The Increasing Demand of Consumer Delivery Expectations

This article is brought to you by Retail Technology Review: The Increasing Demand of Consumer Delivery Expectations.

By Ed Smith,freelance writer...

At one time, when you bought goods online, it was commonplace to have to wait 7 to10 business days for delivery. However, as technology has improved, faster and more efficient delivery options have become readily available. Now, consumers have come to expect numerous delivery options including same and next day deliveries.

Here, we’ll look at the increasing demand of consumer delivery expectations. If your business wants to thrive in retail, it’s important to ensure you’re meeting, if not exceeding, these expectations.

The rise of next day delivery

One of the biggest changes in consumer expectations in recent years comes in the form of next day delivery. Approximately 43% of consumers choose next day deliveries, which equates to a 4% increase up from last year. Statistics also show that 17% of consumers abandon a brand if they face a long delivery wait. So, if businesses want to hold onto their customers, ensuring they offer speedy deliveries is key.

However, not all consumers see speed as the most important factor when it comes to delivery. While it is important for brands to offer multiple timed delivery options, other factors such as tracking, cost and convenience also play a role in consumer expectations.  

Tracking expectations

The introduction of parcel tracking technology has helped to ease a lot of consumer concerns. Now, customers can look to see exactly where their parcel is and when it will be arriving. Approximately 46% of shoppers use the technology, highlighting how important it is for businesses to offer it as an option.

Free delivery

Perhaps one of the more challenging consumer expectations businesses have to meet with delivery, is cost. A staggering 73% of shoppers claim they have been put off buying something if there has been a delivery charge to pay for. Instead, they want free delivery, even if it’s for next day deliveries. This means businesses need to factor this into the overall cost of their products if they don’t want to lose money.

Amazon has come up with a clever way of covering the costs while keeping customers happy. Their Prime membership enables customers to receive free one-day deliveries.

How can companies meet these expectations?

While meeting consumer demand can be difficult for businesses today, there are steps that can be taken to make it easier.

The first step is to listen to your customers. Ask them what they want in terms of delivery. This will give you a good idea of whether you’re providing the best level of service to meet demand. Once you identify their current frustrations, you can get to work on a plan to improve your service.

If you’re currently relying upon in-house drivers to deliver your goods, you may want to consider outsourcing. You can find affordable and reliable couriers like Parcel2Go who can handle a large volume of parcels and will ensure your goods arrive quickly using the latest technology.

You’re going to want to provide your customers with multiple delivery options, including national and international deliveries. Ensure your customers can track their parcels and give them options in terms of where their parcels can be delivered.

These are just some of the ways you can ensure you’re meeting consumer expectations in terms of delivery. While it may not seem like an important part of running your company, problematic deliveries can significantly damage your reputation.