Expedited Shipping Made Easy

Supply chain ecosystems can be quite complex and unpredictable, and shippers will always encounter issues that derail their carefully planned strategies. Timely, or even better – fast delivery – is also a huge selling point for modern online shoppers. 

In fact, according to Statista, eight out of 10 online shoppers opt for Amazon due to its fast one-day delivery option [1]. As a result, an increasing number of ecommerce businesses are adopting expedited shipping and order fulfilment because these are proving to be critical for them to remain competitive and quickly deliver items to their consumers. 

This article will elaborate on expedited shipping and cover what it is, what the benefits are, and why companies should, as well as shouldn’t, offer expedited shipping. 

 

What Does Expedited Shipping Mean?

Expedited shipping is a super-fast shipping option that enables goods to be delivered to clients in a much more quick and efficient way than traditional shipping methods.

In other words, expedited shipping refers to priority delivery in which products are delivered to clients overnight or the next day with no interruptions in between. Companies can charge more for expedited delivery. 

More specifically, it involves delivering items to consumers or the intended destination by placing goods into trucks at the pickup location and delivering them to the destination without making any extended stops in between.

This is how expedited shipping significantly reduces transportation time frames, especially if the destination is relatively far away. Typically, truck drivers work in shifts to ensure that the delivery is completed without unnecessary stops so the items are delivered to the end consumer as quickly as possible.

 

What Are Typical Expedited Shipping Time Frames?

The speed of expedited shipping varies depending on the region, brand, and goods being transported, and numerous other factors. For example, conventional delivery in the United States and UK takes three to five days, with the possibility of waiting as long as 20 days. 

On the other hand, expedited shipping is capable of getting the package to your door in less than two days. It is also useful to mention that delivery time is measured from the minute an order is processed rather than when it is placed. 

So, for example, if a company offers two-day delivery but the order was placed over the weekend or on holiday, and it takes a few days for the store to confirm and process the order, the “two days” time frame will begin once the order has been processed.

Expedited shipping time frames can also vary by product. For example, for e-commerce deliveries, same-day or 2-day shipping is deemed expedited. However, for grocery orders, for example, delivery in 10 minutes is considered accelerated because standard delivery time frames might take anywhere from half an hour to a couple of hours or even longer. This demonstrates how fast expedited shipment is.

 

Alternatives to Expedited Shipping Explained 

To put into perspective and better understand how expedited shipping works, let’s first look at the alternatives.

Standard Shipping

Typically, the standard shipping option is the cheapest method, but it is also the slowest one. Products are delivered at normal rates, with no provisions and occasional stops along the way. Standard shipping can take two to eight days, with the possibility of these time frames extending to 20 days; all, of course, depending on the product type and delivery region.

Express Shipping

Express shipping refers to faster-than-standard shipping in which orders are delivered with specific arrangements to ensure faster delivery. Express delivery can include shipping via air and other means, allowing products to reach the end consumer in only a few days or sooner.

Comparison Table 

Feature	Standard Shipping	Express Shipping	Expedited Shipping
Delivery Time	3-7 business days	1-3 business days	Same-day or next-day
Cost	Least expensive	More expensive than standard	Most expensive
Priority	Normal	Higher than standard	Highest priority
Handling	Regular pace, optimised for efficiency	Faster processing, shorter routes	Prioritised over other orders
Typical Use	Non-urgent deliveries	Faster delivery needs	Urgent or time-sensitive deliveries
Stops	Multiple stops, optimised route	Fewer stops, more direct route	Minimal stops, most direct route
Flexibility	Most flexible for carriers	Less flexible	Least flexible, focused on speed

 

Why Companies Should Offer Expedited Shipping

According to a recent poll, 58% of consumers are willing to wait one or two days to receive their order [2]. Expedited shipping provides numerous benefits to both sides of the shopping experience – it gets products to the end customer as soon as possible, while it also benefits the store.

Perishable and Urgently Needed Items 

Food, medicines, and medical equipment, as well as groceries and other perishable or urgently needed supplies, must be supplied promptly. Customers do not want to receive expired products or late deliveries. With expedited delivery, you can ensure that shipping perishable goods is as fast as possible. 

Increased Protection of Shipped Products

According to the National Retail Federation, US-based retailers lost approximately $400 billion in sales during the year 2020 as a result of product returns, with over 20% of all returned items being due to receiving a defective product. [3]

If fragile and valuable things are delivered in a start-stop manner with frequent stops and jerks, they are more likely to be broken or stolen. Expedited shipment and non-stop deliveries significantly reduce these risks.

