Delivery is the final piece of the puzzle when it comes to reaching your customers. They’ve been with you every other step of the way, from acquisition through to purchasing, and now your fulfilment is your last stage in making sure that your customer comes back time and time again. Hopefully, you’re either doing an amazing job getting your orders out on your own, or you’re using a 3PL that meets your every specification. Meaning storage, picking and packing are all fully taken care of – but who do you choose to actually deliver your goods to your customer's doorstep?
Well, when it comes to couriers there are so many different ones to choose from, and each one comes with its own pros and cons. So where do you start? Before you choose which courier you want to use, you need to look at what you want to get out of that courier. What your needs are as a business, and where do you see your business going?
We’ve outlined some of the key considerations which you should look for before you make the decision on which courier you need to use!
What to look for in your chosen courier.
When choosing the courier that will connect your fulfilment partner to your customers you need to first research the potential possibilities. Any 3PL you’re working with will be able to take you through the options available to you and outline what each courier can offer you and which they recommend to suit your individual needs. That being said, there are some questions and some research which you can perform which should help you make as an informed decision as possible. Make sure to talk through all of the below with your 3PL to ensure you’re both on the same page.
Reputation & Reviews.
Firstly, let’s talk about reputation!
Looking into each courier's reputation is the best place to start when it comes to selecting the right one for you! Each courier will have a plethora of reviews from the various businesses that they have worked with over the years. If you’re seeing lots of “lost items”“delayed delivery” and other controllable negative outcomes, it might be best to look elsewhere.
If you choose to use a courier that has a negative reputation, you may begin to see an increase in checkout abandonment, especially around key periods such as Christmas and Black Friday. Your customers want to be able to rely on the courier to deliver their parcel on time – so making sure you do thorough research into each option is the best way to instil trust and avoid costly abandoned baskets.
Cost vs Value.
When it comes to couriers, cheaper seldom means better. But that also doesn’t mean that the most expensive option is the best either.
Similarly to other elements within your business, when selecting which courier you want to use, you should always weigh up the cost vs the value of the service they're offering. Choosing a courier which is best suited to your business means looking beyond the cost of the service and looking at the value of the service. With more and more customers looking for fast, reliable deliveries you need to work with someone that is able to provide the service you need, at a rate you can afford!
When it comes to choosing your courier SCEND can help give you advice on the best option for you and your business.
Sustainability.
Are you concerned about your carbon footprint?
One of the best ways in which you can improve the sustainability of your eCommerce store is to use a 3PL that uses sustainable practices such as cleaner packaging and working with couriers who are committed to their green initiative. When choosing which courier is the right one for you, it is a good idea to have a look at their green initiative. Some will exclusively use a fleet of electric vehicles to transport goods around the country – others will be improving office and warehouse sustainability practices. Before selecting your courier, you should investigate what they do to ensure your products are arriving on time – and in the most environmentally friendly way.
Are you shipping internationally?
When it comes to shipping your products one of the things that you need to consider is where they're being shipped to!
If you're dealing exclusively with the UK then you don't really need to think on this one too much! But if you have plans to or are branching out into the global marketplace, looking at couriers which offer fast and reliable worldwide shipping. With SCEND we can help you choose the best international courier to meet the needs of your business.
At SCEND we work with DHL for our international packages.
Next-day delivery offering.
Finally, when it comes to looking at your courier choices you need to consider what type of services they offer. In today's society, our customers are getting more and more used to receiving their products in record speeds. And with next and same-day delivery becoming the standard later cut-off and pick-up times should be taken into consideration.
At SCEND we work with multiple couriers offering same-day dispatch up until 9 PM, Speak to your 3PL when discussing your options.
