In the last few years, there has been a rapid shift towards digital and mobile commerce. Technology is changing so fast that it’s hard to keep up with platforms, devices, and the different apps that are helping to make our lives easier every day.
While the traditional “last-mile” delivery is still a major part of the e-commerce business model, it’s not enough. To stay on top of the competition, you need to use all available tools and technologies in your favor.
If you are a logistics operator or a small business owner, here are a few ways to improve your last-mile delivery services:
Keep your customers informed of their order status
If you’re engaging in delivery for your business, it’s important to keep your customers informed of their order status. If they know when something will arrive, they can plan accordingly and save themselves time and money. This is especially true during busy times at the beginning or end of the day. It’s also helpful if customers know what time their order will arrive so that they can get ready for it while it’s still in transit.
Keep tabs on how long the item is going to take to ship based on what type of product you’re selling, and when you expect it to arrive at its destination. Communicate with your customers at this stage, letting them know that it’s not always possible to give exact shipping dates because there are so many factors involved in each order — but if you can provide an approximate date for when it will ship, then do so!
Providing updates on tracking numbers is another way to keep customers informed of their order status. The more information you provide, the better chance you have at keeping them happy with their experience and loyalty toward your brand. For example, if a customer knows that their order has been shipped but not yet left the warehouse, they might be less likely to contact you with issues or concerns about their product’s arrival time or condition. They may just assume that things are moving along smoothly until they receive an email from you saying otherwise.
If you have an option for tracking packages once they leave your warehouse, use it! This will allow your customer to see where their order is at all times during transit, which will make them feel more confident in knowing that their package is being handled properly by the carrier. If you don’t keep your customers in the loop, they’re likely to become frustrated. They may start looking elsewhere for their next purchase. A little communication goes a long way in keeping customers happy and making them return for more.
Some customers will want their order shipped as soon as possible, while others prefer a slower method that isn’t rushed or expensive. Make sure you have options available for each customer so that they can choose what best fits their needs.
Find ways to include new technologies into your supply chain
In today’s world, there are many ways to improve your last-mile delivery service. You can start by identifying what your customers need and then creating a supply chain that meets their demands using technology.
For example, you may want to add automated shipping software or robots in order to reduce costs and increase efficiency. This will allow you to offer the best possible customer experience while also increasing productivity levels.
You can use technology such as mobile or web-based applications as an extra way of making sure that customers get information about their deliveries at all times. Apps make things much easier for customers because they can access information from anywhere in the world from their device! This would also be a great opportunity for them to easily access your service or product when they need it.
Not all companies might benefit from drone technology but some big players in the logistics industry are already starting to explore adding drones to their last-mile delivery. Of course, regulations are one of the biggest challenges but once perfected, this technology can revolutionize the speed, cost, and efficiency of any type of supply chain.
Plan and streamline your last-mile delivery process
The last mile of delivery is the most important part of the delivery process. It’s where customers can choose from a wide range of delivery options, such as curbside or interior pickup, and then have their order delivered directly to their door.
If your business processes are streamlined and efficient, this step can be quite simple. But if you’re new to last-mile delivery or you haven’t taken steps to improve it, you may not know what to do next. Here are a few things you need to consider:
Plan ahead: The first thing you should do is plan. This means taking time to think about how you want your customers to experience last-mile delivery — whether they want it curbside or inside your store — so that you can make sure that happens smoothly for them.
Streamline your process: Once you know what kind of experience your customers want, it’s time to streamline your process so that it runs smoothly from start to finish. For example: If curbside pickup is an option, make sure all employees know how it works. Here are some ideas to help you get started in streamlining your last-mile delivery process:
- Create a checklist of all the items that need to be delivered, including any special instructions for each item. This will help ensure that items are delivered in the correct order and that the right number of drivers are assigned to deliver them.
- Decide who will be responsible for ensuring that all items are delivered on time and accurately. This can include supervisors or managers, as well as drivers and other employees who may need additional training or support before they can handle their deliveries with confidence.
- Establish communication channels between staff members so that everyone knows what’s happening at all times and can work together toward common goals.
Another effective way to streamline your last-mile delivery process is by using technology. Tools like AI can help you with this, as well as other software solutions like apps that help in scheduling deliveries and tracking inventory that is often repetitive and time-consuming. This will help you save time and money in the long run.
Improving your last-mile delivery service
The last mile delivery service is one of the most important parts of your business. It is the shortest distance between a parcel’s last stop and the customer. While admittedly very crucial, last-mile delivery is also one of the most expensive operations to sustain. You need to keep in mind that this is not just a logistics problem but also an operations problem that needs to be looked into to make sure that you are implementing the best delivery method for your business and your customers.
