seller ERP system is concise and easy to use,allowing even small and medium-sized sellers without rich technical experience to quickly master and use it,which greatly reduces the learning cost for sellers.
5. Deciding to Enter or Wait
5.1 Assess Your Business
Before joining TikTok Shop, SMEs should evaluate their business. This includes product quality, supply chain strength, and finances. The 4seller ERP system's data analytics provides insights into sales, inventory, and cash flow to aid this assessment.
5.2 Stay Agile
The cross-border e-commerce industry is changing rapidly.Whether it is choosing to enter or wait and see,small land medium-sized sellers need to maintain a continuous learning attitude and constantly adapt to changes in the market.TikTok Shop's rules and policies may be constantly adjusted,and consumers needs and preferences are also changing.Only by keeping up with these changes in time can we be invincible in the market competition.
At the same time,sellers themselves need to actively participate in various training courses,industry seminars,etc,exchange experience with peers,and constantly improve their operational capabilities and comprehensive quality.For example,sellers can participate in training courses on TikTok Shop operation skills,learn,how to make attractive short videos and live content,how to optimize product listings,how to carry out effective Client Server,etc;also,you can participate in industry seminars to understand the latest development trends and market dynamics of the cross-border e-commerce industry,communicate and cooperate with other sellers,expand business channels.
6. Conclusion: Seize Opportunities Wisely
TikTok Shop offers great opportunities for SMEs but also has risks. The 4seller ERP system can be a valuable partner, reducing entry barriers, improving efficiency, and aiding decision-making. SMEs should assess their capabilities, use available tools, and stay adaptable to succeed in cross-border e-commerce on TikTok Shop.
Amelia - 25 Apr,2025
TikTok, a social platform that is popular in over 150 countries around the world and boasts nearly one billion active users, has already become a huge treasure trove of traffic. Users spend approximately three hours on TikTok every day on average. Among them, around 62% are female, and the young demographic aged between 20 and 39 accounts for about 45.9% of the user base.
Facing such a vast and highly consumer-potential traffic market, numerous sellers have flocked to it, trying to explore new business growth points through video creation, live streaming sales, marketing promotion, and other means. However, as more and more sellers enter the market, the competition in the TikTok live streaming field has become increasingly fierce. How can one stand out in this red ocean and achieve massive sales growth?
Next, we will reveal the three core strategies to boost sales in the live streaming room and share how 4Seller provides comprehensive support for sellers to help skyrocket their store sales!
I. Four Key Points for Traffic Attraction - Injecting Massive Traffic into TikTok Live Streaming Rooms
TikTok, with its large traffic pool and untapped blue ocean of traffic, has attracted countless merchants to shift their advertising and marketing positions here. Compared with short videos, live streaming sales are more intuitive, and users can interact with the hosts in real-time, which greatly enhances the trust between the brand and the users. It is truly an excellent tool for product promotion.
However, different from daily sharing short videos, the promotional short videos before the start of a TikTok live stream play a vital role. The content of the promotional short videos must closely match the theme of the live streaming room so as to achieve accurate conversion of traffic. At the same time, considering that the majority of TikTok users are young people, the promotional short videos need to cater to their preferences, incorporate novel and interesting elements, and create gimmicks by combining with hot topics to achieve effective dissemination of the videos.
For example, during festive marketing periods such as Halloween and Christmas, content full of fun and freshness is often more popular. In addition, young people generally prefer exaggerated and brightly colored visual effects, so promotional short videos often use content with a strong visual impact in terms of appearance.
The promotional short videos also need to clearly convey several key elements to the users: the start time of the live streaming room, the theme of the live streaming room, and the reasons for users to watch the live streaming room. Specifically, it can be carried out from the following aspects:
Pay attention to the date and time of publishing promotional short videos
Generally, it is appropriate to publish promotional short videos about an hour before the live stream starts, so that users can enter the live streaming room when they brush across the videos. For important promotional events, operation staff need to publish preview videos a few days in advance and clearly inform users of the specific date and time of the live stream in the videos.
Clarify the purpose of the live streaming room
The core content of the promotional short videos is to clearly convey the theme of the live streaming room to the target consumers. Its main shooting techniques include story reporting type, product reporting type, and subtitle reporting type.
Take the promotional short video for diaper live streaming as an example. The host tells the story of encountering a toilet leak, making it dirtier when using tissues to deal with it, and finally successfully solving the problem with diapers that have good water absorption. At the end of the video, it is previewed that these diapers with good water absorption will have a live promotion from 9 am to 1 pm the next day, with exclusive preferential prices, and users are reminded with subtitles to participate in the live event on time.
Emphasize the reasons for entering the live streaming room
Among numerous TikTok live streaming rooms, to attract consumers to enter our live streaming room, the content of the promotional short videos must provide users with a sufficient reason. "Having what others don't have and being better at what others have" is an important factor to attract consumers to enter the live streaming room.
Pay attention to the timeliness of promotional short videos
The biggest difference between promotional short videos and regular short videos lies in their timeliness. Too many promotional short videos will affect the consistency of the brand account. Therefore, it is recommended to hide the promotional short videos after the live stream ends instead of deleting them. Because after hiding the videos, the data such as likes, comments, and shares will still be retained in the background. Once deleted, these data will disappear together, which will affect the weight of the account to a certain extent.
In addition, operation staff also need to conduct data analysis on the promotional short videos to continuously optimize the video content and attract more traffic to the live streaming room.
At the same time, the selection of the cover of the promotional short video cannot be ignored. A clear and interesting cover is more attractive to users when they browse the videos.
For example, a picture of a female host holding shoes and clothes with the cover text "Amazon Thanksgiving Day Outfit" can clearly convey the theme of the video and accurately attract interested users to watch. When publishing promotional short videos, sellers can also add relevant hot topics in the title, body text, tags, cover, etc., such as "#Thanksgiving Day", "#NewYork", etc. By leveraging the popularity of hot topics, it can bring more traffic to the videos and convert it to the live streaming room.
II. Master the Operation Skills of TikTok Live Streaming to Retain Viewers and Facilitate Order Placement
Not all products are suitable for sale in TikTok live streaming. Sellers who want to achieve great sales in TikTok live streaming rooms must choose the right products for live streaming sales. A successful live streaming room has certain requirements in terms of layout, product price, host, and live streaming content:
Background Decoration
When users enter the live streaming room, the first thing that catches their eye is the background of the live streaming room. When laying out the background of the live streaming room, it should be kept simple, highlighting the theme of the live stream and the product display, and placing the discount information of the live streaming room in a prominent position to enhance the attractiveness to consumers. The background decoration methods of different product categories also vary:
3C Digital Products
Brands in this category pay more attention to a sense of technology. Operation staff can use the method of projection to display product information on the background board, enhancing the technological atmosphere of the live streaming room. Through projection display, when the host explains the product features, users can more clearly and intuitively understand the product functions.
Home and Living Products
When displaying products, the main products should be placed in a prominent position, such as in the middle of the live streaming table. If the product price is favorable, it is recommended to enlarge the sticker to highlight the price advantage, which is very effective for price-sensitive users.
Beauty and Personal Care Products
For the background decoration, a professional makeup cabinet or a projection background board can be selected. During the live stream, the host needs to focus on demonstrating the usage effects of beauty products. At the same time, operation staff should switch the close-up and long-shot of the live streaming camera in a timely manner. The close-up can show the product details, color test effects, and facial makeup details, while the long-shot helps the host interact with users and promotes users to place orders.
Apparel Products
The host needs to focus on showing the wearing effect of the apparel, so it is best to show the whole body. Operation staff can use stickers in the live streaming room to indicate the host's height, weight, and other information, providing a reference for users. The display methods of different apparel categories also have some differences. For example, when live streaming children's clothing in a maternal and infant special session, the size of the children's clothing can be shown by comparing it with dolls. In a live stream of waist trainer products, a male model can be selected to show the elasticity effect of the product, highlighting the product quality and dispelling users' concerns.
Product Price
Observations show that the prices of products sold in TikTok live streaming rooms usually range from $10 to $45. Products with too low or too high unit prices have a relatively narrow audience, while most people are willing to purchase their favorite products through the live streaming room within this price range. This phenomenon is closely related to the user group of TikTok, which is mainly composed of Gen Z young people. Gen Z users are keen on impulsive consumption and pursue new and interesting things, which also brings business opportunities for merchants. Blind boxes, wigs, beauty products, nail art, DIY tool kits, accessories, home products, smart products, etc. have all achieved good sales results in TikTok live streaming rooms.
Host
The hosts of TikTok live streaming rooms for different products have their own characteristics, but they all possess in-depth knowledge of the products they promote, excellent language organization skills, and good interaction ability with the users in the live streaming room. In addition, for TikTok live streaming sales, it is suitable to select young, energetic, and good-looking hosts, which reflects the market trend.
Specific requirements for hosts include: having good communication, influence, and guiding abilities; mastering professional industry knowledge and being able to introduce products in detail and demonstrate their selling points; having strong oral presentation skills, field control ability, rhythm control ability, and on-the-spot adaptability; during the live stream, showing strong influence through product explanation, display, language, and body movements.
At the same time, the live streaming script needs to be planned in advance, incorporating interactive chats and naturally implanting marketing information around the preset topics. Hosts should avoid problems such as poor speech fluency, highly repetitive content, and forced shopping during their expressions, and also should not remain silent for a long time. In addition, the host's makeup and appearance should match the theme of the live streaming room. For example, it is not appropriate to wear heavy makeup when selling maternal and infant products, and the choice of clothing should avoid excessive exposure and the risk of accidental exposure.
Live Streaming Content
A high-quality live streaming sales event cannot be separated from the careful planning of the live streaming content. Although live streaming is dynamic, the theme and general sales ideas of the live streaming room need to be planned in advance, covering aspects such as the purpose of the live stream, atmosphere creation, discount setting, and the number of products arranged.
Taking the live streaming of puzzle toys such as game consoles, Rubik's Cubes, and Sudoku as an example, in addition to explaining and selling products, it is more important to capture the psychology of consumers. By having the host interact and actually play with the puzzle toys in the live streaming room while explaining, and truly presenting the elements of "fun and interesting", it can enhance users' curiosity and stimulate their purchasing desire.
III. Avoid Common Mistakes in TikTok Live Streaming to Ensure a Smooth Live Stream
Sellers also need to pay attention to many matters during the TikTok live streaming process:
First of all, ensuring the clarity of the live streaming room's broadcast screen is crucial. During the live stream, professional live streaming equipment is usually required for recording and filling light to ensure that the screen pixels are clear and leave a good impression on users. Sellers should debug the lighting, equipment, and network in advance to present the best live streaming effect.
Secondly, the preferential discounts and free lottery activities of merchants can effectively attract users to enter the live streaming room. During the live stream, the host should pay attention to interacting with users and compare the prices before and after the discount when introducing the product price. At the same time, regularly carry out lottery and small gift distribution activities to maintain users' enthusiasm for watching.
Finally, when conducting TikTok live streaming, sellers should fully consider the local consumption habits, select products accordingly, and adopt the ways that local users like for live streaming.
IV. 4Seller Helps Sellers Process Orders Efficiently and Ensures Worry-free Massive Sales
In addition to mastering the secrets of increasing sales in TikTok live streaming rooms, sellers must also correspondingly improve their order processing capabilities to ensure the smooth operation of their business after achieving massive sales. In this regard, 4Seller can provide powerful support for sellers.
4Seller supports batch printing of 1,000 shipping labels, pick lists and packing slips at one time, which greatly improves the printing efficiency and saves the time and labor costs of sellers. Whether it is daily orders or a large number of orders during promotional events, sellers can quickly complete the printing work.
Here is the helping tutorial you could follow to check how to print 1000 shipping labels at once.
At the same time, 4Seller also supports the function of One-click fulfillment. Sellers can simply operate to complete the order printing and delivery process, further improving the delivery speed. When used in conjunction with a barcode scanner, it can achieve the integration of packaging and delivery in one step, simplifying the operation steps and reducing the possibility of errors.
Here is the helping tutorial you could follow to check how to use one-click fulfillment.
In terms of order document management, 4Seller allows sellers to customize the printing templates for picking lists, packing lists, and shipping labels. Sellers can design personalized document templates according to their own business needs and brand styles, making the order processing process more standardized and professional.
Here is the helping tutorial you could follow to check how to adjust the print template.
In addition, 4Seller supports centralized management of return and refund orders. Sellers can clearly view the detailed information of all return and refund orders on one platform, including the reasons for return and the progress of refund, which is convenient for timely processing and improves customer satisfaction.
Here is the helping tutorial you could follow to check how to manage return and refund orders.
At the same time, 4Seller also supports setting logistics rules, which can automatically match the corresponding logistics channels according to the order types. In this way, sellers do not need to manually select the logistics method for each order. The system will intelligently match the most suitable logistics channel according to the preset rules, ensuring that orders can be delivered to customers at the fastest speed and with the best cost.
Here is the helping tutorial you could follow to check how to set logistics rules.
By mastering the above core strategies for achieving massive sales in TikTok live streaming and leveraging the powerful functions of 4Seller in order processing, sellers can better seize business opportunities in the promising TikTok live streaming market, achieve continuous sales growth, and stand out in the fierce competition!
Validated Customer Outcomes
Verified User Testimonial: “Connecting our Shopify store with Temu using 4Seller was incredibly straightforward. We migrated 400 + SKUs in less than 90 minutes, and the automated inventory sync reduced manual errors by 75%. Our sales on Temu have seen a remarkable increase since the integration!” —Amy Evangeline, Multichannel Retailer
For more detailed performance metrics and case studies, check verified customer reviews on Trustpilot. You can also visit the 4Seller Shopify App Store profile.
Final Words
Success on TikTok Live requires strategic prep, engaging execution, and seamless logistics. By combining viral content, optimized live setups, and 4Seller’s automation, sellers can turn TikTok’s traffic into explosive sales growth.
Ready to go live? Start optimizing today—and let 4Seller handle the rest! Irene - 22 Apr,2025
1. Introduction
In the dynamic world of Amazon selling, the choice between FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) and FBM (Fulfillment by Merchant) shipping models can significantly impact your business's success. These two fulfillment methods are the cornerstones of Amazon operations, each with its own set of characteristics, advantages, and challenges.
