For delivery riders and courier business owners, precision is essential. Knowing the exact location, products delivered on time and in good condition are the primary key to thriving in this industry.
That is why most riders and business owners try to step up their services by using delivery routing apps. Unlike before, transporting products from the store to the client’s location can be done within less than three clicks through the help of these applications. They’re easy, convenient, and practical to use, especially nowadays, where everything seems to be in fast phases.
But, if you’re still new to the courier job and are still working your way around your chosen routing application, we have listed some steps you can follow in organizing an accurate and easy-to-follow delivery route.
Optimize your daily route with your route planner application
If you have a delivery routing app, they will organize and arrange your delivery routes for your convenience.
Most route planners work by entering your customers’ addresses first, putting the drivers you will need for the deliveries so you can place them in a location they can best deliver to. Then click the optimize button from the application so that each driver will be given an accurate and clear direction of their route and you, an explicit direction of your deliveries. With this, you can monitor your products better and way more easily.
Good route planners easily sync with your mobile phones and tablets, so it will be easier for you to keep track of all your customer locations, product notes, and other activities necessary for your business services. There are a lot of route planners present out there with the rise of online market deliveries. It is important to consider the budget you can provide for your route planner, so you have to choose an application that gives you more profit with decent service.
Have an allowance time for “stops” on your deliveries
As business owners, you’d always strive to provide a satisfactory experience for all of your clients. We want their orders to be delivered as quickly as possible, and quicker deliveries also indicate more time for more deliveries.
But, we sometimes forget that riders don’t just give the products to customers and proceed to another location right after. There are instances when they have to take some of their time waiting for a customer who’s still on his way or walking to a customer’s house in the upper area because the vehicle can’t reach it. While this may take only a tiny amount of their time, “many a little makes a mickle,” so these quick stops your rider does to provide customer satisfaction can accumulate to a more significant effect on your supposed delivery schedule.
To avoid errors in your deliveries and provide false hope to your customers, it is essential to plan the number of deliveries and the time to spend on them. Try to estimate some “stop-time” that riders can spend time running extra errands for customers. It’s better for your business, your riders, and your clients.
Try to prioritize routes that will take the most time.
Some courier drivers and business owners try to deliver products from near areas first before going to the faraway ones. While this might seem like a faster way, things turn out differently, however.
When you spend the early times delivering products to customers, there is a great chance that you will be making deliveries in the farther areas during rush hours. We all know what’s the most dreadful thing about rush hours. Once stuck in traffic, a lot of your supposed delivery time will be affected, and the entire plan’s flow would just get messy.
This is why we see it more convenient to prioritize deliveries that would take the most time transporting. The earlier you finish them, the easier it will be, and the more time you will have for the ones that are only located relatively close to one another. It’s wiser and also better for your drivers.
Even in delivery services, a good business plan and strategy are equally important. One’s responsibility doesn’t stop at the quality of products they are selling. Their drivers’ welfare, customer satisfaction, and the overall business system – all of these need to be organized carefully.
