Choosing the Right Delivery Partner- A Simplified Checklist
Shyft Express
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As an e-commerce company, there are plenty of things that demand your attention and money. One of them is selecting the ideal shipping partner to deliver your products to the clients' doorstep.
It's not easy to find a reliable delivery partner. It takes a lot of research. Especially if you want every customer to remember your brand and have a memorable experience.
To make this process easier, here's a checklist that can help you choose the right shipping partner to suit your business.
1. Identify your Requirements?
You must first identify your requirements and priorities before choosing a delivery partner. Start by assessing your clients' needs, the nature of your product, and your competition.
Your customers: Consider their location, how much are they willing to pay for delivery, and how fast do they want their deliveries.
Your products: How big and heavy are your products? How many items do you expect to ship each week, and what is your average order value and margin? This will help determine your pricing.
Your competitors: Evaluate the delivery alternatives and services offered by your competitors. Knowing this will allow you to clearly identify what is working, what's not, and where you can improve.
Before looking for a delivery partner, it's critical to assess your priorities and supply chain needs. This will help you in narrowing down your options and determining which delivery provider is the right match for you.
2. Cost of Delivery
The cheapest carrier is not necessarily the best, so don't make your pick solely based on price. Negotiate with the delivery provider to come up with a cost that is reasonable for both you and your consumers. Go with a? price that is low enough for your clients yet high enough to pay your costs.
Additional surcharges will be added to your invoice at a later date. So keep an eye out for them! These surcharges may determine which carrier is more expensive, if their base prices are the same.?
Local carriers should always be considered first since they will always provide lower prices than the established carriers and will be more efficient working on a smaller scale.
3. Speed of delivery?
Speed is becoming a key selling point, with 42% of consumers wanting same-day delivery.
When choosing a delivery provider, speed is one of the most crucial elements to consider. Different delivery services, such as same-day delivery, next-day delivery, standard delivery, and so on, are commonly offered by courier services. As a result, it's critical to determine whether or not the delivery alternatives you wish to provide your consumers are supported by the delivery provider.
Imagine delivering using a low-cost carrier who can never complete the delivery on time. Sure, you may have saved money in the short term, but in the long run, this unreliable carrier will cost you more money in the form of late deliveries and, even worse, a damaged reputation.
Your business depends on timely delivery. So choose a delivery partner that checks the speed box!
4. Carrier Reputation and Reliability?
Concentrate on choosing? an established, reputable delivery partner with years of expertise. A reliable carrier can help to build your company’s reputation and in turn, grow your business and meet your customer expectations.?
Shipping using a low-cost but unreliable carrier will not be advantageous in the long term. They'll fail to offer time deliveries to your organization on a constant basis, or worse, go out of business, requiring you to redo your carrier selection process.
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As a bonus tip, consider employing an end-to-end delivery provider, as managing the pick-up, loading, and delivery of your products using multiple providers will soon become a nightmare. Besides, the lesser hands your product passes through during transit, the less likely it is to be lost or damaged.
5. Secure Shipment
Look for a delivery provider that handles deliveries professionally if your products are fragile, delicate, or easily damaged.
Ask about the steps they take to guarantee successful deliveries.? Make sure they use padded and cushioned boxes and handle such items with extreme care.
It is also beneficial if their services are insured. It will give you peace of mind, knowing that your delicate goods are in good hands and will be delivered safely to the destination.
Don't forget to enquire about the company's security policy and billing system, and also if they provide proof of delivery.
6. Additional Services?
You can find delivery providers that offer complete logistics and fulfillment solutions. They manage everything from product packaging to labeling and warehouse management while lifting the weight off your shoulders.
Before choosing a delivery service, be sure to check for tracking capabilities. Tracking helps your clients to keep track of the location of their package, making your delivery procedure more transparent. Focus on the customer's tracking interface and the degree of detail they can see in terms of their package status.
Go for a courier service with an intuitive portal to manage bookings and Integration facilities - a must-have in the shipping industry. Having your shipping company be easily integrated with the web's most popular ecommerce platforms, allows you to easily view, access and track deliveries.?
The additional services you decide to include are entirely dependent on your company's budget...so choose wisely!?
7. Customer Experience?
When it comes to consumer experience, the last mile may be the ultimate frontier to conquer. Winning it will leave a lasting memory in the mind of the buyer, resulting in a smooth customer experience.
Ensure that your delivery partner provides the following services:
Or else, your customer may be forced to pay the price of a badly delivered product, which will reflect negatively on your company.
As a result, you'll need a firm with a responsive, experienced, and competent customer care department that can quickly answer queries and address problems.
If you can provide your consumers a positive delivery experience, you'll create more trust in your business, improve your online reputation, and boost overall sales.
Finding the ideal delivery partner may appear to be a difficult process, but it is definitely worth the effort.
And remember to choose a delivery partner who is willing to grow with you. Much like Shyft! Get in touch with us today.