This article will delve deep into the differences between FBA and FBM, exploring aspects such as shipping processes, costs, customer service implications, and more. By the end, you'll have a comprehensive understanding of which model might be the better fit for your Amazon business, whether you're a seasoned seller looking to optimize your operations or a newcomer eager to make the right start.
2. Understanding Amazon FBA
2.1 What is FBA?
FBA, or Fulfillment by Amazon, is a comprehensive service that allows sellers to outsource their order fulfillment tasks to Amazon. In this model, sellers send their products in bulk to Amazon's fulfillment centers. Once the products are in Amazon's warehouses, Amazon takes over the reins for storage, picking, packing, shipping, and customer service for those items. It's a one - stop - shop solution that aims to simplify the selling process for merchants.
For example, a small - time electronics seller based in the UK can store their smart gadgets in Amazon's European warehouses. When a customer in Germany places an order, Amazon will handle all the logistics from retrieving the product from the warehouse to delivering it to the customer's doorstep in Germany.
2.2 How FBA Works
· Seller Prepares and Ships Inventory: The process begins with the seller preparing their products according to Amazon's guidelines. This includes proper packaging, labeling with FNSKU (Amazon - specific barcodes), and choosing a shipping method to send the inventory to Amazon's fulfillment centers. Sellers can use services like Amazon - partnered carriers or third - party logistics providers to transport their goods.
· Amazon Receives and Stores Inventory: Once the products arrive at the fulfillment center, Amazon's staff checks the inventory for any discrepancies in quantity, quality, or packaging. If everything is in order, the products are stored in Amazon's warehouses, with their location tracked within Amazon's sophisticated inventory management system.
· Customer Places an Order: When a customer browses Amazon and places an order for an FBA - fulfilled product, Amazon's system immediately identifies the nearest fulfillment center with the available stock.
· Amazon Picks, Packs, and Ships: The order is then sent to the appropriate fulfillment center, where employees (or in some cases, robots) pick the product from the shelves, pack it securely, and label it for shipping. Amazon then selects the most efficient shipping carrier and method to deliver the product to the customer, often providing tracking information for the customer to monitor the delivery progress.
· Customer Service and Returns: If the customer has any questions, issues, or wants to return the product, Amazon's customer service team takes care of it. For returns, Amazon will either restock the item if it's in good condition or dispose of it in an environmentally friendly way, depending on the product's state.
2.3 Pros of FBA
Fast Shipping and Prime Eligibility
One of the most significant advantages of FBA is the ability to offer fast shipping. Amazon's vast network of fulfillment centers, combined with its advanced logistics technology, enables quick delivery. Many FBA - shipped products are eligible for Amazon Prime, which offers benefits like free two - day shipping (in some regions even same - day or one - day shipping), free streaming of movies, music, and more. Prime members, who are known to be high - spending and frequent shoppers, are more likely to purchase products that are Prime - eligible. This can lead to a significant boost in sales. For instance, a seller of fitness equipment saw a 40% increase in monthly sales after enrolling their products in FBA and making them Prime - eligible, as customers were attracted to the quick delivery option.
Amazon - Handled Customer Service and Returns
Amazon takes on the responsibility of customer service and returns for FBA products. This is a huge relief for sellers, especially those who may not have the resources or expertise to handle large volumes of customer inquiries or returns efficiently. Amazon's customer service representatives are available 24/7 in multiple languages. If a customer has a problem with a product, they can contact Amazon directly, and Amazon will handle the issue. This not only saves the seller time and effort but also helps in maintaining a high seller rating and account health, as Amazon's efficient handling of customer issues leads to higher customer satisfaction.
2.4 Cons of FBA
High Costs (Storage, Fees, etc.)
FBA comes with a range of costs that can add up quickly. There are storage fees, which are charged based on the volume of the products stored in Amazon's warehouses. These fees can increase during peak seasons like the holidays. Additionally, there are order - handling fees, which include picking, packing, and shipping costs. For example, a seller of large - sized furniture items may find that the storage fees in Amazon's warehouses are quite high due to the large volume occupied by the products. Small - scale sellers or those with products that have inconsistent sales volumes may find these costs difficult to manage, as they have to pay for storage even during slow - selling periods.
Limited Control over Inventory Management
Sellers have less control over their inventory when using FBA. Amazon decides where to store the inventory, and in some cases, products may be split across multiple fulfillment centers. This can make it challenging for sellers to accurately track and manage their stock levels. Moreover, if a product has been in the warehouse for an extended period (over 365 days in some cases), Amazon may charge long - term storage fees, which can be substantial. Sellers also have to rely on Amazon's inventory management system, and any glitches or inaccuracies in the system can lead to issues like overselling or stockouts.
3. Unpacking Amazon FBM
3.1 What is FBM?
FBM, or Fulfillment by Merchant, is the self - fulfillment model where sellers are responsible for the entire order - fulfillment process. From the moment an order is placed to its final delivery at the customer's address, the seller manages all aspects. This includes handling inventory, choosing the shipping carrier, packing the products, and even dealing with any post - purchase customer service issues. For example, a handicraft seller on Amazon creates unique handmade jewelry in their home studio. When a customer orders a necklace, the seller, not Amazon, takes on the task of getting the necklace from their studio to the customer's hands.
3.2 How FBM Works
· Receiving the Order: Sellers are notified of a new order through Amazon's seller platform. The order details, including the customer's shipping address, contact information, and the items purchased, are provided to the seller. For instance, a book seller on Amazon receives an order for a best - selling novel. They immediately see the order in their seller dashboard, which shows the customer's address in Australia and the quantity of the book ordered.
· Selecting a Shipping Method: Sellers have the freedom to choose from a wide range of shipping carriers and services. This could include international carriers like FedEx, UPS, or DHL, or even local postal services. They consider factors such as shipping speed, cost, and the carrier's reliability. A seller of small electronics might choose a carrier that offers express shipping options for customers who need their products quickly, while for less - urgent orders, they might opt for a more cost - effective standard shipping service.
· Processing the Package: Once the shipping method is selected, the seller retrieves the product from their inventory (which could be stored at their home, a small warehouse, or a third - party storage facility). They then carefully pack the product, ensuring it is well - protected during transit. For example, a seller of fragile glassware will use bubble wrap, packing peanuts, and a sturdy box to prevent breakage. The seller also attaches the shipping label provided by the chosen carrier.
· Shipping the Order: The seller then drops off the package at the carrier's designated location, such as a post office or a courier service center. Some carriers even offer pickup services, where they come to the seller's location to collect the packages. After the package is shipped, the seller updates the order status on Amazon's platform and provides the tracking number to the customer, allowing them to monitor the progress of their delivery.
3.3 Pros of FBM
Lower Initial Investment
One of the most appealing aspects of FBM is the low initial investment required. Since sellers don't need to send large quantities of inventory to Amazon's fulfillment centers in advance, they can start selling with minimal upfront costs. This makes it an ideal option for small - scale entrepreneurs, hobbyists, or those testing the waters with new product ideas. For example, a budding entrepreneur who wants to sell custom - made candles on Amazon can start with just a few dozen candles in stock. They don't have to worry about the high costs associated with bulk manufacturing, shipping to Amazon's warehouses, and paying for storage. This low - risk approach allows them to learn the ropes of Amazon selling without a significant financial commitment.
Greater Control over Shipping and Branding
Sellers using FBM have full control over the shipping process. They can choose a carrier that aligns with their brand values, whether it's a carrier known for its eco - friendly practices or one that offers excellent customer service. Additionally, they can take advantage of the packaging to showcase their brand. By using custom - designed boxes, branded packing slips, or adding small promotional items like business cards or samples, sellers can create a memorable unboxing experience for the customer. A skincare brand selling products via FBM can include a personalized thank - you note and a sample of a new product in the package, enhancing the brand - customer relationship.
3.4 Cons of FBM
Slower Shipping Times
A major drawback of FBM is the typically slower shipping times compared to FBA. When shipping from a seller's location (often outside the country where the customer is based), it can take several days to even weeks for the product to reach the customer. For example, a seller in China shipping a product to a customer in the United States via standard international shipping may take 10 - 15 business days. In contrast, FBA - fulfilled products can often be delivered within 1 - 2 days. This long shipping time can deter customers, especially those who are used to the fast - paced delivery options offered by Amazon Prime. It can also lead to lower customer satisfaction, as customers may become impatient waiting for their orders.
Seller - Handled Customer Service Hassles
With FBM, sellers are responsible for all customer service aspects related to the order. This includes answering customer inquiries about the product, shipping status, handling complaints, and processing returns. This can be a time - consuming and challenging task, especially for sellers who are also managing other aspects of their business. For instance, if a customer receives a damaged product, the seller has to deal with the issue directly, which may involve arranging for a replacement, issuing a refund, or communicating with the carrier to file a claim. Handling these customer service issues efficiently requires significant resources and can be overwhelming for small - scale sellers.
4. Head - to - Head Comparison
4.1 Cost Analysis
· FBA Costs：
Initial Investment: Sellers using FBA need to consider the costs of shipping their inventory to Amazon's fulfillment centers. This includes the cost of freight (whether by air, sea, or land), customs clearance fees (if shipping internationally), and any additional handling charges. For example, if a seller in the United States is shipping 1000 units of a small consumer electronics product to an Amazon fulfillment center in Europe, the air freight cost could be around 5000 - 8000, depending on the weight and volume of the shipment.
Ongoing Costs: Amazon charges storage fees, which are calculated based on the volume of the products stored. These fees can vary by season. During the peak season (October - December in the US), the storage fees for standard - sized products can be as high as 2.40 per cubic foot per month. There are also order - handling fees. For a small - sized item weighing up to 1 pound, the order - handling fee might be around 3 - $4 per unit, which includes picking, packing, and shipping.
· FBM Costs
Initial Investment: The initial investment for FBM is relatively low. Sellers don't have to pay for shipping large volumes of inventory to Amazon's warehouses in advance. They only need to have enough capital to purchase the products they plan to sell and cover basic packaging materials. For instance, a small - scale handicraft seller can start with just a few hundred dollars worth of inventory and some simple packing supplies like boxes and bubble wrap.
Ongoing Costs: FBM sellers are responsible for shipping each order individually. The cost of shipping depends on the carrier and the destination. Shipping a small package from the United States to the United Kingdom via a standard international carrier like USPS First - Class Package International Service might cost around 10 - 15 per package. Sellers also need to factor in the cost of packaging materials, which can add a few dollars per unit. If they outsource the packaging to a third - party, there will be additional service fees.
· Cost - Comparison Example: Consider a seller of lightweight books. If the seller uses FBA, for 1000 books stored in Amazon's warehouse for a month (assuming each book takes up 0.05 cubic feet of space), the storage fee would be 120 (0.05 cubic feet * 1000 books * 2.40 per cubic foot per month). If 100 books are sold in that month, and the order - handling fee is 3 per unit, the total order - handling cost would be 300. So, the total FBA - related cost for that month would be 420. If the same seller uses FBM and ships 100 books at 12 per package (including packaging materials), the total cost would be 1200. However, if the sales volume is very low, say only 10 books sold in a month, the FBM cost would be 120, which is much lower than the FBA cost in this case as the FBA storage fees still need to be paid regardless of the low sales volume.
5. Shipping Speed and Customer Experience
· FBA Shipping Speed
FBA offers fast shipping options, especially for Prime - eligible products. In many regions, customers can receive their orders within 1 - 2 days. In some major cities in the United States, Amazon even offers same - day or one - day delivery for certain products. This fast delivery speed significantly enhances the customer experience. For example, a customer who orders a last - minute birthday gift on Amazon and selects an FBA - fulfilled product can have it delivered in time for the celebration, which leads to high customer satisfaction.
Amazon's efficient logistics system also provides accurate tracking information. Customers can easily monitor the progress of their delivery from the moment it leaves the fulfillment center until it arrives at their doorstep. This transparency in the delivery process is highly valued by customers.
· FBM Shipping Speed
FBM typically has slower shipping times. Since the products are shipped directly from the seller's location (which could be a home - based storage, a small warehouse, or even overseas), it can take several days to weeks for the product to reach the customer. For example, a seller in Asia shipping to a customer in North America using standard international shipping might take 7 - 15 business days for the product to arrive.
This long shipping time can be a deterrent for customers. Research shows that a significant number of customers are less likely to purchase a product if the estimated delivery time is more than 5 - 7 days. The slower shipping speed can also lead to negative reviews and lower customer loyalty. For instance, if a customer orders a product for an upcoming event and it arrives after the event due to slow FBM shipping, they are likely to be disappointed and may not purchase from the seller again.
6. Inventory Management and Control
· FBA Inventory Management：
Advantages: Amazon's inventory management system is highly sophisticated. Sellers can access real - time data on their inventory levels, including how many units are in stock at each fulfillment center. This data helps in making informed decisions about restocking. Amazon also takes care of inventory storage in a safe and organized manner, reducing the risk of damage or loss due to improper storage. For example, a seller of delicate glassware can be confident that Amazon will store their products in a way that minimizes the risk of breakage.
Disadvantages: Sellers have limited control over where their inventory is stored. Amazon may distribute the inventory across multiple fulfillment centers, which can make it challenging to manage. If a seller wants to perform a quality check on their inventory or make some modifications, it can be difficult to access all the units. Additionally, if the inventory levels are not managed properly, sellers may face long - term storage fees, which can be costly.
·FBM Inventory Management
Advantages: Sellers have complete control over their inventory. They can store it in a location of their choice, whether it's a rented warehouse or a storage unit at their home. This allows for easy access to the inventory for tasks like quality control, packaging customization, and restocking. For example, a seller of handmade products can quickly access their inventory to add a personalized touch to each item before shipping.
Disadvantages: Sellers need to have a good understanding of inventory management principles. They are responsible for forecasting demand, ordering the right amount of stock, and ensuring that the inventory levels are neither too high (leading to overstocking and increased storage costs) nor too low (resulting in stockouts and lost sales). Without proper inventory management software and skills, it can be easy to make mistakes. For instance, a new FBM seller might overestimate the demand for a particular product and end up with a large amount of unsold inventory taking up valuable storage space.
