What Same Day Business Delivery Service Really Means: Delivery Times, Who to Call, & More!

In today's world, consumers tend to appreciate anything that saves time.

Many of us jump at the chance to save a few hours shopping online rather than in stores. Quite a few of us pay our regular monthly bills almost entirely on the internet or via electronic drafts that are deducted without much effort on our part throughout the year. We skip lengthy phone calls, opting for emails or texts that eliminate the need for small talk.

It isn't hard to believe that we welcome the opportunity to ship items quickly. Speedy delivery services have become a widely used convenience in both our personal and professional lives.

In fact, according to research by PwC, 88% of customers are willing to pay higher prices in exchange for faster shipping methods.

Read on to find out what same day business delivery really means and how it might benefit you!

Is Same Day Business Delivery Service Too Good to Be True?

Not long ago, shipping options were usually limited to two-day service. And, sometimes, even that turned out to be a fluke. 

How many of us have anticipated a package that we've designated for two-day delivery, yet had to wait longer than we had hoped for its' arrival?

Naturally, our past experiences created hesitation when overnight delivery became available. And, again, many of us were disappointed when relying on retailers to deliver our items the very next day.

If you've ever been caught in a battle with a retailer's delivery department, you may have reservations about trusting same-day delivery services. Can they actually live up to their name?

If you aren't willing to trust that your personal packages will be delivered on the same day, how could you possibly entrust same day business delivery services? After all, these deliveries might impact the future of your entire career.

Luckily, you don't have to put your faith in the department of the company with whom you're placing a business order. Now, there are businesses completely devoted to making sure that your packages are delivered on time, as expected.

Professional Shipping Services Open the Door to New Possibilities

Just as we trust our favorite clothing stores to create high-quality threads, we also tend to trust that a company whose business is strictly shipping will come through as well.

Thanks to advances in technology and travel, today's business delivery services are able to guarantee shipments will arrive in less than twenty-four hours.

While big-name corporations, such as Google and Amazon, are attempting to offer customers their items within just hours after placing an order, their services have received mixed reviews. Unfortunately, consumers have claimed some confusion over delivery times and inconsistent results when using the biggest brands in the retail biz.

But, when you narrow your expectations to include companies that specialize in same-day delivery services, you have a much better chance of reporting a positive outcome.

Separating Truth From Fiction With Same-Day Delivery Services

Same day delivery service is intended to be just what it appears.

Customers can order items to be shipped from their home or business, and, when they specify same day delivery, they can expect those items will be delivered by the close of business that very day.

However, if you are trying this service for the first time, or choosing same day services for your company, you might be better off sticking with the experts.

By way of overnight courier tracking, some delivery professionals are able to guarantee that your business packages will be delivered at the speed of light.

Okay, perhaps their services are not guaranteed exactly at the speed of light, but they do promise to cut awfully close.

How Can Same-Day Delivery Benefit Your Business?

When you choose to offer your customers same-day delivery service through a credible courier, you have the opportunity to outperform your competitors.

Since the dawning of online retail, consumers have become accustomed to having practically every type of product available at their fingertips.

Not only that, but it's become easier than ever to comparative shop. You can often check out prices from a multitude of online retailers in less than a minute's time. This has been great for customers, who are typically trying to get the most for their money, but not-as-great for retail companies.

Now, retailers have an increased pressure to maintain prices at or lower than thousands of their online competitors. Since prices tend to vary ever-so-slightly, quick-shipping methods offer the chance to attract consumers over your competition, who may not be able to match same-day delivery times.

When your company can ensure that products and packages will deliver in just a few hours, you instantly become more attractive in their eyes. This is especially true if there is little to no difference in pricing schedules when compared to similar brands.

Today, businesses are racing against their competition to deliver products and services in the least amount of time. 

This is why same day business delivery has the power to put your company ahead of your competitors.

See for Yourself What Same Day Delivery Service Means For Your Business!

Want to find out for yourself what same-day business delivery really means?

