How To Create The Best Shipping Experience?
In the business world, customer experience is the gold standard against which service is tested. If a company's services generate the best customer experience, they are trendy and successful in their objectives. When it comes to the eCommerce sector, the story is no different. A significant chunk of an eCommerce business's success depends on the customer experience and satisfaction it generates. This is because; an e-commerce business does not directly interact with the customer like the hyper-local store. Thus, there is a greater responsibility to create customer satisfaction through their services.
There are many fronts to focus on when improving the customer experience linked with your e-commerce business. One of the significant aspects of the eCommerce business that needs the most attention is the shipping experience. The shipping process is what connects your business to the customer and delivers your products. The successful delivery of your products depends highly on the shipping module. Therefore, if you improve the shipping experience through multiple steps, it can create a positive customer experience on the other end of your business.
Understanding Customer Shipping Expectations
Customers have clear expectations when it comes to the shipping experience from an ecommerce business. Meeting and exceeding those expectations is key to providing excellent customer service and growing your business.
What Customers Want
Research shows that the top things customers want when it comes to shipping are:
- Fast and affordable shipping rates
- Free shipping options
- Reliable delivery with tracking updates
Essentially, customers want their orders to arrive quickly, cheaply, and with full transparency into the delivery process. Satisfying these wants builds trust and loyalty with customers.
Improving Your Shipping Experience
Offer Multiple Shipping Options
Give customers choice over delivery speed and cost. Common options include:
- Standard 3-7 day
- 2-day expedited
- Overnight
Providing tiered shipping options puts control into the hands of your customers. They can choose the shipping method that fits their schedule and budget.
Meet Delivery Timelines
Be transparent with customers about estimated shipping and delivery timeframes. Then make sure your operations team meets those promises.
Late shipments result in poor customer experiences. Avoid this by having an accurate view into your fulfillment capacities and timelines.
Fulfill Orders Accurately
Mistakes happen, but strive for at least 98% accuracy in order fulfillment. This means picking, packing and shipping the correct items to the correct customers.
Double checks by warehouse staff and tracking technology can help minimize errors. When mistakes do happen, address them quickly and make it right with the impacted customer.
The Bottom Line
Providing an excellent shipping experience strengthens customer relationships and grows long-term business value. Meet customer delivery expectations around speed, cost and reliability at every opportunity.
Next article: Expedited Shipping- Everything you Should Know
FAQs
What are the most important elements of a good shipping experience?
Research shows that shoppers care most about fast delivery speeds, low shipping costs, and reliability through real-time tracking and delivery notifications.
How many shipping options should an online store offer?
Aim to provide at least 3 tiered shipping options - standard, expedited, and overnight. This gives customers choice and control over cost versus delivery speed.
What percentage of orders should be fulfilled accurately?
Industry benchmarks are 96-98% accuracy in order picking, packing and shipping. Mistakes erode trust so minimize errors through double checks and tracking.
How often should customers be updated on order status?
Provide confirmation at order placement, shipping, and delivery. Updating at major milestones sets proper expectations around timing.
What happens if a delivery timeline is not met?
Be transparent with customers about any delays, offer options like expedited reorder with discounted or free shipping, and learn from the issues.
How long should it take to resolve a shipping error?
Strive to resolve within 24 hours by quickly sending correct items or refunding as appropriate. Speedy resolution demonstrates caring.
How can shipping experience increase customer loyalty?
Meeting or beating expectations around reliability and speed shows customers you value them. This drives retention, referrals and repeat purchase.