Last-mile delivery is becoming more and more important, regardless of the type of goods you sell. With the rise of e-commerce, the competition has gotten fierce — not only among ecomm competitors, but for brick and mortar stores looking to stand their ground. But succeeding in this arena can be difficult, especially when the very nature of last-mile delivery is highly inefficient. Without proper planning and the use of current technology, it’s easy for businesses to succumb to this ever-changing world of delivery. Today, the delivery optimization experts at GetSwift are here to explain some of the biggest challenges of last-mile delivery. Keep reading to learn more.
Cost
Last-mile delivery is the final step in the distribution process that brings the desired goods to the customer. It’s part of a shift that’s been happening in the marketplace over the last decade, and now it’s become commonplace to be able to get everything from your groceries and fast food to your clothing and cannabis delivered right to your door.
Unfortunately, it’s very costly to be able to deliver goods from multiple sources directly to customers’ homes. The process is highly inefficient — many small, low-dollar deliveries require more time, more fuel, more people and more vehicles to get the job done. There’s no doubt that you’ll see a rise in your logistics costs when you offer your customers home delivery, but if done correctly, it can give you a clear advantage over your other competitors.
So, how do you keep your delivery costs from getting out of hand? The answer lies in technology. Using delivery management tools like those available from GetSwift will help you optimize your operation with automatic dispatching, route optimization, and delivery tracking. All of these tools can help you do more and deliver more, all while providing the best customer experience possible.
Efficiency
When it comes to efficiency, the goal of last-mile delivery is to be able to deliver goods to customers as quickly as possible. Amazon set the bar several years ago with their two-day delivery, and since then, the bar keeps getting raised. More and more people are finding ways to optimize their processes so they can stay competitive. In today’s market, whoever can deliver the right products the fastest will win in the delivery business.
If you’re finding today’s delivery expectations to be completely unachievable, it’s time to take a look at your current process and evaluate some of the areas that need improvement. Does your team spend way too much time tracking down delivery drivers? Is your growth limited by the number of deliveries you can make in a day? Are your customer reviews less than stellar?
If you answered “yes” to any of the above, you need to take action now.
Communication
Today’s consumers have come to expect much more from their shopping experience than just receiving an automatically-generated order confirmation email. They expect to receive frequent status updates about their order as well as real-time delivery notifications. Keeping each and every customer in the know can require a small army of people to do it — unless you rely on technology to help you.
GetSwift’s delivery management software can help you meet your customer’s expectations while also helping you to run your business more efficiently. Our easy-to-use app keeps you connected with your customers as well as with your drivers. With instant communication through SMS messaging, you can get the information to the people that need it in the fastest way possible.
Rapid Change
Commerce has changed significantly in the last decade. It has become almost impossible to capture and retain customers without tapping into home delivery. Unless you’re catering to the growing percentage of customers who look for businesses that can provide them with the fast delivery they require, you’re going to lose out. Businesses can no longer survive by continuing to do what they’ve always done.
If you own a business, change can be difficult — especially if you’re small and have limited resources. But choosing not to change is not an option. At GetSwift, we offer two different pricing options, so even the smallest businesses can take advantage of the tools they need to optimize and grow their business.
Contact GetSwift
If you’re struggling to compete when it comes to last-mile delivery, let the experts at GetSwift show you how the right delivery management tools can make all the difference in your success. Our software can help you work smarter by minimizing manual work, automating dispatching, and providing you with data reports that allow you to make more informed decisions about your business.
Trust the delivery experts at GetSwift. We’ve helped hundreds of companies in over 70 different industries conquer delivery and we can help you! Sign up today for a free, no-risk, thirty-day trial or visit our pricing page to learn about all of the features our software has to offer.
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