Can SaaS Retail Logistics Software Help Meet Customer Expectations?

While the acceleration of the shift from in-store sales to e-commerce has slowed slightly, online sales are still forecast to grow at around 8% per year for the foreseeable future. Coupled with rising customer expectations, the pressure on retailers to deliver more goods, faster, with higher accuracy is immense and growing.

Trends in SaaS retail logistics software

FulfillmentDemand volatility, supply chain disruptions, and labor shortages are likely here to stay, so retailers need tools to overcome order fulfillment challenges and improve

operational efficiency, increase customer satisfaction, and identify cost savings—all while improving last mile delivery. Luckily, improvements in logistics software systems are helping make that possible.

Real-time visibility and tracking

Shoppers want more from retailers including speedy order fulfillment, total delivery transparency, and real-time communication.

One study showed that more than 90 percent of consumers want to know the real-time status of their orders, including where they are in the shipping process. The same study revealed that close to half of shoppers won't buy from brands that don’t offer real-time last mile carrier tracking for their orders.

Eco-friendly order fulfillment

Industry leaders recognize the need to offer shoppers sustainable delivery services and that doing so provides a major competitive advantage. Consumers are willing to pay a premium to ensure that they are using eco-friendly delivery options.

This might include five-day delivery versus same-day delivery, pick-up at the physical store rather than shipping for a fee and incentivizing shoppers who choose less carbon-intensive delivery options.. But at the end of the day, the key here is operational efficiency. Modern last-mile delivery software makes it possible to run your trucks on more efficient routes—thereby reducing fuel usage—and decrease wasteful reverse logistics processes by improving communication with customers. Likewise, cloud-based solutions can help you to find areas of waste and inefficiency elsewhere in your delivery operations.

Customer pickup logistics

Store operations are also changing. Brick and mortar shops are not just showrooms but also locations that can help businesses offer same-day flexible options such as curbside or in-store pick-up. But making the most of the physical stores requires businesses to have technology solutions in place that can smooth customer pickup logistics.

This can be nearly as complex as managing last mile deliveries: Customers need to be able to schedule capacity-friendly pickup times, store associates need to be alerted when orders are placed and when customers arrive, customers need to be alerted when their orders are ready, and associates need to collect proof of delivery. Not all last mile logistics solutions offer this kind of functionality, but those that do are powering a real shift in how pick-up logistics workflows are handled.

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Partnering with multiple carriers

Many businesses are opting to outsource all part of their delivery operations to third-party logistics (3PL) providers, either because they do not have the bandwidth to expand existing delivery teams or they intend to focus on their core competencies.

Partnering with multiple carriers allows companies to optimize shipping costs while ensuring their capacity to handle high delivery volumes. The trick is to make sure that you’re not losing control over your brand image. You want to ensure that you’re providing stellar customer experiences, and you need real transparency into your delivery partners’ operations in order to make that happen. Luckily, modern SaaS technology makes that easier. You can ask your 3PL provider to utilize a solution that offers real-time data integration with your systems and total visibility over route planning and delivery management.

Improving the retail order fulfillment process

To ensure competitiveness and growth in the present retail landscape, businesses need to make changes to their order fulfillment process and take advantage of the emerging logistics technology trends to embrace the use of data, automation, and visibility. While in the past a high level of automation and data transparency might have seemed out of reach, modern software is making that a reality, and it’s having a profound impact on the retail industry.

For example, modern delivery management software is helping businesses scale their delivery operations as they outsource to 3PL carriers. The right SaaS logistics software helps in ensuring that delivery operations of partner carriers are more efficient by tracking driver activity in real time and improving stop density. Improved management and control of last mile operations can be scaled regardless of order volumes.

Data insights reveal opportunities

Advanced logistics routing software and delivery management tools also provide useful data and insights so management can determine bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and areas for improvement in the order fulfillment process. This makes it possible to meet increasingly lofty consumer expectations without breaking the bank.

Modern last mile delivery software is reshaping the way that retailers do business — largely for the better. It’s easier than ever to offer shoppers a reliable, seamless, and transparent order fulfillment process, even in the face of driver shortages and supply disruptions.Businesses that invest in cutting edge SaaS last-mile delivery software are optimizing efficiency while also improving customer satisfaction with on-time delivery and robust communications.