1)Introduction to Same Day Delivery in Dubai and Abu Dhabi for eCommerce Companies
Same-day delivery may be a new delivery model in the ecommerce world but it has the potential to disrupt the way online retailers ship orders.
Ecommerce made somewhat of a late entry to the Dubai and Abu Dhabi market with online sales picking up only after people were stuck at home during the pandemic.
In spite of that, many logistics and parcel delivery companies in the UAE have picked up pace and started to offer same-day delivery services in nearby cities and states.
The same-day delivery service model has the potential to bring together the best of both offline and online retail shops. It promises the immediate gratification of brick-and-mortar stores with the plethora of shopping and paying options provided by ecommerce stores.
Since customer demand is at an ever-increasing high, it’s no wonder that many big players like FedEx, DHL, UPS, etc. have already started delivering goods at lightning-fast speeds.
ECommerce has penetrated the bulk of the retail market in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. With so many competitors offering quality products and inventing newer ways to reach out to their customers, speed of delivery must now differentiate the winners from the losers.
Ecommerce innovation is only starting and the stores that make same-day delivery a staple product of their shipping service will become the future of this industry.
2)What is Same Day Delivery in Ecommerce Shipping?
We have been going on and on singing praises of same-day delivery. But, what is same day delivery anyway?
Let’s answer this question with an example. You ordered a bicycle at 10 in the morning before leaving for your office. By the time you return, your order is already there on your doorstep. This is an example of same day delivery.
Essentially, any order that reaches the customer within 24 hours of placing the order qualifies as same day delivery. It usually reaches the customer on the same day.
But in some cases, where an order is placed towards the later half of the day, the customer might only receive it on the next day. This still would be called a same-day delivery if the entire process took place within 24 hours.
Amazon has already introduced Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the rest of the world to the charms of same day delivery. And like we said before, the only way to stay in the ecommerce game and grow is by embracing macro trends and improving customer experience at every possible step.
3)What are the Key Advantages of Same Day Delivery to an Online Business?
Same-day delivery is a specialised shipping service that requires synchronised and skillful operation of a lot of shipping divisions at once. We know, same-day delivery is not applicable on all products.
Availability of warehouses, transportation services and supply chain network of courier partners play an important role in making same-day delivery possible for ecommerce retailers.
In spite of so many logistic difficulties, research shows more than 45% of global online businesses including e-commerce businesses in Dubai and Abu Dhabi plan to offer same day delivery services to their customers in the coming year.
Therefore, we can deduce that same-day delivery must offer more benefits to ecommerce retailers than drawbacks or difficulties. Let’s take a look at the key benefits an online business can reap by introducing same day delivery into its shipping service repertoire.
3.1)Higher Customer Satisfaction
The post-purchase journey of a customer dictates customer satisfaction and is a great way to know if customers will return to your shop. With Amazon Prime’s super-speed deliveries, customers no longer want to wait for their orders.
By offering same day delivery in Dubai and Abu Dhabi you can make that happen for your customers and gain a lot of returning customers at one go.
3.2)Quicker Purchase Decision
This point is a logical derivative of the previous one. Longer wait periods for orders acts as a major detriment in order confirmation and is the leading reason for cart abandonment.
In general, estimated delivery dates (EDDs) ranging over 2 days adversely affect a customer’s purchase decision.
A same-day delivery option for products will ensure your brand never faces that issue. Even if you manage to offer same day delivery on only a select few items in the Dubai and Abu Dhabi region your customers will likely be more patient with your service.
3.3)Lower Logistics Costs
Same day delivery services whether happening at a domestic or international level depends heavily on local logistics and courier service providers. These companies that operate on the local level to deliver goods quickly are usually smaller than the logistics bigwigs.
Working with these Dubai and Abu Dhabi-based logistics companies means saving up on logistics costs by doing away with large transportation or freight fleets.
It also lowers the risk of items getting damaged in transit. All of these factors coupled together make for savings on shipping costs. An ecommerce store can choose to reinvest this money or offer loyalty offers and programs for customers for more customer engagement.
3.4)Brand Loyalty and Trust
As a customer, have you ever been in a situation where you completely lost track of your order without any ability to contact the seller? Yes, it sounds horrible but it is also the truth for many customers. Many ecommerce companies fail to prioritize the customer experience.
By providing the option for same day delivery in Dubai and Abu Dhabi you can assure your customers that their orders will reach in time, even before they get a chance to notice.
This builds confidence and trust among customers towards the brand. And anybody in the ecommerce ecosystem knows that customer loyalty is the greatest achievement of an ecommerce business.
3.5)Competitive Edge
Same day delivery is still a new service in the ecommerce shipping world. As a result, most logistics companies in Dubai and Abu Dhabi don’t offer it. If your ecommerce store can manage to offer this extremely in-demand and highly precise courier service, you will have a competitive edge over the rest of the industry.
As a part of your logistic service list, same day delivery will give you more customers. It will also make you the only choice of food, grocery, medicine and other perishable goods retailers who must deliver their products to their customers at the shortest possible time.
4)Final Conclusion
It goes without saying that offering same-day delivery to your customers can quickly make your ecommerce store a lucrative venture. However, it should also be mentioned that same day delivery requires shipping precision from all logistics teams.
Things need to be ready for quick shipping, inventory management should be on point and courier delivery partners should be proactive and ever-present. Naturally, there are a lot of ways it can go wrong.
After all, depending on third-party logistic companies (3PL) for managing such complex and detailed operations can feel cumbersome. And the last thing you want to do to your customer is overpromising and under-deliver.
Therefore, like all other big decisions in life, the decision to offer same-day delivery in Abu Dhabi and Dubai to your customers should be a careful one. If you trust your logistics supplier, we suggest going ahead and offer the best delivery service to your customers.
But if you have a few doubts about your courier service provider’s skills and tech abilities, just take a step back and think about what would be best for you and your customers. Whatever you do, don’t make a hasty decision. We wish you all the best for your future endeavors!