7. Product Ranking and Visibility on Amazon
· FBA Product Ranking：Amazon's search algorithm generally gives a boost to FBA - fulfilled products. These products are more likely to appear in the top search results. This is because Amazon values the fast shipping and reliable customer service associated with FBA. For example, when a customer searches for "wireless headphones" on Amazon, FBA - fulfilled headphones are more likely to be among the first few products displayed.
The high visibility of FBA products can lead to increased sales. As more customers click on and purchase these products, it further improves their ranking in the search results, creating a positive cycle. Sellers can also take advantage of Amazon's advertising tools more effectively with FBA products, as the algorithm tends to prioritize FBA - fulfilled items in sponsored product placements.
· FBM Product Ranking：FBM products often face more competition in terms of search rankings. Since they don't have the same advantages in terms of shipping speed and Amazon - handled customer service, they may not rank as high as FBA products. However, FBM sellers can still improve their product visibility through effective keyword optimization, high - quality product listings, and positive customer reviews. For example, a seller of unique, hard - to - find collectibles can use detailed product descriptions and relevant keywords to attract customers who are specifically looking for those items, even though their shipping speed may be slower compared to FBA.
FBM sellers may also need to invest more in external marketing efforts to drive traffic to their products. This could include social media marketing, influencer partnerships, or running their own advertising campaigns outside of Amazon to compensate for the lower organic search rankings on the Amazon platform.
8. Which is Better for You--Consider Your Business Scale
·Small - Scale Startups：For small - scale startups with limited resources and a relatively small product range, FBM can be an excellent starting point. Since FBM requires less upfront investment in inventory storage and shipping to Amazon's warehouses, it allows these startups to test the market with minimal risk. For example, a new artisanal soap - making business can start by selling a few dozen soaps through FBM. They can use their home - based storage for inventory and handle the shipping themselves. This way, they can learn about their target customers, product demand, and market trends without the high costs associated with FBA. As they gain more experience and start to see growth in sales, they can then consider transitioning to FBA.
· Medium - Sized Growing Businesses：Medium - sized businesses that have a stable customer base and are looking to scale up may find FBA more beneficial. These businesses often have a larger inventory and need to ensure fast and reliable shipping to meet customer expectations. FBA's fast shipping and Prime eligibility can help them attract more customers and increase their market share. For instance, a medium - sized electronics retailer that has been using FBM and is now experiencing growth may find that the slow shipping times of FBM are starting to limit their sales. By switching to FBA, they can offer faster delivery, improve customer satisfaction, and potentially rank higher in Amazon's search results, leading to increased sales and business expansion.
· Large - Scale Established Enterprises：Large - scale enterprises with high - volume sales and a wide range of products can often afford to use both FBA and FBM strategically. They can use FBA for their best - selling products to take advantage of the fast shipping and high - visibility benefits. At the same time, they can use FBM for products with lower demand or for products that require special handling or customization. For example, a large - scale fashion brand can use FBA for its popular clothing lines, ensuring quick delivery to customers. For its limited - edition or custom - made products, which may have a lower sales volume but require more personalized service, they can use FBM to maintain control over the shipping and customer service process.
9. Evaluate Your Resources and Expertise
· Logistical Resources：If you have in - house logistics expertise and resources, such as a well - equipped warehouse, a team of employees for packing and shipping, and established relationships with shipping carriers, FBM can be a good choice. You can leverage your existing infrastructure to handle the order fulfillment process efficiently. For example, a company that has been in the traditional retail business and is now expanding to Amazon may already have a logistics setup in place. They can use FBM to continue using their existing resources and processes. However, if you lack logistical capabilities and don't want to invest in building them, FBA provides a ready - made solution. You can rely on Amazon's expertise and infrastructure to handle all the logistics, allowing you to focus on other aspects of your business, such as product development and marketing.
· Customer Service Resources：If you have a dedicated customer service team with the capacity to handle a large volume of inquiries, complaints, and returns, FBM may be a viable option. You can provide personalized customer service that aligns with your brand values. For example, a high - end art gallery selling artworks on Amazon can offer detailed product information and personalized after - sales service through their in - house customer service team. However, if you don't have the resources to handle customer service effectively, FBA's 24/7 customer service can be a major advantage. Amazon's team can handle all customer - related issues, ensuring high - quality service and maintaining your seller rating.
· Financial Resources：If your financial resources are limited, FBM may be the more affordable option initially. You don't have to pay the high upfront costs associated with shipping inventory to Amazon's warehouses and the ongoing storage and handling fees. This allows you to start selling with a lower investment. As your business grows and you generate more revenue, you can consider transitioning to FBA. On the other hand, if you have sufficient financial resources and are willing to invest in the long - term growth of your business, FBA can be a strategic choice. The potential increase in sales due to faster shipping, higher visibility, and better customer service can outweigh the initial and ongoing costs.
10. Conclusion
In the world of Amazon selling, the choice between FBA and FBM is not a one - size - fits - all decision. FBA offers the allure of fast shipping, high - quality customer service handled by Amazon, and enhanced product visibility, but comes with higher costs and less inventory control. On the other hand, FBM provides the benefits of lower initial investment and greater control over shipping and branding, yet is plagued by slower shipping times and more customer service responsibilities for the seller.
Ultimately, whether you choose FBA, FBM, or a combination of both, the key is to align your shipping strategy with your overall business objectives. By doing so, you can optimize your operations, enhance the customer experience, and drive the growth and profitability of your Amazon business. So, take the time to evaluate your situation, crunch the numbers, and make a decision that will set you on the path to success in the competitive Amazon marketplace.
Amelia - 22 Apr,2025
1. Inventory Management Challenges in Cross-border E-commerce: Challenges Brought by Multiple Channels
In the current era of rapid development of globalization and the digital economy, the cross-border e-commerce industry has already become a crucial part of international trade. With just a click of the mouse, consumers can easily purchase goods from all over the world, and merchants can also take advantage of this trend to expand into overseas markets and gain a broader customer base.
In order to meet the diverse shopping needs of consumers, cross-border e-commerce businesses have successively launched multi-channel sales models, promoting products to different e-commerce platforms, social media, and self-built websites. Although this model brings more sales opportunities, it also makes inventory management increasingly complex, and a series of thorny problems have emerged one after another.
• Inventory Fragmentation: When cross-border e-commerce conducts business on multiple channels, the inventory is also dispersed to the warehouses of each channel. This is like breaking a complete jigsaw puzzle into countless small pieces and scattering them in different corners, and the difficulty of management increases exponentially.
Take cross-border e-commerce sellers who operate simultaneously on multiple platforms such as Amazon, eBay, and Shopify as an example.
Each platform has its own independent warehouse, and the product inventory is stored separately. This not only makes it difficult to centrally control the inventory but also leads to an imbalance in the inventory quantity of the same product across different channels.
In some channels, there is a serious backlog of inventory, occupying a large amount of capital and storage space; in other channels, there are frequent shortages of goods, missing sales opportunities, and seriously affecting the customer experience.
• Demand Uncertainty: The global market is vast and complex, and consumers in different countries and regions have significant differences in culture, economy, consumption habits, etc., which makes market demand fluctuate frequently and is difficult to predict.
For example, in some countries, the demand for certain products will experience explosive growth during specific festivals or seasons; while in other regions, due to cultural differences, consumers may have no interest in these products at all. In addition, the market trends change rapidly, new competitors keep emerging, and consumers' preferences may change at any time, which all pose great challenges to cross-border e-commerce in accurately predicting market demand.
Once the demand prediction is wrong, it will fall into the dilemma of excessive inventory or out-of-stock. Excessive inventory means that a large amount of capital is occupied, storage costs continue to rise, and products may also depreciate due to obsolescence; out-of-stock will directly lead to customer loss, damage the brand image, and in the long run, severely impact the enterprise's market competitiveness.
• Logistics Complexity: The logistics infrastructure, transportation efficiency, and customs policies of different countries and regions are all different, which makes the logistics process full of uncertainties. During transportation, unexpected situations such as bad weather, traffic congestion, and customs inspections may occur, resulting in cargo delays or even losses.
Moreover, under the multi-channel sales model, different channels have different requirements for logistics. Some channels may pay more attention to timeliness and require fast delivery; some channels are more sensitive to logistics costs. This requires cross-border e-commerce to comprehensively consider various factors and balance costs and efficiency when choosing logistics partners and formulating logistics strategies.
However, due to the numerous logistics links and too many uncontrollable factors, it is difficult to achieve perfection. Logistics problems often become a bottleneck restricting the development of cross-border e-commerce and also bring great difficulties to inventory management, because logistics delays may lead to the inability to replenish inventory in a timely manner, thereby affecting sales.
• Data Synchronization Issues: The data generated by multi-channel sales pour in like a tide, and each channel has its own independent data systems for orders, inventory, sales, etc. How to effectively integrate these scattered data and achieve real-time synchronization has become a major technical challenge faced by cross-border e-commerce.
If the data cannot be synchronized in a timely and accurate manner, the situation of inconsistent information will occur. It shows that there is inventory available for sale on one channel, but the actual inventory is insufficient, resulting in overselling; or after an order is shipped on a certain channel, the inventory data of other channels is not updated in a timely manner and still shows that there is stock, causing confusion in subsequent order processing.
This data chaos not only brings great trouble to inventory management but also affects the decision-making of the enterprise, making it impossible for the enterprise to carry out inventory allocation, procurement planning, etc. based on accurate data, and ultimately affecting the operation efficiency and economic benefits of the enterprise.
2. 4Seller ERP: A Powerful Tool for Multi-channel Inventory Management
Facing the challenges of multi-channel inventory dispersion and data asynchrony, cross-border e-commerce sellers urgently need an intelligent tool to achieve global control - 4Seller ERP was born. As a free e-commerce ERP developed by Dianxiaomi specifically for European and American sellers, since its launch in September 2023, it has helped more than 15,000 TikTok Shop US sellers reduce costs and improve efficiency, winning widespread trust.
Why choose 4Seller ERP?
Centralized Control of Inventory across All Channels It deeply connects with mainstream platforms such as TikTok Shop, Amazon, and Shopify, as well as logistics providers such as USPS, UPS, and FedEx, and synchronizes data in real time, completely saying goodbye to inventory fragmentation.
Clear View of Inventory Dynamics No matter where the goods are stored, they can be tracked in real time through a unified panel, and resources can be intelligently allocated to avoid out-of-stock or overstocking.
A Strong Backing for Efficient Operation Through automated processes and accurate data analysis, 4Seller ERP has become the core tool for cross-border sellers' inventory management, escorting business growth.
3. Analysis of the Core Functions of 4Seller ERP
3.1 Real-time Inventory Synchronization
Inventory synchronization, simply put, is to integrate and uniformly update the inventory data of goods scattered in different channels and different warehouses to ensure that the latest and most accurate information can be obtained when checking the inventory on any sales platform or store. 4Seller ERP performs excellently in this regard, and it can achieve the automatic synchronization of inventory data of multiple platforms and multiple stores. Sellers only need to customize and set inventory synchronization rules in the system to keep the inventory data consistent in real time.
Take a cross-border e-commerce seller as an example. This seller has opened stores on multiple platforms including Shopify, TikTok Shop, and Amazon, selling fashionable clothing. In the past, due to the inability to synchronize inventory data of various platforms in real time, overselling often occurred, resulting in a decline in customer satisfaction.
After using 4Seller ERP, the seller set according to their own business needs that when clothing is received into or dispatched from the warehouse, the inventory data of relevant platform stores will be automatically updated immediately; when clothing is sold in a certain store, the inventory of other stores will also be reduced accordingly.
For example, when 10 dresses are sold in the Shopify store, 4Seller ERP will quickly synchronize this sales information to the stores of other platforms and update the inventory data of the warehouse at the same time, keeping the inventory data of all channels consistent. In this way, the seller does not need to switch between various platforms to manually update the inventory, which greatly saves time and labor costs, effectively avoids the occurrence of overselling, and improves the operation efficiency of the store and customer satisfaction.
3.2 Setting Inventory Push Quantity
In cross-border e-commerce inventory management, accurately controlling the inventory quantity is of great importance, and setting the inventory push quantity and out-of-stock settings are important means for 4Seller ERP to achieve this goal. When setting inventory synchronization rules, sellers can decide according to the actual situation whether to push the available inventory quantity in the warehouse or the in-stock inventory quantity to the store.
At the same time, they can also set out-of-stock rules, that is, when the available inventory of a product is lower than a certain set inventory quantity, the inventory data of the specified store within the rules will be changed to 0, effectively preventing overselling.
Suppose a seller stores 1000 smartwatches in Warehouse D, that is, there are 1000 in-stock inventory quantities. These watches are sold simultaneously in Store A and Store B on Shopify and Store C on TikTok.
The seller sets to push the available inventory quantity to the store through 4Seller ERP. At this time, if there are 100 unprocessed orders in Store A on Shopify, then the available inventory quantity of smartwatches becomes 900, and the online inventory quantities displayed in the three stores A, B, and C are also updated to 900. This setting method enables the seller to dynamically adjust the inventory quantity displayed in the store according to the order processing situation, further reducing the risk of overselling. The out-of-stock setting is also very practical. When the available inventory quantity of smartwatches in Warehouse D is less than or equal to 5, the system defaults to pushing 0 inventory to the specified store, avoiding the overselling problem caused by multiple stores receiving orders simultaneously when the inventory quantity is too low.
By reasonably setting the inventory push quantity and out-of-stock rules, sellers can manage inventory more accurately, ensure that the inventory is always at a reasonable level, meet market demand, and avoid losses caused by inventory backlog or out-of-stock, providing a strong guarantee for the stable development of cross-border e-commerce business.
3.3 Support for Multi-warehouse Inventory Synchronization
In cross-border e-commerce business, inventory storage often involves multiple warehouses, including sellers' own warehouses, third-party warehouses, overseas warehouses, and FBA warehouses. Different types of warehouses have their own characteristics in logistics distribution, cost control, etc., but they also bring great challenges to inventory management.
4Seller ERP fully considers this industry pain point and comprehensively supports the inventory synchronization of various warehouses such as self-owned warehouses, third-party warehouses, overseas warehouses, and FBA warehouses, helping sellers achieve unified management of inventory across all channels.
3.4 Viewing Inventory Linkage Records
In the process of multi-channel inventory management, it is crucial to track inventory information in real time and promptly discover and solve inventory synchronization problems. The function of viewing inventory linkage records provided by 4Seller ERP provides convenience for sellers to achieve this goal.