Decreased Cart Abandonment Rates

As per the research conducted by the Baymard Institute, which took into account a total of 48 shopping cart abandonment studies, the average cart abandonment rate reaches 70%, with the range stretching from 56% to a staggering 81%. [4]

These numbers imply that only three out of every ten customers who fill their shopping carts make it to the checkout to finish their transaction. Expedited shipping provides the end consumers with flexible alternatives for getting their items delivered faster than the norm, which is often a catalyst for higher fill rates and increased conversions.

Improved Customer Experience and Retention 

Almost nine out of 10 customers say they are ok with paying more for same-day delivery. [5] This type of convenience brings a significant competitive advantage for retailers who offer expedited shipping over those who do not. Additionally, shoppers will make repeat purchases from stores that deliver things faster than their competitors because it provides a memorable shopping experience. 

Optimised Storage Costs

When goods are delivered quickly, companies are capable of reducing storage costs, with the products being able to be rotated in and out without taking up too much shelf space.

 

When to Choose Expedited Shipping: Benefits and Recommended Scenarios

Expedited shipping increases cost-effectiveness by delivering products on time and increasing customer experience. It is possible for any goods as long as the proper packaging material and delivery methods are used. Check out these tips and tricks for packaging parcels. 

When executed the right way, expedited shipping helps companies improve conversions, customer retention and overall revenue. This means that the advantages of incorporating expedited delivery easily exceed the expenditures associated with this shipping method, making it a worthwhile investment. 

For example, it is recommended to opt for the expedited shipping option when sending the following types of goods:

• Food, flowers or other perishable items 
• Wedding and birthday gifts
• Items that require white glove delivery
• Legal documents of a time-sensitive nature
• Just-in-time inventory replenishment for manufacturing processes
• Emergency supplies for disaster aid

 

Can Offering Expedited Shipping Be a Liability? 

While expedited delivery is recommended and even necessary for the majority of retailers, there are several scenarios in which implementing this type of delivery might become a liability rather than an asset.

These include:

• If the order value is smaller than the average order value, you may wind up paying more to deliver the merchandise than the product itself.
• If your delivery location is too far away and you don’t have a warehouse nearby to ensure a two-day delivery. 
• In cases when you can’t guarantee prioritised deliveries due to long holidays, inventory restocking, or other circumstances, offering expedited delivery and then failing to deliver can ruin the client experience and deteriorate your company’s reputation.
• If you’re delivering fragile products, products that require a custom touch, those that can take longer to deliver, or in other cases when expedited shipping is not a possibility. 

 

Using WMS to Make the Most Out of Expedited Shipping 

Implementing a Warehouse Management System (WMS) is a great way for businesses to optimise their supply chain and increase its efficiency. It simplifies all warehouse processes critical to an omnichannel retail firm, allowing distribution-based companies to operate in a faster, smoother, and more cost-effective manner.

Here are some of the most tangible benefits of WMS implementation: 

Streamlined Inventory Control

A WMS system enables warehouses to handle and dispatch big orders in a more streamlined manner and deliver them promptly. A unified system will provide more inventory visibility across distribution centres and save stock-picking time. Pickers will take less time to pick up each item within that order, allowing it to be packed and dispatched faster.

Boosted Labour Efficiency 

Automating day-to-day warehouse processes, including the picking activity, aids in mitigating the risk of human error. Smart warehouses can save a significant amount of time spent on order fulfilment processes, which is typically done by organising inbound and outgoing warehouse operations and synchronising procedures.

An Increase in Visibility

Lot, batch, and serial numbers can be utilised to track inventory movement and provide insightful, real-time data about expedited orders. Tracing inventory allows for more accurate planning and allocation, reduces potential redundancy, and optimises the entire supply chain. This allows warehouse employees to avoid superfluous tasks and dispatch things faster by measuring shipping warehouse parameters.

Implementing a WMS into your supply chain operations and processes can also assist in identifying appropriate packing solutions to preserve the contents, producing shipping labels, and managing prioritised orders to ensure that products are delivered quickly.

 

Contact Us for More Advice on Expedite Shipping Services

The average modern consumer expects both – a purchased product to be of high quality AND its delivery to be fast and efficient. Our services include lightning-speed delivery and storage, and even super-fast same day Cambridge courier service – perfect for businesses that seek an efficient and reliable way of handling bulk orders, as well as delicate and/or difficult items. 

If your company deals with logistics of any scale and requires expedited shipping, especially with large deliveries or items that require special care during shipping, our staff is here to make your supply chain a breeze!

Contact us for specialised assistance and expert guidance on our courier services. Get in touch with our team today!

 

Conclusion

As the demand for fast deliveries continues to grow, businesses that can effectively implement and manage expedited shipping options will likely see increased customer satisfaction and loyalty. However, it’s important to carefully consider the costs and benefits before offering this service to ensure it aligns with your business model and capabilities.

 

Frequently Asked Questions