Next month sees the release of an app from DPD which will shorten timeslots, allow more nominated day choices, and increase the number of options for in-flight redirection.
The carrier is also making changes to its Predict system to add more flexibility to the system that has already won it several awards.
In the event of failed first-time delivery, DPD drivers will be able to return to an address on the same day, with the delivery recipient receiving notification. “Re-delivery is really bad,” said DPD CEO Dwain McDonald. “That’s why we’d rather check later in the day and go back – it’s better than taking a parcel back to the depot.”
DPD will also be introducing an element of gamification into the way it collects feedback on its drivers to determine which of its drivers are the most customer-centric.
Retailers will no doubt hope the greater control and transparency customers receive will translate into greater loyalty and more repeat business. Shoppers will ultimately be able to set certain parameters, such as do not attempt delivery during the school-run period, or default alternative delivery locations.
One business that hopes to capitalise on people’s preference for home delivery, despite their not always being at home is Doddle, which has announced the expansion of its Neighbour initiative, previously running as a trial in Bromley.
The Doddle Neighbour programme allows people to sign up and become Doddle-approved recipients of deliveries for their street or neighbourhood. They will handle delivery collection, return, and dispatch. The service is live in Bromley and Haywards Heath, and Doddle is recruiting Neighbours for Epsom, Surbiton, Kingston, Richmond, Wimbledon, Paddington, and Ealing.
Tim Robinson, Doddle CEO, commented: “Doddle Neighbour formalises the concept of taking in parcels for your neighbours, something thousands of Brits do every day across the UK. The difference is Doddle is going to pay them to do it.
“Doddle is about making it easy to send and receive parcels and Doddle Neighbour is the next frontier in this mission. Neighbour is about bringing Doddle services to local communities, taking parcels the final metre, not just the final mile, so that customers can send and receive parcels at a time and place that’s most convenient for them.”
Parcelforce is another carrier looking to improve the customer through technology investments.
In addition to introducing PayPal integration, customers will now be able to track parcels’ progress on a simple-to-view dashboard, that will also display an image of the parcel recipient’s signature.
Gary Simpson, managing director of Parcelforce Worldwide, said: “A full end-to-end tracking service is central to our offering as a business, which is why we’re happy to announce the improvements to the tracking information a customer sees when they visit our website. Parcelforce Worldwide is a very responsive business and we are committed to developing services to meet the changing demands of businesses, online retailers and other customers.”
