The goal of any ecommerce business is simple: deliver remarkable products, delight and retain customers, and increase profits. While the idea is simple, the execution is not. From increasing customer demands to rising costs, ecommerce retailers have their hands full. But one crucial area that’s often overlooked is delivery management.
You can have an amazing product, but if it’s not delivered on time or costs an exorbitant amount to ship, the customer experience and your profits will suffer. That’s why retailers are turning to ecommerce delivery management software to help improve operational efficiency, lower costs, and enhance the customer experience with increased communication and superb customer service.
In this article, we’ll discuss the fundamental elements of delivery management software, why it’s critical for ecommerce retailers, which features are necessary for success, and the platform best suited to manage ecommerce deliveries.
What is Ecommerce Delivery Management?
Delivery management streamlines the process of managing deliveries from order placement to final delivery and returns. It optimises the delivery process from start to finish to deliver products to customers quickly in a cost-effective fashion.
Delivery management software provides businesses, particularly in ecommerce, with the tools to efficiently coordinate and monitor shipments, offering real-time visibility into the entire delivery process. By automating key logistics tasks, delivery management software helps businesses reduce errors, improve delivery times, and enhance customer satisfaction.
What Is Delivery Management Software Used For?
Delivery management software is used to handle the end-to-end logistics involved in getting products from warehouses or stores to customers’ doorsteps. It allows businesses to track deliveries in real-time, manage driver assignments, plan optimal routes, communicate with customers, and manage exceptions such as delays or failed deliveries.
The software is also used to generate reports and analyse delivery performance, helping businesses improve their operations and cut down on delivery costs.
Why is Delivery Management Software Critical for Ecommerce Retailers?
For ecommerce retailers, delivery is a key component of the customer experience. Poor delivery experiences—such as delayed shipments, lost packages, or lack of communication—can severely damage customer trust and loyalty. All it takes is one poor delivery experience for a customer to start shopping elsewhere, and customer expectations are only increasing.
Metapack’s Benchmark research shows that in 2024, 55% of consumers expected their deliveries to arrive within 48 hours—a 5% increase from 2023. Yet, only about a third of online merchants actually offer that speed at checkout. So while customer expectations are increasing, many retailers aren’t able to keep up with demands. That’s where ecommerce delivery management software comes into play.
Delivery management software ensures that brands can meet customer expectations by providing accurate delivery timelines, offering real-time tracking, and minimising the chances of delivery issues. Furthermore, the ability to optimise routes and manage multiple delivery carriers helps ecommerce brands reduce costs, making the software an essential tool for long-term success.
Key Benefits of Using Delivery Management Software
Implementing delivery management software can drastically improve logistics operations, efficiency, and the customer experience. Here are some of the key benefits of ecommerce delivery management:
- Improved Delivery Speed: Automated route planning and real-time tracking allow for faster, more efficient deliveries. Improved delivery efficiency means less time in transit and reduced fuel waste.
- Enhanced Customer Communication: Customers receive real-time updates and can easily track their packages, so they are always up-to-date with the status of their parcel. Automated notification reduces uncertainty and enhances the overall customer experience.
- Cost Savings: Retailers are always looking for ways to reduce spending, so by optimising delivery routes and improving logistics efficiency, businesses can save on fuel and labour costs.
- Better Operational Efficiency: The software simplifies logistics management, enabling ecommerce brands to handle higher order volumes without sacrificing delivery quality.
- Data-Driven Insights: The only way to streamline operations, reduce expenses, and meet delivery expectations is through analysing in-depth data and analytics. Access to detailed delivery performance data helps businesses identify bottlenecks, streamline operations, and make more informed decisions.
6 Essential Features of a Delivery Management Software
Delivery management software provides retailers with the data and analytics they need to make informed decisions to improve performance and enhance the customer experience. But not all platforms are created equal. As you evaluate different delivery management software, there are 6 essential features that will help you reach your ecommerce goals:
1. Real-Time Tracking
Real-time tracking is one of the most critical components of delivery management software. It provides real-time tracking of delivery vehicles, allowing businesses and customers to see the exact location of packages. The ability to track shipments in real time provides visibility and transparency for both the retailer and the customer.
2. Route Optimisation and Planning
In order for parcels to be delivered as quickly as possible, they need to be placed in the most efficient delivery routes. Advanced algorithms calculate the most efficient routes for delivery, reducing delivery time, minimising fuel consumption, and enhancing the overall delivery experience.
A delivery management software with route optimisation technology automatically adjusts routes based on real-time data such as traffic or delivery priorities so that drivers take the most optimal delivery routes. It’s a win-win: customers get their parcels delivered faster and retailers get an in-depth look at logistics and delivery operations.
3. Warehouse Productivity and Fleet Management
With this feature, retailers can always achieve delivery promises. Gain visibility of parcel statuses and quickly resolve processing errors to avoid unnecessary parcel processing delays. Live data can help you uncover why parcels are being delayed, whether it’s the carrier, carrier service, or other factors.
Fleet management allows retailers to use advanced tools to assign drivers, monitor vehicle status, and manage delivery personnel.
4. Customer Notifications
Customers expect proactive tracking updates on their parcels, and the data proves it. Four in five consumers would like a minimum of four updates per order (e.g. shipped, in-transit, out for delivery, delivered); and as many as a third (38%) would value daily updates, providing detailed information on their package’s location and progress.
Delivery management software allows retailers to automatically notify customers about their orders throughout every step of the fulfilment and delivery process via email or SMS.
5. Delivery Analytics and Inventory Data
The data provided through delivery management software can significantly impact delivery performance. Ecommerce retailers can uncover detailed reports on delivery times, success rates, and other performance metrics to boost their bottom line and improve the customer experience.
For example, perhaps the market is growing, and consumers are purchasing your products more frequently than ever before. By analysing inventory data, you can quickly identify the rising consumer demands, increase inventory levels, and hire more delivery drivers to ensure there’s always enough stock.
6. Scalability and Growth
Ecommerce brands are subject to intense fluctuations, especially during peak seasons when order volumes are at an all-time high. Delivery management software must have the ability to handle a growing number of orders and integrate with multiple carriers and logistics providers.
Benefits of Using Metapack as Your Delivery Management Software
Metapack is a leading delivery management platform that offers ecommerce brands a comprehensive solution for managing deliveries. Here’s why it stands out:
- Hundreds of Carrier Integrations: Metapack integrates with over 350 carriers worldwide, giving retailers the flexibility to choose the best delivery options for each order. To further reduce time and shipping costs, retailers can automate carrier selections and instantly generate shipping labels and customs documents.
- Advanced Tracking and Notifications: Metapack provides real-time tracking and automated notifications with Delivery Tracking API, keeping customers informed and enhancing their experience. By communicating pre-ship events and creating customer workflows for expectations, retailers can reduce “WISMO” (where is my order) tickets instantly.
- Cost Optimisation: With tools to compare carrier rates, optimise delivery routes, and monitor delivery performance, Metapack helps businesses reduce costs while maintaining high service levels.
- Seamless Scalability: Whether your business is just starting out or handling millions of orders, Metapack can scale with your needs, ensuring that your delivery operations run smoothly as you grow.
- Actionable Insights: Metapack’s analytics and reporting features provide valuable insights into delivery performance, helping businesses continuously improve and optimise their logistics strategies.
Deliver A Better Customer Experience With Metapack
Delivery management software is essential for ecommerce brands looking to optimise their logistics and improve the customer experience. Metapack’s robust features and extensive carrier network offer a powerful delivery management solution for ecommerce retailers aiming to streamline their delivery processes and reduce costs.
Get started today and book a live demo with our team of delivery software experts!