Delayed deliveries, inaccurate tracking, and wrong addresses are all linked to your delivery management system. You think this means you’ll have to spend a large amount of money to correct them, but it’s not true at all.
Sometimes, just a small tweak to your delivery operations and delivery management can lead to efficiency gains.
Here are seven surprising strategies to propel your operations to improve customer satisfaction and your entire delivery management process.
1. Predictive Delivery Estimates Improve Delivery Service
Instead of tracking your deliveries and sending out static updates to customers, like the example below, give them more information with real-time tracking and an estimated time of arrival (ETA).
Predictive delivery times can only be successful and accurate when you use route optimization software. The software works out the most efficient routes for the day based on the weather conditions, traffic, and van capacity.
A live tracking link can be sent to the customer, who can predict to the second when a parcel will be at their front door.
This is a huge improvement for customer communication, as it improves delivery times and makes sure it’s also more accurate. It simplifies the delivery process, and customers know when to expect their drop-off.
2. In-House And Third-Party Couriers
Looking for something that will help you
Consider using a hybrid fleet model, which means a mix of in-house drivers and third-party couriers.
This will help to create a flexible and cost-effective delivery network. It will boost your output and result in more efficient delivery management. You can quickly scale during peak periods and downgrade during quieter months.
3. Reduce Failed Deliveries with Address Verification
Nothing is more frustrating than a customer who gives an inaccurate or incomplete address. This means drivers are battling to find the right home and spend extra time burning fuel.
But in fact, it’s just a simple typo, and it could have been avoided.
To improve your delivery operations, you need to invest in delivery management software that integrates address verification tools into its checkout process.
4. Motivate Your Delivery Team
Keeping your team motivated might feel like a difficult task and one you didn’t sign up for. Well, I have bad news: without satisfied drivers, their productivity levels might decrease drastically.
This impacts your delivery outcomes. Think about on-time deliveries and the feedback you get from customers.
A simple incentive (now and again) can boost morale and productivity, especially during peak hours when crunch time is important.
5. Customer Retention: Open Communication
In order to keep your customers coming back for more, you need to find a way to keep them satisfied with your service.
One general problem most companies are battling with is missed deliveries. That’s when a customer is not home at the specific time of the day when the order arrives.
In some cases, it will lead to a re-delivery later on, but with small items, proof of delivery can resolve this problem. PoD helps drivers to communicate with customers even if they are not at home.
A picture and a note will make sure there is better communication between drivers and customers.
6. Improved Delivery Windows With Wiser Delivery Management
Delivery windows can easily be optimized by looking at past trends.
Smart scheduling helps organize orders by grouping those close to each other in a certain area. It saves time and fuel costs.
7. Improve Your Packaging Strategy
Australians only recycle 18% of their plastic packaging. There is definitely a need for more sustainable packaging.
Bulky, oversized, and expensive packaging affects the delivery speed and the outcome of each delivery.
You might think your packaging is efficient and can’t make that big of a difference, but it does. It impacts the van’s capacity and the routes, which ultimately impacts the delivery speed.
Consider more eco-friendly and sturdy packaging.
Here’s a guide that can assist: How to create sustainable packages for your products
About the author
Mia is a multi-award-winning journalist. She has more than 14 years of experience in mainstream media. She's covered many historic moments that happened in Africa and internationally. She has a strong focus on human interest stories, to bring her readers and viewers closer to the topics at hand.
