Australian retailers must offer better delivery and returns or risk alienating customers

Australian online retailers are failing their customers by offering inadequate delivery services, and they must improve delivery options or risk alienating customers, according to last-mile delivery solutions provider, Blackbay.  

Blackbay partnered with MeeMeep.com to complete the recent Blackbay and MeeMeep Consumer Delivery Preferences Report which consisted of 1212 respondents. MeeMeep is an Australian start-up delivery company that creates joyful delivery experiences through leveraging innovative technology and a curated fleet of drivers and empowers customers to transform the last-mile delivery fulfilment industry.

The report reveals that just 17 per cent of respondents indicate that parcel deliveries meet their expectations, with regard to being on time and undamaged. Despite this, 89 per cent of respondents said they were ‘satisfied’ with their delivery experience.

Nigel Doust, CEO, Blackbay, said, “This conflicting statistic shows there is confusion as to what makes a good delivery experience. Customers seem to accept that mediocre services are the norm, which provides a clear opportunity for Australian online retailers to differentiate themselves by providing a far superior delivery experience. Currently, Australian online retailers are failing their customers when they could be doing so much more.”

Blackbay’s global last-mile software solutions are specifically developed for the transport and logistics (T&L) marketplace.

Justin Williams, CEO, MeeMeep, said, “Currently, Australian consumers appear to be unaware of the enhanced delivery options offered in other regions. This report clearly shows that there is a demand for dramatically better delivery experiences than Australian’s tolerate today. MeeMeep’s mission is to resolve the experience gap and provide joyful delivery experiences to everyone, everywhere, every time.”

“MeeMeep believes that the most powerful and impactful online retail experience really starts with the ‘click to buy’ button. That is where the really hard work starts and the average retailers hurt their customer and their brand - and the really great retailers excel. 

“Retailer brand perception and preference is truly crystallised through the delivery experience and the resultant emotions felt by the customer. Unfortunately, this crucial element of the retail experience is often neglected or forgotten.  This creates an opportunity for the more capable retailers.”

A significant delivery dilemma across the globe is that 85 per cent of consumers prefer packages to be delivered to their homes, with the ability to sign for them, but 32 percent say they are not normally home to receive deliveries.

The report also showed that more than half of online shoppers consider the ease of initiating returns very important, The UK Consumer Home Delivery Review 2016 conducted by Blackbay and International Media in Retail Group (IMRG) found similar results in the UK. The ability to easily and quickly return packages is an issue for customers. Only 61 percent of respondents were satisfied with the returns service they receive.

“This is the 7th year Blackbay and IMRG have executed the report and each year the importance of an improved returns process increases,” commented Doust.

Australians can learn from the mistakes retailers have made in other regions by prioritising the returns process. This can also achieve better costs savings. When returns are collected sooner, and refunds issued promptly, the retailers can then resell those goods more quickly while enabling the consumer to buy replacement goods faster.

Doust said, “By giving consumers access to the same collection options as those offered for delivery, retailers can streamline customer experiences both in purchasing and returning goods. That’s a win-win situation.”

Online retailing is increasingly competitive and retailers must find ways to differentiate themselves. One way to do that is to offer better, individualised delivery and returns options. To do this successfully, the T&L industry needs to deploy scalable delivery solutions.

The report is available for download via http://www.blackbay.com/images/delivery-connect/BlackbayMeeMeepReport2016.pdf

Business Review Australia & Asia's August issue is live. 

Follow @BizReviewAU and @MrNLon on Twitter. 

Business Review Australia is also on Facebook.