Precision is essential in all customer interactions, not just the delivery process.
Strategically timed shipment notifications are a vital component of customer experience in logistics.
Delayed or insufficient notifications can result in missed packages, broken customer trust, and wasted resources.
We’ve already covered the best tools for custom shipping alerts and discussed how to use customer notifications to their fullest.
In this post, we'll go into more detail and explore optimal timing for shipping notifications, offer tailored notification templates, and present best practices for keeping your customers well-informed.
Customers today expect shipping notifications to be a part of any delivery process. This is an industry-standard for many reasons, which we will cover further below.
First and foremost, shipping notifications are essential in keeping customers informed and engaged with their orders.
Real-time updates on the shipment status and live tracking notifications ensure transparency and peace of mind.
Shipment notifications offer customers control and anticipation, transforming the waiting period into an exciting journey.
They eliminate many customer support calls by proactively addressing the most common inquiries.
This saves customers time and frustration and lightens the load on your customer service team.
Shipping notifications are a powerful tool to boost successful delivery rates.
Shipping notifications usually include estimated time of arrival (ETA). When buyers know precisely when to anticipate their deliveries, they are more likely to be present and ready to receive them.
Post-delivery notifications can include electronic proof of delivery (ePOD) documents to give customers more assurance and transparency.
Shipping notifications provide this data to resolve non-delivery claims and reassure clients that the delivery service is entirely reliable.
Timing shipping notifications correctly is crucial as it directly impacts the customer experience.
Sending notifications too early may result in premature anticipation while sending them too late can lead to customer frustration and uncertainty.
Striking the right balance ensures that customers are informed when they need to be, allowing them to plan and expect deliveries effectively.
Naturally, the timing of customer notifications is directly related to order delivery stages. Let’s discuss aligning shipping notification timing with the delivery process and customer expectations.
Pro tip: Track-POD dashboard lets you customize SMS & email shipping notifications for each delivery stage, so you don't have to worry about the right timing.
Prior to route notifications are sent as an essential step in the shipping process to keep customers informed and engaged from the moment their order begins the final leg of its journey.
These notifications act as a heads-up for customers, letting them know that their shipment is being prepared for delivery.
They also provide customers with an estimated delivery date and time window.
In the Track-POD dashboard, you can customize prior to route notifications with ETA:
You can also set up a custom email and SMS body for your prior to route alerts and include the following information:
At route start notifications mark a pivotal point in the shipping process, the beginning of a courier’s route to the customer’s location.
These alerts are vital to the process because they let customers know when their package is on its way.
Route start alerts state that the package will arrive within the following few hours or less, depending on the number of stops on the route and where the order is in the queue.
You can select whether Track-POD should always send SMS & email at route start notifications, ask each time, or never send them.
The following details can be included in your notifications template:
En route customer notifications indicate that the order is next in line and a courier is coming to the customer’s location.
This type of notification allows the buyer to prepare to accept their order within minutes to an hour.
Small fleets with just a few stops per driver per day can only use en route notifications and skip at route start alerts. However, it's always better to always be one step ahead and send more updates than less.
Most of the time, the structure of en route alerts is pretty close to the layout of at route start alerts.
Yet, it's even more critical to include an ETA and a live tracking link in these time-sensitive notifications. It will help to avoid unnecessary delays and misunderstandings.
For these types of SMS and email updates, you can add the following fields:
At departure notifications are sent once a courier leaves a package at the customer’s location.
These notifications act like a final delivery receipt and contain proof of delivery information.
At departure notifications are essential so a customer can look back on the delivery information in case of refunds, unanswered questions, or disagreements.
As the final order notifications serve as a receipt for the delivery, you can include the following information:
Pro tip: In Track-POD dashboard you can create a fully custom ePOD template with all necessary order details, photo evidence, e-signatures, and corporate branding.
Let's review what we covered in this article on the timing, use cases, and structure of shipping notifications.
Try Track-POD's last mile software today or book a demo to start sending your fully custom shipping notifications.
The Order Status Timeline provides real-time order updates, reducing customer inquiries and improving satisfaction. Delivery Instructions let customers specify drop-off details, ensuring drivers have all the necessary information for efficient deliveries.
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Learn how to leverage Track-POD features, such as Map Zones and Pickup Delivery Management, to traffic disruptions during big events like the Paris Olympics.
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Check out this blog article to learn how to limit access to specific routes, directories, or orders for certain depos and/or shippers inside the Track-POD platform.
Read MoreShipping notifications are messages or alerts sent to customers to inform them about the status and details of their package's journey, typically including tracking information and estimated delivery dates. These SMS or email notifications help customers track their orders and stay updated on their delivery progress.
To inform a customer about shipping, you typically send them an email or SMS message containing details such as the tracking number, estimated delivery date and time, and a link to track their package.
Shipping information in logistics refers to the comprehensive data and details associated with the movement of goods from one location to another within a supply chain. This information encompasses various elements, including the origin and destination of the shipment, transportation mode and carrier details, shipping schedules, tracking information, documentation like proof of delivery or delivery notes, and any relevant updates regarding delays, route changes, or delivery status.
Efficient management and communication of shipping information are vital in ensuring the smooth and cost-effective flow of goods while enabling transparency and responsiveness in the logistics process.
An inbound delivery notification is a communication sent by a supplier or vendor to a recipient or customer to alert them about the arrival of a shipment or goods.
This notification typically includes key details such as the expected delivery date and time, the contents of the shipment, tracking information, and often instructions for receiving or handling the incoming goods.
In supply chain and logistics management, inbound delivery notifications play a crucial role in facilitating coordination, inventory management, and ensuring that the receiver is prepared to efficiently accept, inspect, and process incoming goods or materials.
Shipping notifications are vital because they enhance transparency and customer satisfaction while optimizing operational efficiency. It provides recipients with real-time information about the status of their shipments, including expected delivery times and tracking details. This information allows customers to plan and adjust their schedules accordingly, reducing the frustration of missed deliveries. For businesses, it helps streamline logistics operations by improving coordination and reducing the risk of miscommunication or delays.
