6 delivery problems (and how to avoid them)

The digital commerce era has placed unprecedented emphasis on some parts of the commercial and logistics process. We have witnessed major transformations in the way we sell, buy, and transport products.

In this article, we will talk about some of the most frequent difficulties found in sending a package. These are issues to take into consideration, both from the companies' point of view and for those who shop online.

There is no doubt that it is not possible to completely eliminate all the problems we may encounter. However, certain precautions can greatly help reduce them.

1. Delays

This is one of the most common and most relevant complications of digital commerce today. From the companies' perspective, it is a critical factor that can compromise customer satisfaction. For the customer, it can be a huge annoyance. Statistics show that, although many people are willing to accept a moderate or occasional delay, most will start to lose patience with repeated or excessive delays.

It is important to note that many delays originate in the final stage of the logistics process, due to traffic conditions, logistical problems, etc. The non-home delivery model offers advantages because it is carried out through well-planned routes and at favorable times, eliminating many complications.

2. Damaged Packages

Of course, all the care in the world with meeting deadlines is of little use if the product arrives damaged.

We highlight two useful suggestions. The first relates to the sender and involves paying special attention when packaging. Many damaged packages are due to imperfect packaging. We offer in this other article some tips on how to improve your packaging. The other concerns transportation: once again, non-home delivery is superior, as it involves less need for transshipment and route complications.

3. Costs

The issue of price is, of course, always relevant, and even more so the greater the number of packages. It also becomes more important in inverse proportion to the price of the product shipped; that is, in the case of shipping a cheap item, shipping costs increase the price by a larger proportion. It is inefficient to ship an item that costs the same as the transport fee! For this reason, some companies decide to offer shipping costs above a certain order value.

To avoid surprises, you should always check the shipping rates of the carrier, if you are sending a package or, if you are making a purchase, verify whether the amount shown on the seller's platform already includes transport costs or not.

4. Lack of Visibility

Visibility throughout the logistics process gives more peace of mind to all parties involved and allows any unforeseen issue to be anticipated.

Nowadays, technology makes it possible for information about the shipment's location to be permanently accessible, and the data shows that most people use this technology when waiting for a package. Choose a transport service that allows shipment tracking.

5. Incorrect or Incomplete Products

According to statistics, this situation is quite common in online commerce, due to errors in order processing. However, it is naturally in everyone's best interest to avoid it, and there are reasons to believe that, with the development of technology, it will be possible to reduce this type of problem more and more.

Meanwhile, a well-designed approach to returning items is crucial. Most people who shop online check the returns policy before buying and, even more so in the case of an error, nobody is interested in unnecessary complications when returning the item. The InPost service allows returns through the use of Pack Points – a highly simple, efficient, and easy strategy.

6. Pollution

Lastly, we cannot fail to mention an issue that affects us not only as individuals, but all of us as citizens of the planet. This issue is the amount of pollution generated by logistics activity, which is creating urgent environmental problems. This is a huge benefit of non-home delivery: studies show that this approach represents a substantial reduction in the levels of CO2 generated.

Visit our website for more information about our efforts to contribute to a greener world and about everything we can offer you.