Online businesses need to stay ahead of their competitors, and delivery is one of the best methods to achieve this. Customers want quick deliveries; Statista has proven this by stating that almost two-thirds of online shoppers expect their orders to arrive within 24 hours of ordering. With this in mind, the quickest delivery option should be utilized by your business, and this is same-day delivery.
But how does a business prepare itself for offering same-day deliveries? This will be a large change for most businesses, especially those that are relatively new or small in their industries. Thankfully, this post has outlined four of the essential steps that your business should follow to be sufficiently prepared when offering same-day deliveries.
Train Your Staff
As offering same-day delivery can be a very complex process, it is essential to ensure your workers are adequately trained. This will ensure your business has the right people to do the work. Training will enable your staff to understand the entire process of the program, and you should ensure there is a clear and effective step-by-step procedure in place.
The skills that workers need to utilize for same-day deliveries include customer service protocol, navigation, time management as well as the ability to adapt to unexpected situations. These skills will ensure your business can meet the fast-paced demands of same-day delivery without causing order delays. You should offer training modules and practical experience to help with this.
To see the best results, your workers should also become familiar with the courier partnered with your business; more information on couriers will be provided later in this post.
Manage Your Inventory
Due to the quick pace of same-day deliveries, your inventory must be monitored to ensure the right stock levels are available on your website. The best way to do this is by implementing a system, such as a warehouse management system, that accurately tracks stock in real-time. This type of system will manage and control the daily operations of your warehouse or stock room, from distribution to shipment.
Inventory forecasting should also be used to predict demand and ensure stock levels are maintained, particularly for fast-selling items. This will help to prevent delays and stockouts. Workers should also carry out regular stock checks to identify any discrepancies that could occur. With accurate stock levels, fulfilling orders will be simpler, even if your small business uses an automated picking and packing technique.
Choose the Right Courier
While you will look for the same qualities in a courier that any other business would, you should also research which services offer same-day delivery. Not all delivery services will have the drivers, equipment, or vehicles, so researching and communicating with multiple couriers will ensure you make an informed decision.
The best area to begin is on the courier’s website. For example, a look at the website of Couriers Boston shows that they offer same-day deliveries throughout the Boston and Greater Boston areas, and they are available to assist businesses 24/7. This courier offers regularly scheduled deliveries with a fleet of vehicles to ensure businesses receive a reliable service.
It is possible for some small businesses to handle deliveries in-house, but this could cause additional strain on your company’s operations.
Communicate with Customers Quickly
Providing clear updates throughout the delivery process is the minimum expectation that most customers will have, and this is no different for same-day deliveries. If anything, it might be even more critical when the deliveries are happening within hours of placing the order. This can be achieved through emails or text messages that state when the order was received, when the order was dispatched, and when the order should be delivered.
Customers should also be given the opportunity to state any delivery instructions during the checkout process; this is beneficial if the customer is not going to be home when the product is delivered.
As same-day deliveries can be a big change for small businesses, the right preparations should be made to ensure the process goes smoothly. This will include staff training, inventory management, courier selection, and clear communication with customers.
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