In today’s fast-paced and ever-evolving world of e-commerce, meeting customer demands for instant gratification has become a game-changer.
This is where the growing desire for same day delivery has emerged from.
Being able to offer rapid, accurate, and reliable deliveries has revolutionized the retail landscape.
No longer do customers have to wait days for a product. They can now enjoy the convenience of receiving their purchases within hours of placing an order.
But incorporating same day delivery into your business is tricky.
For retailers looking to stay ahead in the competitive market, they must find a way to add this crucial service or risk being left behind.
Luckily, the team at Quicker Same Day know a thing or two about speedy deliveries, and in this blog we’ll explore essential tips to help retailers provide seamless and efficient same day delivery services.
Let’s take a look.
The Rise of Same Day eCommerce Delivery
Over half of online shoppers think having a same day delivery option is important.
Only three years ago, this number was much lower. This shows the rapid rise in expectance for quick deliveries and why if you can’t provide it, you may be left behind.
There are many reasons this service has really grown in popularity, and a key one is accessibility. In previous years, processing, picking, packing, and delivering an order took time.
Now, due to technological advances, it can be much quicker, and a driver can be on their way for a collection minutes after the delivery is booked.
While there is a growing desire for this service, some brands have been relatively slow on the uptake. A recent study found only 6 of the top 100 UK beauty brands can provide same day delivery, for example.
What does this mean?
With many brands yet to adapt, and a growing interest from the public, this is a great opportunity for your business to steal a march and make the most of a same day service.
But how can you incorporate it into your business processes?
Let’s find out, with these tips.
7 Tips for Using Same Day Delivery in eCommerce
It All Starts with Logistics
Of course, the key to a great delivery service starts with your logistics team.
If you want to be able to quickly send items to customers, you must have the right processes in place, and be in the right location to meet your customers.
Don’t have your own logistics team? Well why not use a business like Quicker Same Day, who operate in many cities across the UK, including Manchester, Birmingham, and London?
Whether outsourcing to an external business or using your own logistics team, this is the backbone of your delivery service, so make sure the infrastructure is in place for speedy deliveries before anything else.
Make the Most of Technology
Technology is the key to taking an order and having it on its way in the quickest time possible.
What you must remember is that the delivery process doesn’t begin as the package is collected, but as soon as the order is placed.
This means that having a streamlined order processing system is crucial.
You also need to ensure you have the right technology for your logistics, including fleet management, order updates, and route optimisation.
Having this will also ensure you are being as efficient as possible.
Keep Up with Your Inventory
If you are shipping items out the door as soon as the order is processed, you will notice a lot of movement in terms of your inventory.
While it is good to see your warehouse shelves rapidly emptying, you must be careful to not lose track of your numbers.
If you do, you may end up selling products that you don’t have. If someone has ordered and is expecting their parcel that day, but you don’t have it, it will be one unhappy customer.
There is great technology that can help with this so look to incorporate this and save time manually counting your stock.
Communicate with Your Customers
If a customer is expecting same day delivery, there is a big chance that their parcel is important and urgent.
In this case, they will require updates as their journey progresses.
You must have the capacity to let them know when the order is on the way, inform them of any delays, and allow them to make any changes to the delivery whilst in progress.
If you can provide a tracking link to a customer so they can see updates in real-time, this will be a big boost to the delivery process.
Try and Be Flexible
If someone is expecting a same day delivery, they may find it hard to be in the right place at the right time.
Without being able to cancel appointments and work requirements at short notice, it is tricky to find a time that suits both parties.
In this case, flexibility is key.
Being able to provide several time slots so the recipient can pick the perfect one for them is ideal and makes it a lot easier to avoid failed deliveries due to no one being home.
You should also consider weekend and evening deliveries to really bolster your offerings.
Be Ready for Everything
There is no telling what delivery is going to be ordered next, so try and be ready for anything.
This means having a large fleet with a wide selection of vehicles.
If a job needs to be super quick and the package is small, a motorbike is ideal. For large deliveries, maybe an artic lorry or Hiab or Moffett delivery would work better.
Being able to accommodate all of these needs (and have staff trained in using them that are ready to go) is key to offering a wide-reaching service that is sure to always delight your customers.
Always Assess Your Performance
Before your same day delivery process gets underway, set some key performance indicators (KPIs) which you can regularly track to ensure you are always improving and offering the best service you can.
This could be how long it takes from order to parcel leaving the warehouse, time from order to customer, and also counting successful deliveries and happy customers.
After a while, you can use the insights you have picked up to identify areas for improvement and ensure your same day delivery strategy is working as it should.
Any issues can be addressed and improved upon.
Quicker Same Day
As we mentioned at the top of this blog, same day delivery is hard.
That’s why we do it for you.
Our team has a huge fleet of vehicles spread across the UK and can be on the way to a collection point near you the moment you place the order.
Want to know more? Then get in touch with our team today.
Alternatively, why not get a free quote for a same day delivery right now.