USEFUL TIPS TO DEAL WITH SHIPPING DELAYS

 Accurate, damage-free, and on-time deliveries are crucial for business success. An efficient delivery service is vital to the success of your business. In this age of ecommerce, customers have higher expectations when it comes to the delivery of their goods. If you are unable to meet your delivery schedule, it can leave your customers dissatisfied with the quality of your service. Despite seeming relatively harmless, shipping delays can hinder supply chain efficiency, decrease customer loyalty and hamper sales significantly and can wreak havoc on your brand reputation. Sometimes  delays by shipping freight forwarding companies are inevitable, like in COVID-19 when entire manufacturing and distribution units came to a standstill. In this article, we’ll discuss what causes shipping delays, the negative impact of delayed deliveries on your business, how to deal with late deliveries, and how avoiding delayed deliveries can boost your customer lifetime value.

What causes Shipping delays?

To best avoid any shipping delays, it’s best for businesses to understand what causes them. It will also help improve customer satisfaction and the entire customer experience. Part of this includes mastering and truly understanding last mile delivery and how it can affect customer retention

 

1.      Current Events

Global current events can have a big effect on shipping if they prevent supply chains from operating normally. We’ve seen this in the current global pandemic or it may also occur during war situations or any government regulations or other  emergencies. Coronavirus shipping delays have been felt across the world, from China and Singapore to Italy, India, the UK, and the US. FedEx shipping delays (and those of other couriers) have increased due to lockdowns, curfews, and other measures put in place by governments to help combat the disease. 

2. International vs. Domestic Shipping

Congestion in airports and bad weather are some of the leading causes of international shipping delays. Customs issues can also hold up packages, which is why it’s important to ensure your customs paperwork for international shipments is properly and correctly filled in.

However, domestic shipping is more affected by traffic, construction, major roadblocks and detours, and accidents. All shipments can also be delayed by failed delivery attempts, high volumes (especially around holiday and peak periods), and vehicle trouble.

3.Logistical Oversights And Labour Shortages

A lack of proper logistical infrastructure can cause order sorting and processing delays. Smaller businesses, which handle everything in-house, can have orders pile up as they make time to ship them. Inefficient warehouse and inventory management are major logistical challenges to be overcome.

Labor shortages or insufficient delivery vehicles at hubs or distribution centers can cause significant order delays.

 

Using old software during shipping isn’t efficient. It may cause problems due to the inability to integrate new features and technologies that may help avoid or mitigate shipping delays. 

By investing in updated shipping technology, such as using cloud-based software, businesses can provide a more streamlined approach to the shipping process. This includes 3PL which allows transportation companies to stay connected using real-time data. 

4.  Peak Season

During peak season, your freight may be delayed due to high shipment volumes. Festivals, Holidays, weekends are something many of us usually look forward to . These are  prime time for eCommerce, and the industry often experiences huge spikes in orders  during this period. To avoid shipment delays during these times  due to the large volume of orders, businesses must plan ahead to establish efficient logistics systems.

 

5. Incorrect Documentation 

Not having the right documents for your shipments can cause shipping delays. This is possible during different parts of the shipping process including when the package leaves the port of origin, clears customs, or arrives at the final destination. Common documentation errors include:Missing paperwork, Inaccurate content description and Improper labelling.

6. Inaccurate shipping information

When customers give a misspelled or incorrect address, or when the retailer doesn’t document the customer’s order properly, the courier company may not have enough information to correctly deliver the package. This can cause shipping delays, increased last mile delivery costs, or worse, the package never arrives. 

7. Customs

When it comes to international shipments, customs are a huge factor in shipping delays. It’s crucial to have all required documents handy to avoid issues and delays as much as possible. 

Delays are inevitable without the necessary documentation and this can jumpstart additional complications with cargo inspections. If items are held up by customs, businesses should have a backup plan ready. This includes having relationships with courier services that keep up with accurate documentation.

The Impact of Shipping Delays 

Shipping is a crucial part of any trade. That’s why every top freight forwarding companies in India keep in consideration the fact that carts abandoned due to shipping delays are lost sales and revenue for retailers. If that weren't bad enough, shipping delays can also prompt dissatisfied customers to leave bad reviews that dissuade other potential buyers from going through with their purchases, further reducing sales and revenue. Here are 4 ways that late freight shipments can negatively impact your business.

1.     Chargeback penalties

If you miss a delivery appointment or deadline, a retailer or customer may assess a chargeback, a penalty for not being in compliance with their requirements. In other words, make a late delivery, make less money.

2.     Higher costs

Late or missed freight deliveries mean having to make another delivery, which incurs additional costs for fuel, driver time, and additional charges from your freight carrier.

 

3.     Customer loss

If you incur enough late deliveries, your vendor scorecard grades could place you in serious jeopardy of losing the business.

 

4.     Increased Customer Acquisition Cost

Losing a customer is bad, but replacing a lost customer is extremely expensive. As everyone knows, it’s much less costly to keep an existing customer than find a new one.

5.     Impacts to your planning and production

Late inbound freight shipments can delay production, which impacts inventory levels, which can impact sales; all of which negatively impacts cash flow.

 

6 TIPS FOR DEALING WITH SHIPPING DELAYS

Online retailers work very hard to ensure customers have a seamless shopping and shipping experience. While eliminating shipping delays entirely may not yet be possible, there are ways to minimize and manage them. Here’s what you CAN do to prevent and manage shipping delays:

1.     Choose reliable providers

• Work with vetted providers you can trust
• Pay close attention to your providers’ experience and performance reviews
• Plan any extra services you need for delivery of your goods to avoid surprises down the line

2.     Ensure alignment between your providers

• Give your supplier accurate contact information for your freight forwarder – and vice versa – to ensure smooth communication
• Make sure all your providers have the correct reference number for your goods
• Clearly differentiate shipments from the same supplier to ensure timely delivery of each shipment

3.     Make sure all paperwork is in order

• Spend extra time reviewing all the documents related to your shipment
• Make sure your goods are classified with the correct HS code
• Work with your providers to file paperwork on time

4.     Work with your forwarder to arrange a smooth warehouse drop off

• Get the estimated time of arrival at the port from your freight forwarder
• Ensure in advance that any special equipment required for handling is available
• Arrange for quick freight pickup right after unloading
• Book warehouse space ahead of time

5.     Plan ahead for peak season

• Avoid shipping goods during peak season as much as possible
• Keep in mind any promotional campaigns or expected spikes in demand
• Prioritize shipments of fast-selling goods

6.     Plan ahead so you’re not caught short on inventory

• Keep buffer inventory for markets likely to be impacted by delays
• Store inventory across several warehouses to optimize transit time and costs
• Account for avoidable causes of shipping delays – but remember that some delays are not avoidable

Ultimately, managing delays in the delivery process comes down to good communication and demonstrating to your customer that you want to remedy the situation as quickly as possible. If you can do this effectively, your brand will gain a competitive advantage and a base of long-term, loyal customers who trust that you can deliver. AFM Logistics  is the  best shipping company in India  that can help you streamline your delivery operations and ensure that you stand out from other delivery businesses.