It may come as a shock to many of you ecommerce sellers to learn that you could be missing out on countless sales due to the delivery options you offer. Research has shown that delivery options are one of the main factors that consumers consider when making a purchase, with 45% of consumers claiming they are much more likely to buy a product if there is the option for next day delivery.
“More Than 500 million ecommerce users by the end of 2021”.
The rise in ecommerce that we have seen over the past 18 months has obviously been positive for ecommerce sellers, but it has also meant that consumers now have higher expectations when it comes to buying online.
This is partly due to the bigger retailers switching to a more digitally focussed business model once their stores were forced to close. Due to their vast resources, they are able to offer prospective buyers a vast array of payment and delivery options. However, this is not the only factor.
In response to the increased demand, many online merchants improved their delivery options and streamlined their services. Those didn’t (or, indeed, are still yet to) run the risk of being left behind.
“Only 66% of UK retailers offer next-day delivery”.
Offering next-day delivery is almost guaranteed to boost sales. As stated earlier, 45% of consumers say they are more likely to make a purchase if next-day delivery is offered. This is clearly the most sought-after delivery option, as 2-day delivery or click-and-collect options only appeased 22% of consumers, according to research.
If you are an online seller, you should really consider this feedback from consumers. Understanding and adapting to the new expectations of customers will be vital going forward as the ecommerce boom shows no sign of letting up, and thus the competition is only going to get stiffer.
“Free delivery could be an alternative to next-day delivery”.
However, if you really don’t have the capability to offer next-day delivery, there is another option. The only delivery option that seems to compare with next-day delivery is free delivery, as it seems customers are willing to wait a little bit longer for their delivery if it will save them some money.
40% of consumers claim they would wait up to a week for deliveries that charged no delivery fees, and only around 1 in 10 claim they expect free deliveries on the same or next day. In the end, it boils down to keeping up with the competition. Whether it is by being faster or cheaper, you definitely need to ensure your delivery options are comparable with your rivals.
“There is also the option of using online marketplaces”.
Perhaps rivals you cannot compete with, at least in terms of delivery options, are the major online marketplaces. Amazon Fulfilment is widely regarded as the best fulfilment option around, and as Ebay prepare to launch their own service in the coming months, it is only going to get harder to keep up with the online marketplaces.
However, there is wisdom in the old adage ‘if you can’t beat them, join them’. Placing your products on online marketplaces is a great way to gain exposure to new prospective buyers, and it also means you can take advantage of their strong shipping and delivery options. Indeed, many ecommerce sellers already ahead of the curve, with 36% of sellers joining a marketplace in the last 15 months, and just under half of marketplace sellers admitting to being active on more than one marketplace, it could be the perfect time for you to do likewise.
“Sellers can’t forget delivery technology”.
Furthermore, if you really want to enhance your deliveries you should consider implementing some sort of delivery technology. SMS notifications and email notifications are becoming more and more popular, as consumers now prefer the option to be able to track their deliveries and thus reduce the risk of missing a delivery.
Hopefully this article has given you some ideas as to how you can offer your customers a better shopping experience,
Should you require any assistance, don’t forget that our long history of working with ecommerce sellers, especially those who use Amazon and eBay, means we offer expert advice when it comes to selling online.
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