More individuals, families, and businesses are looking for alternative delivery options due to the coronavirus pandemic. While shopping in public places is not as convenient as it was before, there are still ways that you can get your products and goods to customers in a safe and timely manner. Here are a few ideas you may want to try.
Ebike
Ebike or electronic bikes are becoming more popular these days. They allow couriers to deliver packages to local customers efficiently. When you include delivery service with an Ebike in your customer service options, you’ll help customers get the items they need without having to wait for shipping. If you’re a restaurant or bakery, or you deliver natural supplements and your customers need their orders right away, an e-bike could be a viable option. Some postal carriers are also using this method so that bikers can deliver packages to local clients as soon as a shipment comes in.
Online Delivery Options
One of the ways that you make delivery more convenient for your customers is to provide them with more options. If you normally only offer 5-7 day delivery, give your customers the option of receiving their packages later for a lower shipping fee. Explain that you’re trying to keep your clients safe during the pandemic and want to make sure product packaging is safe and free of contamination. If you have a system that allows delivery drivers to bring packages to customers, offer a variety of time slots for consumers to choose from. Since many people are working from home or homeschooling their children, your customers will likely appreciate the option to tailor their deliveries based on their busy schedules.
Contactless Delivery
Even if your customers are ordering dinner or groceries from your online store and expecting their orders to arrive at their doorsteps in a matter of hours, you can adjust your delivery methods. Ask your customers if they would prefer contactless delivery so you don’t have to interact with clients and risk the exposure or spread of COVID-19. Ask your patrons if they would prefer that you leave their food order or groceries at their front door instead of ringing the doorbell and handing their order to them. Ask customers if they prefer a text or message within your app notifying them when their package has been delivered, or if they’d rather you knock on the door and leave the order at the doorstep.
On-Site Delivery Station
If your business is dedicated to serving local customers, you can set up a delivery station at your place of business so that clients can pick up their items without coming in contact with anyone. Be sure you decorate the station with your logo and indicate that clients should stand six feet apart while waiting for their orders. This system often works well for restaurants, but you can incorporate this system for other types of businesses as well. For instance, if you have a clothing and apparel store, you can allow your customers to place their orders online and notify them when they can visit your location to pick up their items at the delivery station. It may also be helpful to have a bottle of hand sanitizer and extra masks on hand for customers to make the delivery station safer and to show customers that you’re taking the right precautions.
Delivery Kiosk
Finally, you can offer a delivery kiosk for your customers. This works well if you have small items that you can easily provide to customers such as medications, supplements, and even items that will help stop the spread of coronavirus. The kiosk can work like a vending machine, in which customers will input the necessary information and their desired item(s) will be dispensed at the kiosk. This is another form of contactless delivery but minimizes error since the customer will be on-site and you can communicate through a window or speaker system to ensure the order is correct in real-time.
These options can help your business continue to thrive during the pandemic. When you use one or more of these delivery methods and offer your clients options for delivery, you’ll also be enhancing your customer service efforts and increasing the chances that your customers will tell others about your company.
Samantha Higgins is a professional writer with a passion for research, observation, and innovation. She is nurturing a growing family of twin boys in Portland, Oregon with her husband. She loves kayaking and reading creative non-fiction.
