A great tip to ensure smooth shipping process is to establish a relationship with your courier franchise early on.

Aramex makes delivery easy this holiday season

24/10/2024

As we gear up for the holiday season, ensuring smooth and efficient shipping is vital for businesses. As demand soars during peak periods such as Christmas, adopting effective communication and customer-centric strategies can significantly enhance the delivery experience.

Here are six essential tips to optimise delivery and help your business thrive this holiday season.

 

1. Establish a Connection with Your Courier

Building a strong relationship with your courier is key for a smooth shipping process. Introduce yourself and establish open communication early on. Aramex Courier Franchisees understand the importance of relationships as business owners themselves.

By connecting with them, you’ll foster a partnership that works well during peak times and ensure your business stays on top of deliveries.

Having updated contact details for your courier is essential as volumes increase during the holiday rush. Additionally, it's wise to have an escalation contact for support if needed. The Aramex team can assist and make sure everything runs smoothly this festive season, no matter how busy it gets.

 

2. Review Your Shipping Process

As the holiday season approaches, it’s the perfect time to revisit and refine your shipping process. Evaluating your current workflow can save time and money – two essentials during busy periods. Identify any manual processes that may slow you down. Small improvements can have significant benefits over time.

Aramex’s online delivery portal, aramexConnect, is a powerful tool designed to help you dispatch parcels efficiently. With its intuitive, user-friendly interface, aramexConnect makes managing your deliveries simple. You can sign up for free, add funds, print labels, and start shipping immediately.

For online businesses, aramexConnect offers a seamless integration with leading e-commerce platforms, making it easier to connect your store with a reliable delivery solution. Visit aramex.co.nz/tools/aramexconnect to start sending today.

What’s a shipping integration? A shipping integration connects your online store with a courier service, automating tasks like shipping label creation, tracking, and delivery management. This eliminates manual entry and streamlines your process.

Aramex offers various integration options. For Shopify users, Aramex partners with Joovii to provide the Aramex Shipping App, simplifying shipping management directly through your Shopify admin.

You can quote orders, track parcels, and bulk-book shipments – all from one platform. The app is available with a 60-day free trial. Visit aramex.co.nz/tools/integrations to learn more.

 

3. Communicate with Clarity to Your Customers

Setting clear expectations is vital for shipping success, especially during high-demand periods like Christmas. Customers appreciate knowing when to expect their deliveries, so be upfront about shipping times on your website.

Shipping Notifications really matter so update your order status to help create a positive customer experience. Clear user-friendly notifications provide transparency, letting customers know where their parcels are and giving them peace of mind during busy times.

 

4. Provide Your Customers with Delivery Options

Offering multiple delivery options adds flexibility and personalisation for your customers. Delivery options might include:

• Authority to Leave: This option allows the courier to leave the parcel in a safe spot if no one is available to receive it – it’s ideal for those wanting convenience.
• Signature Delivery Service: This ensures that the courier delivers the package only if a signature is obtained from the recipient, a good choice for higher-value items.
• Secure PIN Service: Aramex offers a Secure PIN Service, providing the recipient with a unique PIN for delivery completion. This adds control, perfect for high-value or confidential shipments.

It’s a good idea to let your customers choose and make these options available at checkout. Then your customers can decide how they’d like their parcels delivered and their overall satisfaction is enhanced.

 

5. Take Care When Packing and Dispatching

Proper packaging is essential to ensure products arrive in perfect condition. During the busy Christmas season, secure packaging is critical. Here are three key tips from Aramex:

1. Choose the Right Packaging: Use sturdy, double-walled boxes for fragile items and make sure that the box is appropriately sized. Recyclable satchels for non-fragile items are cost-effective and eco-friendly. Aramex satchels are 100% recyclable, containing 80% recycled materials.
2. Secure Packaging Materials: Use protective materials like bubble wrap, packing peanuts, or crumpled paper to cushion items. For delicate items, consider using dividers. Securely tape all edges to prevent the box from opening during transit.
3. Labels Matter: Make sure that address labels are accurate and clearly displayed. Double-check details before shipping to avoid errors.

 

6. Prepare for Returns

Returns are inevitable during the holiday season, so be ready to manage them smoothly by clearly communicating your return policy.

With the Aramex returns function on aramexConnect, handling returns is simple. The portal allows you to schedule pickups from your customer’s location, ensuring a smooth hassle-free experience even when items are returned.

If you're ready to optimise your shipping process and create a positive experience for your customers this Christmas, book a call with your local Aramex team. They're available to help you explore your delivery options and find tailored solutions for your business.

Visit aramex.co.nz/tools/free-freight-analysis to get started.