What do a little green carpet cleaner, an extra large straw tumbler and a portable blender have in common? They’re all products that have gone viral on TikTok and experienced the sales bump that goes with that.
Over the past few years, TikTok has grown from an uncharted social media platform to a cultural hub where more than 800 million active users flock to be entertained, form connections, and increasingly, discover and buy products. TikTok’s move into the ecommerce sphere with TikTok Shop represents a significant shift for businesses that are attentive to digital innovation and attuned to customer convenience.
How can brands take advantage of this new opportunity? Read on to discover TikTok’s influence on shopping, why reliable fulfillment is critical for social commerce, and the best fulfillment options for TikTok.
The Power of TikTok in E-commerce
TikTok has emerged as a formidable force, revolutionizing the way consumers discover and purchase products. With its captivating blend of entertainment and social interaction, TikTok has transformed the shopping experience, seamlessly integrating commerce into the lives of its users.
TikTok’s Influence on Shopping
TikTok’s influence on shopping behavior is undeniable. A study by TikTok itself found that almost a third of users agreed that the platform encouraged impulse purchases—more than any other social network. This impulsive buying behavior is driven by the platform’s ability to connect brands and creators with a highly engaged audience, fostering trust and encouraging spontaneous purchases.
Statistics show that 75% of TikTok users discover brands through the app, and 47% have made a purchase because of it. These numbers are no mere fractions; they’re glimpses into the transformative role TikTok plays in shaping shopping habits.
TikTok Shop’s Significance
TikTok Shop, the platform’s native e-commerce solution, has further solidified TikTok’s position as a leading e-commerce player. By providing a seamless in-app shopping experience, TikTok Shop has made it easier than ever for users to discover and purchase products, all without leaving the platform they love.
For e-commerce merchants, TikTok Shop presents a significant opportunity to reach a vast new audience and tap into the power of social commerce. With its ability to generate organic traffic and drive impulse purchases, TikTok Shop has become an essential tool for brands seeking to expand their reach and boost sales.
The Importance of Reliable Fulfillment in Social Commerce
As social commerce continues to grow, the importance of reliable order fulfillment cannot be overstated. In this fast-paced, mobile-first environment, consumers expect speedy and convenient delivery. Failure to meet these expectations can lead to customer dissatisfaction, negative reviews, and ultimately, lost sales.
Projected Growth & Trends
The projected growth of social commerce is staggering. According to a study by Accenture, social commerce sales are expected to reach $1.2 trillion in 2025, up from $492 billion in 2021. This exponential growth highlights the need for e-commerce merchants to invest in robust fulfillment solutions that can handle increasing order volumes and maintain high levels of customer satisfaction.
Delivery Expectations
In the social commerce landscape, consumers have come to expect fast and convenient delivery. This means same-day or next-day delivery options, flexible shipping windows, and real-time order status updates. E-commerce merchants who can meet these expectations will be well-positioned to capitalize on the growth of social commerce.
By investing in reliable order fulfillment, e-commerce merchants can ensure that their social commerce efforts are successful. By providing a seamless and enjoyable shopping experience, merchants can cultivate loyal customers and reap the rewards of the burgeoning social commerce market.
Fulfillment Options for TikTok Shop Sellers
Selecting the right fulfillment service or method is crucial for ensuring a seamless and efficient shopping experience for your TikTok Shop customers.
Fulfilled by TikTok (FBT)
Fulfilled by TikTok (FBT) is TikTok’s in-house fulfillment service program, offering merchants a solution for managing their TikTok Shop orders. With FBT, merchants send inventory directly to TikTok’s fulfillment centers. TikTok then handles the entire fulfillment and order management process, from picking and packing to shipping and returns. FBT is an option for merchants who want a hands-off approach to fulfillment specifically for the TikTok sales channel.
Third-Party Logistics Partners
Third-party logistics (3PL) providers are companies that specialize in handling the fulfillment process for e-commerce businesses. When brands partner with a 3PL, they take over the responsibility of storing, picking, packing, and shipping orders. 3PLs can be a great option for merchants seeking outsourced fulfillment in order to focus on other aspects of their business.
When brands use Flowspace for TikTok fulfillment, they don’t need to allocate inventory by sales channel, meaning they’ll never run out of products if they become viral hits on TikTok. Fulfillment with Flowspace unlocks real time inventory visibility, insight, and fulfillment orchestration capabilities across all channels of selling, from TikTok Shop to brands own storefronts, marketplaces, retail stores, and more.
Flowspace’s seamless integration with TikTok ensures fulfillment continuity and means a brand never has to guess how much demand there might be for specific channels—inventory can be allocated as it’s needed.
Self-Fulfillment Option
Self-fulfillment involves handling the entire TikTok fulfillment process internally. This means inventory management, picking and packing orders, and shipping them to customers. This form of in house fulfillment can be a good option for small businesses with limited order volume, but it can become challenging to manage as a business grows.
Tips for Merchants to Excel with TikTok Shop
Navigating the dynamic landscape of TikTok Shop requires more than just setting up a storefront and listing products. To truly excel and stand out from the competition, merchants must adopt effective strategies that align with the unique characteristics and preferences of TikTok users.
Express Shipping
In the fast-paced world of TikTok, where instant gratification is the norm, offering express shipping options can be a game-changer. By providing customers with the ability to receive their orders quickly, merchants can enhance their overall customer experience and increase the likelihood of repeat purchases. Consider partnering with reliable shipping providers to ensure timely and efficient deliveries.
