The last couple of years have seen a significant boom in the e-commerce industry. In fact, here in the UK, we have one of the most advanced e-commerce markets anywhere in Europe. With a prediction of around almost 60 million e-commerce users for 2022, there is only a minority of the population who are not digital buyers. It is fair to say that e-commerce has become something of the norm for shoppers in the UK.
Revenue from the e-commerce industry in the UK is predicted to rise by around £70.7 billion, an increase of 42.88%, over the course of the next couple of years, and forecasts further suggest that by 2025 revenue from the sector will hit £235.6 billion. If you’re not yet involved in e-commerce, or you’re looking to improve your offerings, there’s never been a better time to get started.
Growing your business and scaling it are not the same thing. Growing your business means increasing your resources, in terms of infrastructure, staff and product lines. Any revenue that is made is reinvested back into the company to help with growth. This means the business may grow in size, but not necessarily make a huge amount of profit.
Scaling your e-commerce business, on the other hand, means that you increase your revenue but do not invest in resources. Your overall profit will go up whilst your overhead costs remain at a similar level. If you are looking to scale effectively, then you need to make the most of your current resources whilst spending a minimal amount on new assets.
When it comes to e-commerce business, courier services are vital. Over the last couple of years, customers’ perceptions of online shopping have changed. Where they might have previously been prepared to wait a few days for their items to arrive, they now expect – and are more than happy to pay for – expedited delivery. Whilst some will settle for next day delivery, the option of same-day delivery is becoming very popular. This can really put a strain on the logistics of any company – particularly one that is looking to scale – which is why outsourcing courier requirements really makes sense.
There are a number of benefits to be had from outsourcing your courier requirements. The first is, of course, that you will have access to a much bigger pool of available delivery drivers and vehicles. This can be scaled to meet your needs, whether you need to make more deliveries in a particular period – for example, during sales or during special holidays – or less during quieter times.
You will also be able to benefit from the knowledge and experience that any courier company will bring to your business. They will have access to all of the most up-to-date software solutions to help them plan the most efficient delivery routes, avoid traffic hotspots and keep customers updated should their deliveries be unavoidably detained.
Here at DeliveryApp, we can offer nationwide coverage, helping customers to significantly reduce their delivery timescales and ensuring that they are happy with the promptness of their deliveries. Through our network of drivers, you will have access to a range of vehicles to suit your needs without needing to make a significant investment in your own transportation solutions. This allows for better scaling of your business and will provide you with access to the delivery solutions you need when you need them.
There is nothing worse for customers and companies alike than being told a delivery has been made only for it to appear to have vanished or be delivered to the wrong address. It is easily done, but with GPS proof of delivery you can be assured that your parcels have been delivered with a GPS log to back this up. In the event of a mistake in a delivery, with GPS PODs, tracking down exactly what has happened will be much easier. Good customer service is essential when it comes to not only keeping customers, but ensuring that you don’t lose potential future customers as well. Whilst a problem with a delivery may not be met favourably by a customer, the ability to solve the issue will always go a long way towards rectifying any ill will that they may have.
The ability to order something and receive it the same day is highly valuable to those individuals who are finding that the home-work life balance is getting in the way of being able to pop out to purchase whatever it is they need. The disappearance of many high street stores has made this particularly difficult for many of the items that individuals are now turning to e-commerce for. However, they still want them with the convenience they once had by popping out to buy something in their lunch break. Same-day delivery, whilst not offered by every e-commerce business, has been increasing in popularity – so much so, that customers are prepared to pay for the service. This is one of the biggest reasons many companies are looking to scale their e-commerce out to courier companies. A courier company with nationwide coverage has the infrastructure in place to help facilitate the same-day deliveries that customers are looking for.
Written by Phil Woodbridge
