Although rare, the most unsatisfactory thing that can happen after placing an order is not being delivered on time. In an ideal world, a package should be delivered to the end customer on schedule and without complications. Unfortunately, however, items may arrive damaged, defective, or with inaccurate characteristics in rare cases. Delays in eCommerce delivery and receipt of defective products are common occurrences in the shipping industry.
These difficulties lead to angry customers. This not only makes the customer angry, but the seller has to bear the cost of the RTO and reimburse the customer for the cost of the product.
Reason for Delayed Delivery
We have listed the top common reasons for delays in eCommerce delivery processes. In addition, we discussed how and what types of technology can assist shipping companies in providing customers with a great customer experience.
Non-Visibility Is A Problem
It is very important to have clear visibility throughout the supply chain to ensure that shipments are delivered safely and on schedule from one end to the other. Organizations can fall victim to many inefficiencies if they don’t have them, resulting in delayed deliveries, damage, or lost deliveries.
For shipping companies, relying on technology to provide transparency throughout the eCommerce shipping process is a way to gain and maintain a competitive advantage. In addition, shipping software can provide transparency during the shipping process, benefiting both operators and their clients.
Here are some of the salient characteristics:
- Waybills by the digital age
- Create eCommerce shipping labels to ship your packages
- Scanning at item level
- Signature collection at the route building
Inadequate Technology
Outdated software or hardware creates significant difficulties for shipping companies by limiting their capacity to incorporate new technologies and access capabilities that can help them reduce cargo delivery delays.
Making the right hardware investments in conjunction with cloud-based software can provide a much more comprehensive strategy that allows courier, 3PL, logistics, and transportation companies to stay connected while also profiting from real-time information.
Problems With Motor Vehicles
Vehicle breakdowns are unavoidable and will occur at some point in time. For example, if equipment failure occurs during delivery, delays will inevitably occur, and you can’t do anything about it, can you?
It turns out that technology can provide solutions even in the most severe circumstances. For example, with web-based tracking, courier businesses can identify and deploy the nearest driver to a vehicle experiencing a problem, ensuring that all required items are delivered on time and in priority order to their final destination.
Lost Packages
Perhaps the most upsetting experience a client can always start with is the question, “Where did my shipment go?”
What causes lost packages? Several factors can cause this problem, including a simple misplacement, a damaged shipping label, or the simple act of accidentally removing an item.
Does technology help? Verification of shipments can be very useful in protecting all parties involved, from the organization to the intended recipient. With real-time tracking and tracing capabilities, couriers and clients will be aware of the whereabouts of goods at all times during the eCommerce delivery process.
Weather Conditions
Safety should always be the number one priority for any shipping business. Weather-related road closures invariably result in traffic delays as a result of slower transit times.
When the weather conditions determine the speed of delivery, it can be very annoying for the customer. However, there is only so much a shipping company can do to ensure that deliveries are made on time.
Traffic
At this time, finding a city that was completely free of traffic was almost difficult. As a result, it is increasingly being heard about people experiencing delays while traveling due to various factors such as construction, accidents, major blockages and detours.
Courier drivers, to their advantage, can use route optimization software. It can determine the fastest feasible path and update it in real time to prevent delivery delays caused by unexpected events such as traffic jams.
Bulk eCommerce Shipping
A sudden and unexpected increase in the number of shipments shipped may be overwhelming for a shipping company that is not equipped with good software systems.
When shopping begins during the holiday season, this is the most typical occurrence. As the number of online orders grows, so does the demand for courier management software to properly allocate the appropriate volume to drivers while directing them through the most efficient route.
Delivery Attempt Failed
In the event of a failed delivery attempt, the consumer may be to blame if no one receives the product. It takes focus from the courier company.
After making an unsuccessful attempt to deliver the product, the driver should move to another pending order to minimize the delayed delivery. However, the truth is that they often have a set amount of time to wait for a response (hint: it’s very short).
Fortunately, with the right tracking and tracing system, this problem can be solved quickly. This way, you can ensure that your clients are always up-to-date with real-time information and know when they should expect to get their stuff.
Customs
To take a global view, as a carrier dealing with customs, you must ensure that all the necessary paperwork is in place and properly completed to prevent any trouble.
If you do not have the appropriate documents, delays are inevitable, and if the authorities decide to inspect your goods, the situation can quickly deteriorate and cause more trouble.
Retailers must have contingency plans in case their merchandise is held at customs. A partnership with a reliable courier provider that ensures that paper is delivered accurately is a component of a backup plan.
Conclusion
For shipping businesses, the use of logistics management software can make the problem of misplaced goods a thing of the past. With comprehensive end-to-end package visibility, starting with the dispatcher, the right IT platform can undoubtedly increase reliability, enable expansion and scalability, and provide full accountability.
