If you want something done right sometimes you have to do it yourself. Getting a third-party delivery service to carry out your orders might seem like the best option, however there are many things that can go wrong. These range from poor customer service, missing or damaged parcels, delays, or a lack of visibility and communication between you and your drivers.
Drivers are a customer’s first impression of your business, so having a third-party delivery service complete your delivery means you don’t control how they’ll see your brand. Whilst delays, missing or damaged parcels are out of your control, they can still negatively affect your business’ reputation.
DIY delivery can help combat these issues and improve the overall performance of your business to give customers the quality experience they deserve. This article will cover the pros and cons of DIY delivery and why it could be beneficial to your business.
The Pros
More Control Over Business
DIY delivery means you can take control of your business from start to finish. You can package goods the way you want, manage feedback and complaints, and use live tracking apps to track the location of your driver.
You have complete control from when a customer purchases your product, up until it lands on their front door.
Improved Customer Experience
Having your own driver complete your deliveries can improve the experience of your customers. This is because third-party delivery services are often swamped with other bookings and are in a hurry to get things done. They might not handle fragile packages with the utmost care, given their busy schedule, which can lead to damaged goods and unhappy customers.
The driver delivering a customer their goods, despite being from a third-party, is still representing your brand, so why not consider the DIY option?Because your drivers are under your management, you can train them to meet customer expectations.
As mentioned earlier, you can also manage customer feedback and complaints so you know where improvements need to be made so it doesn’t occur again in the future.
Better Communication With Drivers
Managing your drivers gives you the ability to provide the level of service you expect while strengthening relationships. You can hire your drivers based on whether your values and expectations align with their experience and work ethic. You can also train them on the software solutions that suit your business.
Another advantage is having a communication channel with them to track their location and contact them when needed. Doing this establishes visibility between you, your drivers and your customers.
The Cons
Time-Consuming
DIY delivery requires you to build routes for your drivers and create the most efficient journey. This can take hours to complete and can be highly stressful to complete given there are so many elements to take into consideration. These include the availability of your drivers, how many stops there are, the location of these stops and so much more.
Mistakes are easily made when manually planning routes, so this could eat up more of your time attempting to correct the errors.
This can be easily fixed by using delivery management software. This software can optimise routes in seconds instead of hours, giving your drivers the most time-effective journey, reducing fuel costs and saving time spent on the road.
Expensive
Another con of DIY delivery is how expensive it can be. When you’re doing it yourself, expenses can add up. You have to pay for the vehicle and the maintenance that comes with it, as well as the driver who will be completing the deliveries. Not to mention storage/parking and fuel costs.
If you’re a small business, this could prove to be more costly, and perhaps going with a third-party delivery service to carry out deliveries could be a more cost-effective option.
However, if you’re looking for a way to save your business money then delivery management software is the way to go. This technology can help you see where most of your money is being spent, including whether your driver is taking too long on their delivery and is wasting fuel.
DIY Delivery With Locate2u
Locate2u is a Delivery Management Software that arranges bookings, optimises routes, offers real-time tracking and proof of delivery. Keep your customers updated throughout the delivery process, know where your driver is at any given time and have peace of mind on the delivery’s success with digital confirmation.
Click here to learn how your business can save time and money with Locate2u.
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About the author
Marketing Coordinator at Locate2u having completed a Bachelor of Creative Arts, majoring in English Literature and Creative Writing. I have extensive experience in editing and proofreading, as well as creating content for a range of audiences.