If there is one aspect of delivery that has changed over the years, it’s the emphasis on time sensitivity. Gone are the days when parcels took months to arrive. Air shipments have drastically shortened the last-mile journey, enabling quicker and more efficient delivery times and priming modern consumer expectations for on-demand delivery.
In today’s age of the gig economy and instant consumer gratification, consumers now want their products not only at preferred prices but also precisely when and where they desire. Consider on-demand delivery services such as Grab or consumer marketplaces like Carousell, and you’ll understand how the nature of transactions in the 21st century has evolved.
These changes have had significant spillover effects on the delivery industry, especially noticeable in the on-demand delivery market. We can see this play out with on-demand food delivery platforms like Foodpanda, which is gaining prominence in several ASEAN countries, including the Philippines. Another playground where on-demand shipping is taking center stage is the e-commerce sector, pushing both businesses and logistics providers to switch up their customer offerings on the last mile.
Let’s dive into what on-demand delivery entails and how it can play a significant role in your e-commerce business.
What Is On-demand Delivery?
In the e-commerce world, on-demand delivery simply means that customers have a choice to decide not just where but also when they would like their products delivered — within the shortest delivery time possible. On-demand e-commerce delivery solutions also allow customers to track their shipments in real-time and plan their schedules accordingly. This focus on customer convenience and transparency is a hallmark of an advanced on-demand delivery platform.
Achieving such a level of service necessitates e-commerce businesses to harness a plethora of resources, including a well-organized and stocked warehouse. Crucially, it requires the support of an on-demand delivery company that provides express delivery services. These providers are integral to the logistics of on-demand delivery systems, ensuring that customer expectations are consistently met.
By integrating on-demand delivery solutions and leveraging on-demand delivery management software, e-commerce companies can enhance their operational efficiency. This approach not only streamlines the on-demand delivery process but also significantly boosts customer satisfaction on delivery services, setting new standards in the competitive e-commerce landscape.
What Are the Benefits Of On-demand Delivery?
1. Increase customer satisfaction & loyalty
On-demand delivery boosts customer satisfaction by offering the flexibility to choose their delivery times. This reflects a business’ dedication to meeting consumer needs and is a cornerstone of on-demand delivery services.
2. Expand to more markets
With accessibility to resources that make on-demand delivery logistics possible, businesses have more reasons to explore more markets worldwide. International ecommerce not only expands brand exposure and awareness but can also result in greater leads and conversions. Pair this with increasing customer loyalty and retention, and you can enjoy higher revenue margins year on year.
3. Gather consumer insights
E-commerce is phasing out traditional brick-and-mortar stores as more customers turn to websites or social media marketplaces to buy goods. Online platforms also give merchants key insights into consumer behaviors, all of which are tracked and accessed in real-time. For instance, you can find out how long visitors browse your site and the popular product pages they patronize, so you can strategize where to highlight your promotions.
Integrating on-demand delivery solutions with e-commerce platforms gives merchants an additional layer of insights. By gathering information on consumer preferences in terms of products, delivery timing, and location, you can better predict demand patterns. This invaluable information assists in forecasting demand patterns, which merchants can input into on-demand delivery management software to plan resources for peak season ahead of time.
The Role Of DHL Express in the On-demand Delivery Scene
As one of the leading on-demand delivery companies worldwide, DHL Express knows exactly where customer pain and passion points lie. Our commitment to enhancing performance and operational efficiency ensures seamless last-mile delivery, addressing common challenges such as customer unavailability. By offering flexible options like parcel pickup on the way home or delivery pauses during vacations, we've tailored our on-demand delivery process to meet your customers' diverse needs.
How Does DHL Express On-demand Delivery Work?
In addition to our express delivery service — Same Day, Time-Sensitive, and Day-Sensitive, our on-demand solutions further expand your customers' choices so they can feel in control. We have a total of six alternative on-demand delivery options on our platform that you can introduce to your consumers:
- DHL Express Service Point: Your consumers can collect their parcel at any DHL Express Service point located in the receiving country.
- Signature Release: You can deliver your items without the need for your customer’s signature.
- Schedule A New Delivery Date: You can allow your customers to change their delivery date and time up to seven days from the original.
- Leave Package With A Neighbor: Your customer can request for us to leave their orders with a neighbor they trust.
- Deliver To Another Address: Your customer can request to change the delivery address, that too on a specific date.
- 30-day Vacation Hold: Customers on vacation can choose to hold their delivery for 30 days and request a new date and time.
The process is simple. Once the shipment is in our care, your customer automatically receives an alert to inform them of where their parcel is located. This is done via their mobile number or email written on the DHL air waybill. In the same message or email, the customer will be invited to select their choice of on-demand delivery options via a link to our DHL Express website in the event they are unable to receive their parcels on the estimated shipment date.
Once an option is selected, an immediate memo is sent to our service team, who will ensure the resources and arrangements are in place to fulfill your customer’s order.
Time to reap the benefits of on-demand delivery? Create a DHL Express account today to get started!