Sellers only need to perform simple operations to browse the inventory linkage records on the full page and have a clear understanding of the synchronization situation of inventory data. Sellers can trace the change history of inventory data at any time, truly achieving order traceability and process monitoring.
Whether in daily operations or when dealing with complex inventory allocation tasks, this function can help sellers promptly grasp inventory dynamics, make scientific decisions, and effectively avoid various problems caused by inaccurate inventory information, escorting the smooth development of cross-border e-commerce business.
4. How to Choose a Suitable Inventory Management ERP
In the environment of multi-channel operation in cross-border e-commerce, choosing a suitable inventory management ERP is of great importance, as it is directly related to the operation efficiency and economic benefits of the enterprise. The following are the key factors to be considered when choosing an inventory management ERP, and 4Seller ERP has demonstrated significant advantages in these aspects.
4.1 Function Completeness
An excellent inventory management ERP should have comprehensive and powerful functions to meet the complex needs of multi-channel inventory management in cross-border e-commerce.
In addition to the functions mentioned above such as real-time inventory synchronization, setting inventory push quantity, supporting multi-warehouse inventory synchronization, and viewing inventory linkage records, it should also cover function modules such as procurement management, sales management, and data analysis. The procurement management function can help sellers automatically generate purchase orders according to inventory status and sales forecasts, communicate efficiently with suppliers, and ensure timely replenishment of goods; the sales management function can achieve rapid order processing, shipping tracking, and customer relationship management, improving customer satisfaction; the data analysis function can deeply mine a large amount of inventory and sales data, providing sellers with accurate market trend analysis, sales forecasts, etc., helping sellers make scientific decisions.
4Seller ERP performs outstandingly in terms of function completeness. It not only provides the above-mentioned core inventory management functions but also integrates all-round SaaS services such as product listing, order management, and customer service, forming a complete e-commerce operation management system that can meet the various business needs of cross-border e-commerce sellers in multi-channel operations and truly achieve one-stop management.
4.2 Price
Cost control is a key link in enterprise operation. For cross-border e-commerce sellers, when choosing an inventory management ERP, they need to comprehensively consider the price of the software and their own budget.
Different ERP systems have different charging models. Some are sold in a one-time purchase way, some are charged according to the subscription method, and some are charged according to function modules, the number of users, etc. When choosing, sellers should select an ERP system with high cost performance according to their own business scale and development plan.
A prominent advantage of 4Seller ERP is that it is free to use. All the connected e-commerce platforms and logistics service providers, as well as the provided functions, are free for domestic and foreign sellers to use. This is undoubtedly a huge benefit for small and medium-sized cross-border e-commerce sellers with relatively tight funds, greatly reducing the operation cost of the enterprise and enabling sellers to enjoy professional and efficient inventory management services at a relatively low cost.
4.3 Security
In the digital era, data security is of vital importance. The inventory data, order data, customer information, etc. of cross-border e-commerce sellers are all stored in the ERP system. Once the data is leaked or damaged, it will bring huge losses to the enterprise. Therefore, choosing an inventory management ERP with a high level of security is the key to ensuring the security of enterprise data.
A secure ERP system should have a complete data encryption mechanism to prevent data from being stolen or tampered with during transmission and storage; it should have strict user permission management functions to ensure that only authorized personnel can access and operate sensitive data; at the same time, it should also have data backup and recovery functions to deal with sudden data loss or damage situations.
4Seller ERP has taken multiple safeguard measures in terms of security. Like large e-commerce platforms such as Amazon and TikTok Shop, it will go through strict reviews and audits to ensure the security and compliance of third-party service tools. The data interaction between 4Seller and the platform is carried out through the official API data interface, which can completely avoid the problem of account association.
As the parent company of 4Seller, Dianxiaomi attaches great importance to the confidentiality and security of user data, files user information with relevant industries and departments, and ensures that user data is not leaked from all aspects, allowing sellers to use it with confidence.
4.4 Data Docking Capability
In the process of multi-channel sales in cross-border e-commerce, it involves data interaction between different systems such as multiple e-commerce platforms, logistics providers, and warehouses. Therefore, the inventory management ERP needs to have strong data docking capabilities, be able to seamlessly connect with various mainstream e-commerce platforms, logistics systems, and warehouse management systems, and ensure the real-time and accurate transmission of data.
Only in this way can the unified management of multi-channel inventory and the efficient coordination of business processes be achieved. 4Seller ERP has deeply connected with mainstream e-commerce platforms in Europe and the United States such as TikTok Shop, Amazon, and Shopify, as well as well-known local logistics providers in the United States such as USPS, UPS, and Fedex.
At the same time, it has also accessed large overseas third-party warehouses such as GoodCang and the well-known domestic JiFeng WMS system. This extensive and in-depth data docking capability enables 4Seller ERP to easily integrate multi-channel data, break down information silos, provide sellers with comprehensive and accurate inventory and business data, and help sellers achieve efficient multi-channel inventory management.
5. In Conclusion
In the complex environment of multi-channel sales in cross-border e-commerce, inventory management is like a difficult battle, full of various challenges. Inventory fragmentation, demand uncertainty, logistics complexity, and data synchronization issues, etc., constantly test the operation ability of sellers. If there is the slightest carelessness, it may lead to inventory backlog or out-of-stock, bringing huge economic losses to the enterprise.
However, with its powerful functions and excellent performance, 4Seller ERP has become a powerful weapon for cross-border e-commerce sellers to deal with these challenges. It not only achieves real-time inventory synchronization, accurately sets the inventory push quantity, but also comprehensively supports multi-warehouse inventory synchronization and enables convenient viewing of inventory linkage records. For cross-border e-commerce sellers who are troubled by multi-channel inventory management, it is advisable to try using 4Seller ERP. It is believed that it will bring unexpected improvements to your business.
Amelia - 18 Apr,2025
Recent Blog
In the ever-evolving world of TikTok creator marketing, brands are constantly seeking innovative ways to collaborate with influencers and maximize their return on investment. Amidst the sea of creators, each with their unique strengths and niches, the challenge lies not only in finding the right partners but also in evaluating their true potential to drive meaningful engagement and conversions. Enter 4Seller ERP – the revolutionary one-click creator screening plugin designed to empower brands with data-driven insights, streamline their creator discovery process, and unlock unprecedented growth opportunities.
In this article, we’ll delve into the most popular TikTok collaboration models, explore strategies for finding top-tier creators, and reveal how 4Seller ERP can be your ultimate ally in navigating the creator economy landscape.
What is the Popular Collaboration Models in TikTok Creator Marketing?
1. Content Marketing Collaboration with Creators
Inviting creators to engage in short-video content marketing collaborations is the most common approach. Brand merchants can identify suitable creators based on their product categories and specific needs.
There are numerous creative formats to explore, such as skits, lifestyle vlogs, product reviews, talent showcases, and unboxing/try-on sessions.
2. Hashtag Challenges & Creator Collaboration
On TikTok, 80% of users enjoy participating in challenges! These challenges are characterized by their low entry barriers, high replicability, catchy music, and strong viral potential, making them highly effective at sparking trends.
The mainstream strategy involves brand merchants selecting KOLs (Key Opinion Leaders) aligned with their brand identity as the initial challengers, then leveraging mid-tier and micro-influencers to amplify the campaign. This approach utilizes the creators' influence to attract a wider audience to join the challenge.
3. Ad Placement & Creator Collaboration
On TikTok, brands can not only harness creators' organic reach but also supplement it with paid advertising.
The most prevalent collaboration method involves integrating creators with In-feed ads, which appear as users scroll through their "For You" feeds. This approach offers significant exposure and drives effective traffic and conversion benefits.
4. TikTok Creator Live Streaming for Product Sales
Compared to short-video content marketing, live streaming by creators offers enhanced interactivity, a stronger focus on stimulating consumer purchases, and a better way to gauge audience demand.
The key to successful TikTok creator marketing lies in finding creators who align with your target market. Brands need to collaborate with creators to devise creative strategies that not only pique their audience's interest in your brand and products but also foster brand loyalty and strengthen fan engagement.
How to Find TikTok Creators Who Can Bring Sales?
The process of finding creators is somewhat similar to finding customers, but creators differ from customers in key ways. While customers purchase products based on interest or need, creators prioritize whether a product aligns with their video style and resonates with their audience. They also consider the product's quality, as they must maintain their reputation and protect their fan base. So, specifically, through which channels can we locate them?
1. Social Media Platforms
Sellers can search for creators on platforms like YouTube, Twitter, Facebook (though note that direct creator outreach on Facebook may be limited compared to others), Instagram, etc., by entering product-related keywords. Review their profiles to gather information. If you can't find their contact details on these platforms, conduct a broader web search using their names.
2. Purchasing Creator Information from Peers
Sellers can utilize third-party software available in the market to purchase creator information from competitors or peers within the industry.
3. Industry Referrals
Every profession has its own circles where information is shared and resources are exchanged. The creator community is no exception. Once you establish stable cooperative relationships with some creators, you can ask them to recommend familiar creator friends. Similarly, you can introduce other sellers to creators, fostering a mutually beneficial and supportive environment.
4. Sending In-Platform Messages
Sending in-platform messages is a fundamental yet delicate approach. Care must be taken to avoid violating platform policies, which could result in warnings, account restrictions, or even suspension. The key is to engage in natural, user-focused communication, gradually nurturing interest and rapport. When the creator shows genuine interest and affinity for your product, a collaboration becomes more likely.
5. Searching via Google or Blogs
Use blog search engines like Blog Search Engine.org or directly search keywords on Google to find relevant creators or their content.
6. Waiting for Creators to Approach You
Well-known brands like Anker provide collaboration channels on their self-built websites for creators. They leave information such as name, address, email, follower count, blog links, social media profiles, product descriptions, and preferred contact methods for collaboration inquiries. However, this approach typically requires sellers to have a strong brand presence.
When seeking creators, sellers should also be mindful of several considerations:
Selecting Suitable Creators for Product Promotion: It's a common pitfall to judge collaboration potential solely based on a creator's follower count. Instead, prioritize creators whose content and audience align with your product. This alignment often yields better promotional results.
Clarifying Product Promotion Objectives: Define clear goals for your creator collaborations, such as driving traffic to your website, enhancing brand awareness, or reaching specific consumer demographics. Having these objectives in mind will guide your efforts effectively.
Identifying Target Consumer Groups: Understanding your target audience is crucial for successful creator marketing. This knowledge ensures that your collaborations resonate with the right people and achieve your desired outcomes.
Finding creators is the first step in launching a creator marketing campaign. However, with the rapid growth of social media and the internet in recent years, the creator landscape has become increasingly diverse, with varying levels of quality. Many creators may have inflated follower counts that don't accurately reflect their true influence, often resorting to artificial means to boost numbers. Choosing the wrong creator or conveying inaccurate messages can harm your brand. Therefore, thorough research and due diligence are essential when selecting creators for your campaigns.
How to Evaluate TikTok Creator Quality?
To achieve the best results in creator marketing, it's crucial to select creators who are the most suitable for your products and brand from a vast pool of options. So, how exactly can we evaluate the quality of a creator?
1. Influence
When assessing a creator, the first metric many people look at is follower count. Based on this, creators can be categorized into three levels: micro, macro, and mega.
Micro-influencers (1,000 - 100,000 followers): Although their follower count may not be as high, they typically have high engagement rates and a loyal, trusting fan base. They often specialize in a specific niche, resulting in a higher return on investment (ROI). They are also more willing to invest time in interacting with their followers. Micro-influencers are relatively easy to find, and many offer product reviews free of charge.
Macro-influencers (100,000 - 1,000,000 followers): They have a large reach but generally lower engagement rates. They prioritize content quality and often charge higher fees. Collaborating with macro-influencers can be more challenging, and it usually involves a cost.
Mega-influencers (over 1,000,000 followers): These creators have an enormous following and generate significant traffic.
2. Sponsorship Status
If you frequently watch YouTube videos, you may have noticed creators disclosing sponsorships at the beginning, end, or in the description, stating, "This video is sponsored by xxx brand." This is in compliance with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations in the United States, which require creators to disclose any paid promotions to avoid misleading the audience.
The choice between sponsored and non-sponsored creators depends on your marketing objectives or content type. If your goal is to generate short-term brand exposure through simple product placements, sponsored creators might be suitable. You can discuss specific requirements with them in advance. However, if you aim to obtain a creator's endorsement to validate product functionality, especially for reviews, non-sponsored creators are preferable. They typically only require a free sample, which they may even return. They may also earn through affiliate marketing without additional fees, allowing them to present the product authentically without being influenced by the brand.
3. Relevance of Published Content
It's essential to review a creator's past product reviews, competitor collaborations, and channel consistency to determine if their content aligns with your product positioning. Thematic relevance directly impacts content conversion rates.
4. Audience Engagement
A large follower count doesn't necessarily mean genuine likability or trust. Some creators may purchase fake followers, so audience engagement is a better indicator of a creator's influence.
Three common metrics used in YouTube marketing to evaluate video performance can also be applied to assess a creator's audience engagement:
Average views per 100 followers: For instance, if a creator has 100 followers and an average of 20 views per video, the engagement rate is 20%. Generally, mega-influencers may have around 10%, macro-influencers 20%-30%, and micro-influencers over 30%, sometimes even exceeding 100%. A higher percentage indicates greater video popularity. However, this metric alone doesn't guarantee authenticity, as views can also be artificially inflated. Therefore, sellers can also focus on:
Likes per 100 views
Comments per 100 views
These two metrics best reflect video quality, content value, and audience affection for the creator. Building genuine interaction takes time, and comment fraud is costly.
5. Audience Reception to Creator's Recommendations
The authenticity and authority of a creator's statements can significantly influence fans' purchasing decisions. To gauge this, read the comments under their videos to see if there are more endorsements or criticisms. If your brand is well-known and receives numerous collaboration inquiries from creators, ensure they provide relevant data and past collaboration cases for your review, using the criteria mentioned above.
6. Utilizing Official Third-Party Applications - 4Seller ERP (One-Click Creator Screening Plugin)
By installing the 4Seller ERP plugin, you can filter creators suitable for your business growth based on creator type, video performance, and audience demographics.
