E-commerce success has been very evident in recent years, especially with the increase of consumers that switched to online shopping as a result of the pandemic. It is indeed a good time to start an e-commerce business. However, it is important to proceed with caution because it comes with challenges too. One of those that should not be overlooked is providing on-time delivery to customers.
Several factors hinder on-time delivery. If you are an e-commerce business owner, you have to establish the causes of these delays and come up with solutions on how to avoid late delivery.
What are the Common Causes of Delivery Delays?
Documentation Errors
Wrong information could get in the way of on-time delivery. Mistakes on the part of the client usually include misspelled addresses and insufficient information among others. These errors must be avoided to prevent problems with deliveries.
Bad Hosting
System failures spell disaster for e-commerce businesses. Online shops operate 24/7 and if the hosting is not reliable, technical problems may arise. This will affect customer experience and lead to problems such as poor shopping experience, data errors, and delivery delays.
Weather Disturbances
Good weather plays a role in the on-time delivery of goods the same way that bad weather may cause delivery delays. Heavy rains, flooding, and other natural calamities may prevent on-time shipments.
Logistics Issues
Logistical problems may not be much of an issue for businesses that outsource their shipping needs to a dependable courier company. But companies that handle their shipping and deal with numerous orders may be prone to delivery problems.
While several factors affect on-time delivery, it’s good to know that e-commerce businesses can turn to solutions that will help them avoid delivery delays.
Tips to Ensure On-time Delivery
1. Set realistic delivery times.
As much as you want to please your clients by promising fast delivery time, it is more important to ensure that customer expectations will be met. Set a minimum and maximum delivery time so that orders may be processed well and complaints about late delivery will be avoided. This will help manage your customer expectations and increase the chances of getting positive client feedback.
2. Replenish your stocks.
Identify fast-moving products and make sure that your inventory is regularly updated. Problems will arise if customers will order a product from your online shop that is no longer available in your actual inventory.
3. Prepare for peak seasons.
There are months when orders are at their highest and you better ensure that you will be able to keep up not only with supplies availability but with expected delivery times as well. Keep in mind that business demand and customer expectations are high during peak seasons.
4. Outsource your delivery needs.
Streamline your processes and avoid problems with late deliveries by outsourcing a courier company that can partner with you. A reputable courier company can also handle your warehousing management and logistics needs to ensure a swift order fulfillment process. They will be instrumental in making sure that delivery will be completed on time even when handling huge orders.
ALSO READ: BRAND LOGISTICS AND ITS IMPACT ON YOUR BUSINESS
E-commerce business owners need to establish the difficulties being encountered that get in the way of on-time delivery. Preventing delivery delays can have a huge impact on customer satisfaction and propel business growth. If you can’t afford to risk customer relationships and business reputation, find a logistics management partner who can address your delivery requirements. Worklink Services, Inc. can work with you to ensure that delivery times are met.