Consumer demand for fast delivery has been a concern for business owners since the dawn of the Pony Express. These days, online giants like Amazon and Walmart provide same-day delivery for some items, raising the bar and customer expectations. While your business may not be able to compete with the likes of these retail giants, you should be paying attention to how quickly you’re able to get time-sensitive deliveries to customers.

If you’re experiencing delays more often than you’d like, consider these tips to help you overcome challenges in delivery:

Use Specialized Delivery Services

One way to overcome delivery delays is to use specialized delivery services. Last mile delivery is one of the most popular specialized delivery services as it often provides faster service to individual customers.

Last mile delivery is generally carried out using smaller delivery vehicles as opposed to large carrier trucks. Drivers can often take on smaller orders that need to be delivered individually to residential and commercial customers. For more information about last mile delivery companies, check out this website.

Don’t Bite Off More Than You Can Chew

Because of the aforementioned delivery options from big names in retail, it can be easy to get caught up in thinking that offering similar delivery times would be a good idea. Unfortunately, you may bite off more than you can chew while trying to compete, meaning you end up offering unrealistic delivery times that you won’t be able to meet.

Instead, be realistic in your logistics planning. If you want to become more competitive, take the time to conduct an internal review to find ways to overcome challenges.

Watch Your Supplier Lead Times

When you find a good supplier that offers consistent service, it can be easy to fall into a groove. As the Covid-19 pandemic pointed out, this can be dangerous.

Pay attention to your lead times from suppliers. You will want to adjust your delivery times accordingly. Also, plan far enough in advance to allow for potential disruptions, and always try to have a few weeks of supply available in case lead times get longer.

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