How to Use 4Seller ERP to Screen Creators？
Here is the detailed helping tutorial you could follow to check.
1. Creator Type Screening
Individual vs. Agency Accounts
Individual Accounts: Ideal for small to medium-sized brands, especially in niche verticals (e.g., beauty, 3C accessories) due to high fan loyalty and content specialization. For example, a home decor brand achieved a 30% month-over-month GMV growth by collaborating with individual home decor bloggers with 50,000-200,000 followers and an engagement rate of ≥8%.
Agency Accounts: Suitable for promotional campaigns during major sales events or new product launches due to their strong resource integration capabilities and multi-domain creator reach. For instance, a 3C brand collaborated with an MCN agency, selecting its top 10 digital product influencers based on GMV, resulting in over $1 million in first-day sales for a new product.
Sample Conditions:
Niche Alignment: Choose creators with >80% audience match in the relevant vertical (e.g., a maternal and child brand selects creators in the maternal and child niche).
Historical Collaboration Data: Exclude creators without Amazon sales history and prioritize those with a conversion rate of ≥15%.
2. Video Performance Screening
Key Metrics:
Views: Screen for an average of ≥100,000 views in the last 30 days (with >30% of videos being viral).
Engagement Rate: ≥4% (likes, comments, shares), indicating strong audience participation.
Conversion Rate: CTR (click-through rate) >8%, CR (conversion rate) >15% (benchmark for the apparel category).
Dynamic Commission Strategy:
Increase commission by 3% for creators with CTR <5%; allocate an additional budget of 500forthosewithCTR>102.05 million in sales by selecting high-engagement creators.
3. Audience Demographics Screening
Basic Attributes:
Age: Align with product positioning. For instance, a beauty brand selects creators with ≥70% female followers aged 18-35.
Gender: Prioritize accounts with ≥85% female followers for maternal and child products.
Location: For cross-border brands, select creators with a high percentage of followers from target markets (e.g., ≥60% North American followers for the US market).
Behavioral Tags:
Active Hours: Optimize release times based on audience activity peaks. For example, a clothing brand discovered that its audience is most active between 8-10 PM and requested creators to post during this window.
Spending Preferences: Use historical sales data to identify creators with followers who prefer high-ticket items. For instance, a 3C brand selects creators with ≥40% of followers having purchased products priced at $50+.
Industry-Specific Screening Examples
1. Beauty Brands
Screening Conditions:
Creator Type: Individual beauty bloggers with 100,000-500,000 followers.
Video Performance: ≥200,000 average views in the last 30 days, ≥6% engagement rate.
Audience Demographics: ≥85% female, ≥70% aged 18-35, ≥50% with a history of purchasing beauty products.
Results: A domestic beauty brand achieved a 45% month-over-month increase in video-driven GMV by collaborating with creators meeting these criteria.
2. Home Decor Brands
Screening Conditions:
Creator Type: Home decor vertical agency accounts with top 20 GMV-generating influencers.
Video Performance: Single video with ≥500,000 views, CTR ≥10%.
Audience Demographics: ≥60% aged 25-40, ≥40% homemakers/renovators.
Results: A home decor brand sold over 2,000 mattresses in its initial launch by collaborating with high-conversion creators.
3.3C Brands
Screening Conditions:
Creator Type: Tech vertical individual accounts with 200,000-1,000,000 followers.
Video Performance: ≥300,000 average views in the last 30 days, ≥15% of comments mentioning keywords like "tech-savvy" or "cost-effective."
Audience Demographics: ≥70% male, ≥60% aged 18-30, ≥55% with a history of purchasing 3C products.
Results: An earphone brand achieved over $100,000 in GMV in its first month by collaborating with high-engagement creators.
In conlusion
In the fast-paced world of TikTok creator marketing, the key to success lies in precision, authenticity, and scalability. By leveraging the most popular collaboration models—from content marketing and hashtag challenges to live streaming and ad placements—brands can create impactful campaigns that resonate with their target audiences. However, the true game-changer is 4Seller ERP – the one-click creator screening plugin that transforms the way brands discover, evaluate, and collaborate with influencers.
With its advanced analytics, audience demographics filtering, and dynamic commission optimization, 4Seller ERP ensures that brands partner with creators who not only align with their product positioning but also deliver measurable ROI. Whether you’re a beauty brand seeking niche influencers, a 3C brand targeting tech enthusiasts, or a home decor brand aiming for homemakers, 4Seller ERP’s industry-specific screening criteria empower you to make data-backed decisions.
In an era where creator quality often outweighs follower count, 4Seller ERP stands as the ultimate guardian of brand reputation and marketing efficiency. By harnessing its power, brands can navigate the creator economy with confidence, turning collaborations into conversions and influencers into long-term brand advocates.
Ready to elevate your TikTok creator marketing strategy? Install 4Seller ERP today and unlock a world of high-quality, high-performing creators tailored to your business needs. Your next big campaign starts here!
Irene - 25 Apr,2025
In the dynamic realm of cross-border e-commerce, TikTok Shop is a platform brimming with potential, captivating the attention of numerous small and medium-sized (SME) sellers. As it expands globally, the question of whether SMEs should venture into it is a hot topic. The 4seller ERP system, a vital tool for cross-border e-commerce, offers significant support for those eyeing TikTok Shop.
1. TikTok Shop: A Rising Star in Cross-Border E-Commerce
TikTok, famous for its short videos, has a massive user base of 1 billion monthly active users worldwide. Leveraging this, TikTok Shop emerged, blending content and e-commerce. Consumers can now buy products while enjoying videos or live streams, a "see it, buy it" experience that boosts purchases.
TikTok Shop has grown impressively globally. In Southeast Asia, it's a major player in live and short video e-commerce. In Europe and the US, it's steadily enhancing its e-commerce ecosystem, attracting more users and sellers.
2. TikTok Shop: A Boon for SMEs
2.1 Low Entry Barriers
Traditional cross-border e-commerce platforms often have high entry hurdles for SMEs with limited funds and experience. TikTok Shop changes this. With the 4seller ERP system, SMEs can manage store operations easily.
For product listing, the system enables quick collection, moving, and copying of products from various platforms. Its batch editing features speed up title, description, and price updates. Image editing tools make product photos more appealing, increasing clicks and sales.
Order management is simplified too. The system sends real-time updates, and its batch sheet printing and custom settings handle large orders efficiently.
2.2 Vast Traffic Reach
TikTok Shop's large user base is a major advantage. SMEs can use the platform's algorithm to show products to many potential customers. Through engaging videos or live streams, they can attract users and convert views into sales.
The 4seller ERP system's data analytics helps SMEs use this traffic well. It provides the TikTok hot-selling list, guiding product selection. The competitor tracking feature lets sellers monitor rivals' strategies and adjust theirs accordingly.
2.3 Efficient Supply Chain Management
Good supply chain management is key on TikTok Shop. The 4seller ERP system's inventory management updates stock in real-time, preventing overselling. Low stock alerts ensure timely restocking.
It also supports combined product management. Sellers can bundle related items, making shopping easier for customers and increasing order values. This helps SMEs cut costs, boost efficiency, and stay competitive.
3. Challenges on TikTok Shop
3.1 Changing Platform Rules
TikTok Shop's rules change as it develops. SMEs need to keep up to run their stores smoothly. Non-compliance can lead to penalties and lower visibility.
The 4seller ERP system keeps sellers informed about rule changes and offers guidance on compliance. For example, when listing requirements change, it notifies and helps optimize product info.
3.2 Fierce Competition and Market Uncertainty
More sellers on TikTok Shop mean tough competition. Standing out is hard. Also, global economic instability, changing consumer tastes, and politics add market uncertainty.
The 4seller ERP system's market analysis helps SMEs navigate this. By analyzing data on consumer trends and competitors, sellers can spot opportunities and develop relevant products.
4. The 4seller ERP System: A Key Asset
4.1 All-in-One Solution
The 4seller ERP system is a comprehensive tool for cross-border e-commerce. It covers product listing, order and inventory management, data analysis, and customer relationship management.
4.2 Tailored for TikTok Shop
Compared with other similar erp systems,the 4seller erp system has obvious advantages in docking with TikTok Shop. It has in-depth understanding and optimization of the rules and interfaces of the platform,and can achieve more stable and efficient docking. Secondly,the 4seller erp system has specially developed a series of targeted functions for the operation characteristics of TikTok Shop,such as TikTok Best-selling list,competition tracking, real-time update reminders of platform rules,etc,to better meet the operational needs of small and medium sellers in TikTok Shop.In addition,the operation interface of the 4seller ERP system is concise and easy to use,allowing even small and medium-sized sellers without rich technical experience to quickly master and use it,which greatly reduces the learning cost for sellers.
5. Deciding to Enter or Wait
5.1 Assess Your Business
Before joining TikTok Shop, SMEs should evaluate their business. This includes product quality, supply chain strength, and finances. The 4seller ERP system's data analytics provides insights into sales, inventory, and cash flow to aid this assessment.
5.2 Stay Agile
The cross-border e-commerce industry is changing rapidly.Whether it is choosing to enter or wait and see,small land medium-sized sellers need to maintain a continuous learning attitude and constantly adapt to changes in the market.TikTok Shop's rules and policies may be constantly adjusted,and consumers needs and preferences are also changing.Only by keeping up with these changes in time can we be invincible in the market competition.
At the same time,sellers themselves need to actively participate in various training courses,industry seminars,etc,exchange experience with peers,and constantly improve their operational capabilities and comprehensive quality.For example,sellers can participate in training courses on TikTok Shop operation skills,learn,how to make attractive short videos and live content,how to optimize product listings,how to carry out effective Client Server,etc;also,you can participate in industry seminars to understand the latest development trends and market dynamics of the cross-border e-commerce industry,communicate and cooperate with other sellers,expand business channels.
6. Conclusion: Seize Opportunities Wisely
TikTok Shop offers great opportunities for SMEs but also has risks. The 4seller ERP system can be a valuable partner, reducing entry barriers, improving efficiency, and aiding decision-making. SMEs should assess their capabilities, use available tools, and stay adaptable to succeed in cross-border e-commerce on TikTok Shop.
Amelia - 25 Apr,2025
TikTok, a social platform that is popular in over 150 countries around the world and boasts nearly one billion active users, has already become a huge treasure trove of traffic. Users spend approximately three hours on TikTok every day on average. Among them, around 62% are female, and the young demographic aged between 20 and 39 accounts for about 45.9% of the user base.
Facing such a vast and highly consumer-potential traffic market, numerous sellers have flocked to it, trying to explore new business growth points through video creation, live streaming sales, marketing promotion, and other means. However, as more and more sellers enter the market, the competition in the TikTok live streaming field has become increasingly fierce. How can one stand out in this red ocean and achieve massive sales growth?
Next, we will reveal the three core strategies to boost sales in the live streaming room and share how 4Seller provides comprehensive support for sellers to help skyrocket their store sales!
I. Four Key Points for Traffic Attraction - Injecting Massive Traffic into TikTok Live Streaming Rooms
TikTok, with its large traffic pool and untapped blue ocean of traffic, has attracted countless merchants to shift their advertising and marketing positions here. Compared with short videos, live streaming sales are more intuitive, and users can interact with the hosts in real-time, which greatly enhances the trust between the brand and the users. It is truly an excellent tool for product promotion.
However, different from daily sharing short videos, the promotional short videos before the start of a TikTok live stream play a vital role. The content of the promotional short videos must closely match the theme of the live streaming room so as to achieve accurate conversion of traffic. At the same time, considering that the majority of TikTok users are young people, the promotional short videos need to cater to their preferences, incorporate novel and interesting elements, and create gimmicks by combining with hot topics to achieve effective dissemination of the videos.
For example, during festive marketing periods such as Halloween and Christmas, content full of fun and freshness is often more popular. In addition, young people generally prefer exaggerated and brightly colored visual effects, so promotional short videos often use content with a strong visual impact in terms of appearance.
The promotional short videos also need to clearly convey several key elements to the users: the start time of the live streaming room, the theme of the live streaming room, and the reasons for users to watch the live streaming room. Specifically, it can be carried out from the following aspects:
Pay attention to the date and time of publishing promotional short videos
Generally, it is appropriate to publish promotional short videos about an hour before the live stream starts, so that users can enter the live streaming room when they brush across the videos. For important promotional events, operation staff need to publish preview videos a few days in advance and clearly inform users of the specific date and time of the live stream in the videos.
Clarify the purpose of the live streaming room
The core content of the promotional short videos is to clearly convey the theme of the live streaming room to the target consumers. Its main shooting techniques include story reporting type, product reporting type, and subtitle reporting type.
Take the promotional short video for diaper live streaming as an example. The host tells the story of encountering a toilet leak, making it dirtier when using tissues to deal with it, and finally successfully solving the problem with diapers that have good water absorption. At the end of the video, it is previewed that these diapers with good water absorption will have a live promotion from 9 am to 1 pm the next day, with exclusive preferential prices, and users are reminded with subtitles to participate in the live event on time.
Emphasize the reasons for entering the live streaming room
Among numerous TikTok live streaming rooms, to attract consumers to enter our live streaming room, the content of the promotional short videos must provide users with a sufficient reason. "Having what others don't have and being better at what others have" is an important factor to attract consumers to enter the live streaming room.
Pay attention to the timeliness of promotional short videos
The biggest difference between promotional short videos and regular short videos lies in their timeliness. Too many promotional short videos will affect the consistency of the brand account. Therefore, it is recommended to hide the promotional short videos after the live stream ends instead of deleting them. Because after hiding the videos, the data such as likes, comments, and shares will still be retained in the background. Once deleted, these data will disappear together, which will affect the weight of the account to a certain extent.
In addition, operation staff also need to conduct data analysis on the promotional short videos to continuously optimize the video content and attract more traffic to the live streaming room.
At the same time, the selection of the cover of the promotional short video cannot be ignored. A clear and interesting cover is more attractive to users when they browse the videos.
For example, a picture of a female host holding shoes and clothes with the cover text "Amazon Thanksgiving Day Outfit" can clearly convey the theme of the video and accurately attract interested users to watch. When publishing promotional short videos, sellers can also add relevant hot topics in the title, body text, tags, cover, etc., such as "#Thanksgiving Day", "#NewYork", etc. By leveraging the popularity of hot topics, it can bring more traffic to the videos and convert it to the live streaming room.
