In an attempt to harness the growing trend of UK online customers buying from China, Yodel has opened its first international office in Chengdu.

The idea of the new office is to streamline the process of delivery through creating strategic partnerships with China’s online marketplaces as well as consolidators and 3PL firms. Chengdu’s location will allow Yodel to support clients in mainland China as well as Shenzhen and Hong Kong, both of which are key transport hubs for electronics merchants.

Yodel’s Hatfield sorting centre in the UK is only 45 minutes from Heathrow so orders from China can be scanned and processed on entry into the UK. James Wang has been appointed chairman of Yodel China and will lead a team, building strategic partnerships with major logistics players.

Wang commented: “UK consumers are increasingly buying from China through online marketplaces such as Alibaba, eBay, Amazon and Wish.com. Our new office in China, along with our dedicated team in the UK, will work with our clients to dramatically improve transit times and tracking events. Ultimately, this will boost the customer experience for UK buyers and make the delivery experience feel like it was shipped locally. This will support customer retention and increased order values in the future.

“I look forward to working closely with the UK team and our partners here in China to smooth the transit of goods and returns and help Chinese retailers make the most of the fantastic opportunity that the UK represents.”

Another advantage of Chengdu’s geographical location is that it is close to the new Silk Road and Rail routes as well as the major South and East trade channels. This should boost the efficiency of moving goods between the UK and China. The current system consists of a complex network of retailers, online marketplaces and sub-contractors all trading independently.

Neil Ashworth, chief commercial officer, Yodel, commented: “China represents a huge opportunity for us. As our first overseas office it is an exciting development for both our Yodel and CollectPlus businesses. We now have the right people on the ground, who know the Chinese market, and how we can add value.

“It’s great news for both Chinese sellers and their customers here in the UK. Our Chinese partners will be able to tap into our network and infrastructure, while customers will benefit from faster, more efficient delivery of their orders, improved tracking and easier returns.”