Technology has made a lot of things easier for small businesses over the past decade. However, that isn’t to say they don’t still face significant challenges. Perhaps one of the biggest challenges for today’s businesses is ensuring they meet high delivery demands.
Consumers and clients expect a lot from their delivery service these days. Unfortunately, this presents a number of issues for businesses. Here, we’ll look at some of the key delivery challenges small businesses face today and how they can be overcome.
Contents
Finding a reliable courier
By far one of the biggest delivery challenges businesses face is finding a reliable courier. As there is a lot of pressure to deliver goods quickly and professionally, small businesses need to ensure they’re picking a courier they can rely upon like TNT.
Thanks to the internet, it’s easy to read customer reviews and find out whether a courier is reliable before you actually use them. So, take some time to research the different options and choose one which has developed a strong, positive reputation.
Not having a good tracking system in place
Tracking is one the features consumers automatically expect. Allowing you and them to track the parcel at any given time, it’s great for providing peace of mind and protection. When your parcels are tracked, you’ll be able to see when they’re delivered. So, if there is a problem, you’ll be able to resolve it much quicker and avoid potentially fraudulent claims.
Ideally, you’ll want to set up an automated tracking system. You’ll typically find most couriers offer a great tracking service so it’s worth taking advantage of these where you can.
Meeting same day delivery promises
Same day deliveries are definitely seen as an advantage by customers, however it isn’t easy to fulfil orders this quickly. That’s why you’ll find very few small businesses provide a same-day service. If you’re going to do it, you’re going to need to start extremely small. Offer it in your local area first so you can get an idea of how it works and what you need to do to offer an efficient service. If you want to expand your same day deliveries nationally, it is going to get expensive.
Using the wrong type of packaging
Finally, it’s important to make sure you’re using the right type of packaging. Consumers don’t like unnecessary packaging and there’s also environmental guidelines to follow too. So, getting clued up on packaging regulations and ensuring you’re using eco-friendly packaging are really important steps to take.
Overall, there are many potential delivery challenges small businesses face. The ones listed above are some of the most common. By planning ahead, you’ll be able to avoid these challenges and ensure you’re providing a good quality delivery service to your customers.
