When running a business, it’s always important to choose your partnerships carefully. Perhaps nowhere is this more evident than when you are choosing a delivery service provider.
Today, customer expectations regarding shipping and delivery are higher than ever before. If customers have a poor delivery experience after purchasing products from you, they’re almost just as likely to blame your company as they are the delivery service. In fact, according to a recent report, 2 in 5 consumers place the blame for late deliveries on retailers.
To help you choose a delivery service provider that will wow your customers and make things easy for you and them alike, we’ve put together a list of the top qualities to look for in a provider. Before you sign on the dotted line with a delivery provider, be sure to consider these four important factors.
1. Technology
Like most industries, the logistics industry has been revolutionized by technology—and the best delivery service providers are those on the cutting edge of these advancements. Real-time tracking and delivery visibility are examples of important features to look for in a delivery platform. These platforms allow customers to see the location and status of their deliveries in real-time, which is a major part of offering a great delivery experience.
To ensure a seamless experience for your company, you should also choose a delivery service provider that offers multiple integration methods. This will allow you to easily connect the provider’s technology with your existing systems.
Lastly, AI-powered innovation is something that’s already having a major impact on the logistics industry, and partnering with a delivery service that leverages AI for things like route optimization, predictive analytics, and automated dispatching can offer many advantages. These AI-powered insights can be used to reduce delivery times and delivery costs, benefiting both your company and its customers.
2. Operations
A delivery service provider should have a strong operational framework to meet diverse business needs. This starts with offering multiple service levels, such as same-day delivery, scheduled delivery, and expedited delivery. They should also offer the ability to create and adhere to customized standard operating procedures (SOPs). With custom SOPs, businesses with unique handling, packaging, or delivery needs can ensure those needs are met.
Live support is another pillar of a good service provider’s operations. By choosing a delivery service that offers live support, you can ensure that any issues that arise are quickly addressed. Lastly, be sure to look for a delivery service provider that has a history of high performance. Assessing things like on-time delivery rates, reschedule rates and damage claim rates will help you choose a provider with a proven track record.
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3. Coverage area
Where you’ll be shipping products to is always a critical factor to consider when choosing a delivery service, and you’ll need to make sure the carrier’s coverage area matches your current and future needs. Partnering with a delivery service that offers national coverage will allow you to easily scale your network and service area without the need for significant operational investments.
If your business has multiple sales channels, it’s also important to choose a provider that offers omnichannel fulfillment. True omnichannel providers can pick up and deliver from distribution centers, retail stores, warehouses and more while also providing valuable services like intra-store transfers and business-to-business delivery. The right delivery service provider will have the flexibility to complement your operations and extend your delivery network.
4. Delivery professionals
There’s a lot that goes into making a great delivery service provider, but the men and women completing the deliveries is an element that cannot be overlooked. Delivery service providers should require delivery professionals to complete a background check and adhere to strict standards when it comes to things like timeliness, proper handling of goods and safety protocols. By choosing a service provider that invests in the training and certification of its delivery professionals, you can further improve the odds that your goods will be delivered on time and in good condition.
A high driver availability rate is also a key thing to look for, as there are few things worse than having products sit in your stores or warehouses because no one is available to deliver them. Lastly, be sure to choose a delivery service provider that offers photo verification. Requiring delivery professionals to take a photo of the package once it’s dropped off provides an extra layer of security and accountability to curb theft and reduce claims.
Conclusion
If you want to create the kind of delivery experience that keeps customers coming back, it matters which delivery service provider you choose. At Bungii, we offer a flexible, on-demand delivery platform that’s powered by cutting-edge technology and industry-leading operations. With a wide range of service levels, custom SOPs and a nationwide team of certified delivery professionals, we’re setting a new standard for big and bulky delivery. If you’re ready to make delivery a differentiator for your business, let us know if we can help.