II. Master the Operation Skills of TikTok Live Streaming to Retain Viewers and Facilitate Order Placement
Not all products are suitable for sale in TikTok live streaming. Sellers who want to achieve great sales in TikTok live streaming rooms must choose the right products for live streaming sales. A successful live streaming room has certain requirements in terms of layout, product price, host, and live streaming content:
Background Decoration
When users enter the live streaming room, the first thing that catches their eye is the background of the live streaming room. When laying out the background of the live streaming room, it should be kept simple, highlighting the theme of the live stream and the product display, and placing the discount information of the live streaming room in a prominent position to enhance the attractiveness to consumers. The background decoration methods of different product categories also vary:
3C Digital Products
Brands in this category pay more attention to a sense of technology. Operation staff can use the method of projection to display product information on the background board, enhancing the technological atmosphere of the live streaming room. Through projection display, when the host explains the product features, users can more clearly and intuitively understand the product functions.
Home and Living Products
When displaying products, the main products should be placed in a prominent position, such as in the middle of the live streaming table. If the product price is favorable, it is recommended to enlarge the sticker to highlight the price advantage, which is very effective for price-sensitive users.
Beauty and Personal Care Products
For the background decoration, a professional makeup cabinet or a projection background board can be selected. During the live stream, the host needs to focus on demonstrating the usage effects of beauty products. At the same time, operation staff should switch the close-up and long-shot of the live streaming camera in a timely manner. The close-up can show the product details, color test effects, and facial makeup details, while the long-shot helps the host interact with users and promotes users to place orders.
Apparel Products
The host needs to focus on showing the wearing effect of the apparel, so it is best to show the whole body. Operation staff can use stickers in the live streaming room to indicate the host's height, weight, and other information, providing a reference for users. The display methods of different apparel categories also have some differences. For example, when live streaming children's clothing in a maternal and infant special session, the size of the children's clothing can be shown by comparing it with dolls. In a live stream of waist trainer products, a male model can be selected to show the elasticity effect of the product, highlighting the product quality and dispelling users' concerns.
Product Price
Observations show that the prices of products sold in TikTok live streaming rooms usually range from $10 to $45. Products with too low or too high unit prices have a relatively narrow audience, while most people are willing to purchase their favorite products through the live streaming room within this price range. This phenomenon is closely related to the user group of TikTok, which is mainly composed of Gen Z young people. Gen Z users are keen on impulsive consumption and pursue new and interesting things, which also brings business opportunities for merchants. Blind boxes, wigs, beauty products, nail art, DIY tool kits, accessories, home products, smart products, etc. have all achieved good sales results in TikTok live streaming rooms.
Host
The hosts of TikTok live streaming rooms for different products have their own characteristics, but they all possess in-depth knowledge of the products they promote, excellent language organization skills, and good interaction ability with the users in the live streaming room. In addition, for TikTok live streaming sales, it is suitable to select young, energetic, and good-looking hosts, which reflects the market trend.
Specific requirements for hosts include: having good communication, influence, and guiding abilities; mastering professional industry knowledge and being able to introduce products in detail and demonstrate their selling points; having strong oral presentation skills, field control ability, rhythm control ability, and on-the-spot adaptability; during the live stream, showing strong influence through product explanation, display, language, and body movements.
At the same time, the live streaming script needs to be planned in advance, incorporating interactive chats and naturally implanting marketing information around the preset topics. Hosts should avoid problems such as poor speech fluency, highly repetitive content, and forced shopping during their expressions, and also should not remain silent for a long time. In addition, the host's makeup and appearance should match the theme of the live streaming room. For example, it is not appropriate to wear heavy makeup when selling maternal and infant products, and the choice of clothing should avoid excessive exposure and the risk of accidental exposure.
Live Streaming Content
A high-quality live streaming sales event cannot be separated from the careful planning of the live streaming content. Although live streaming is dynamic, the theme and general sales ideas of the live streaming room need to be planned in advance, covering aspects such as the purpose of the live stream, atmosphere creation, discount setting, and the number of products arranged.
Taking the live streaming of puzzle toys such as game consoles, Rubik's Cubes, and Sudoku as an example, in addition to explaining and selling products, it is more important to capture the psychology of consumers. By having the host interact and actually play with the puzzle toys in the live streaming room while explaining, and truly presenting the elements of "fun and interesting", it can enhance users' curiosity and stimulate their purchasing desire.
III. Avoid Common Mistakes in TikTok Live Streaming to Ensure a Smooth Live Stream
Sellers also need to pay attention to many matters during the TikTok live streaming process:
First of all, ensuring the clarity of the live streaming room's broadcast screen is crucial. During the live stream, professional live streaming equipment is usually required for recording and filling light to ensure that the screen pixels are clear and leave a good impression on users. Sellers should debug the lighting, equipment, and network in advance to present the best live streaming effect.
Secondly, the preferential discounts and free lottery activities of merchants can effectively attract users to enter the live streaming room. During the live stream, the host should pay attention to interacting with users and compare the prices before and after the discount when introducing the product price. At the same time, regularly carry out lottery and small gift distribution activities to maintain users' enthusiasm for watching.
Finally, when conducting TikTok live streaming, sellers should fully consider the local consumption habits, select products accordingly, and adopt the ways that local users like for live streaming.
IV. 4Seller Helps Sellers Process Orders Efficiently and Ensures Worry-free Massive Sales
In addition to mastering the secrets of increasing sales in TikTok live streaming rooms, sellers must also correspondingly improve their order processing capabilities to ensure the smooth operation of their business after achieving massive sales. In this regard, 4Seller can provide powerful support for sellers.
4Seller supports batch printing of 1,000 shipping labels, pick lists and packing slips at one time, which greatly improves the printing efficiency and saves the time and labor costs of sellers. Whether it is daily orders or a large number of orders during promotional events, sellers can quickly complete the printing work.
Here is the helping tutorial you could follow to check how to print 1000 shipping labels at once.
At the same time, 4Seller also supports the function of One-click fulfillment. Sellers can simply operate to complete the order printing and delivery process, further improving the delivery speed. When used in conjunction with a barcode scanner, it can achieve the integration of packaging and delivery in one step, simplifying the operation steps and reducing the possibility of errors.
Here is the helping tutorial you could follow to check how to use one-click fulfillment.
In terms of order document management, 4Seller allows sellers to customize the printing templates for picking lists, packing lists, and shipping labels. Sellers can design personalized document templates according to their own business needs and brand styles, making the order processing process more standardized and professional.
Here is the helping tutorial you could follow to check how to adjust the print template.
In addition, 4Seller supports centralized management of return and refund orders. Sellers can clearly view the detailed information of all return and refund orders on one platform, including the reasons for return and the progress of refund, which is convenient for timely processing and improves customer satisfaction.
Here is the helping tutorial you could follow to check how to manage return and refund orders.
At the same time, 4Seller also supports setting logistics rules, which can automatically match the corresponding logistics channels according to the order types. In this way, sellers do not need to manually select the logistics method for each order. The system will intelligently match the most suitable logistics channel according to the preset rules, ensuring that orders can be delivered to customers at the fastest speed and with the best cost.
Here is the helping tutorial you could follow to check how to set logistics rules.
By mastering the above core strategies for achieving massive sales in TikTok live streaming and leveraging the powerful functions of 4Seller in order processing, sellers can better seize business opportunities in the promising TikTok live streaming market, achieve continuous sales growth, and stand out in the fierce competition!
Validated Customer Outcomes
Verified User Testimonial: “Connecting our Shopify store with Temu using 4Seller was incredibly straightforward. We migrated 400 + SKUs in less than 90 minutes, and the automated inventory sync reduced manual errors by 75%. Our sales on Temu have seen a remarkable increase since the integration!” —Amy Evangeline, Multichannel Retailer
For more detailed performance metrics and case studies, check verified customer reviews on Trustpilot. You can also visit the 4Seller Shopify App Store profile.
Final Words
Success on TikTok Live requires strategic prep, engaging execution, and seamless logistics. By combining viral content, optimized live setups, and 4Seller’s automation, sellers can turn TikTok’s traffic into explosive sales growth.
Ready to go live? Start optimizing today—and let 4Seller handle the rest! Irene - 22 Apr,2025
1. Introduction
In the dynamic world of Amazon selling, the choice between FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) and FBM (Fulfillment by Merchant) shipping models can significantly impact your business's success. These two fulfillment methods are the cornerstones of Amazon operations, each with its own set of characteristics, advantages, and challenges.
This article will delve deep into the differences between FBA and FBM, exploring aspects such as shipping processes, costs, customer service implications, and more. By the end, you'll have a comprehensive understanding of which model might be the better fit for your Amazon business, whether you're a seasoned seller looking to optimize your operations or a newcomer eager to make the right start.
2. Understanding Amazon FBA
2.1 What is FBA?
FBA, or Fulfillment by Amazon, is a comprehensive service that allows sellers to outsource their order fulfillment tasks to Amazon. In this model, sellers send their products in bulk to Amazon's fulfillment centers. Once the products are in Amazon's warehouses, Amazon takes over the reins for storage, picking, packing, shipping, and customer service for those items. It's a one - stop - shop solution that aims to simplify the selling process for merchants.
For example, a small - time electronics seller based in the UK can store their smart gadgets in Amazon's European warehouses. When a customer in Germany places an order, Amazon will handle all the logistics from retrieving the product from the warehouse to delivering it to the customer's doorstep in Germany.
2.2 How FBA Works
· Seller Prepares and Ships Inventory: The process begins with the seller preparing their products according to Amazon's guidelines. This includes proper packaging, labeling with FNSKU (Amazon - specific barcodes), and choosing a shipping method to send the inventory to Amazon's fulfillment centers. Sellers can use services like Amazon - partnered carriers or third - party logistics providers to transport their goods.
· Amazon Receives and Stores Inventory: Once the products arrive at the fulfillment center, Amazon's staff checks the inventory for any discrepancies in quantity, quality, or packaging. If everything is in order, the products are stored in Amazon's warehouses, with their location tracked within Amazon's sophisticated inventory management system.
· Customer Places an Order: When a customer browses Amazon and places an order for an FBA - fulfilled product, Amazon's system immediately identifies the nearest fulfillment center with the available stock.
· Amazon Picks, Packs, and Ships: The order is then sent to the appropriate fulfillment center, where employees (or in some cases, robots) pick the product from the shelves, pack it securely, and label it for shipping. Amazon then selects the most efficient shipping carrier and method to deliver the product to the customer, often providing tracking information for the customer to monitor the delivery progress.
· Customer Service and Returns: If the customer has any questions, issues, or wants to return the product, Amazon's customer service team takes care of it. For returns, Amazon will either restock the item if it's in good condition or dispose of it in an environmentally friendly way, depending on the product's state.
2.3 Pros of FBA
Fast Shipping and Prime Eligibility
One of the most significant advantages of FBA is the ability to offer fast shipping. Amazon's vast network of fulfillment centers, combined with its advanced logistics technology, enables quick delivery. Many FBA - shipped products are eligible for Amazon Prime, which offers benefits like free two - day shipping (in some regions even same - day or one - day shipping), free streaming of movies, music, and more. Prime members, who are known to be high - spending and frequent shoppers, are more likely to purchase products that are Prime - eligible. This can lead to a significant boost in sales. For instance, a seller of fitness equipment saw a 40% increase in monthly sales after enrolling their products in FBA and making them Prime - eligible, as customers were attracted to the quick delivery option.
Amazon - Handled Customer Service and Returns
Amazon takes on the responsibility of customer service and returns for FBA products. This is a huge relief for sellers, especially those who may not have the resources or expertise to handle large volumes of customer inquiries or returns efficiently. Amazon's customer service representatives are available 24/7 in multiple languages. If a customer has a problem with a product, they can contact Amazon directly, and Amazon will handle the issue. This not only saves the seller time and effort but also helps in maintaining a high seller rating and account health, as Amazon's efficient handling of customer issues leads to higher customer satisfaction.
2.4 Cons of FBA
High Costs (Storage, Fees, etc.)
FBA comes with a range of costs that can add up quickly. There are storage fees, which are charged based on the volume of the products stored in Amazon's warehouses. These fees can increase during peak seasons like the holidays. Additionally, there are order - handling fees, which include picking, packing, and shipping costs. For example, a seller of large - sized furniture items may find that the storage fees in Amazon's warehouses are quite high due to the large volume occupied by the products. Small - scale sellers or those with products that have inconsistent sales volumes may find these costs difficult to manage, as they have to pay for storage even during slow - selling periods.
Limited Control over Inventory Management
Sellers have less control over their inventory when using FBA. Amazon decides where to store the inventory, and in some cases, products may be split across multiple fulfillment centers. This can make it challenging for sellers to accurately track and manage their stock levels. Moreover, if a product has been in the warehouse for an extended period (over 365 days in some cases), Amazon may charge long - term storage fees, which can be substantial. Sellers also have to rely on Amazon's inventory management system, and any glitches or inaccuracies in the system can lead to issues like overselling or stockouts.
3. Unpacking Amazon FBM
3.1 What is FBM?
FBM, or Fulfillment by Merchant, is the self - fulfillment model where sellers are responsible for the entire order - fulfillment process. From the moment an order is placed to its final delivery at the customer's address, the seller manages all aspects. This includes handling inventory, choosing the shipping carrier, packing the products, and even dealing with any post - purchase customer service issues. For example, a handicraft seller on Amazon creates unique handmade jewelry in their home studio. When a customer orders a necklace, the seller, not Amazon, takes on the task of getting the necklace from their studio to the customer's hands.
3.2 How FBM Works
· Receiving the Order: Sellers are notified of a new order through Amazon's seller platform. The order details, including the customer's shipping address, contact information, and the items purchased, are provided to the seller. For instance, a book seller on Amazon receives an order for a best - selling novel. They immediately see the order in their seller dashboard, which shows the customer's address in Australia and the quantity of the book ordered.
· Selecting a Shipping Method: Sellers have the freedom to choose from a wide range of shipping carriers and services. This could include international carriers like FedEx, UPS, or DHL, or even local postal services. They consider factors such as shipping speed, cost, and the carrier's reliability. A seller of small electronics might choose a carrier that offers express shipping options for customers who need their products quickly, while for less - urgent orders, they might opt for a more cost - effective standard shipping service.
