When there is any damage, missing, or delayed package, customers quickly blame the eCommerce business, not its supply chain management (SCM) provider or courier that does the delivery. This is how crucial the delivery aspect is to any online enterprise. Making repeat customers and gaining more sales volume depends on how consistently you meet or exceed their expectations.
Customers can easily detect any SCM or courier problems in your system, immediately leading to a delivery shortfall. Disappointed customers tend to share their negative reviews more than positive ones on social media or rant verbally with close friends or family. It’s easy to lose customers who no longer believe your delivery promise.
The online business industry has become increasingly competitive as many entrepreneurs have already grasped the great potential of a digital setup. Startup eCommerce businesses will find it difficult to get into the front line with all the challenges they have to first conquer, even including the challenges in eCommerce accounting as they have to sort their finances and taxes out just as much as their delivery methods.
Here are several ways you can make your delivery strategies more efficient:
Set your shipping fees right
Whether you overprice your shipping fee or make it free, you hurt your business’s bottom line. You must ensure you set the correct prices for your shipping fee. This is why the importance of accounting for your ecommerce business needs to be understood. Highly qualified accountants can provide constructive input toward determining prices that would work for you and the customers.
Overpriced shipping fee is one of the primary reasons that customers abandon their cart. But you shouldn’t fall into the trap of simply giving free shipping either, for if your customers don’t pay, you are the one who has to. This is great for your customers but not for you.
There are other ways to price your shipping, such as through flat rate or tabletop rate, live rates from couriers, or a combination of these strategies. The flat rate is relatively the same for everyone regardless of the shipments’ size, order cost, or distance. Tabletop rate changes according to these factors.
Another way is to apply just the couriers’ live rates, so you just cover the costs in the process in a way that you don’t make money from it, but you don’t lose either. Finally, you can opt to combine different strategies—take all the best options and balance the benefit between you and the customers.
Determine your speed of delivery
The regular delivery speed in the UK usually takes around 3 to 5 working days. However, plenty of customers turn out to be willing to pay a higher fee so they can receive their product the next day or even on the same day they made the order.
However, you can only offer the same delivery windows as your partner courier has. You may consider choosing a courier that offers the same or next-day delivery. Make sure to inform your customers of your cut-off time so they can order within the deadline, which brings us to the next part.
Choose the right courier
Partnering with a suitable courier is very crucial for online retailers. As mentioned, whatever mistakes your courier makes will directly affect your brand. 60% of UK customers find delivery the most bothersome part of their online shopping experience, and many claims that they will never return to a retailer with a disappointing delivery service.
There is a myriad of couriers you can choose from in the UK. The most popular ones include DPD, Yodel, Royal Mail, Parcel Force Worldwide, and Hermes. The majority of these providers provide the same services at competitive rates, so all the choice boils down to which is nearest to your business’ base.
Generally, you will need to consider the courier’s price, speed, tracking and delivery options, professionalism, and returns collection. Make sure to read the reviews first. A courier that collects shipments is even better as it can significantly make the delivery process more efficient.
Pay attention to your packaging
How you do your packaging reflects your brand, so make sure your packaging resonates with your brand and remains attractive to the customers. The material should be lightweight, so you would not have to pay extra shipping costs unnecessarily.
Nowadays, customers gravitate toward environment-friendly products and packaging, so you might want to consider recyclable packaging or using recycled materials. Your courier partner or fulfillment provider can help you decide which packaging would fit best for your products, even including the sourcing and printing processes.
Provide tracking
It’s possible your courier may not provide live tracking services, but ensure that you can still give your customer an update on their order. Retailers that offer order tracking receive more appealing reviews from their customers. This shows how important it is to update customers on their shipments constantly.
You can opt for mobile SMSs or emails and update your customers, such as when their order is prepared for shipment when it is dispatched, and finally, when it is delivered. Integrated software can also be of great help as it can help you automate information and emails, making it easier to provide real-time information once your customers ask for it.
Make your offer clear on your website
Once you determine all you can offer in delivery, make sure your customers know. Present them clearly on your website, including the prices. It’s a win-win when you can offer delivery service at a lower price but not hurt your bottom line.
Give good impressions for first orders
It’s an excellent achievement for eCommerce businesses to make a lot of repeat customers. This is possible when you leave good first impressions for every first order, ensuring your delivery promises are fulfilled. The first order is your opportunity to establish your customers’ trust.
Should things go wrong, just handle the issue professionally and smoothly. And if you want to impress your customers further, you can include surprise-free gifts, brand your packaging, or apply many other ways.
Every retailer’s goal is to increase sales volume. Choose the right partners in every aspect. They can help your eCommerce business get to the forefront of the industry. Business experts and tax accountants in Milton Keynes are here to help you navigate the eCommerce business sector, having had a lot of successful clients to speak of our exemplary service.
