Fast Delivery Strategies: Is Same-Day and Next-Day Delivery Ideal for Your eCommerce Store?

Shipping speed is something you should never ignore when running an eCommerce business. In fact, 62% of shoppers expect their orders to arrive in under three business days, even when they choose free shipping. With expectations like that, it’s no surprise that online stores are doing everything they can to keep up.

But is jumping into same-day or next-day delivery the right move for your business? In this article, we’ll explain what it really takes to offer it and whether it’s a wise investment for your brand.

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Why fast shipping is a game-changer for eCommerce

Offering faster shipping doesn’t just please customers; it helps you reach more of them. And when you do, your business can enjoy some other benefits, like:

Meeting customer expectations

Fast, reliable, and transparent – that’s exactly how today’s customers expect their shipping to be. The days of waiting a week for a package to arrive are quickly fading. Nearly two-thirds of shoppers now expect to receive their orders within 24 hours.

As these expectations are quickly becoming the new normal, especially with how quickly big retailers have set the pace, businesses should meet this standard to stay competitive.

Reducing cart abandonment

Get this: around 70% of shoppers abandon their carts, and a big chunk of that has to do with shipping.

The good news? Businesses can recover many of these lost opportunities by improving the checkout experience. By enhancing how you present shipping options, such as:

• Clearly showing delivery timelines
• Offering both affordable and fast choices
• Being upfront about costs

You give customers more control over how quickly they receive their orders. And you’ll be surprised, many customers are willing to pay more for faster deliveries!

Gaining a competitive edge

Since many shoppers now see fast delivery as a strong reason to buy, offering it can give your business a huge advantage.

If you sell the same product as other stores but can deliver it faster, you instantly stand out. In many cases, that faster shipping option can be the deciding factor that convinces a customer to choose you over the competition.

Driving impulse purchases

Some shoppers see something they like and decide to buy it on the spot–no second-guessing. But that impulse can fade quickly if they realize the item won’t arrive in time.

For example, if someone finds a shirt they want to wear to an event happening in a few days but sees that it won’t arrive until after, they’re likely to hesitate or abandon the purchase altogether. But if you offer fast delivery, you’re more likely to catch those spontaneous buys before the moment passes.

Building trust and loyalty

When you offer fast and reliable service, your customers will take notice. They begin to trust that you’ll deliver on time, every time. And that trust turns into repeat purchases. Over time, this consistency builds loyalty to your brand. And you know what they say about happy customers – they talk!

A great shipping experience can lead to positive word-of-mouth, which is often more powerful than any paid ad. When people feel good about shopping with you, they’re more likely to tell their friends, and that kind of genuine recommendation brings in even more customers.

Boosting conversion rates

Conversion rate might sound like a fancy term, but it simply means how many people who visit your site actually make a purchase. And guess what? Fast shipping can make a big difference here.

When shoppers see options like same-day or next-day delivery, they are more likely to feel confident and excited about purchasing. It satisfies their urge to get what they want, fast.

As the song goes, “I see it, I like it, I want it, I got it.” Fast shipping taps into that mindset, and it can quickly turn casual browsers into paying customers.

Fueling business growth

With fast shipping, you can:

• Reach more customers
• Handle larger order volumes
• Build stronger brand affinity

This leads to increased sales, which means you’ll have more resources to grow your product line, expand your operations, or reach new markets. When you combine all of these benefits, it’s easy to see how fast shipping can be a powerful driver for scaling your business and taking it to the next level.

What it really takes to offer same-day and next-day deliveries

What do you need to offer fast shipping? How do you make it work? It sounds simple, but in reality, it’s easier said than done.

To offer same-day or next-day delivery efficiently, you need to ensure that a few key aspects of your operations are set up correctly. You’ll need:

A strategic fulfillment setup

If you want to offer same-day and next-day deliveries, your products must be close to your customers. That means setting up fulfillment centers (or working with partners who have them) in locations where most of your orders come from.

The less distance your items have to travel, the faster they can arrive and the less it’ll cost you, too!

A tight inventory management

Speedy delivery only works if you have the item ready to go. That’s why your inventory systems need to be accurate at all times. You should always know what’s in stock, what’s running low, and what’s already been sold.

If a customer places an order and you don’t have it in stock, you’ll likely experience delays and unhappy customers. Real-time inventory tracking is key to ensuring this doesn’t happen.

The right tech stack

Can you just imagine your systems lagging during the holiday rush? If you’re promising fast shipping, your tech stack needs to keep up.

From your eCommerce platform to your order management system, everything needs to work together seamlessly to make fast shipping possible for you. The quicker your systems communicate and process orders, the faster you can get those packages out the door.

Reliable last-mile delivery partners

Since it’s the final step in the process, the last mile is also where most delays tend to happen. Common reasons include:

• Incorrect or incomplete address
• Heavy traffic
• Overloaded couriers
• Bad weather conditions
• Poor route planning

And more!

Because of these factors, having reliable delivery partners is crucial. That’s why one of the most important aspects of this is having an optimized shipping carrier strategy.

Depending on the location, season, and other factors, the best shipping carrier for the job will change. This is where having a system that works with all major carriers becomes a huge benefit for businesses. For instance, iDrive can automatically detect which carrier is best for different scenarios, helping you balance the cost and speed for your deliveries.

Defined cutoff times

Sometimes customers place their orders at the last minute. That’s why setting clear cutoff times for orders is crucial. It helps manage expectations and keep everything running smoothly.

For example, you can set a rule that only orders placed before a certain time will be eligible for same-day shipping. This way, customers know exactly when they need to place an order to get it the same day. It helps keep them informed and ensures there are no surprises or disappointments.

Strong communication with customers

The key to providing the best service for same-day and next-day deliveries is keeping your customers informed every step of the way, from when their order is processed until it reaches their doorstep.

It’s your responsibility to ensure they’re in the loop. If anything happens along the way, letting them know right away is the best way to show them you’re doing everything you can to get their order to them as quickly as possible.

Efficient order processing workflows

Lastly, having a streamlined order processing and management system is essential for offering fast deliveries. From the moment a shopper checks out and makes their payment, how your system handles everything can make or break your ability to deliver on time.

If your system is disorganized or outdated, things can quickly get messy. Orders get lost in the shuffle, or processing times slow down, which can affect your delivery times.

On the other hand, when your system is smooth and efficient, orders are automatically processed, inventory is updated in real-time, and each step from order placement to fulfillment is tracked. This level of organization helps you keep up with your order volume and lets you fulfill it faster.

How iDrive can help elevate your shipping strategy

Same-day and next-day delivery is all about having the right systems, tools, and partners in place to make it all work smoothly. But how do you make sure you’ve got those things in place?

That’s where iDrive can help. With years of experience in the eCommerce space, we’ve helped businesses of all sizes build smart, scalable shipping strategies. From choosing the best carriers to managing inventory across multiple locations, we have the tech, insights, and support to help you succeed.

Want to turn fast shipping into a real competitive edge for your business? Book a call with our team today to get started!