Understanding the Need for Speed in Shipping
Has anyone else noticed how, over the past decade, our collective patience for late deliveries has disappeared. I ordered a shirt on Saturday, and by Sunday night was ready to start a chargeback because it had not arrived yet. I realise this is evidently extreme but it would appear that when I shop online I expect things to arrive as quickly as they do when I buy them offline.
And if they do not, I think there is likely a problem. A rather odd demand that we are putting on the post, considering if we used the postal service we might have to wait for six weeks or more for delivery and not even have tracking. This demand for fast shipping is affecting all e-commerce businesses - not just my wardrobe.
So much so, that 83 percent of shoppers, in a recent survey, said that the shipping time was an essential buying factor. What does this mean for you. It means that if you want your customers to stick around you should probably think about how you are going to keep up with the market's demands.
It seems that offering free shipping is also a good way to keep customers coming back. You might feel like you are bleeding money out of your pockets by doing this - but apparently it helps secure about 65 percent of orders that would otherwise not have been completed.
Think of it as an investment in customer loyalty and retention. This is not the time to say 'we have always done it this way' if you want your e-commerce business to keep up with other similar businesses who are doing fast and free shipping.
Top Shipping Solutions to Enhance Delivery Efficiency
We all know the feeling – that second-day delivery promise goes unfulfilled and you’re left to answer endless customer emails. I’ve seen this play out more times than I care to admit, and it always comes down to the delivery process. Realistically, there are tons of ways to get your package from point A to point B and a lot of factors can influence which you use. When you think about how often online orders are placed in a single minute, it’s almost mind-blowing to realise how many companies must be handling shipping at any given time.
Shipping can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be. For instance, third-party logistics (3PL) providers are all about handling every aspect of your supply chain without having to deal with the nuances of actually managing inventory and fulfilment. You could also use dropshipping if you want a fuss-free way of sending goods directly from your supplier to your customer. It takes a huge weight off your shoulders if you don’t have an in-house logistics team or a warehouse for storage.
But not everything is so cut-and-dried. For brands that thrive on personalisation and customer experience, same-day delivery with an in-house fulfilment centre can make a world of difference. So too does partial shipping when you want customers to have immediate access to items that are readily available while they wait for the rest of their order. I’ve noticed some businesses use this strategy during peak festive periods when certain items tend to fly off the shelf faster than others.
All in all, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for enhancing shipping efficiency but there is something for everyone out there. Whether it’s dropshipping, using a third-party provider, or in-house fulfilment, having a solid delivery plan is the best way to build trust among your customers and keep them happy for longer.
Integrating Technology for Streamlined Logistics
Is there anything more devastating than knowing a package is comparatively marked “delivered,” but you haven’t seen it anywhere. You’d ask the whole building, maybe even do a perimeter sweep, and sometimes they magically appear - or not. What’s worse is if you’re the one responsible for sending these packages and you have to tell people they’ve been delivered when they really have not.
Strikes Me As A lot of this confusion could be solved with better tech. There are now systems in place to not only help your business keep track of orders and where they are but to also notify you when something may go wrong. It's not limited to just tracking when a package has been delivered but can also keep customers updated about delays due to high volume, help find alternative ways to send out orders, and also access analytics that helps identify patterns that could cause further problems down the line.
I’m personally rather hesitant about bringing in too much tech because relying on machines over people means cutting costs - and possibly jobs, but the right systems in place don’t reduce human interference as much as it improves productivity. People will now need to spend less time monitoring how things are being sent out so that they can focus on providing great customer service or doing other things that bring value to your business like creative planning or social media work. Integrating technology into your shipping services can make a world of difference for both your brand and for customers who will have better experiences.
Investing in upgrading your systems can greatly reduce costs by optimising routes, forecasting challenges with data analytics and trend reports, as well as automating repetitive tasks like updating customers about where their packages are or answering basic FAQs about shipping timelines.
