No matter the services your company provides, the needs and wants of your customers always come first. You must constantly exceed their expectations; no customer wants to receive a package three days after the due date. The need for a reliable delivery service keeps growing to ensure customers remain satisfied with your company.

 

The shipping/supply chain (ports, warehouses, factories, etc.) continues to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The breakdown in the supply chain is now a significant threat to companies’ growth and future. The post-pandemic years have been hectic and unpredictable for freightage. Some of the effects of the pandemic on shipping industries are:

 

  • Shortage of transportation personnel.
  • The increased cost of production.
  • High shipping costs.
  • Delay in deliveries.
  • Container shortage
  • Unsatisfied customers
  • Damaged goods and cargoes

 

5 Best Ways to Improve Your Company’s Shipping Processes

 

It has become more critical for customers to enjoy faster delivery times. So, your industry must step up its games to find creative solutions to shipping problems and improve your shipping process. Here are five enhancing tips you should follow to save money and ensure your customers remain satisfied:

 

1. Optimize Warehouse Communication

 

How you communicate with your workers, most importantly your warehouse workers, will make or mar your chances of improving your shipping process. To achieve fast delivery, you must maintain a clear, quick, and concise flow of communication with your warehouse. It should only take minutes for an order to be processed. Effective communication helps you manage stocks better (influx and efflux of orders) and prevents miscommunication. 

 

There are various ways and technologies you can use to optimize communication within your warehouse:

 

  • Installing an efficient PA system
  • Provide your warehouse employees with phones and radios
  • Distributing wearable GPS devices
  • Regular meetings with your warehouse staff
  • Using inventory tracking software
  • Use mobile apps like Slack, Chanty, HipChat, and Troop Messenger

 

2. Provide Proof of Delivery

 

Every order needs proof of delivery intended. Proof of delivery or PoD is used in business to confirm delivered items. The PoD assures that a recipient successfully received an order sent by a sender. It comes in paper and electronic forms. For paper PoD, a customer signs on a physical document once a product or service is received. At the same time, electronic PoD can be in the form of a signature or picture of the order at the customer’s doorstep.

 

Electronic PoDs allow the company and customers to receive delivery updates. Proof of delivery benefits both customers and business owners. Such benefits include:

 

  • Customers are in control of when they want their products or services.
  • It accelerates feedback.
  • Customers know when their services are complete.
  • It provides a better customer experience.
  • Improves your shipping efficiency.
  • Product delivery is fast.
  • It improves the accuracy of an order.
  • You save money on unnecessary refunds.
  • It reduces the risk of stolen orders.

 

3. Choose a Courier Service

 

Creating a list of vital courier services can improve your organization’s shipping process. But, your list will depend on the location and how quickly you want to deliver your goods. You can make a spreadsheet of all the relevant services available to your company and how much it will cost to send your package. It makes it simple to identify the most reliable service that fits your requirements.

 

Don’t forget to confirm the delivery speed and the outlook of the courier service you select (a friendly smile and clean van can make a difference). There are other things to consider like:

 

  • Security
  • Reliability
  • Ability to deliver oversized packages
  • Final customer experience
  • Type of delivery service
  • Professional appearance
  • The total cost of delivery
  • How easy to order their services online

 

4. Streamline Order Fulfillment

 

Avoid complicating your day-to-day shipping activities. You won’t meet your customers’ expectations if you keep making things hard for yourself. It would be best to streamline your operations with an order fulfillment checklist. 

 

Order fulfillment is the end-to-end process from customer order to product delivery. It entails the customer picking what they want, paying for the product, vendor receiving the product from the manufacturer, storing in the warehouse, processing and packing the product, delivering the product to the customer, and returns if a customer is not satisfied.

 

Getting your fulfillment process right is vital for your customers’ smooth experience. It ensures that products get delivered to customers on time. You can use four order fulfillment models: In-House, Third-Party, Dropshipping and Hybrid. Analyze your services and products to choose what’s best. Here are a few ways to streamline the order fulfillment process for your company:

 

  • Motivate your staff
  • Keep your customers informed at all times
  • Monitor supply chain
  • Make room for improvement

 

5. Keep Your Customers Informed

 

No matter how careful you are when delivering goods, you may fail to meet your client’s expectations. You are liable to encounter setbacks at any stage of your shipping process. So, it is crucial to inform your customers whenever you encounter problems. It is a way to learn about potential delays; it keeps them from worrying about their package and going on with their daily lives. Keeping your customers informed makes it easier for them to trust you, improves the chance of them returning, and you have better reviews. You can keep your consumers informed if you:

 

  • Post regular updates on the company web page
  • Send emails
  • Post on several social media
  • Send direct messages via a consumer message app
  • Create blog posts and content

 

Thanks to new advanced technologies, keeping your customers informed about their delivery is more effortless. They can track their parcel from their mobile phone at any time using a unique tracking reference code or signing up to receive updates on parcel delivery via SMS.

 

Conclusion

 

Improving your shipping processes is essential for both the customer and your business. Nobody will feel happy if they have to wait a long time before their orders arrive and have to send their orders back due to damages.

 

There are many ways to improve your company’s shipping process, but luckily, we have given you the five best ideas to implement. Follow those tips to ensure your customers remain satisfied with your delivery services.