Late package deliveries can create a lot of trouble for an eCommerce business. They disrupt the delivery chain and make customers unhappy. Package delays harm the business reputation and may cost a lot in the long run.

Parcels are held up because of various reasons. While it’s hard to control some of them, there are a few tips & tricks you can use to lessen the possibility of late package deliveries.

Are you ready to find them out? Let’s begin.

Set reasonable package delivery expectations

It’s tempting to offer a 1-2 business days delivery to attract customers. But you should weigh your estimated delivery dates carefully, especially if you’re shipping internationally. The longer the distance, the more likely unexpected circumstances are to occur during transportation. That’s why it’s a good idea to give yourself a realistic time gap to complete the shipment.

Let’s say you need to send a package to Poland. Set a minimum and a maximum number of days it might take. That way your customers won’t get as impatient if they don’t receive their order after the minimum time has passed.

To avoid late package deliveries during peak seasons, such as the winter holidays, adjust your delivery times in advance. Let the customers know that their packages might arrive later than usual. And don’t offer fast parcel delivery if you can’t fulfill it.

Offer discounts on parcel shipping

Customers are less likely to anticipate a fast package delivery if they pay less for shipping. It’s a great way to lower their expectations and then work on inside processes to ensure fast order fulfillment.

If you can’t or don’t want to offer free shipping, settle on international cheap shipping. Economy shipping usually takes longer and your customers’ expectations will be set accordingly. Even if the parcel takes more time to arrive, they might not treat it as being late.

Work with several carriers

The best way to prevent late package deliveries is to work with more than one carrier. You can divide the package flow between several shipping companies. It’ll lessen the workload so that no carrier is overworked.

When shipping overseas, you can be extra smart and partner with shipping companies specializing in different regions. Or even use the services of local carriers. For instance, if you’re shipping to Romania, choose an international shipping company that specializes in sending packages to Eastern Europe. Or find a package delivery service that can take over the parcels once they’ve arrived in the destination country and distribute them faster.

Take advantage of package tracking

Package tracking is a very convenient tool for both the customers and the retailers. It can even be considered as a means of communication with your clients. It allows the buyers to check on the whereabouts of their parcel and the status of their order without sending manual inquiries to customer support.

You can also benefit from package tracking by keeping an eye on the parcels. You’ll know where they get delayed and will be able to take the countermeasures to prevent or fix late deliveries.

Monitor your inventory

It’s very important to keep track of your inventory to avoid late shipping of orders. If an item runs out of stock, you’ll have to get it from the supplier. It’ll add to the final delivery time. So it’s best to be prepared.

It’s also useful to make the availability of stock visible to your customers. That way you can prevent misunderstandings when a client unknowingly buys an item that’s out of stock. It’ll help to set the right expectations. If a customer knows that the item is temporarily out of stock, he or she won’t anticipate a fast package delivery.

Encourage your customers to order earlier

ECommerce mostly deals with late shipments during the peak seasons. When the demand for package shipping spikes, some of the tips and tricks to avoid deliveries being late might not work as well.

The best way to prevent such a scenario is to encourage your clients to make their purchases earlier. Then you can decrease the number of last-minute orders and divide the volume of packages more evenly during a longer period of time.

Late package deliveries are a challenge for any business. But with the right tips and tricks, you can learn how to handle them with ease!