Choosing The Right Time For Bulk Deliveries

Over time, E-commerce businesses have adopted different methods to grow sales and reduce costs. One effective method is offering bulk delivery services, where orders are collected over a specific period and delivered on a set date, regardless of the customer's location.

For example, a sneakers vendor might gather orders throughout the week, sending them to Kwikpik for weekend delivery, with pricing based on weight to these different locations.

This approach, combined with warehousing as a service, enables e-commerce businesses to stay flexible and meet customer demands effectively.

However, selecting the optimal time for bulk deliveries requires thoughtful consideration. In this article, we'll share the key factors to consider and how to leverage Kwikpik for these deliveries.

Factors to Consider When Choosing The Right Time For Bulk Deliveries

Whether your business automates deliveries online or sells through Meta platforms and handles deliveries manually, here are four factors to consider:

1. Transit times

Longer distances often require more time for delivery. When deliveries ought to be done in the same city, it costs less than when you are sending to another state before delivering to your customers. One way to stay agile with the latter is by using warehousing, that way when orders are placed from outside your state, you can prompt your delivery service provider to fulfill it in a shorter time.

2. Federal holidays

Holidays can significantly slow down the pace of delivery or completely disrupt delivery schedules due to closures and increased traffic on those days. If you’re delivering during the holiday season, communicate to customers the impact on delivery to manage expectations.

Read our blog on how to deliver during peak seasons.

3. Weather-impacted slowdowns

Natural slowdowns, like heavy rains, could impede package deliveries. It’s difficult to drive during a storm or on slippery routes and waiting till a favorable time is advised to avoid accidents.

4. State Infrastructure and Policies

State restrictions or changes can affect transportation or impose restrictions.

For instance, in Lagos state, the Third Mainland Bridge is occasionally closed for maintenance work. Additionally, markets open at 9 am UTC on Thursdays as per government policy for cleaning activities. In the Eastern part of Nigeria, there was a past restriction on movements every Monday due to government directives, and although this restriction has been lifted, transportation companies and drivers often still avoid traveling on Mondays.

Communicating Delivery Timelines to Customers

With 53% of customers canceling deliveries because delivery was too slow, it’s important to let shoppers know the delivery date to help increase your conversion rates. Being transparent like this can help ease customers' frustrations, reduce the chance of failed delivery attempts, and even help improve order management.

You can choose to indicate delivery dates, estimated delivery dates, return dates(if applicable), and payment dates on your website or via your Meta platforms:

1. Delivery date

The delivery date is the actual date that the package is delivered to the customer. Delivery dates may end up not matching the estimated delivery date for a variety of reasons(as indicated above). However, using a logistics provider like Kwikpik; that allows order tracking, lets customers track their packages in transit, and reduces friction between you and your customer.

2. Estimated delivery date

The estimated delivery date is when a customer can reasonably expect their order to arrive. You can display this at the checkout, and if delivery is automated, you provide them with an order tracking number after they make their purchase. Customers can then use their tracking number to look up their order (either through the assigned carrier or through the brand’s website) and follow its progress through fulfillment and delivery.

3. Payment date

The payment date is when customers make a transfer for their items. In most cases, orders are processed after payment is made. For example, if someone adds an item to their cart on an e-commerce site without completing the payment, the delivery is not processed on that day, even though the item is in the cart. Delivery remains pending until the customer completes the payment.

4. Return date

The return date is when the product is physically returned to the seller. This should not be confused with the return window, which is the total time a customer has to start the return process and send the product back. It's also distinct from the return cutoff, which is the final day a customer can make an e-commerce return. After customers begin a return, your website can show the return date, or you can manually notify them once the items are received.

Doing Deliveries Right With Kwikpik

Kwikpik; built on Hedera, offers delivery services to individuals and businesses of all sizes. With us, you can send and receive packages, track deliveries in transit, secure your deliveries with our insurance policy, and protect your package against mistakes using our security codes. We also provide a warehousing solution, so your business can reach more customers in underserved areas and go beyond your local city.

You have the option to leverage our API, send a direct message through our social platforms, or speak with our support: support@kwikpik.io, to become a Kwikpik partner.

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