Cost-Effective Shipping Strategies for Businesses
That moment when you’ve just finished packaging up a mountain of orders and the headache sets in – shipping costs. They’re the silent killer that can slowly eat into your profit margins. I Assume if you’ve been feeling that pinch, then maybe it’s time to rethink your shipping strategies. The way I see it, bulk shipping is the name of the game for many businesses.
It not only allows you to get better rates per package, but it also gives you some negotiating power with courier partners. Think of it as playing in wholesale versus retail. The more parcels you ship, the less each one costs – it's simple maths. If that’s not viable for your business right now, then perhaps take a look at the dimensional weight of your packages.
Yes, size matters. Shipping partners are going to charge you based on how much space a parcel takes up in their delivery van, so it’s in your best interest to minimise this as much as possible. Alternatively, you could take another look at your local partners and see if there are those who offer lower shipping rates or even collection options for nearby customers. This gives them some flexibility and saves you money at the same time – win-win situation.
Real-Time Tracking: Keeping Customers Informed
Picture this. You’ve placed an order for that item you have been eyeing for weeks, you got a confirmation, and now you wait. As the days go by, you are left wondering where your parcel is. We've all been there and it gets rather frustrating when the only update you have is somewhat an email or text saying 'your order is out for delivery.
' Not knowing what that actually means. Letting customers in on tracking their orders in real-time has become more than a nice touch - I think it has become the norm. Watching your parcel’s journey from the time it leaves the warehouse until it’s right on your doorstep can be quite the experience, especially with same-day or next-day deliveries. As an ecommerce brand, giving customers access to real-time tracking features tells them how much you care about their buying experience.
Customers should know what’s going on with their order as soon as it has been placed and have access to all the information about their delivery as it happens. It builds trust and eliminates the frustration of not knowing where your parcel is and whether or not it will arrive at all. Shipping solutions like Australia Post let customers track parcels using tracking numbers and QR codes so customers can apparently plan ahead and feel a sense of ease as they await delivery.
Giving customers access to live updates for their parcels not only makes your brand look good but also means less time spent worrying about customer service issues. There is nothing quite like waiting for a delivery to arrive with no idea where your parcel could possibly be. And I hate it when that happens. Customers appreciate being kept in the loop - especially since shipping delays are rather common these days due to global supply chain shortages.
When customers know exactly what’s going on with their orders, they are less likely to reach out to customer service channels for support, which means fewer cases piling up for your support team.
Case Studies: Successful Implementation of Shipping Solutions
There’s something so satisfying about clicking ‘purchase’ and knowing your item is on the way. When it arrives late or gets lost in transit, it can be quite deflating. It’s no wonder then that ecommerce businesses put so much stock into optimising their shipping solutions.
After all, their entire reputation could rest upon how fast a customer receives their order. Small businesses especially often have to get creative about how they ship products out. Even with shipping partners, there are all sorts of costs to consider — packaging, delivery, insurance and more. The challenge also becomes slightly different when sending goods internationally or when one runs an online marketplace as opposed to a single-brand store.
Let’s look at two businesses that aced the shipping game. Wellness business owner, Nicole Joy started her business on a small scale using Australia Post. While she was able to sell her books to customers directly through eBay, her limited shipping solution did not allow her to build relationships with them nor keep track of her sales effectively.
Over time Nicole made a switch to the ShipStation platform where she was able to import orders from multiple platforms, print batches of shipping labels at once and ensure that her products reached the right person on time and intact. Another Australian business selling eco-friendly products for new mums found herself facing a rather unique problem — not being able to find boxes big enough for her products. When she was able to secure bigger boxes, it cost her much more than before because she could no longer send them via regular post — she had to have them couriered as parcels instead. She was able to bring down costs and keep them consistent by working with DHL Express who were able to offer tailored pricing based on the size of each box and the number of parcels per week.
And if you’re thinking these must be significant financial undertakings for relatively smaller businesses, there are a growing number of providers who are making it easier for SMEs by charging transactionally rather than on monthly subscriptions. For instance, Smart Send is an Australian provider whose charges are applicable per shipment and only after an order has been booked (cancelling is free. ).
There really is a solution for everyone these days.