Much more than speedy deliveries, same-day service can help you stand out to potential customers. And, many customers are willing to pay more to businesses whose products are guaranteed to arrive sooner than the rest.

Let our same-day business couriers show you how our guaranteed delivery services can benefit your company.

Get a quick quote for your next same-day shipment right now!

BBC News Examines Sainsbury's Take on Its' Same-Day Grocery Delivery

When same-day groceries becomes a service that shoppers begin to find attractive, retailers begin to take notice and try to find how to get it done. In the past, the barrier proved to be technology, but not any longer. The advancement in ways to utilize technology to maximize profit from volume is what is making the difference. Sainsbury is one of London's largest grocery chain retailers that has initiated same-day grocery delivery in 30 stores, anticipating positive results.

BBC News discussed with Sainsbury and examined the new pilot program. In the discussion, Sainsbury mentioned the driver behind same-day groceries stemmed from the demand and success of its' next-day delivery. When it began to test Same-Day Delivery, customer sales indicated that they wanted the service. Sainsbury stated its' focus is on giving its' customers what they want. Essentially, if their customers wanted it, they were going to give it a try.

At one of Sainsbury's stores, BBC examined with the processes behind same-day grocery delivery from beginning to end that impact the success of it. A same-day grocery employee there talked about the importance of the picking aspect of it. She would have to go around the store and pick all of the items for the online order and put them in a storage bin for delivery later that day. This part of the service is time consuming. Also, when it comes to fresh fruits and vegetables, the employee couldn't just pick anything. She had to make sure they were ripe, not rotten. This is just one of the aspects of same-day grocery delivery that isn't seen daily that customers don't see, but retailers are fully aware of.

After the items were picked and stored for the day, the time came when the orders had to be delivered. The store had 45 orders to complete later that afternoon, and BBC went with Sainsbury to deliver them. At one of the homes, BBC spoke with a customer about the service and their opinion of it. The customer stated he used it before and he liked it. The convenience of same-day grocery service was the core driver for him, and for 5 pounds, it was worth not having to go himself.

Three out of the big four grocery retailers in the London area, including Sainsbury, have all implemented a model of the service. Tesco has its' "click-and-collect" service in London and the South-East in over 300 locations. Morrisons has partnered with Amazon Fresh, which Amazon continues to expand beyond the US. The e-retailer has Amazon Fresh in several major US cities and is probably in pursuit of a high level of growth in London. Grocery retailer Asda is the exception, being the only one that currently has not decided to engage in same-day grocery.

The same has occurred in the US in which some grocery retailers have jumped into same-day delivery, such as Whole Foods and Wal-Mart. Yet, others have not. Either way, customer demand is driving the quest for more convenience wherever they can get it. For grocery stores seeking to roll-out a same-day grocery program of their own, a Same-Day Courier like A-1 Express is a viable option to optimally fulfill online orders in no time. The Chicago Courier has the delivery expertise nationwide that retailers can take advantage of and start literally meeting their customers right where they are.

Reference: 1.25.17, BBC News, Why same-day online food shopping is the next big thing

Amazon and Alibaba Compete for Dominance in Southeast Asia

Amazon is exemplifying its dominance in several areas worldwide, and now has its sights set on Southeast Asia. However, China's leading e-retailer Alibaba is robust as well in its online retail, facing off with Amazon and ready to compete.

Via Bloomberg News, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and Amazon.com Inc. are about to clash in Southeast Asia Internet Retailer says. Lazada Group SA, which Alibaba bought this year for $1 billion, is Southeast Asia’s largest e-commerce site and is rolling out several initiatives anticipating the arrival of Amazon next year. It will also be expanding its delivery network within the region and beyond, via partners in China and Korea.

Southeast Asia has become a prime location for online retail. The article mentioned that although it lacks the transport and payments infrastructure crucial for adopting e-commerce, the area has become the world’s fastest-growing internet arena, with a combined populace of 620 million people becoming more comfortable with online shopping. “It’s a jungle out here,” Lazada CEO Maximilian Bittner said. He went on to say, “We are looking forward to seeing how they will differentiate themselves.”

