Popular social media platform TikTok has launched a logistics offering for merchants using TikTok Shop in the UK to sell goods.
The latest version of TikTok Shop was launched in the UK as an in-app e-commerce platform earlier this year, with vendors being invited to join its beta version in April.
Now, TikTok Shop has presented vendors with a new option – a logistics programme called Fulfilled by TikTok (FBT), which the company says “makes it easier than ever for merchants using TikTok Shop in the UK to sell on the platform”.
TikTok describes FBT as “a logistics offering available in the UK where TikTok Shop stores, picks, packs and then ships merchants’ products to the TikTok community”. It is aimed at sellers who want to focus on other aspects of the business and allow a third party to handle shipping.
Those using the new FBT service will provide stock to TikTok Shop to be stored in a warehouse before being shipped to customers. Warehouse staff will pick, pack, and label the merchandise before it is shipped, with TikTok Shop also offering services such as inserting leaflets into packages and photographing them for an additional fee.
FBT can offer same-day automated fulfilment for all orders made by 7pm Monday to Saturday and a next-working day premium delivery service.
Skincare and make-up brand The Beauty Crop was amongst a number of existing UK-based merchants to trial FBT. Its founder, Ning Cheah, said: “As a small independent company, it’s always great to find ways to help make things more efficient . Since using FBT, we’ve seen volumes increase by 30%, shipping lead times drop by 36%, and late dispatch rates drop by over 45%. It’s made a huge difference.”
According to a Q2 2023 report from Sensor Tower, TikTok has maintained its position as the most downloaded app worldwide for the 12th consecutive quarter. It surpassed 3.5 billion downloads in 2021, becoming only the fifth app to do so, and the first not owned by Meta.
Furthermore, a 2021 report commissioned by TikTok found that on average, 70% of consumers agreed that social media has helped them decide what to buy. The fact that the overwhelming majority of respondents acknowledged the impact that social media has on their purchasing decisions is eye-opening, and not something that should be ignored.
With this in mind, it is easy to see why e-commerce has become integrated within several social media platforms and why TikTok is taking this one step further with its latest fulfilment offering.
