One of the most important aspects of a transportation company is customer satisfaction, which is where scheduled deliveries come in. When these types of services are scheduled, orders are fulfilled on a personalized basis. Wouldn't it be much better if customers could choose the date and time of their deliveries?
In many cases, customers don't know exactly when their package will arrive. Below, we explain how scheduled shipping actually works, what obstacles it can present, and how to provide the service to users. This way, you can avoid complaints or negative reviews while attracting more and more customers.
Scheduling shipments
Delivery practices are one of the most important factors customers consider. So much so that they may decide whether or not to use a service based on these practices. According to statistics on the subject, 24% of customers abandon orders if delivery sites are not clear.
Some companies maintain their deliveries in the mornings or afternoons, depending on what's convenient for the customer. However, others offer much more specific time slots, with one- or two-hour windows. This simple difference in service completely improves the experience, as neither the driver's nor the customer's time is wasted.
How do scheduled deliveries work?
While not all customers expect immediate delivery of their orders, as they are aware, this should not compromise convenience. All companies notify that the package will arrive that day, but not all of them provide the exact time. This randomness is what causes customers to waste their time and patience.
If you're looking to improve your customers' experience, scheduled deliveries are vital. This allows customers to easily choose the time slot they want to receive their order, thanks to automation. Companies like Amazon use this type of service to be more effective. Let's take a look at the entire process involved in this type of scheduling.
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When the customer makes their purchase, they must select the type of delivery. The delivery time slots are available, depending on the company and the drivers' schedules.
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By choosing the most convenient order time, the customer will receive a notification or message confirming the date and time.
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If any eventuality occurs that could delay delivery, the customer will be notified, including reasons.
Why offer this service to customers?
We've got you covered with some of the most important reasons why you should incorporate this type of delivery into your service. We've explained them in detail so you can decide, based on your service, partner brands, niche, and customers, whether it's the best fit for your business.
Always be above expectations
Unfortunately, when it comes to services that deliver, customers don't have very high expectations. This is due to the simple fact that everyone has had bad experiences with shipping in the past. Even if you're the manager of a small service that can't deliver quickly, you can let them schedule deliveries to earn some extra points.
Improve inventory management
Scheduled deliveries also benefit inventory management. They allow you to anticipate demand and synchronize inventory so nothing runs out. This is very useful when working with partners who need to prepare food, make handmade products, and more. Pre-ordering will give you more time to ensure a successful delivery.
Have a well-organized calendar
Since the customer indicates a precise date and time they prefer their order to arrive, deliveries will be planned accordingly. Routes also vary in traffic depending on the time of day or day of the week. This way, deliveries can be assigned in advance to ensure vehicles are loaded appropriately according to their capacity.
For example, if the customer works office hours or part-time, they can make the delivery at that time. This avoids arriving at the delivery location and not having the customer there, wasting fuel and time. This, in turn, will reduce costs, as drivers can make more deliveries in a single trip.
Complications of scheduling shipments
Just like any other type of shipment, scheduling deliveries isn't immune to difficulties. Here, we've listed some of the most common ones so you can avoid them or at least take precautions. This, in turn, will help you find better solutions in the future.
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Delays in deliveries, even if the schedule is organized, must be kept in mind that it will never be perfect. There are so many external factors that can influence the order. These could include accidents, weather changes, roadblocks, or technical difficulties.
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Last-minute orders or changes: If you schedule all shipments to be made on one day, try to make this option available to customers. Otherwise, you're subject to last-minute orders that can't be fulfilled.
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Manual scheduling, organizing things this way, or taking calls makes all processes difficult. Using an app-type software is the best option to avoid delays.
100% delivery management
It's important to always keep in mind that all the statistics show that customers prioritize good communication. Furthermore, a company is more attractive if it has better access channels and technology. Scheduled deliveries are part of the advances that digitalization offers; don't fall behind.