“Both of them will want to dominate Southeast Asia,” said Thompson Teo, an associate professor at NUS Business School. “Alibaba has acquired companies to shorten the learning curve and grow faster. It’s going to give Amazon a good fight.” It isn't known as of yet what Amazon will be implementing there, but some predict Amazon Prime delivery service and Amazon Fresh to Singapore in the first quarter, which involves Same-Day Delivery in a big city. Then, Amazon will springboard into the rest of the region. “Grocery is seen as notoriously difficult one to do online, but it’s the largest market representing 60% of overall Southeast Asian retail,” Egan said. “Customers are much more engaged. They visit twice a week so the frequency allows you to develop a deep relationship with customers.”

Amazon already dominates the US with its current same-day delivery option--Amazon Prime. Prime members have it as a free service in a total of 27 major US cities. These cities include San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, Seattle-Tacoma, Boston, New York, Chicago, Indianapolis, Baltimore, Washington DC, Nashville, Raleigh, Richmond, Tucson, Orlando, Tampa, and Atlanta. Amazon has free same-day delivery in Toronto and Vancouver as well. The inevitable is that Amazon will be using drones in every major city nationwide as well. Now, the retail giant is headed for Southeast Asia.

With both e-retailers having same-day delivery in common, it is certain that other retailers will need to jump on board in order to thrive in the coming years. One way to do that is to partner with a Same-Day Courier like A-1 Express to increase salves online, as more and more shoppers enjoy the convenience of being able to make online purchases from wherever they are. Brick-and-mortar stores can't depend solely on traffic in a growing world of e-commerce. A New Jersey Courier that can provide same-day services nationwide is the direction to go in.

Reference: 12.14.16, www.internetretailer.com, Bloomberg News, Amazon and Alibaba’s Lazada prepare to face off in Southeast Asia

Neiman Marcus Has Quarter Loses Due to Distribution Challenges

When a luxury retail department store leader like Neiman Marcus makes tech adjustments in its' distribution system, it is clear that traditional warehousing is not what will succeed any longer. Distribution has moved to a more sophisticated approach to managing inventory and shipping, especially when faced with robust Amazon. The e-retail giant has mastered distribution and used Same-Day Delivery to revolutionize how we ship.

Yet, Neiman Marcus recent announcement shows that the retailer has some improvements to be made. Internet Retailer discussed in an article how thre retailers has had first fiscal quarter losses for 2017 due to the distribution problems that it is facing. Neiman Marcus had challenges implementing a new cross-channel merchandising system, which costs Neiman Marcus up to $35 million during its fiscal first quarter. This impacts sales revenue from the holiday season. Neiman Marcus reported online sales accounted for 29.2% of overall sales in the first quarter, which ended October 29th, at $315.1 million. This number is slightly down from $315.7 million from the previous year.

Neiman Marcus stated, “These issues primarily related to the processing of inventory receipts at our distribution centers, the transfers of inventories to our stores and the presentation of inventories on our websites. These issues prevented us from fulfilling certain customer demand in both our stores and websites that we estimate resulted in approximately $30 to $35 million of unrealized revenue.” Efficient distribution matters not only for physical stores, but also with online business. Without having the product in stores, it can effect sales, and without correct inventory to fulfill online orders, it effects on-time shipping. This then creates the inability to keep up with demand on both fronts.

In a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Neiman Marcus revealed problems that related to the implementation of NMG One, its new cross-channel merchandising and distribution system. It resulted in a negative impact on online and offline sales. More specific numbers mentioned in the report were Neiman Marcus' earnings, which included:

• A year-over-year total comparable sales decline of 8.0%, compared to a 5.6% decline last year.
• Net revenue of $1.079 billion, down 7.4% from $1.165 billion.
• A net loss of $23.5 million, compared to a net loss of $10.5 million.

