Last-minute orders can occur in any business, but this might be a more common event in the ecommerce industry. These orders will be placed close to the deadline, and they are often driven by time-sensitive occasions like holidays or sales.
As expected, an order placed at the last moment will require faster operations and shipping to meet customer expectations. It is vital to keep this in mind when running your ecommerce store, and the four points outlined below can help you do this successfully.
Update Delivery Estimates and Communication
Even if orders are not made at the last minute, being transparent with your customers is vital. This begins with the lead times stated on your website. You must clearly state your processing and shipping times on the site, and this is particularly important during busy periods. These delivery estimates will enable customers to make informed decisions on whether they should order from your business.
How you communicate will extend after the order has been placed. This will include letting customers know the status of their orders at each stage. Automated updates can be sent out during every step of the process, from packing to shipping, using email or SMS notifications. If delays become unavoidable, then you might need to send manual messages to customers.
Optimize Order Fulfillment
With last-minute orders, the order fulfillment process needs to be even more streamlined. This is why you might utilize a robust order management system (OMS), which can identify bottlenecks, improve efficiency, and track orders. It is also a good idea to implement an automated system for repetitive tasks, including order confirmation, picking, and packing, as this will speed up fulfillment.
For some ecommerce businesses, it might even be useful to consider partnering with a third-party logistics (3PL) company. This is very beneficial if you struggle to handle large quantities of orders. A 3PL can provide your business with additional resources and expertise. While partnering with a 3PL can help with warehouse efficiency, too, this can be achieved in-house by optimizing warehouse layout and processes.
Enhance Shipping and Delivery
Similarly, how orders are shipped will need to be considered when dealing with last-minute orders. One of the best ways to enable customers to make orders at the last possible moment is by offering multiple shipping options. Although standard shipping might be cheaper, customers are often willing to pay for expedited delivery. According to Retail TouchPoints, 88% of consumers are willing to pay for same-day delivery services.
If you wish to offer same-day delivery, then you must ensure you work with a courier that can provide this service. It is often advised to select a local courier in this case, so a business in Las Vegas would benefit from working with Las Vegas Couriers. Couriers like this can pick up orders and deliver them to customers in a timely manner, which should be the aim for last-minute orders.
Adapt to Peak Season
When peak seasons are, you should make other plans to keep up with the additional demand. Hiring temporary staff should be prioritized, but your ecommerce business might want to set up further automated systems that can reallocate inventory from cancelled orders. This will ensure efficient utilization going forward.
To conclude, there are numerous ways to ensure your ecommerce business can handle orders placed at the last minute. This will benefit your business greatly by preventing a loss of sales and enhancing customer satisfaction.