For eCommerce businesses, the importance of getting packages to customers in good time cannot be overstated. As well as keeping your customers happy, getting packages to them quickly helps you meet demand and stay up with the competition.

There are many ways you can cut down transit time and avoid delays. In this blog post, we’ll be going over some of the steps you can take to speed up the delivery process and enhance customer experience to keep them coming back again and again.

Quality Packaging Materials

Another way your packages can be delayed or lost is if they’re insufficiently packaged before you send them out. By posting packages that are improperly protected, this can result in goods spilling out or boxes becoming crushed. So even if a damaged package does eventually arrive, you’re going to have an angry customer nevertheless! 

By using quality packaging materials, you can ensure the parcel arrives intact. Sturdy cardboard boxes, cushioning materials like bubble wrap or packing peanuts and secure tape will also shore up your package’s defences and ensure your goods don't become damaged, which can cause major delays.

Right-Sized Packages

Another way to ensure your goods don’t get broken en route is to right-size your packages. Right-sizing is where you pack your goods tightly without any spaces in the box, preventing your goods from rattling around while they’re in transit.

Made-to-measure boxes will help you right-size your packages. These custom-made boxes are designed to hold your goods in place and prevent any movement while they’re being transported, minimising the risk of them being damaged and reducing the chance of delays.

Post Promptly

Your courier isn’t the only one who’ll need to show speed and efficiency – you’ll need to do the same yourself. If you want to get your packages to your customers in good time, you’ll have to process their orders quickly. 

In some cases, such as Christmas and Easter, delays may be unavoidable. But even then you can do your bit by getting your orders packed up and ready to go.

So try to make the handover to your chosen courier as swift as possible as this is one way to speed up the process and improve customer satisfaction.

Reliable Courier Services

The most crucial step to ensuring your packages arrive on time is to hire a reliable courier.

Opting for good courier services ensures timely deliveries and a smoother transit which is sure to promote a better shopping experience.

When choosing a courier, don't always opt for the cheapest you can find. Although some couriers may be much cheaper than others, this is because they’re often less reliable, resulting in a high number of lost or late parcels. 

Tips For Finding The Right Courier

Finding the right courier is crucial for ensuring packages arrive promptly. Here are some tips to help you find the best company:

Research Options: 

When searching for courier companies, research is imperative. So take some time to check through all the different options that are available to you, comparing their services, rates and reputation. 

You can also look at reviews and testimonials from other businesses as these will help you get an idea of their reliability and customer satisfaction levels.

Check Credentials: 

Another way to ensure you’re partnering with the right courier is to check they’re licensed, insured and compliant with all of the relevant industry regulations. You can also check their track record and reliability by checking for any complaints or disciplinary actions that have been made.

Evaluate Technology And Tracking: 

As well as receiving their packages quickly, customers also want to know where their goods are while they’re in transit. This is especially the case for high-value items.

So opt for a courier that offers tracking, while features such as online booking and electronic proof of delivery will enhance visibility and communication throughout the shipping process, leading to happy customers.

Test Reliability: 

If you’ve narrowed down your options and found a courier, before committing to a long-term contract, it’s always a good idea to have a trial period.

This trial period will reveal a lot about their performance, and if you feel it isn’t up to par then you’ll be free to walk away and find a company that’s more suitable for your needs.

During your trial, monitor delivery times and assess whether customers seem to be happy with the service. If not, it’s time to pull the trigger and go elsewhere.

Why Quick Deliveries Are Important

So now we know how to go about getting packages to your customers’ doors in time, let’s remind ourselves why it’s important: 

Promote Repeat Custom

When all is said and done, a happy customer is one that’s likely to give you their business again. Conversely, a dissatisfied customer is one that’s highly unlikely to give you their money ever again!

So if you want to foster great relationships with your customers and encourage them to come back, getting your goods to them quickly is a non-negotiable.

Avoid Bad Reviews

In this day and age, if your customers have a negative shopping experience, they can share it with the world with just a few clicks. If you start to accumulate bad reviews, over time this will start to damage the reputation you’ve worked hard to forge. 

However, if you get orders to your customers in quick time, this will be one less reason for them to leave negative feedback. In fact, they’ll be more likely to leave a positive review, which is crucial for eCommerce businesses operating in a crowded market.

Competitiveness

Most eCommerce businesses are operating in a crowded marketplace, so it’s important to do all you can to keep up with the competition. 

As mentioned above, in this day and age customers expect their orders to be with them sooner rather than later. So to maintain competitiveness, you’ll need to avoid any unnecessary delays.