Everyone knows that competing with big business can be a challenge. This is especially true if you are a small eCommerce retailer looking to win customers while Amazon is offering 1-day and 2-day shipping for just about everything under the sun. With modern customers that shop around for the best deals and times, it’s important to have a plan so you can provide the largest number of customers with the best possible service.
However, achieving 1-day shipping is a pretty impressive feat. Just how can you achieve this sought-after goal in order to win business back from Amazon’s massive shipping operations? We have a few tricks up our sleeves to keep your eCommerce brand on top.
Keep Stock in Distributed Warehouses
The first step to achieving 1-day and 2-day shipping is to make sure your products are distributed to warehouses all over the country. It takes time to ship things from NY to CA or WI to FL, but it takes much less time if you have stock already stored nearby. The more distributed your inventory can be, the closer each order will be to your next customer.
This means that you can offer 1-day or 2-day shipping to most people within your shipping range most of the time.
Keep Ahead of Stock Demand
Don’t run out of stock. Make sure that each of your warehouse locations has enough stock available so that customers don’t have to wait extra time for their order to be shipped from a warehouse that is further away. Use predictive software to anticipate when you will run out of stock and ensure that each location has enough to fulfill the next likely wave of orders.
You can also create a system that allows for staged shipping and split orders so that if a customer orders a huge batch of a product, some will arrive ASAP while the rest can be sourced from more distant warehouses with a slightly longer shipping time.
Offer Incentives for Longer Shipping Options
Plan ahead for delays. Make sure that when your shipping does take a little longer due to warehouse distribution distances and bad weather, your customers feel compensated. You can keep loyal customers and sometimes win new business by being relaxed about slightly longer shipping times.
Consider offering loyalty points, small freebies, or a shipping discount if it will take more than 2 days for an order to reach the customer – or if there are significant delays along the way. Show your customers that you value their time and convenience.
Offer Premium Shipping for Priority Orders
Is your customer ordering something for an event that absolutely must make it in time? Make a paid premium shipping option available. This allows you to invest in more costly direct-to-customer (DTC) overnight shipping so your customers know they can count on you when their demand level is higher than usual. You might just save a few anniversaries and birthday parties with this simple upgraded shipping option.
Partner with the Right 3PL Provider
Lastly, look for a fast and reliable third-party logistics (3PL) provider. 3PL teams run the gamut from slow & steady to lightning fast, with a wide range of pricing and distribution options to choose from. Picking the right 3PL provider can ensure that you have an order assembly and delivery team ready to get your products out to customers without delays.
The best 3PL partner will provide efficient and accurate order fulfillment, warehouses with proximity to the shipping destination, and a flawless record for getting packages to customers throughout both city and rural areas.
Achieve Competitive 1-Day Shipping with R&S Logistics
At R&S Logistics, we are dedicated to helping our eCommerce clients achieve a competitive shipping rate so that you can win business from warehouse magnates like Amazon with successful 1-day shipping guarantees to your customers. Contact us today to learn more about our locations, methods, and the shipping performance we can bring to your brand.
