There are lots of e-commerce giants now offering next day delivery, and with services such as Amazon Prime becoming popular, it’s now something that people expect from retailers of all sizes. However the newest trend emerging in online retail is offering a same day delivery service, which means that the time between placing an order and getting the order is increasingly smaller. But same day delivery is costly, and many small business owners in particular may be wondering, what’s in it for us? Here’s why offering same day delivery can benefit your business.
A unique selling point (USP)
Even if you don’t intend to do a lot of same day deliveries, it’s worth having the option just in case people need it. It creates a unique selling point (USP) for your business to use in marketing campaigns, and it can set you apart from your competition. You don’t need to do much to enable same day deliveries, especially if you’re already offering next day. Just get an account set up with Buzz Freight so that you’re ready to book a courier when you need one. If a same day delivery comes in then you simply get in touch and arrange your courier (This can also be done online via our customer portal), box up the item, and within certain areas we can collect within an hour. You can then go back to concentrating on your other clients, safe in the knowledge that your package is on its way.
Repeat business
In marketing terms, it costs a lot more to get new customers then it costs to retain them and offering special services like same day delivery could keep people loyal to your company. When people need something fast, they know exactly where to go, so when time is of the essence, they’ll pick you over the competition.
Staying competitive
When you offer same day delivery service, your business isn’t just competitive with other online retailers, this opens up the doors to a whole new industry. One reason why some retailers are still in business is that there will always be people who need something last minute, but if you can offer basically the same speed but without the need for a customer to drive to the shops and park, then you open up a whole new market.
If a customer really needs an item and they find it on your website as well as one your competitors, then they are likely to choose the one that offers a faster delivery. Whether it’s a gift or a replacement for something broken, there can be many reasons why people might need something as soon as possible, so it’s worth having it as an option for your customers.
The cost can be passed on to the customer
While you may be reading these reasons about how offering same day delivery can benefit your business, and agreeing with them, you may also be working out the figures in your head and be nervous about the cost. Unlike next day delivery, which people often expect to be free, most customers will assume they need to pay more for same day when they’re shopping online.
Dedicated service
One disadvantage of taking online sales is that you will always get items that are lost or damaged in transit, which in the interests of good customer service, means you have to pay out of pocket for a replacement. One of the reasons why providing a same day delivery service can benefit your business is that goods are sent out directly via courier on a dedicated vehicle. They aren’t going to a sorting center where they’re mixed with other parcels, adding to the potential of them getting lost. Couriers offering same day delivery such as Buzz Freight will pick up your parcel and take it straight to the customer. Job done. You even get a signature to say it has arrived.
Increasing your chances of a sale
If you’ve ever shopped online yourself, you’ll know that at times, you add something to your basket, see the estimated delivery date and just can’t be bothered to wait that long. Or you really need something to come quickly, so you just go straight to Google and find a competitor who’ll provide the same products, but with a faster delivery option. If you’re not getting the conversion rates you want on your website, then it may be because people don't want to wait for an item. Offering more shipping options makes it more likely they’ll take the plunge and buy something from you.
If you’d like to know more about how offering same day delivery can benefit your business, speak to the team at Buzz Freight who are professionals in fast deliveries across the United Kingdom. You can call the team on 01438 584500 for same day delivery at any time.
