It’s the same problem year in and year out: Your cart is full, your credit card is ready, and excitement mounts, but then delivery delays happen. It’s frustrating for shoppers, and businesses face a bigger problem: lost trust.Â
So how can businesses survive the chaos of peak season?
The answer lies in delivery data. Let’s dive in!
Why post-purchase matters
Did you know that carrier networks are swamped this time of the year? They operate at maximum capacity, which often leads to delivery delays and disruptions.
According to Parcel Perform, delivery times during peak season can be up to 30% longer than during the rest of the year. This could be extremely frustrating for customers.
Let’s say Lisa orders her son a gaming console for Christmas. She pays extra for express delivery, but then disaster strikes.
Christmas inches closer but there’s no package and even worse, no tracking update. Lisa goes from panic to rage and back again, and the business suffers from a scathing online review.
Sadly, this happens way too often. The post-purchase phase (that’s the period after checkout) is just as important as the shopping experience itself.
Consumers want their parcels fast. They want accurate and trackable information.
ALSO READ: What is real time tracking? Complete guide for modern logistics
If businesses fail to deliver (literally), customer satisfaction takes a nosedive. And during peak season, these mishaps multiply.
Delivery data for peak season prep
This is where data comes to the rescue. With so many moving parts during peak season, businesses can’t rely on guesswork.
But they can turn to delivery data for clear insights into what’s working and what’s not.
How?
1. Track
By tracking performance in real-time. Monitor your business’s delivery success rates to detect delays before they spiral out of control.
For example: if a courier struggles with on-time performance, businesses can shift to alternative providers.
2. Fix
Businesses would also need to spot and fix bottlenecks, fast. Some regions might have repeated problems due to weather, staff shortages, etc.
Pinpoint the problem, identity patterns and find a way around it. Knowing the problem means you can act fast to keep deliveries on track.
Consider getting route optimization software, for one less headache.
3. Communicate
And of course: Communicate with your customers along every step of the way. When customers don’t know where their parcel is, they worry.
Or they are annoyed because the delays interfere with their schedules.
Instead, go for a system that supports real-time updates, to reduce your customers’ stress (and also ensure your peace of mind knowing everything is running smoothly.)
Enjoy a smooth delivery season
Peak season might be chaotic, but using delivery data is the cheat code you need to win.
By tracking performance, predicting trends, and improving customer communication, you can keep their customers happy, even during the busiest time of year.
Keep your customers happy because consumer satisfaction will make or break brands in 2025.
About the author
Cheryl has contributed to various international publications, with a fervor for data and technology. She explores the intersection of emerging tech trends with logistics, focusing on how digital innovations are reshaping industries on a global scale. When she's not dissecting the latest developments in AI-driven innovation and digital solutions, Cheryl can be found gaming, kickboxing, or navigating the novel niches of consumer gadgetry.
