Most shoppers on ecommerce websites take the shipping and delivery of their products for granted. At this point, instant gratification or near-instant gratification has become the new normal. In fact, a study revealed that 65% of retailers are able to live up to this consumer expectation. The credit should also be given to 3PL logistics companies in India that play a significant role in making the whole process seamless and efficient.
However, sometimes the shipment does not reach the customer on time, and the customer rightfully gets disappointed with the ecommerce business they ordered from. Unbeknownst to them, many factors contribute to the delays in the shipment, and 3PL logistic companies sometimes cannot live up to expectations. On the business side of all of this, faultless deliveries are absolutely necessary to maintain a positive brand experience.
But why does this happen? Let’s find out.
How does ecommerce shipping work?
In the modern era, most ecommerce businesses, big, medium and small, rely on 3PL, AKA third-party logistics. Partnering with a fulfilment partner has now become mandatory to keep up with pace and demand of the ecommerce industry. Without a 3PL partner, supply chain management can, in fact, cripple the company. Supply chain management can cost a significant amount of money. 3PLs simplify the process by completely taking over supply chain management from the company for a fee. This is much cheaper than attempting to manage the entire supply chain on your own. 3PLs work with multiple brands and companies simultaneously and specialise in storage, retrieval, packing, shipping and replenishing inventory for their clients.
What are the challenges faced by shipping companies that cause delays?
According to a statistic, 69% of online shoppers are unlikely to use or shop from a retailer if the package is delayed and does not reach them on the expected delivery date.
To avoid this, all retailers and 3PL logistics partners make sure that there are no flaws in the supply chain to ensure a positive customer experience. Mastering the shipping process is key is getting ahead of the competition.
However, there are common and inevitable issues that shipping companies face those delay shipments. Let’s understand them:
Busy roads and traffic: We have all been there, stuck in traffic for hours on end, anxiously trying to get to our destination as soon as possible. The same issues are faced by delivery partners. To overcome this, many shipping companies are trying out air deliveries with the help of drones.
Bad weather: The fury of nature can be devastating for all; even shipping companies are not immune to the forces of nature. If the package is coming from another city, then it is usually flown in or sent by train. But heavy rains, winds and floods can ground places and stop trains dead in their tracks.
Holidays: At the end of the day, delivery partners are normal human beings living regular lives. They work long hours, making sure you get your packages on time. On holidays though, they need their off days to meet with family and have a relaxing off day. Unfortunately for them, it coincides with the holiday shopping spree. Due to the lack of people to deliver the packages, the shipping companies struggle to meet deadlines. Most companies have a contingency plan in place and make sure all deliveries reach their destination on time.
Damage of goods: Even though it is a priority for all 3PL logistics companies to make sure all packages are secure from all kinds of damage. Sometimes, maybe due to bad fortune, the product inside a secure package does get damaged. When this happens, the third-party logistics partner will return the product back to the warehouse and get an undamaged product to ship to the customer. This process can greatly delay the delivery to the end customer.
Outdated technology: Tracking software and infrastructure is constantly improving to ensure the shipment is exactly where it ought to be. Unfortunately, many shopping partners still use outdated technology and the shipment is not tracked accurately. The package can get lost on the way or reach the wrong destination, and there will be no way for the customer to know. To avoid this, the best 3PL logistics companies in India ensure that their technology is up to date-and working without any faults.
Mistake on the customer’s end: Pointing the finger at the retailer or their shipping partner may not be right. Sometimes, the customer puts inaccurate information, such as the wrong address or typo. So before calling up customer service to ask where your order is, please make sure that the information you provided is correct.
To sum up,
While shipping issues in the present day are minimal, sometimes, issues do happen. To ensure that your 3PL partner is up to date with technology and has proper processes in place, you need to partner with the most trustworthy fulfilment company, which is Emiza.
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