So far, business has been great, and you want to keep it that way. When consumers buy your products, all you want to see is awesome reviews, and getting to that point starts with the arrival process. Let’s keep the reputation of your business sparkling by improving the shipping and handling department to ensure the safe arrival of all your products.
Ensure the Safety of the Package
You want to make your products arrive to customers in the best condition possible, meaning you must ensure the packaging is suitable for your items. Ensure that the packaging for your products is the right size. You don’t want to place small, fragile items in oversized packages. The extra room can create opportunities for damages in transit. You also don’t want to stuff large items in small packages because this will also damage your products. Designing sustainable packaging goes hand in hand with sizing it optimally, so consider that as well.
Inspect all packaging before placing your products inside. Don’t use a material or box if you notice damages, cracks, or tears in it. It won’t hold up while traveling on its route. Furthermore, ensure you or the shipping facility store the packaging in a location that does not expose it to harmful elements.
Improve Warehouse Communication
Communication with the warehouse or shipping facility is vital. Both parties need to be clear on information to ensure the safe arrival of all products. Keep your communication clear and concise, and don’t cut corners.
Never assume the warehouse knows something just because you do. The details matter, so make sure everyone is aware of them all. Don’t limit your communication to warehouse higher-ups. Talk to the people on the ground and observe the process of the facility. Note anything you see that needs improvement.
Get their opinions too. Since they deal with your packages daily, ask if they notice where things can be more efficient in the process.
Provide Order Tracking Abilities
Your customers want to know where their orders are. It enhances the anticipation and makes them even more excited. It also gives them peace of mind. You don’t want them to wonder and fret about the location of their items.
Let them know when they have successfully placed their orders, when you ship the products out, and the estimated arrival date. Provide them with updates or a tracking number so that they can keep track of their package. If you want to take it a step further and build an app that does this for them, go ahead.
If anything happens that can cause delays, notify them. And if you need to ship their package to them in multiple shipments, make this clear too.
Prioritize Shipping Speed
As previously stated, the anticipation excites your customers most, but don’t keep them waiting too long. If you can increase the shipping speed of your products, you should. Faster deliveries will encourage more positive reviews and purchased orders.
This way, you can build a stronger relationship with your current clientele and promote your business without even trying to potential customers. Perhaps you save more money when you delay packages. But you lose out on the big profits with this strategy. Imagine all the business you’ll get simply because people know your delivery service outranks that of your competitors.
The shipping and handling department is just as important as the product you sell. When you look at what to improve in your business, ensure you pay close attention here.