Most of us are well aware of the growing trend of two-day, overnight, and same day delivery options for online shoppers. Amazon has fueled much of the change with the enormously successful uptake of their Amazon Prime subscription offering quick delivery times.
Advancing technology that helps consumers access products on-demand is also playing its part in transforming how people expect the buying process to go. From local grocery and restaurant delivery apps to drones - people want their stuff - and they want it now.
Tracking & Reporting on Shipments
According to PwC’s 2018 Global Consumer Insights Survey, over 40% of online shoppers said they would pay an additional charge for same day delivery - and 38% of shoppers said they would be open to drone delivery.
PwC’s report forecasts that “Transportation and logistics companies will need to focus on ‘digital fitness’, cost efficiency, asset productivity, and innovation if they want to meet the rapidly changing expectations of shoppers.”
Not only do people want faster delivery, there are more of us than ever shopping online. Roughly eight-in-ten Americans shop online.
Quick deliveries and the rise of online retailing puts added pressures on providers and carriers. A lot has changed as a result. More distribution centers have opened up across America, with a sharp increase in “last mile” delivery services such as couriers and smaller delivery trucks.
So how do online vendors keep up with the delivery demands of today’s shoppers and stay profitable? Offering express delivery options to customers and on-charging the cost will work with some consumers, but according to research, nearly 63% of US shoppers abandon their online shopping cart due to associated shipping fees. There is a balancing act involved and it starts with finding the best possible carrier rates for express delivery.
Download our Shipping Software (TMS) Guide
Using a Transportation Management System (TMS) puts shipping tools at vendors’ fingertips allowing them to quickly assess freight quotes across multiple carriers.
A good TMS system allows for batch shipping as well where vendors can ship hundreds or even thousands of shipments with the aid of comparing multiple carrier rates.
FrieghtPOP’s TMS allows shippers to meet customer delivery demands while streamlining the entire shipping process to manage cost. Our mission is to simplify and reduce the cost of shipping for manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. Contact us for a demo today.