Product shipping is a complex process. Satisfactory shipping practices are crucial to keeping your customers happy and your business reliable.
Let’s see how you can make shipping better and more reliable, but first, let’s see how to measure shipping accuracy.
Measuring Shipping Accuracy
To measure shipping accuracy, apply simple math: divide the number of timely delivered orders by the total number of orders shipped during a specified period.
You should aim for 99% accuracy at least, which can be done by setting up appropriate systems and software solutions. As a rule, human errors are the number one factor for poor shipping practices.
Now that you know this, let’s move on to some actual tips on how to make your shipping practices more reliable.
1. Compare Shipping Services
Obviously, the first thing to do would be to compare shipping services and rates to find the best option. Don’t pick the cheapest solution, either! Quality and price range should be well-balanced; keep in mind your customers’ wallets, too.
The easiest way to do this is to list all relevant shipping services and compare how they deliver over time. List the following factors:
- Delivery service type — the size of packages, the number of packages, etc.
- Delivery speed
- Security — compare different shipping services' security policies
- Range of deliveries — if you’re dealing with oversized packages, look for delivery services that offer additional benefits in this regard
- Delivery costs — double-check with the service provider
- Professional overall experience — delivery services that are professional and easy to work with should be given priority
2. Pick High-Quality Packing Materials
This is a must. Don’t choose the cheapest materials; opt for quality! Just think about how the packages are being handled by delivery services. You’ll want your customers to get their orders intact and nicely packaged.
Many businesses use locks and seals to prevent potential tampering.
3. Create Elaborate Shipping Labels
Next on, make sure to create detailed shipping labels. Typically, an elaborate shipping label includes:
- Recipients name and delivery address
- Company info
- Package weight
- A handle with care warning for fragile orders
4. Audit Incoming Inventory
When you receive products, make sure to audit every step of the process, as follows:
- Scheduling deliveries
- Double-checking the labels
- Count the products twice
- Confirm that all new products are stored properly
- Sign proof of delivery only after verifying the contents of the shipment
5. Train Your Employees
Employees need to be properly trained on how to pack and label products appropriately. Needless to say, packages must be packed carefully to prevent tumbling and potential damage thereby.
If you’re cooperating with shipping services that package the products themselves, employees should be trained on how to oversee the process: all packages need to be wrapped separately, boxed should be cushioned and sealed.
6. Offer Real-Time Delivery Tracking
Real-time delivery tracking is one of the greatest benefits of software usage for shipping services. Load tracking tools are the fastest and most reliable way to ensure shipping is going perfectly and your customers are certain to love it.
7. Use a Reliable Warehouse Management System
Using a warehouse management system (WMS) will ensure that the products are being moved through warehouses in a cost-efficient and reliable way. In addition, a WMS also allows for tracking the inventory at all times and at any location (facility and transit included).
A WMS basically comprises software and processes that allow the business to control and administer warehouse operations every step of the process — from the moment the goods enter a warehouse until they leave it.
Keep in mind that the entire supply chain is dependent on a WMS: it only operates as quickly and efficiently as warehouse processes permit.
Always ensure careful inventory control to minimize shipping errors.
8. Offer Stellar Customer Service
Now, your shipping can be the most reliable on the planet, but it’s crucial to have a call center to handle any questions or concerns your customers may have. And while you’ll definitely need the human touch, it’s important to understand that AI can really step in when it comes to contact center automation. If you harness the power of technology, it’s amazing how you can improve your processes and save time (and money) in the process.
Key Takeaways
Everything considered, shipping is a complex process, and there’s always a little something to keep in mind in addition to the usual steps.
To optimize all related processes, create a checklist and standardize the practices. Starting from picking the best courier service to the moment the package safely reached customers’ doors, every step of the process needs to be tightly monitored and supervised.
It’s a lot of work, but with the help of proper apps and tools, you are certain to perfect your shipping routines. Don’t forget to train your employees!
If you employ a carrier that's not supported through the online delivery Tracking feature, the page will display the tracking number allocated to your order, which redirects the customer to the carrier’s web page and cannot display the order status or the map.Realistically, this technique won’t work for those that prefer a more customized order status page or a special carrier.
Therefore, it's important to seem into other alternatives like Shopify apps that allow merchants to trace their orders.
you'll click here for an inventory of the foremost popular order tracking apps!