· Processing the Package: Once the shipping method is selected, the seller retrieves the product from their inventory (which could be stored at their home, a small warehouse, or a third - party storage facility). They then carefully pack the product, ensuring it is well - protected during transit. For example, a seller of fragile glassware will use bubble wrap, packing peanuts, and a sturdy box to prevent breakage. The seller also attaches the shipping label provided by the chosen carrier.
· Shipping the Order: The seller then drops off the package at the carrier's designated location, such as a post office or a courier service center. Some carriers even offer pickup services, where they come to the seller's location to collect the packages. After the package is shipped, the seller updates the order status on Amazon's platform and provides the tracking number to the customer, allowing them to monitor the progress of their delivery.
3.3 Pros of FBM
Lower Initial Investment
One of the most appealing aspects of FBM is the low initial investment required. Since sellers don't need to send large quantities of inventory to Amazon's fulfillment centers in advance, they can start selling with minimal upfront costs. This makes it an ideal option for small - scale entrepreneurs, hobbyists, or those testing the waters with new product ideas. For example, a budding entrepreneur who wants to sell custom - made candles on Amazon can start with just a few dozen candles in stock. They don't have to worry about the high costs associated with bulk manufacturing, shipping to Amazon's warehouses, and paying for storage. This low - risk approach allows them to learn the ropes of Amazon selling without a significant financial commitment.
Greater Control over Shipping and Branding
Sellers using FBM have full control over the shipping process. They can choose a carrier that aligns with their brand values, whether it's a carrier known for its eco - friendly practices or one that offers excellent customer service. Additionally, they can take advantage of the packaging to showcase their brand. By using custom - designed boxes, branded packing slips, or adding small promotional items like business cards or samples, sellers can create a memorable unboxing experience for the customer. A skincare brand selling products via FBM can include a personalized thank - you note and a sample of a new product in the package, enhancing the brand - customer relationship.
3.4 Cons of FBM
Slower Shipping Times
A major drawback of FBM is the typically slower shipping times compared to FBA. When shipping from a seller's location (often outside the country where the customer is based), it can take several days to even weeks for the product to reach the customer. For example, a seller in China shipping a product to a customer in the United States via standard international shipping may take 10 - 15 business days. In contrast, FBA - fulfilled products can often be delivered within 1 - 2 days. This long shipping time can deter customers, especially those who are used to the fast - paced delivery options offered by Amazon Prime. It can also lead to lower customer satisfaction, as customers may become impatient waiting for their orders.
Seller - Handled Customer Service Hassles
With FBM, sellers are responsible for all customer service aspects related to the order. This includes answering customer inquiries about the product, shipping status, handling complaints, and processing returns. This can be a time - consuming and challenging task, especially for sellers who are also managing other aspects of their business. For instance, if a customer receives a damaged product, the seller has to deal with the issue directly, which may involve arranging for a replacement, issuing a refund, or communicating with the carrier to file a claim. Handling these customer service issues efficiently requires significant resources and can be overwhelming for small - scale sellers.
4. Head - to - Head Comparison
4.1 Cost Analysis
· FBA Costs：
Initial Investment: Sellers using FBA need to consider the costs of shipping their inventory to Amazon's fulfillment centers. This includes the cost of freight (whether by air, sea, or land), customs clearance fees (if shipping internationally), and any additional handling charges. For example, if a seller in the United States is shipping 1000 units of a small consumer electronics product to an Amazon fulfillment center in Europe, the air freight cost could be around 5000 - 8000, depending on the weight and volume of the shipment.
Ongoing Costs: Amazon charges storage fees, which are calculated based on the volume of the products stored. These fees can vary by season. During the peak season (October - December in the US), the storage fees for standard - sized products can be as high as 2.40 per cubic foot per month. There are also order - handling fees. For a small - sized item weighing up to 1 pound, the order - handling fee might be around 3 - $4 per unit, which includes picking, packing, and shipping.
· FBM Costs
Initial Investment: The initial investment for FBM is relatively low. Sellers don't have to pay for shipping large volumes of inventory to Amazon's warehouses in advance. They only need to have enough capital to purchase the products they plan to sell and cover basic packaging materials. For instance, a small - scale handicraft seller can start with just a few hundred dollars worth of inventory and some simple packing supplies like boxes and bubble wrap.
Ongoing Costs: FBM sellers are responsible for shipping each order individually. The cost of shipping depends on the carrier and the destination. Shipping a small package from the United States to the United Kingdom via a standard international carrier like USPS First - Class Package International Service might cost around 10 - 15 per package. Sellers also need to factor in the cost of packaging materials, which can add a few dollars per unit. If they outsource the packaging to a third - party, there will be additional service fees.
· Cost - Comparison Example: Consider a seller of lightweight books. If the seller uses FBA, for 1000 books stored in Amazon's warehouse for a month (assuming each book takes up 0.05 cubic feet of space), the storage fee would be 120 (0.05 cubic feet * 1000 books * 2.40 per cubic foot per month). If 100 books are sold in that month, and the order - handling fee is 3 per unit, the total order - handling cost would be 300. So, the total FBA - related cost for that month would be 420. If the same seller uses FBM and ships 100 books at 12 per package (including packaging materials), the total cost would be 1200. However, if the sales volume is very low, say only 10 books sold in a month, the FBM cost would be 120, which is much lower than the FBA cost in this case as the FBA storage fees still need to be paid regardless of the low sales volume.
5. Shipping Speed and Customer Experience
· FBA Shipping Speed
FBA offers fast shipping options, especially for Prime - eligible products. In many regions, customers can receive their orders within 1 - 2 days. In some major cities in the United States, Amazon even offers same - day or one - day delivery for certain products. This fast delivery speed significantly enhances the customer experience. For example, a customer who orders a last - minute birthday gift on Amazon and selects an FBA - fulfilled product can have it delivered in time for the celebration, which leads to high customer satisfaction.
Amazon's efficient logistics system also provides accurate tracking information. Customers can easily monitor the progress of their delivery from the moment it leaves the fulfillment center until it arrives at their doorstep. This transparency in the delivery process is highly valued by customers.
· FBM Shipping Speed
FBM typically has slower shipping times. Since the products are shipped directly from the seller's location (which could be a home - based storage, a small warehouse, or even overseas), it can take several days to weeks for the product to reach the customer. For example, a seller in Asia shipping to a customer in North America using standard international shipping might take 7 - 15 business days for the product to arrive.
This long shipping time can be a deterrent for customers. Research shows that a significant number of customers are less likely to purchase a product if the estimated delivery time is more than 5 - 7 days. The slower shipping speed can also lead to negative reviews and lower customer loyalty. For instance, if a customer orders a product for an upcoming event and it arrives after the event due to slow FBM shipping, they are likely to be disappointed and may not purchase from the seller again.
6. Inventory Management and Control
· FBA Inventory Management：
Advantages: Amazon's inventory management system is highly sophisticated. Sellers can access real - time data on their inventory levels, including how many units are in stock at each fulfillment center. This data helps in making informed decisions about restocking. Amazon also takes care of inventory storage in a safe and organized manner, reducing the risk of damage or loss due to improper storage. For example, a seller of delicate glassware can be confident that Amazon will store their products in a way that minimizes the risk of breakage.
Disadvantages: Sellers have limited control over where their inventory is stored. Amazon may distribute the inventory across multiple fulfillment centers, which can make it challenging to manage. If a seller wants to perform a quality check on their inventory or make some modifications, it can be difficult to access all the units. Additionally, if the inventory levels are not managed properly, sellers may face long - term storage fees, which can be costly.
·FBM Inventory Management
Advantages: Sellers have complete control over their inventory. They can store it in a location of their choice, whether it's a rented warehouse or a storage unit at their home. This allows for easy access to the inventory for tasks like quality control, packaging customization, and restocking. For example, a seller of handmade products can quickly access their inventory to add a personalized touch to each item before shipping.
Disadvantages: Sellers need to have a good understanding of inventory management principles. They are responsible for forecasting demand, ordering the right amount of stock, and ensuring that the inventory levels are neither too high (leading to overstocking and increased storage costs) nor too low (resulting in stockouts and lost sales). Without proper inventory management software and skills, it can be easy to make mistakes. For instance, a new FBM seller might overestimate the demand for a particular product and end up with a large amount of unsold inventory taking up valuable storage space.
7. Product Ranking and Visibility on Amazon
· FBA Product Ranking：Amazon's search algorithm generally gives a boost to FBA - fulfilled products. These products are more likely to appear in the top search results. This is because Amazon values the fast shipping and reliable customer service associated with FBA. For example, when a customer searches for "wireless headphones" on Amazon, FBA - fulfilled headphones are more likely to be among the first few products displayed.
The high visibility of FBA products can lead to increased sales. As more customers click on and purchase these products, it further improves their ranking in the search results, creating a positive cycle. Sellers can also take advantage of Amazon's advertising tools more effectively with FBA products, as the algorithm tends to prioritize FBA - fulfilled items in sponsored product placements.
· FBM Product Ranking：FBM products often face more competition in terms of search rankings. Since they don't have the same advantages in terms of shipping speed and Amazon - handled customer service, they may not rank as high as FBA products. However, FBM sellers can still improve their product visibility through effective keyword optimization, high - quality product listings, and positive customer reviews. For example, a seller of unique, hard - to - find collectibles can use detailed product descriptions and relevant keywords to attract customers who are specifically looking for those items, even though their shipping speed may be slower compared to FBA.
FBM sellers may also need to invest more in external marketing efforts to drive traffic to their products. This could include social media marketing, influencer partnerships, or running their own advertising campaigns outside of Amazon to compensate for the lower organic search rankings on the Amazon platform.
8. Which is Better for You--Consider Your Business Scale
·Small - Scale Startups：For small - scale startups with limited resources and a relatively small product range, FBM can be an excellent starting point. Since FBM requires less upfront investment in inventory storage and shipping to Amazon's warehouses, it allows these startups to test the market with minimal risk. For example, a new artisanal soap - making business can start by selling a few dozen soaps through FBM. They can use their home - based storage for inventory and handle the shipping themselves. This way, they can learn about their target customers, product demand, and market trends without the high costs associated with FBA. As they gain more experience and start to see growth in sales, they can then consider transitioning to FBA.
· Medium - Sized Growing Businesses：Medium - sized businesses that have a stable customer base and are looking to scale up may find FBA more beneficial. These businesses often have a larger inventory and need to ensure fast and reliable shipping to meet customer expectations. FBA's fast shipping and Prime eligibility can help them attract more customers and increase their market share. For instance, a medium - sized electronics retailer that has been using FBM and is now experiencing growth may find that the slow shipping times of FBM are starting to limit their sales. By switching to FBA, they can offer faster delivery, improve customer satisfaction, and potentially rank higher in Amazon's search results, leading to increased sales and business expansion.
· Large - Scale Established Enterprises：Large - scale enterprises with high - volume sales and a wide range of products can often afford to use both FBA and FBM strategically. They can use FBA for their best - selling products to take advantage of the fast shipping and high - visibility benefits. At the same time, they can use FBM for products with lower demand or for products that require special handling or customization. For example, a large - scale fashion brand can use FBA for its popular clothing lines, ensuring quick delivery to customers. For its limited - edition or custom - made products, which may have a lower sales volume but require more personalized service, they can use FBM to maintain control over the shipping and customer service process.
9. Evaluate Your Resources and Expertise
· Logistical Resources：If you have in - house logistics expertise and resources, such as a well - equipped warehouse, a team of employees for packing and shipping, and established relationships with shipping carriers, FBM can be a good choice. You can leverage your existing infrastructure to handle the order fulfillment process efficiently. For example, a company that has been in the traditional retail business and is now expanding to Amazon may already have a logistics setup in place. They can use FBM to continue using their existing resources and processes. However, if you lack logistical capabilities and don't want to invest in building them, FBA provides a ready - made solution. You can rely on Amazon's expertise and infrastructure to handle all the logistics, allowing you to focus on other aspects of your business, such as product development and marketing.
· Customer Service Resources：If you have a dedicated customer service team with the capacity to handle a large volume of inquiries, complaints, and returns, FBM may be a viable option. You can provide personalized customer service that aligns with your brand values. For example, a high - end art gallery selling artworks on Amazon can offer detailed product information and personalized after - sales service through their in - house customer service team. However, if you don't have the resources to handle customer service effectively, FBA's 24/7 customer service can be a major advantage. Amazon's team can handle all customer - related issues, ensuring high - quality service and maintaining your seller rating.
· Financial Resources：If your financial resources are limited, FBM may be the more affordable option initially. You don't have to pay the high upfront costs associated with shipping inventory to Amazon's warehouses and the ongoing storage and handling fees. This allows you to start selling with a lower investment. As your business grows and you generate more revenue, you can consider transitioning to FBA. On the other hand, if you have sufficient financial resources and are willing to invest in the long - term growth of your business, FBA can be a strategic choice. The potential increase in sales due to faster shipping, higher visibility, and better customer service can outweigh the initial and ongoing costs.
10. Conclusion
In the world of Amazon selling, the choice between FBA and FBM is not a one - size - fits - all decision. FBA offers the allure of fast shipping, high - quality customer service handled by Amazon, and enhanced product visibility, but comes with higher costs and less inventory control. On the other hand, FBM provides the benefits of lower initial investment and greater control over shipping and branding, yet is plagued by slower shipping times and more customer service responsibilities for the seller.
Ultimately, whether you choose FBA, FBM, or a combination of both, the key is to align your shipping strategy with your overall business objectives. By doing so, you can optimize your operations, enhance the customer experience, and drive the growth and profitability of your Amazon business. So, take the time to evaluate your situation, crunch the numbers, and make a decision that will set you on the path to success in the competitive Amazon marketplace.
Amelia - 22 Apr,2025
1. Inventory Management Challenges in Cross-border E-commerce: Challenges Brought by Multiple Channels
In the current era of rapid development of globalization and the digital economy, the cross-border e-commerce industry has already become a crucial part of international trade. With just a click of the mouse, consumers can easily purchase goods from all over the world, and merchants can also take advantage of this trend to expand into overseas markets and gain a broader customer base.
