2025 Cross-Border E-Commerce: Mastering Multi-Warehouse Inventory for Success

As semi-managed models gain traction in 2025, more sellers enter the market, bringing both opportunities and challenges into the market. The cross-border e-commerce landscape is set for transformation in 2025, with a critical focus on inventory clearance and operational efficiency.

The Rise of Semi-Managed Models in 2024

In 2024, leading cross-border e-commerce platforms adopted semi-managed models. Unlike fully managed systems, semi-managed models allow sellers to oversee their inventory and order processing while benefiting from the platform’s network.

For example, Temu, a cross-border e-commerce platform under Pinduoduo, launched its semi-managed model in 2024. This model targets sellers with inventory in overseas warehouses, enabling them to manage their stock and handle order fulfillment independently. This approach is especially attractive to sellers who have established overseas warehouses and are seeking operational independence while mitigating logistics challenges.

Differences in logistics between TEMU's semi-managed and fully-managed model (Source: eTower)

The Entry of New Players Without Cross-Border Experience

The popularity of the semi-managed model has lowered barriers to entry, attracting manufacturers and suppliers without prior e-commerce or warehouse management experience. While this expansion fuels industry growth, it also introduces new challenges, particularly for sellers unfamiliar with managing inventory across borders.

Logistics Challenges of Semi-managed model (Source: eTower)

Addressing these challenges requires a combination of strategic planning, investment in tools like advanced logistics management systems, and building partnerships with experienced logistics providers.

The Importance of Inventory Turnover

As the market transitions into a de-stocking phase in 2025, efficient inventory turnover will become a critical factor for profitability. Sellers with slower turnover rates will face higher costs, including capital lock-ups, increased storage expenses, and depreciating product values. Conversely, improving inventory turnover enhances cash flow, reduces costs, and strengthens market responsiveness, offering a competitive edge.

How to improve inventory turnover with multi-warehouse software (Source: eTower)

Optimizing Multi-Warehouse Inventory Management for Cross-Border E-Commerce Success

Effective inventory management is a cornerstone of success in cross-border e-commerce, especially when managing operations across multiple warehouses. Multi-warehouse management adds complexity to stock tracking, order fulfillment, and supply chain optimization, but with the right strategies and tools, businesses can turn these challenges into opportunities for growth.

How to Improve Inventory Turnover with Multi-Warehouse Inventory Management System

In the face of mounting inventory pressures, WallTech's eTower Warehouse Management System (WMS) offers an integrated solution to tackle these challenges head-on, enabling sellers to achieve optimal turnover rates and operational efficiency. eTower is specifically designed to address these challenges for cross-border sellers and logistics providers.

Efficient inventory turnover is critical for reducing costs and enhancing profitability in cross-border e-commerce.Below are key strategies to achieve this:

Accurate Demand Forecasting

Sellers should stay attuned to market trends, analyze consumer demand, and plan inventory accordingly. Leveraging historical sales data, industry insights, and competitor analysis can significantly improve forecast accuracy.

During this process, tools like eTower provide real-time multi-warehouse inventory visibility, stock ageing data, and safety stock levels, enabling sellers to evaluate inventory performance and make timely adjustments to sales strategies or procurement plans.

The system updates multi-warehouse inventory in real-time (Source: eTower)

Establishing Inventory Alert Mechanisms

eTower's safety stock and aging features allow sellers to set inventory alert thresholds. When stock levels approach these thresholds, timely corrective measures can be implemented, ensuring seamless operations and preventing overstocking or stockouts.

Inventory Segmentation Management

Using eTower's warehouse zoning and location-based classification features, sellers can categorize inventory into fast-moving, slow-moving, and regular stock. Tailored strategies, such as increasing fast-moving stock purchases or reducing slow-moving inventory, help streamline operations and minimize stagnation.

Products can be categorized into multiple zones and locations in WMS (Source: eTower)

Optimized Supply Chain Management

Building strong partnerships with suppliers and fostering information sharing can enhance supply chain responsiveness. This includes shortening procurement cycles and reducing overall inventory levels to maintain leaner operations.

Additional Measures

Sellers can further improve inventory turnover by running promotional campaigns, optimizing warehouse layouts, and improving logistics efficiency to enhance overall operational performance.

Positioning for Long-Term Success with Advanced Warehouse Management System

As cross-border e-commerce enters a new phase of competition in 2025, leveraging advanced warehouse management systems (WMS) becomes crucial for managing multi-warehouse operations efficiently.

By tackling challenges like inventory turnover and rising operational costs, solutions like eTower empower sellers and logistics providers to navigate market complexities, turn challenges into opportunities, and drive growth. Businesses that adopt these tools will position themselves as leaders in the evolving global e-commerce landscape.

About eTower

eTower, under WallTech, is a cross-border e-commerce logistics collaborative platform that enables seamless data monitoring across the logistics chain through an integrated approach for efficient, convenient management.

With real-time SKU inventory visibility across all warehouses, eTower empowers you to optimize cash flow and maintain lean inventory levels, ensuring you meet customer demands efficiently. Our solution integrates with all channels, enabling automatic order synchronization and real-time label printing, which significantly improves operational efficiency and order fulfillment processes.

Moreover, with enhanced inventory accuracy and visibility throughout your network, eTower focus on helping boosting warehouse productivity by facilitating faster picking and eliminating errors, allowing your team to focus on delivering exceptional service.

For more features of eTower, book a free demo.