3 Important Steps to Achieving Same Day Distribution for Couriers

The ability to offer same day distribution is becoming a more and more important sales tool for professional delivery services. The reason behind this is simply human nature: for online sales models to work, they must mirror the bricks-and-mortar experience as much as possible, and a vital part of that is instant gratification. Once a customer pays their money, they must get what they’ve paid for as soon as possible, and not be forced to wait days or weeks for the item. If you're considering offering this as one of your delivery services, these three expert tips could unlock your organisation’s potential.

Make Your Operation as ‘Tight’ as Possible

One great way to understand what we mean by being ‘tight’ as far as operational efficiency is concerned (and in this case, to help you reach the goal of being able to offer same day distribution for all your customers) is by looking at Amazon. The online retail behemoth (and pioneer eBook publisher) has achieved the goal of delivering to their customers on the very day an order is made. They've done this by establishing a network of warehouses placed strategically in certain cities, thereby giving them the unique advantage of exceptional speed and timeliness in their delivery process. Of course this isn’t true for international orders (that would have to wait for the emergence of a more advanced technology like, say, teleportation), but to be able to offer that to a majority of states and cities in the USA is already a tremendous feat.

While we are not suggesting you should build your own warehouses of course, you can somewhat replicate the system in a very small way by establishing strategic depot centres in targeted regions if your business is large enough to support them.

Remove Unnecessary Activities

Offering same day distribution demands that you become a ‘lean and mean’ organisation, with no deadwood or redundant tasks to bloat your operation and make it less effective in achieving its goals. That’s why you need to look at every single aspect of how you do business, and have the courage to identify what must be removed or improved. You should start by asking yourself some questions: such as, "is there anything I can do to cut out large costs"; "are there processes showing limited results?; or "how can we streamline the department so that we do not have to waste so much time correcting mistakes?" Asking the right questions is the first step; proceeding to actual, practical answers is the next. Follow up is just as important as innovation, and having the energy and commitment to finish what you’ve started is vital.

Focus on Reducing the Time Between Ordering and Delivery

Many courier companies fail in their overall strategy because they neglect one vital aspect of their operation: how their customers perceive them. If you're seen as inefficient, slow, or lackadaisical, be aware that such perceptions matter - especially through word of mouth marketing. Offering same day distribution is a great first step to having your customers perceive you as a reputable, reliable operation, but you must always be able to offer that elusive "more". If you can further reduce the time between ordering and delivery by a few hours, then strive to do so. You may have to take a look at certain aspects of your operation - such as the sales order process, warehouse, transportation, and intra-organisational communication - and direct all your reinvention efforts toward achieving this goal.

Norman Dulwich is a correspondent for Courier Exchange, the world's largest neutral trading hub for same day distribution services in the express freight exchange industry. Over 2,500 transport exchange businesses are networked together through their website, trading jobs and capacity in a safe 'wholesale' environment.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.