Convenience and immediacy are two qualities every successful eCommerce business can offer. Many help customers place orders quickly and receive items fast with same-day delivery. But how does same-day delivery work?
What Is Same-Day Delivery?
You probably notice several shipping options when buying something from an online store like Amazon or Target. Next-day delivery and standard shipping are two common choices. Then there’s same-day delivery – do what?
Same-day delivery means packages arrive at a home or business within 24 hours of the order placement. Customers verify their purchases, and the supplier or retailer processes, ships, and delivers it all on the same day. It’s the fastest delivery speed available.
The quickest way to get merchandise to the customer is for them to shop in person. However, we all know that physically going to a store and finding what you want isn’t always possible. Same-day delivery merges the convenience of in-person shopping with the availability of online stores.
Why Is Same-Day Delivery Important?
Most big-name eCommerce retailers offer same-day delivery during the checkout process. Customers like getting their packages fast, and 24-hour courier service provides the best solution. That’s why many people turn to larger companies when they shop online.
Speedy delivery is often the key to attracting new customers. It also helps retain your current client base, keeping them satisfied and confident in their purchases. The same-day delivery option is paramount to many customers, so you should consider adding it to your business.
In a nutshell, same-day delivery can add a lot to your business, including:
- Attracting new customers
- Satisfying current customers
- Increasing sales
- Improving your reputation
How Does Same-Day Delivery Work?
At this point, you’re probably wondering, “How does same-day delivery work?” It sounds like it could be a complicated, hectic process with everyone rushing to fulfill orders. However, working with the right logistics company makes it much less challenging.
Basically, here’s how same-day delivery works:
- A customer places an order, and you process it.
- You contact a logistics provider in or near your ZIP code.
- The logistics company arrives with an appropriate delivery vehicle within an hour.
- The purchased items leave to the customer’s address.
With same-day delivery, your logistics provider ensures the customer’s order reaches them within 24 hours. Depending on your location and the buyer’s address, it may take only a few hours.
Same-Day Delivery vs. Same-Day Shipping
If you don’t pay close attention, you might mistake same-day delivery with same-day shipping. These don’t mean the same thing. Although they sound similar, there’s actually a significant difference.
- Same-day shipping refers to shipping an order the same day a customer completes the transaction. This means you don’t wait to get the items in transit; they often arrive sooner than the standard three-to-five-day delivery option.
- Same-day delivery refers to processing, shipping, and delivering a customer’s order within 24 hours after they place it. Unlike same-day shipping and next-day delivery, items arrive at least half the time with same-day delivery.
It’s easy to confuse same-day shipping with same-day delivery. You’ll want to avoid any mix-ups by clarifying this distinction on your shipping options page. This can prevent poor reviews and dissatisfied customers in the future.
When Is the Cut-off Point?
Here’s a good question: what if someone places an order at 11:59 p.m.? Can they expect same-day delivery to drop off their packages within one minute? Should they just pay for next-day delivery?
Clearly, same-day delivery can create logistical issues. You don’t want to offer customers something unreasonable and a delivery method you can’t guarantee. That’s why many companies provide same-day delivery with a cut-off point. Setting a cut-off point for your same-day delivery option will help your reputation and customer loyalty.
Since same-day delivery could also mean within 24 hours, it might not matter. However, make sure to specify what customers should expect clearly.
If you don’t want to set a cut-off point, that’s OK. But you may want to clearly define same-day delivery on your pricing page so that customers don’t have unrealistic expectations. You could also rephrase it to be something like express delivery or priority mail.
Fast, Secure Logistical Services With VeLOX Express
At VeLOX Express, we provide time-sensitive logistical services so that you can stay focused on growing your business. Asking “how does same-day delivery work?” is the first step to expanding your reach and customer base.
We offer several standard levels of local/regional courier service, including:
- STAT (90 minutes)
- Express (2 hours)
- Standard (4 hours)
- Economy (Same Day or Overnight)
We also offer Expedited service anywhere across the United States. Go online or give us a call at (877) 835-6946.