Shipping speed has launched into the forefront of ecommerce strategy. Customers demand to get their products quick – and top marketplaces make it easy for shoppers to prioritize speedy delivery. Two-day shipping, seemingly the norm for today’s online purchases, was reportedly important to 79.3% of customers.
Shipping speed is important for new customer acquisition, but the stats are particularly powerful when looking at its impact on brand loyalty. In fact, 87% of online shoppers identified shipping speed as a key factor in their decision to shop with an ecommerce brand again.
Understanding Shipping Terminology
When Amazon introduced free shipping for Prime members, it became a catalyst for the industry. However, it’s important to note that the ‘one’ or ‘two’ day timeframes are transit times, and do not always include processing time.
Same-day and next-day delivery are also gaining momentum. These delivery options often come with order cut-off times. Noon is a common cut-off time for same-day delivery, allowing the evening for the product to be processed and leave the warehouse – but even then, the product may not be delivered to the customer until the following day.
Given the foggy nature of these terms, more ecommerce channels are implementing an expected delivery date rather than relying only on the terminology alone. Regardless of how delivery is achieved, you should clearly communicate with your customers about delivery expectations.
Customer Sentiment
Speaking of communication, if you expect or experience a delay in delivery time, it is necessary to loop in the customer. A whopping 98.3% of customers say that they want a notification if a package is held up. In the same study, 72.7% of respondents say that a poor delivery experience would prevent them from purchasing from the same retailer in the future.
While fast delivery should be a priority, smooth handling of the instances when you can’t meet that promise is just as important.
Putting it Together
Fast shipping is necessary to compete on today’s marketplaces, and two-day shipping has become the entry point for consideration. Ecommerce customers not only expect fast shipping, but also expect clear communication regarding any delivery updates.
Most brands outsource fulfillment so that they can offer nationwide two-day shipping (or faster), given the large footprint and manpower needed to make it happen.
If you’re looking for a solution, consider Spreetail. We support 80% of US customers with next-day delivery and 99% with two-day delivery, while also handling listing optimization, strategy, and customer support. Get in touch.
Growth Marketing Manager