In order to meet the diverse shopping needs of consumers, cross-border e-commerce businesses have successively launched multi-channel sales models, promoting products to different e-commerce platforms, social media, and self-built websites. Although this model brings more sales opportunities, it also makes inventory management increasingly complex, and a series of thorny problems have emerged one after another.
• Inventory Fragmentation: When cross-border e-commerce conducts business on multiple channels, the inventory is also dispersed to the warehouses of each channel. This is like breaking a complete jigsaw puzzle into countless small pieces and scattering them in different corners, and the difficulty of management increases exponentially.
Take cross-border e-commerce sellers who operate simultaneously on multiple platforms such as Amazon, eBay, and Shopify as an example.
Each platform has its own independent warehouse, and the product inventory is stored separately. This not only makes it difficult to centrally control the inventory but also leads to an imbalance in the inventory quantity of the same product across different channels.
In some channels, there is a serious backlog of inventory, occupying a large amount of capital and storage space; in other channels, there are frequent shortages of goods, missing sales opportunities, and seriously affecting the customer experience.
• Demand Uncertainty: The global market is vast and complex, and consumers in different countries and regions have significant differences in culture, economy, consumption habits, etc., which makes market demand fluctuate frequently and is difficult to predict.
For example, in some countries, the demand for certain products will experience explosive growth during specific festivals or seasons; while in other regions, due to cultural differences, consumers may have no interest in these products at all. In addition, the market trends change rapidly, new competitors keep emerging, and consumers' preferences may change at any time, which all pose great challenges to cross-border e-commerce in accurately predicting market demand.
Once the demand prediction is wrong, it will fall into the dilemma of excessive inventory or out-of-stock. Excessive inventory means that a large amount of capital is occupied, storage costs continue to rise, and products may also depreciate due to obsolescence; out-of-stock will directly lead to customer loss, damage the brand image, and in the long run, severely impact the enterprise's market competitiveness.
• Logistics Complexity: The logistics infrastructure, transportation efficiency, and customs policies of different countries and regions are all different, which makes the logistics process full of uncertainties. During transportation, unexpected situations such as bad weather, traffic congestion, and customs inspections may occur, resulting in cargo delays or even losses.
Moreover, under the multi-channel sales model, different channels have different requirements for logistics. Some channels may pay more attention to timeliness and require fast delivery; some channels are more sensitive to logistics costs. This requires cross-border e-commerce to comprehensively consider various factors and balance costs and efficiency when choosing logistics partners and formulating logistics strategies.
However, due to the numerous logistics links and too many uncontrollable factors, it is difficult to achieve perfection. Logistics problems often become a bottleneck restricting the development of cross-border e-commerce and also bring great difficulties to inventory management, because logistics delays may lead to the inability to replenish inventory in a timely manner, thereby affecting sales.
• Data Synchronization Issues: The data generated by multi-channel sales pour in like a tide, and each channel has its own independent data systems for orders, inventory, sales, etc. How to effectively integrate these scattered data and achieve real-time synchronization has become a major technical challenge faced by cross-border e-commerce.
If the data cannot be synchronized in a timely and accurate manner, the situation of inconsistent information will occur. It shows that there is inventory available for sale on one channel, but the actual inventory is insufficient, resulting in overselling; or after an order is shipped on a certain channel, the inventory data of other channels is not updated in a timely manner and still shows that there is stock, causing confusion in subsequent order processing.
This data chaos not only brings great trouble to inventory management but also affects the decision-making of the enterprise, making it impossible for the enterprise to carry out inventory allocation, procurement planning, etc. based on accurate data, and ultimately affecting the operation efficiency and economic benefits of the enterprise.
2. 4Seller ERP: A Powerful Tool for Multi-channel Inventory Management
Facing the challenges of multi-channel inventory dispersion and data asynchrony, cross-border e-commerce sellers urgently need an intelligent tool to achieve global control - 4Seller ERP was born. As a free e-commerce ERP developed by Dianxiaomi specifically for European and American sellers, since its launch in September 2023, it has helped more than 15,000 TikTok Shop US sellers reduce costs and improve efficiency, winning widespread trust.
Why choose 4Seller ERP?
Centralized Control of Inventory across All Channels It deeply connects with mainstream platforms such as TikTok Shop, Amazon, and Shopify, as well as logistics providers such as USPS, UPS, and FedEx, and synchronizes data in real time, completely saying goodbye to inventory fragmentation.
Clear View of Inventory Dynamics No matter where the goods are stored, they can be tracked in real time through a unified panel, and resources can be intelligently allocated to avoid out-of-stock or overstocking.
A Strong Backing for Efficient Operation Through automated processes and accurate data analysis, 4Seller ERP has become the core tool for cross-border sellers' inventory management, escorting business growth.
3. Analysis of the Core Functions of 4Seller ERP
3.1 Real-time Inventory Synchronization
Inventory synchronization, simply put, is to integrate and uniformly update the inventory data of goods scattered in different channels and different warehouses to ensure that the latest and most accurate information can be obtained when checking the inventory on any sales platform or store. 4Seller ERP performs excellently in this regard, and it can achieve the automatic synchronization of inventory data of multiple platforms and multiple stores. Sellers only need to customize and set inventory synchronization rules in the system to keep the inventory data consistent in real time.
Take a cross-border e-commerce seller as an example. This seller has opened stores on multiple platforms including Shopify, TikTok Shop, and Amazon, selling fashionable clothing. In the past, due to the inability to synchronize inventory data of various platforms in real time, overselling often occurred, resulting in a decline in customer satisfaction.
After using 4Seller ERP, the seller set according to their own business needs that when clothing is received into or dispatched from the warehouse, the inventory data of relevant platform stores will be automatically updated immediately; when clothing is sold in a certain store, the inventory of other stores will also be reduced accordingly.
For example, when 10 dresses are sold in the Shopify store, 4Seller ERP will quickly synchronize this sales information to the stores of other platforms and update the inventory data of the warehouse at the same time, keeping the inventory data of all channels consistent. In this way, the seller does not need to switch between various platforms to manually update the inventory, which greatly saves time and labor costs, effectively avoids the occurrence of overselling, and improves the operation efficiency of the store and customer satisfaction.
3.2 Setting Inventory Push Quantity
In cross-border e-commerce inventory management, accurately controlling the inventory quantity is of great importance, and setting the inventory push quantity and out-of-stock settings are important means for 4Seller ERP to achieve this goal. When setting inventory synchronization rules, sellers can decide according to the actual situation whether to push the available inventory quantity in the warehouse or the in-stock inventory quantity to the store.
At the same time, they can also set out-of-stock rules, that is, when the available inventory of a product is lower than a certain set inventory quantity, the inventory data of the specified store within the rules will be changed to 0, effectively preventing overselling.
Suppose a seller stores 1000 smartwatches in Warehouse D, that is, there are 1000 in-stock inventory quantities. These watches are sold simultaneously in Store A and Store B on Shopify and Store C on TikTok.
The seller sets to push the available inventory quantity to the store through 4Seller ERP. At this time, if there are 100 unprocessed orders in Store A on Shopify, then the available inventory quantity of smartwatches becomes 900, and the online inventory quantities displayed in the three stores A, B, and C are also updated to 900. This setting method enables the seller to dynamically adjust the inventory quantity displayed in the store according to the order processing situation, further reducing the risk of overselling. The out-of-stock setting is also very practical. When the available inventory quantity of smartwatches in Warehouse D is less than or equal to 5, the system defaults to pushing 0 inventory to the specified store, avoiding the overselling problem caused by multiple stores receiving orders simultaneously when the inventory quantity is too low.
By reasonably setting the inventory push quantity and out-of-stock rules, sellers can manage inventory more accurately, ensure that the inventory is always at a reasonable level, meet market demand, and avoid losses caused by inventory backlog or out-of-stock, providing a strong guarantee for the stable development of cross-border e-commerce business.
3.3 Support for Multi-warehouse Inventory Synchronization
In cross-border e-commerce business, inventory storage often involves multiple warehouses, including sellers' own warehouses, third-party warehouses, overseas warehouses, and FBA warehouses. Different types of warehouses have their own characteristics in logistics distribution, cost control, etc., but they also bring great challenges to inventory management.
4Seller ERP fully considers this industry pain point and comprehensively supports the inventory synchronization of various warehouses such as self-owned warehouses, third-party warehouses, overseas warehouses, and FBA warehouses, helping sellers achieve unified management of inventory across all channels.
3.4 Viewing Inventory Linkage Records
In the process of multi-channel inventory management, it is crucial to track inventory information in real time and promptly discover and solve inventory synchronization problems. The function of viewing inventory linkage records provided by 4Seller ERP provides convenience for sellers to achieve this goal.
Sellers only need to perform simple operations to browse the inventory linkage records on the full page and have a clear understanding of the synchronization situation of inventory data. Sellers can trace the change history of inventory data at any time, truly achieving order traceability and process monitoring.
Whether in daily operations or when dealing with complex inventory allocation tasks, this function can help sellers promptly grasp inventory dynamics, make scientific decisions, and effectively avoid various problems caused by inaccurate inventory information, escorting the smooth development of cross-border e-commerce business.
4. How to Choose a Suitable Inventory Management ERP
In the environment of multi-channel operation in cross-border e-commerce, choosing a suitable inventory management ERP is of great importance, as it is directly related to the operation efficiency and economic benefits of the enterprise. The following are the key factors to be considered when choosing an inventory management ERP, and 4Seller ERP has demonstrated significant advantages in these aspects.
4.1 Function Completeness
An excellent inventory management ERP should have comprehensive and powerful functions to meet the complex needs of multi-channel inventory management in cross-border e-commerce.
In addition to the functions mentioned above such as real-time inventory synchronization, setting inventory push quantity, supporting multi-warehouse inventory synchronization, and viewing inventory linkage records, it should also cover function modules such as procurement management, sales management, and data analysis. The procurement management function can help sellers automatically generate purchase orders according to inventory status and sales forecasts, communicate efficiently with suppliers, and ensure timely replenishment of goods; the sales management function can achieve rapid order processing, shipping tracking, and customer relationship management, improving customer satisfaction; the data analysis function can deeply mine a large amount of inventory and sales data, providing sellers with accurate market trend analysis, sales forecasts, etc., helping sellers make scientific decisions.
4Seller ERP performs outstandingly in terms of function completeness. It not only provides the above-mentioned core inventory management functions but also integrates all-round SaaS services such as product listing, order management, and customer service, forming a complete e-commerce operation management system that can meet the various business needs of cross-border e-commerce sellers in multi-channel operations and truly achieve one-stop management.
4.2 Price
Cost control is a key link in enterprise operation. For cross-border e-commerce sellers, when choosing an inventory management ERP, they need to comprehensively consider the price of the software and their own budget.
Different ERP systems have different charging models. Some are sold in a one-time purchase way, some are charged according to the subscription method, and some are charged according to function modules, the number of users, etc. When choosing, sellers should select an ERP system with high cost performance according to their own business scale and development plan.
A prominent advantage of 4Seller ERP is that it is free to use. All the connected e-commerce platforms and logistics service providers, as well as the provided functions, are free for domestic and foreign sellers to use. This is undoubtedly a huge benefit for small and medium-sized cross-border e-commerce sellers with relatively tight funds, greatly reducing the operation cost of the enterprise and enabling sellers to enjoy professional and efficient inventory management services at a relatively low cost.
4.3 Security
In the digital era, data security is of vital importance. The inventory data, order data, customer information, etc. of cross-border e-commerce sellers are all stored in the ERP system. Once the data is leaked or damaged, it will bring huge losses to the enterprise. Therefore, choosing an inventory management ERP with a high level of security is the key to ensuring the security of enterprise data.
A secure ERP system should have a complete data encryption mechanism to prevent data from being stolen or tampered with during transmission and storage; it should have strict user permission management functions to ensure that only authorized personnel can access and operate sensitive data; at the same time, it should also have data backup and recovery functions to deal with sudden data loss or damage situations.
4Seller ERP has taken multiple safeguard measures in terms of security. Like large e-commerce platforms such as Amazon and TikTok Shop, it will go through strict reviews and audits to ensure the security and compliance of third-party service tools. The data interaction between 4Seller and the platform is carried out through the official API data interface, which can completely avoid the problem of account association.
As the parent company of 4Seller, Dianxiaomi attaches great importance to the confidentiality and security of user data, files user information with relevant industries and departments, and ensures that user data is not leaked from all aspects, allowing sellers to use it with confidence.
4.4 Data Docking Capability
In the process of multi-channel sales in cross-border e-commerce, it involves data interaction between different systems such as multiple e-commerce platforms, logistics providers, and warehouses. Therefore, the inventory management ERP needs to have strong data docking capabilities, be able to seamlessly connect with various mainstream e-commerce platforms, logistics systems, and warehouse management systems, and ensure the real-time and accurate transmission of data.
Only in this way can the unified management of multi-channel inventory and the efficient coordination of business processes be achieved. 4Seller ERP has deeply connected with mainstream e-commerce platforms in Europe and the United States such as TikTok Shop, Amazon, and Shopify, as well as well-known local logistics providers in the United States such as USPS, UPS, and Fedex.
At the same time, it has also accessed large overseas third-party warehouses such as GoodCang and the well-known domestic JiFeng WMS system. This extensive and in-depth data docking capability enables 4Seller ERP to easily integrate multi-channel data, break down information silos, provide sellers with comprehensive and accurate inventory and business data, and help sellers achieve efficient multi-channel inventory management.
5. In Conclusion
In the complex environment of multi-channel sales in cross-border e-commerce, inventory management is like a difficult battle, full of various challenges. Inventory fragmentation, demand uncertainty, logistics complexity, and data synchronization issues, etc., constantly test the operation ability of sellers. If there is the slightest carelessness, it may lead to inventory backlog or out-of-stock, bringing huge economic losses to the enterprise.
However, with its powerful functions and excellent performance, 4Seller ERP has become a powerful weapon for cross-border e-commerce sellers to deal with these challenges. It not only achieves real-time inventory synchronization, accurately sets the inventory push quantity, but also comprehensively supports multi-warehouse inventory synchronization and enables convenient viewing of inventory linkage records. For cross-border e-commerce sellers who are troubled by multi-channel inventory management, it is advisable to try using 4Seller ERP. It is believed that it will bring unexpected improvements to your business.
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