In urban areas, about 15% of deliveries fail to reach customers on the first attempt. At Metrobi, our partners achieve a much higher success rate by following some best practices.
Why is this important?
Misdeliveries are often disturbing. Although a 0% error rate is not feasible, you can get really close to zero errors by following some best practices. The less you follow these guidelines, the more misdelivery issues you will experience.
1. Optimize packaging for deliveries.
If your route has multiple stops, put all items that will be delivered to each stop in a single bag or package. This will prevent drivers from mismatching items. If that is not possible, the second-best method is to tie the items together with tape. The more straightforward you make it for drivers, the fewer errors you will get.
2. Label your packages
Labels must be clear enough to read from a distance. Please remember that drivers are usually time-pressed if they park on the street. Labels must be easier to read from 2–3 feet away.
3. Create a preferred driver network.
One of the best assets for delivery quality is the quality of your driver pool. Preferred drivers are your business partners. They learn the kinks of your operations, solve problems, and serve your customers professionally. You can read how to rate deliveries and create preferred drivers here:
4. Provide the receiver name and phone number on the dashboard
Metrobi sends automated messages to receivers. They can track deliveries and contact drivers if there are any issues. Providing sufficient information allows drivers and receivers to collaborate.
When we implement these best practices for your business, your misdelivery rate will be a lot lower. Some of our partners achieve less than 1 percent error rates.