The satisfaction of your customers depends on a wide range of factors: the quality of your products, the skill of your customer support team, how you handle disputes and complaints, and how quickly and easily your customers can get your products. However, the speed of shipping and delivery is becoming increasingly important to customers. With the growing success of major e-commerce retailers like Amazon and Walmart and their ability to put products on customers’ doorsteps as quickly as the same day they order them, smaller companies are finding it hard to keep up. Part of the problem for smaller companies is handling last mile delivery, or getting the product into the hands of the customer as quickly as possible on the last leg of its journey.
Last mile logistics is complicated, and it has been made even more complicated and costly lately due to supply chain issues and competition with larger retailers. At Xcel Delivery, we aim to make the process less complicated by helping you streamline your last mile logistics, act proactively to overcome supply chain issues, and handle last-minute snags that could affect delivery speed. Here is a look at the most common challenges of last mile delivery and how we handle them.
Problems Meeting Delivery Deadlines and Customer Expectations
If your customers don’t get an item quickly enough or are dissatisfied with the shipping and delivery process, they will return the item. This results in further losses to your company as well as unhappy customers who won’t return. Your customers don’t care about the details of why you can’t deliver products as quickly and cheaply as other major retailers. They just want the product as quickly as possible. At Xcel, we have contracted with TSA drivers to ensure your products get to their final destination as quickly and efficiently as possible. We will make sure your product gets on the next flight out from our Tucson or Phoenix warehouse, both of which are located near major international airports.
Handling Last-Minute Challenges and Unpredictable Factors
Even with careful planning, last-minute snags can affect delivery time. From weather to traffic, a package can encounter major delays in its last mile. We use complex, innovative GPS and tracking technologies combined with efficient route planning to determine the best route for your packages. We also contract with a huge network of delivery drivers who have experience overcoming last mile challenges.
Finding Quality Delivery Drivers
Another challenge of last mile delivery is the dedication and skill of the driver. The package may arrive at its destination city on time, but a driver may not be able to locate the address or may not follow delivery instructions. This can result in delays, mis-deliveries, customer complaints, and returns. At Xcel, we only work with the most experienced, dedicated, and skilled delivery professionals. They are experienced to overcome challenges and use technology to their advantage so that there are fewer missed deliveries or mis-deliveries.
Balancing Cost and Efficiency
Another major challenge to last mile deliveries is the rising cost. It can be hard for smaller companies to balance cost and efficiency to ensure their customers get products as quickly as possible. At Xcel, we offer affordable, flexible delivery services that are carefully tailored to your needs and designed to improve customer satisfaction and your bottom line. From warehousing and cross-docking to improved supply chain logistics, we can help you transform your delivery services to not just meet but exceed the needs of your customers.
To learn more about our delivery, distribution, and logistics services in Tucson, Phoenix, and throughout Arizona, call us today or contact us online.