Flash Sales Strategy
Flash sales, characterized by limited-time discounts and promotions, are a powerful tool for attracting new customers and boosting sales. By creating a sense of urgency and excitement, flash sales can captivate TikTok users and drive traffic. Utilize TikTok’s native shopping features and in-app advertising to promote flash sales effectively.
Customized Badging
TikTok Shop offers merchants the ability to customize their badges, which are small icons displayed next to their products. These badges can serve as visual cues that differentiate brands and highlight unique selling points. Consider using badges to showcase promotions, product certifications, or customer ratings.
Use Influencer Marketing
Partnering with relevant and popular TikTok creators can significantly amplify a brand’s reach and engagement. Influencers can create engaging content that showcases products, reviews offerings, or hosts live streams to promote a TikTok Shop. Brands should choose influencers who align with their values and target audience.
Why Flowspace Is Your Ideal Partner for TikTok Shop Fulfillment
Partnering with a reliable and experienced fulfillment provider is essential for ensuring a seamless and efficient shopping experience for customers on TikTok. Flowspace, a leading ecommerce fulfillment provider, stands out as an ideal partner for TikTok Shop sellers, offering a range of benefits that can elevate fulfillment operations and drive business growth.
Direct Integration Benefits
Flowspace’s direct integration with TikTok Shop enables sellers to seamlessly incorporate TikTok Shop into their omnichannel fulfillment operation, streamlining the order processing and fulfillment workflow. This direct integration ensures that orders are seamlessly transferred from TikTok Shop to Flowspace’s fulfillment management system, minimizing the risk of errors and delays.
Benefits of Flowspace’s direct integration:
- Direct Integration: Orders flow seamlessly from TikTok Shop to Flowspace’s fulfillment system for efficient processing and shipping.
- Nationwide Network: Flowspace’s flexible network of over 150 locations enables sellers to reliably execute fast, affordable, efficient shipping and delivery.
- Established SLAs: Flowspace is committed to adhering to best-in-class delivery and reliability standards as part of a comprehensive Service Level Agreement.
- Omnichannel Fulfillment: Flowspace powers omnichannel fulfillment, centralizing inventory, order, and orchestration controls in one place so sellers can fulfill orders from any channel, from TikTok Shop to DTC storefronts to marketplaces and beyond.
- Key Account Resources: Sellers have access to additional Flowspace support and resources.
Nationwide Distribution
Flowspace’s extensive nationwide distribution network ensures that orders are shipped from strategically located fulfillment centers, reducing delivery times and enhancing the customer experience. By leveraging Flowspace’s network, brands can reach their customers faster and more efficiently, regardless of their location.
Benefits of Flowspace’s nationwide distribution network:
- Reduced delivery times: Orders stored and shipped closer to end consumers, minimizing shipping times and improving customer satisfaction.
- Reduced shipping costs: Flowspace’s strategic fulfillment center locations can optimize shipping costs, potentially reducing overall fulfillment expenses.
- Enhanced customer experience: Faster delivery times and reduced shipping costs contribute to a positive customer experience, leading to increased customer loyalty.
Rapid Delivery Times
Flowspace’s commitment to efficiency and optimization extends to its shipping processes, ensuring that orders are processed, picked, packed, and shipped promptly. By leveraging Flowspace’s fulfillment expertise, brands can significantly reduce delivery times, providing their customers with a quicker and more satisfying shopping experience.
Benefits of Flowspace’s enhanced delivery times:
- Avoid violations: TikTok penalizes sellers that fail to ship items within a three-day window with violation points. Violation points can lead to consequences including product delisting and outright bans on the platform. An efficient fulfillment partner ensures products are shipped quickly and efficiently so sellers maintain sales momentum.
- Improved customer satisfaction: Faster delivery times lead to happier customers and a stronger reputation.
- Increased order volume: Reduced delivery times can encourage repeat purchases and attract new customers, boosting order volume and revenue.
- Competitive advantage: Faster delivery times can set brands apart from competitors and enhance their overall value proposition.
Scalability with Flowspace
As a TikTok Shop business grows, Flowspace’s scalable fulfillment software and solutions can adapt to meet increasing demands. With an expansive network of fulfillment centers and a commitment to continuous improvement, Flowspace can seamlessly handle spikes in TikTok orders, product line expansion, and geographical expansion.
Benefits of Flowspace’s scalability:
- Flexible fulfillment solutions: Flowspace can tailor its fulfillment solutions to a brand’s specific needs, accommodating changing product types, order volumes, and geographic reach.
- Seamless growth and scale: Flowspace’s scalable infrastructure can handle increasing order volumes without compromising inventory accuracy or efficiency.
- Future-proof fulfillment: Flowspace continuously invests in technology and infrastructure, ensuring that fulfillment needs are met as a business grows.
By partnering with Flowspace, TikTok Shop sellers can gain access to a suite of fulfillment benefits that can streamline operations, reduce fulfillment costs, and enhance the customer experience. Get in touch today to find out how Flowspace can power your TikTok social commerce strategy.
Written By:
Allison Champion
Allison Champion leads marketing communication at Flowspace, where she works to develop content that addresses the unique challenges facing modern brands in omnichannel eCommerce. She has more than a decade of experience in content development and marketing.
