When you run a small business, you have to make sure you're doing everything in your power to get your products to your customers, safely and on time.
Delivery is a simple concept, but to do it the right way takes a lot of dedication, which not every small business has. If you're not careful with your shipping methods, you can lose a lot of money through damaged packages, late deliveries, or even lost deliveries.
Today, we're going to tell you the 4 most common delivery mistakes that small businesses make, so you don't make them yourself. Even if you've been making these mistakes, it's better to realize and course-correct now than to keep making them.
1. Poor Packaging
The thing that's going to cost you the most time and money, and put your reputation on the line, is improper packaging. No matter what carrier you end up using, you need to prepare like they're going to handle your package roughly.
When dealing with breakables, make sure that the item has a lot of cushioning around it in the package and clearly label it as fragile. Sorting facilities and delivery drivers can't control every situation, so preparation on your end is the best course of action.
2. Using One Carrier for All Shipments
A lot of small businesses lean towards using one carrier for all their shipments. There could be many reasons for this - it makes things less complicated for workers, it might be cheaper, etc. - however, this could be really slowing you down.
It's always better to use carriers that specialize in different types of shipments. For instance, if you need to deliver something locally on the same day, you should use a local courier. If you want something delivered across the country by the next business day, then you need to use a larger national courier, like UPS.
Understanding different carriers' strengths ensure that each package will get there on time.
3. Shipping Backlogs
Depending on how big your operation is, you might not have a full-scale shipping department. This can often lead to shipping backlogs, as packages are left sitting around until someone has time to process them.
It's in your best interest to get orders out the door as efficiently as possible, so designate a few hours every day to ship. Eventually, as your operation grows, you'll have the components for immediate delivery in place.
4. Miscalculating Weight
A lot of small businesses, without the proper shipping resources, will miscalculate the weight of their shipment. This leads to a miscalculation of shipping cost and almost always, a loss of money.
Almost every carrier, outside of some local ones, is going to take your package to a sorting facility, where it will be accurately weighed. If their weight doesn't match yours, you're going to end up with a bill for the difference.
Correcting Common Delivery Mistakes
Now that you know some of these common delivery mistakes, you can take the proper steps to correct them. Almost all of these mistakes can be avoided by making improvements to your shipping processes. As small businesses grow, it's easy to lose track of some aspects of business, but poor shipping methods will always come back to haunt you.
Did you find this post on common delivery mistakes during shipping to be helpful? Come back and visit us again for more small business packing and shipping tips. The Bootstrap Business Blog always delivers the goods when it comes to logistics statistics, smart shipping, and diligent deliveries!