(Yicai) Aug. 18 -- Chinese firms that used to solely provide overseas warehousing facilities have begun to diversify their service offerings to help compatriot e-commerce site vendors better adapt to international markets, according to an industry insider.

Overseas warehouse services are attracting growing attention and more online merchants are using them to fulfill orders, Li Qin, chief executive of EDA Group Holdings said in an interview with Yicai during a recent industry conference.

Shenzhen-based EDA, which offers one-stop, end-to-end supply chain solutions for trans-border e-commerce vendors, was the first Chinese business of its kind to go public after listing in Hong Kong in May last year.

Overseas warehouses are no longer just simple storage facilities but have become a point of contact between suppliers and their overseas customers, Li said, adding that EDA is experimenting with business models such as a “storefront with warehouse at the back.”

In addition, because overseas warehousers typically enter foreign markets before the merchants they serve, they can offer valuable add-on services from product certification to local staffing and agency support, Li noted, adding that they can even help vendors set up offline sales channels, including securing shelf space in local supermarkets.

Overseas warehouse operators must master local laws, tax rules, and sales channels, and maintain good relationships with local logistics providers and government agencies, enabling them to provide full market-entry support wherever a client chooses to expand, Li noted.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Martin Kadiev