New legislation: Webshops must offer at least two delivery methods
Since 31 March 2024, a new law is in force in Belgium that requires online shops to offer at least two different delivery methods for consumers (B2C). This applies to all webshops that deliver to Belgium, including foreign webshops
Webshops must offer other delivery options besides home delivery, such as:
- Pick-up points
- Packing machines
- Click & Collect at the point of sale
It is not enough just to cooperate with parcel services that only offer home delivery. This law aims to give consumers more choice and flexibility in receiving their orders
There are some exceptions to this law:
- The law does not apply to B2B orders.
- The law does not apply to webshops with less than 3 years' experience.
- Webshops offering only local collections fall under an exception.
- Exceptions can be requested for specific cases, such as high-value products
Sanctions for non-compliance
Webshops that fail to comply with this law risk a fine of up to €10,000 or 4% of the last financial year's turnover
Benefits for web shops
Besides complying with the new legislation, offering multiple delivery methods also offers several advantages for online shops:
- Extended sustainability impact: By offering multiple delivery options, online shops can reduce their CO₂ emissions. For example, pick-up points and parcel vending machines can be more efficient than individual home deliveries. This can have a positive impact on the webshop's sustainability image.
- Marketing benefits: Webshops can highlight their sustainability efforts in their marketing campaigns. This can attract customers who value eco-friendly practices.
- Increased customer satisfaction: By offering customers more choice in how they receive their orders, online shops can increase customer satisfaction. Customers appreciate flexibility and convenience.
- Higher conversion: Webshops that offer multiple delivery options can see higher conversion rates. Customers are more likely to make a purchase if they can choose the delivery method that best suits their needs.
- Stronger sustainability image: By actively communicating the sustainability benefits of different delivery methods, online shops can strengthen their image and differentiate themselves from competitors.
How Sofatech deploys Odoo for your success
At Sofatech, we understand that complying with new legislation can be challenging. That's why, with Odoo, we offer a flexible and user-friendly solution for managing different shipping methods. Here's how we can help you:
- Configuration of shipping methods: We make it easy for you to set up multiple shipping methods, such as home delivery, collection points, parcel machines and Click & Collect. This can be set specifically per shipping provider.
- Integration with external shipping providers: Sofatech integrates Odoo with external shipping providers such as FedEx, UPS and DHL. This allows automatic generation of shipping labels and automation of shipping processes.
- Customisation of shipping options: We create customised shipping options, such as free shipping for orders over a certain amount or fixed-price shipping. This provides the flexibility to meet your customers' needs.
- Transparency and customer satisfaction: By offering multiple shipping methods, we increase customer satisfaction and provide transparency on shipping options. This helps build trust and loyalty among your customers.
Conclusion
The new legislation offers an opportunity to improve your delivery options and increase customer satisfaction. With Sofatech and Odoo, you can easily comply with the new rules and benefit from flexible and efficient shipping management. Start setting up multiple shipping methods in Odoo today and make sure your shop complies with the legislation and your customers' expectations.
Want to know more? Get in touch and we will be happy to advise you!