How to Prevent Common Shipping Mistakes in the Coming Year
The Impact of Common Shipping Mistakes
Every shipment error can affect customer relationships, business reputation and the overall supply chain.
On Your Customer
Customers order from you because they want to receive your products. Late, damaged or incorrect orders can lead to dissatisfaction, causing customers to either stop ordering or consider other competitors and their offerings instead.
Slow shipping speeds and mixed-up packaging, may be due to your courier, so it’s crucial to choose a reliable one to work with. For example, consumers have less trust in Canada Post, and it can jeopardize small businesses’ relationships with their customers.
On Your Business
Incorrect orders can create bottlenecks in business operations. In the event of an incorrect order, owners would have to allocate resources to investigate the case, correct the order and document the process. There’s even the potential to rectify mistakes by sending new orders and paying for those new shipping fees, which decreases overall revenue.
Sending the proper package is plausible, but inefficiencies can either build up those mistakes or simply slow down the overall process. A small business with a reputation for making those mistakes can struggle to stay afloat.
On the Supply Chain
In the broader context, shipping errors can also impact the local supply chain, affecting processing times and resource utilization. A survey finds that 48% of businesses plan to invest in innovations to comply with government regulations.
There are also hopes for regulations and guidelines to be more aligned and consistent. This enables small businesses to collaborate in maintaining Canada’s overall supply chain efficiency.
How to Avoid Making Shipping Mistakes
Avoiding shipping mistakes requires intentional changes throughout the inventory, packaging and delivery process. Follow these suggestions to minimize errors for your business.
1. Identify the Most Common Errors
Recognizing the shipping mistakes that your small business is most prone to will typically highlight what needs rectification. Analyze what the mistake says about your process.
For instance, simple typos or incomplete customer information can result in incorrect labels, which can lead to return-to-sender and product replacement costs. The order form may be too confusing, or the customer data management workflow requires rework.
Another example is high shipping costs. Whether your small business is bearing the brunt of these expenses or you’re passing it on to your consumer base, it can affect your overall reputation. However, 49% of Canadian shoppers are willing to wait over a week for their parcel to arrive if it means it will be offered at a lower price. Small businesses can take this opportunity to explore various carrier options and shipping speeds. Many businesses look into alternative carriers like Chit Chats who offer low-cost shipping rates.
2. Utilize Shipping Technology
Small businesses can evolve into more established entities when they scale up, and the best way to do so is by leveraging the right technology in their processes. For instance, barcode scanners and RFID tags are a key combination when making data processing more instantaneous and accurate.
Software is becoming a core tool for business logistics operations. Transportation management software is at the forefront of enhancing shipping, as it enables businesses to plan and execute deliveries more effectively. Their market is set to grow from $2 billion in 2024 to $3.19 billion by 2029.
You can also utilize data analytics to prevent shipping mistakes. Predictive models, informed by existing insights and information, can aid in inventory forecasting, carrier monitoring or even warehousing optimization.
3. Double-Checking Customs Information
If you ship internationally to the U.S. and/or other destinations, it’s essential to understand the required identification codes and regulations for each country you ship to.
For example, when shipping to the U.S., accurately declaring both the HTS code and Country of Origin is especially important, particularly with the implementation of tariffs by the U.S. administration. Ensuring this information is complete and correct helps prevent delays and reduces the risk of issues at the border.
Stay up to date about U.S. changes.
4. Double-Check Verification and Labeling
Verifying shipping labels is a lengthy but necessary step to ensure the correct postage is printed and that a package reaches the intended recipient. Consider implementing a two-step verification process for addresses before printing postage.
You can also consider software programs that automatically validate addresses against other carrier databases. Better accuracy equals a higher likelihood of deliverability. Just remember to include the return address for any shoppers sending back their packages.
Always double-check right before printing. This practice is essential for delivering international or cross-border orders and widening your consumer base. Chit Chats can help you with processing your packages, and for U.S. shipments their Delivered Duties Paid solutions avoids any surprises for your customers by ensuring duties are paid before shipping.
5. Package and Handle with Care
Packaging is often a pain point for many small businesses. Boxes tend to feel too small, too large, too flimsy and so on. Consider investing in sturdier yet sustainable boxes. Aside from protecting the product, it’ll set an impression for customers in the future.
Need help in finding high quality supplies? Consider Chit Chats Supplies.
When delivering fragile items, add a thick layer of cushioning material to protect them. It’s also wise to pick the right filler material based on the item’s fragility. For instance, picture frames can get away with bubble wraps and packing peanuts, but glassware is more secure when accompanied by foam inserts.
Learn more about how to package effectively here.
6. Accurately Measure Weight and Dimensions
Another common shipping mistake is inaccurate weight and dimensions of a package. Be sure to always take the measurements after your item is packaged. Invest in a reliable scale to obtain accurate measurements. Consider rounding it up for a little extra room. Ensuring accuracy will avoid any postage adjustments that carriers apply to shipments that have underpaid postage.
7. Be Proactive and Communicative About Shipment Status
Many customers will likely wonder where their orders are and whether they are being handled safely. Thankfully, you can provide them with tracking information that answers these queries and builds trust with your small business.
Additionally, you can go the extra mile and get shipping insurance, such as Chit Chats Insurance. Basic carrier liability is often insufficient, especially when you’re trying to deliver high-value goods. Unfortunately, only 12% of the 65 billion parcels shipped globally were insured in 2023.
Chit Chats Insurance covers your packages upon receipt, especially when purchased with your postage, for better financial protection. Its partner carrier handling delivery can also provide the necessary tracking updates to put shoppers at ease.
Improve Your Shipping Processes
Understanding the common shipping mistakes and devising a plan is an excellent step toward preventing errors. Partner with Chit Chats to streamline shipping and protect your operations. With the right tools, you can secure your business reputation and refine the delivery process.