One way to improve omnichannels to facilitate online and offline sales is same-day delivery, which is what companies like Best Buy, PetSmart, Toys-R-Us, and others are doing. One prime example is Macy's, which uses its' physical store locations as close proximity warehousing and get product to shoppers fast. Macy's offers same-day delivery in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Houston, Chicago, New Jersey, Washington DC, and more. With over 880 store locations, Macy's can fulfill online orders on a national scale, alleviating some of the pressure on its' distribution centers.

Neiman Marcus can do likewise, partnering with a Same-Day Courier like A-1 Express to develop a same-day solution to move inventory between stores, as well as fulfill online orders to customers. The Orlando Courier also has a nationwide footprint and can handle the volume Neiman Marcus needs. Like Macy's and Amazon, Neiman Marcus can generate sales growth with same-day delivery, turning more inventory and order fulfillment to their stores.

Reference: 12.15.16, www.internetretailer, Matt Lindern, Distribution problems cost Neiman Marcus during its first quarter

Amazon's Prime Air Same-Day Delivery Via Drone Is Done

There isn't a retailer in the country that is in front of Amazon, especially with its' latest announcement of its first successful drone flight for Same-Day Delivery. It isn't something that CEO Jeff Bezos just had for an idea in 2013. It is now a reality.

Fox News has reported that Amazon has officially launched its' Amazon Prime Air via drone in Cambridge, England. This first drone delivery was actually performed on December 7th last week. The drone completed the delivery in a matter of 13 minutes, which even Amazon mentioned in the article that none of them will take no more than 30 minutes. For this level of fast delivery, drone use can revolutionize the way same-day services are used to expand online retail globally.

The article stated that the drone delivered an Amazon Fire TV and some popcorn, which weighed less than 5 pounds. Guided by GPS, the drone is unmanned and able to be loaded with the purchased items, then flies direct to its destination. Amazon's drone flew no higher than 400 feet, as well as drones have to occupy separate air spaces to avoid planes. When Amazon first began to test drone use, there were several FAA regulations Amazon had to contend with, but Amazon Prime Air is proving to be able to literally take off.

Amazon does only have a few customers in the UK that is privy to using drones. However, the e-retail giant has hopes to expand it to a larger demographic. The article also mentioned how Amazon is careful not to use the drones in rain, snow, ice, or other types of inclement weather. The weather can definitely impede drones flight patterns, and most importantly, harm the drones themselves.

"One day, seeing Prime Air vehicles will be as normal as seeing mail trucks on the road," Amazon says. This means that we could potentially find drones flying in various parts of the country at one time making deliveries. Shoppers will be able to have their online items delivered right to their front door within 30 minutes. Drone delivery will be satisfying for the customers, however, it may have an adverse affect mall traffic and other physical store retailers without a heavy focus on e-commerce.

Until Prime Air expands, even into using them in the US, Amazon will continue to utilize its' current same-day delivery option--Amazon Prime. The fast delivery service is working, not to mention Prime members have it as a free service in a total of 27 major US cities. These cities include San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, Seattle-Tacoma, Dallas-Fort Worth, Boston, New York, Chicago, Indianapolis, Baltimore, Washington DC, Nashville, Raleigh, Richmond, Tucson, Orlando, Tampa, and Atlanta. Amazon has free same-day delivery in Toronto and Vancouver as well. The inevitable is that Amazon will be using drones in every major city nationwide.

There is no telling where drone delivery is going to catapult e-commerce to. What retailers can currently do to compete is to partner with a Same-Day Courier like A-1 Express to shift their e-commerce into more of a core competency to generate sales. The Boston Courier has the courier expertise to create the level of same-day logistics needed to attractive customers and compete online, especially as Amazon continues to spearhead e-commerce innovation.

Reference: 12.14.16, Fox News, Lulu Chang, From high-flying dream to reality: Amazon fulfills its first order using a drone