01Why E-commerce and D2C needs specialised logistics
E-commerce logistics means high shipment frequency, small parcels, tight delivery windows, high return rates, and cross-border complexity around customs, VAT and consumer protection.
Requirements differ significantly from standard LCL logistics: different documents, different equipment, different safety standards.
02Typical goods and trade flows
Main commodities: Apparel, electronics, cosmetics, household goods, food & beverage, high-value single items.
Flows usually go from a small number of production and raw-material sources to global distribution centres. Transit time, frequency and capacity booking are therefore critical.
03Equipment and packaging
Standard cartons, polybags, mailers, returnable reusable containers, pallets for B2B2C.
Equipment choice directly affects transport cost, CO₂ footprint and damage rate. Recommendation: agree an equipment concept with the carrier before requesting the first quote.
04Compliance and regulatory framework
Key frameworks: EU ICS2, IOSS, OSS reporting for B2C, packaging laws, General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR), DSA.
Beyond those, industry-specific certificates and audits (e.g. supplier audits, AEO, TAPA) are typically prerequisites for market access.
Domande frequenti
Which Incoterm should I use for E-commerce and D2C?
In practice, DDP (meist erwartet im B2C) is the industry default. The final choice depends on country, sales model and tax situation — always have the term reviewed by customs and tax advisers before contract.
Which regulations are most critical?
The frameworks named above — particularly EU ICS2, IOSS — should be embedded in your SOPs and audit programme.