Why Does an Estimated Delivery Date Matter To Your Shopify Store?

Estimated delivery date is an important aspect of online shopping for customers. It sets expectations for when they can receive their order and plays a major role in determining customer satisfaction with a Shopify store. In the rapidly changing world of e-commerce, meeting delivery expectations has become a top priority for customers when making a purchase.

A Shopify store that can accurately provide an estimated delivery date and meet that expectation will not only improve customer satisfaction, but also increase the chances of repeat business and positive reviews. In this blog, we will explore the importance of an estimated delivery date for a Shopify store and why it matters in today's competitive e-commerce landscape.

The Impact of Delivery Time on Customer Satisfaction

The impact of delivery time on customer satisfaction is significant. Customers expect their orders to arrive on time, and any delays or missed delivery dates can lead to frustration and dissatisfaction. Meeting delivery expectations is crucial in building customer trust and loyalty, and it can also have a major impact on repeat business and positive reviews.

When customers make a purchase, they expect the product to be delivered within the estimated delivery date. If a delivery date is missed, it can lead to disappointment and frustration, resulting in a negative experience for the customer. A delayed or missed delivery can also lead to negative reviews, which can damage a Shopify store's reputation and deter potential customers from making a purchase.

On the other hand, if a Shopify store consistently meets or exceeds delivery expectations, it can lead to increased customer loyalty and repeat business. Customers are more likely to make future purchases from a store that has provided a positive delivery experience. Additionally, customers who have had a positive delivery experience are more likely to leave positive reviews, which can attract new customers and improve the overall store's reputation.

As we can see, delivery time plays an important role in determining customer satisfaction with a Shopify store. Meeting delivery expectations can lead to increased customer loyalty and repeat business, while missed or late deliveries can result in negative reviews and harm a store's reputation. It is important for a Shopify store to prioritize accurate and reliable delivery to provide an excellent customer experience.

Benefits

An accurate estimated delivery date gives your Shopify store various benefits. By providing customers with an accurate and realistic shipping schedule, a Shopify store can streamline its logistics, improve supply chain management, and improve shipping tracking. In addition, a correct estimated delivery date can drive customer expectations, resulting in increased sales and profits.

Improved Logistics and Supply Chain Management. By accurately estimating the delivery date, the Shopify store can better manage its logistics and supply chain. This helps ensure timely order fulfillment and efficient inventory management.
Improved Delivery Tracking. An accurate estimated delivery date also enables a Shopify store to provide real-time delivery tracking to customers. For example, the Trackr app allows customers to track the progress of their orders and receive updates on the expected delivery date, providing transparency and improving the overall customer experience.
Better Management of Customer Expectations. By providing an accurate estimated delivery date, a Shopify store can effectively manage customer expectations. This helps avoid disappointment and disappointment and gives customers a clear idea of when they can expect to receive their orders.
Increase Sales and Profits. A Shopify store that provides accurate and reliable shipping dates is more likely to retain customers and attract new business. This can lead to increased sales and profits, as customers are more likely to shop at a store that provides a positive shipping experience.

By providing customers with a realistic delivery timeline, a Shopify store can increase sales and profits and provide an excellent customer experience.

What Affect the Accuracy of Estimated Delivery Date

Let's face it, it's simply impossible to predict everything that will happen when a package leaves your hands to reach your customers' doorsteps. You can only plan for a limited number of things, so it's helpful to have a deeper knowledge of what situations might arise.

Weather conditions. Yes, normal weather can just get in the way. Even though the delivery service may claim to deliver regardless of rain, sleet, or snow. But they're not going to risk sending one of their workers through a tornado or hurricane, so your customer can get their order on time.
It's just that there is weather in which it is impossible to deliver. In this case, the delivery date is shifted indefinitely.
Inaccurate Information. Here it may be the fault of the client, indicating incorrect information when placing an order. However, both the store and the carrier itself can make a mistake. This can lead not only to a delay in delivery, but also to the fact that the package will not be delivered at all.
Order Processing Time. The amount of time it takes for a Shopify store to process an order can also impact the estimated delivery date. If a store has a slow order processing time, it may take longer for the order to be shipped, affecting the estimated delivery date.
Location. The location of the customer and the location of the fulfillment center can also impact the estimated delivery date. If a customer is located far from the fulfillment center, it may take longer for the order to be delivered.
Inventory Management. Effective inventory management is also a crucial factor in ensuring the accuracy of an estimated delivery date. If a Shopify store does not have accurate and up-to-date inventory levels, it may not be able to provide an accurate estimated delivery date.

Best Practices to Improve Accurate Estimated Delivery Date

Of course, there are situations that you can't control (weather conditions, traffic jams, strikes, etc.). But there are still things you can do to ensure an accurate estimated delivery date for your Shopify store and meet your customers' delivery expectation.

Just follow these practices:

Use a Reliable Shipping Carrier. Choose a shipping carrier that has a proven track record of reliability and timely delivery. This will help ensure that your estimated delivery date is accurate and that customers receive their orders on time.

Be sure to review the shipping guidelines provided by its carriers. This information can help the store determine the expected delivery times for different shipping methods and adjust the estimated delivery date accordingly.
Monitor Inventory Levels. Regularly monitor your inventory levels to ensure that you have accurate information about what products are available. This will help you provide a more accurate estimated delivery date and avoid disappointment or frustration for customers.
Streamline Order Processing Time. Streamline your order processing time to minimize any delays in shipping orders. This will help you provide a more accurate estimated delivery date, meet your customers' delivery expectations, and improve the overall customer experience.
Offer Real-Time Delivery Tracking. Provide customers with real-time delivery tracking information, so they can see the status of their orders and receive updates on the estimated delivery date. This will help manage customer expectations and improve the overall customer experience.

We recommend using Trackr, a Shopify order tracking app that collects the information from more than 900 carriers from all over the world. Our automated email notifications will help you keep your customers updated on the status of their order.

Be Aware of Carrier Delays. Be aware of any carrier delays that may affect your estimated delivery date. This will help you ensure more accurate delivery times and warn customers and apologize in time.
Constantly Monitor and Adjust Estimates. Continuously monitor your estimated delivery dates and adjust them as necessary. This will help ensure that you provide accurate and reliable delivery timelines and meet customers’ delivery expectations.

Thus, by following these best practices, a Shopify store can set an accurate estimated delivery date and enhance the customer experience.

Conclusion

In conclusion, an accurate estimated delivery date is a critical component of a successful Shopify store. By providing customers with a realistic and accurate delivery timeline, your business can improve logistics, supply chain management, and delivery tracking. Furthermore, an accurate estimated delivery date can manage customer expectations and increase sales and profits.

And using our Trackr app, you will facilitate the process of order tracking not only for customers, but also for your business. In today's ecommerce marketplace, an order tracking app is becoming an essential part of any successful business. Check out all the Trackr features here!