How Your Business Can Still Deliver Packages During COVID-19
Since the outbreak of the COVID pandemic, many businesses are searching for ways to maintain their status quo and continue to function normally. There are multiple ways that business owners can pivot in this challenging time. Here are three crucial steps to protect your business and employees in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak.
Let’s Jump In.
Step into the digital age
Many storefronts relying on in-person shopping are now faced with customers needing delivery orders. As buyers find themselves unable to leave their homes, internet shopping is booming and courier services are finding themselves in high demand. Having a strong online presence and user-friendly website allows potential customers to find you online, find the items they’re looking for, and complete the checkout procedure quickly and easily. Businesses are re-examining their web presence and revamping their websites. Key components to a good website are:
- Clean navigation
- Easy search functionality
- A good checkout experience
- Responsive customer service
Pro tip: Manage expectations by clearly stating delivery options and delivery times and give buyers the option of receiving their merchandise next-day, overnight..etc. Assurance that you are using a reliable courier service can make the sale!
Supply chain model adjustments
Instability seems to be the new normal, so it’s important to adjust your business operating model to adapt to the new reality. Adopt a demand-driven planning model based on real-time demand insights and demand shaping. The right prediction and contingency planning tools will ensure that you have a complete view and an effective contingency plan for risks such as suppliers going out of business, shipping delays, or shortages of materials.
With the right information, companies can adjust pricing, adopt promotional strategies to bolster demand, move additional products quickly or further expand margins for a high-demand product with limited market supply. With foresight, a business can leverage opportunities and mitigate challenges, so that your business not only survives but thrives.
- Consider using cloud supply chain technologies, which give businesses the ability to see exactly where all of their inventory is—in real time—from the store shelves back to the manufacturer.
Reliable Courier Service
If you are selling tangible goods or if your business involves transferring documents, consider that your customers may be unwilling or unable to come to your place of business. In previous days, offering door-to-door delivery was a nice luxury, but in this current situation, it is an absolute necessity, both for the sake of your clients and employees. Limiting in-person interactions protect your employees and customers from possible exposure to illness.
Offer the option of delivering your goods or documents by a reliable courier service, to ensure that customers receive their items in a timely and efficient manner. Customers will appreciate features like real-time tracking, allowing them to keep an eye on their delivery en route. Courier services like CitySprint can provide services like:
- Same day courier service
- UK overnight delivery
- Equipment collection and delivery between offices and homes
- Timed next day delivery to Europe and the US
CitySprint has also implemented a contact-free delivery service, to ensure the safety of its customers and the couriers.
Pro tip: Courier services aren’t just for documents and small parcels. Did you know that top courier services have a range of delivery vehicles to offer, allowing for the delivery of larger items? If you are unsure, ask! You may find yourself pleasantly surprised.
Takeaway
The coronavirus outbreak has dramatically altered the business environment overnight. As everyone is struggling to cope with new restrictions and realities, business owners need to adapt and adjust the way they are doing business. Protecting their employees and customers is the top priority, of course. The first step is to revamp their website to attract online buyers. Adopting an agile supply chain model ensures that your products are in stock and using a courier service to deliver your goods to customers ensures that your employees and clients are not putting themselves in harm’s way. It may be a long time before coronavirus restrictions are lifted, but with a few crucial steps, your business can adapt and flourish.
I'd make this more generic as we're missing loads out of this description. Just make it that if you're selling product or require the transportation of goods between locations...
