Ever since the rise of Amazon Prime back in 2007, businesses across the globe have been faced with three petrifying words – next-day delivery. It’s such a daunting term that even Amazon thought they’d probably lose money on the venture before it really took off. But the risk was definitely worthwhile – now, approximately 78% of customers expect next-day delivery as standard. And, companies a lot smaller than Amazon are having to find ways to make it work for them.
Luckily, with the option to outsource to reliable fulfilment services that can store, pack, and send things much quicker than most brands would manage in-house, next-day deliveries are technically achievable for businesses of all shapes and sizes. But they can still put a potential strain on your sanity and finances. So, is this benefit really worth breaking your back for?
If you want to grow your brand anytime soon, then the answer is most definitely ‘yes’. In this article, we’ll consider why next-day delivery is so important by looking at what it can actually do for your brand.
# 1 – Mimicking High-Street Convenience
Ultimately, the selling point of e-commerce comes from the fact that it’s easier than heading out to a physical store to do your shopping. But, isn’t the convenience null and void if customers then have to wait the best part of a week for their items to arrive? After all, that timeline would be a whole lot shorter if they just got in the car and drove to the shop in question in the first place. So, where’s the convenience in that?
To some extent, these longer wait times were something customers were willing to forgive when e-commerce was a novelty. Now, though, expectations for convenience are rising, and securing customs means mimicking high-street convenience across every stage of the buyer journey.
Of course, while same-day delivery is also rising in popularity, most customers are currently willing to wait at least a day, thanks to the convenience of being able to order from the comfort of their homes. But, they increasingly won’t want to wait any longer than that. Instead, they want their item in their life quickly and in the moment they require it, just like back in the age of physical shopping. Next-day delivery is your best chance to make that happen.
# 2 – Guaranteeing a Competitive Edge
Competing in a growing e-commerce sphere is currently harder than ever, and it’s only becoming more so as AI search throws doubt on your online visibility. There really isn’t room to set a foot wrong right now, and you know what could be a major competitive misstep? Failing to offer next-day delivery, of course!
The good news is that, right now, not every single brand is offering this benefit. This means that if your competitors aren’t there yet, this single shift could be a fantastic way to differentiate. After all, even if a customer technically prefers what your competitor has to offer, they’ll still opt for you if they have an immediate need for that item.
If a lot of the other brands in your niche are already offering next-day delivery, then it also pays to think about how you use this offering. For instance, working with a fulfilment centre can see you providing more reliable packing and delivery than other brands. Equally, you may be able to provide more affordable next-day options than those other companies this way.
# 3 – Expanding Your Audience
This point follows roughly the same lines as the previous one, but it’s worth a mention of its own anyway – next-day delivery can also help to expand your audience base, and thus the sales and conversions you enjoy. Obviously, a large part of this comes from the fact that your competitor’s customers will be more likely to shop with you instead, but there’s also more to it than that.
After all, next-day delivery is a premium service, and it’s liable to bring a premium audience your way, especially if you pair it with other premium options like packing services or even just high-quality customer services in general.
Next-day delivery offerings also make your website more appealing to anyone searching for the kinds of services you offer, increasing the likelihood of clicks and ultimate conversions. Issues like shopping cart abandonment will certainly reduce when you have next-day delivery up your sleeve.
# 4 – Encouraging Repeat Purchases
While all purchases are beneficial, the ability to retain repeat purchases makes a huge difference to customer lifetime value, which becomes a real indicator of success. On average, it costs up to 5 times more to attract new customers, so the money you save by achieving this goal could even pay for next-day delivery and more. But why does next-day delivery keep customers coming back?
The main reason is, of course, convenience. Once shoppers see how easy it is to buy and receive items from you, your name will immediately come to mind the next time they’re looking to buy.
On top of that, next-day delivery encourages repeat custom for the simple reason that it shows you care, and that you’re willing to invest in a logistically complex and generally expensive form of delivery to show your customers that. This can enhance customer trust and their loyalty in general. Especially when paired with other premium service offerings as mentioned.
Some brands are also getting smart about how they use next-day delivery to keep people coming back. For instance, some companies only provide next-day delivery for free to subscription customers, making multiple purchases a lot more likely.
Takeaway: Do you Really Need Next-Day Delivery?
While more customers are undeniably expecting next-day deliveries now, this isn’t a standard postage offering for many smaller brands right now. But, is it something you should consider to expand your operations? Absolutely!
Whether you handle next-day deliveries in-house or outsource this responsibility to a trusted fulfilment centre, it’s sure to do good things for your sales and prospects alike!
Top Photo by MealPro on Unsplash
