When Sam Walton, the famous Wal-Mart founder, started out his business empire in the 1960s, ecommerce delivery solutions were a far-off concept more suited to sci-fi movies than real life business at the time.

Yet, if he were around today, the American business magnate would surely see immense value in small businesses getting their delivery services just right.

In fact, he’d probably see it as a key competitive advantage in a crowded market like that of the United Arab Emirates, where local ecommerce websites account for 73% of total sales, according to the Dubai Chamber of Commerce.

The UAE has one of the fastest-growing ecommerce markets in the Middle East. Its internet penetration is over 90% and its wealth of young online shoppers now expect on-demand shipping services, such as same-day delivery and cash-on-delivery, as part of the deal.

The UAE’s rapidly growing ecommerce market

Source: Dubai Chamber of Commerce

When done right, ecommerce shipping has the power to elevate a small online business from just another shop to a customer favorite, one that people click on time and again to make regular purchases.

While this may seem unachievable (and outrageously expensive), getting smart with ecommerce delivery options in the UAE is well within reach for entrepreneurs just starting out.

This article explores just how small retailers can not only provide the delivery solutions for ecommerce that their customers are looking for, but also how to make it an attractive selling point that increases their brand’s value and revenue.

Why is implementing the right ecommerce delivery solutions important?

If we want to understand why getting ecommerce delivery solutions right in the UAE is so crucial, we only need to look at the nature of the digital world we all live in today.

Social networks, on-demand content, and a vast array of online shopping options are the driving force behind a ‘me’ culture where consumers are used to getting what they want. Fast and with no hassle.

Cutting-edge fulfillment services, then, are helping small ecommerce businesses stand out by meeting those sky-high consumer demands – a core tenet of business success that stretches to a time well before even Sam Walton.

In fact, if we want to understand just why a great ecommerce delivery service is so fundamental, we only need to look at some examples from Walton to see how good delivery services underpinned his meteoric rise to success.

Focus on the customer experience

Sam Walton was passionate about understanding and meeting his customers' needs. He would often visit his stores and talk to customers to gain insights into their shopping habits and preferences. In doing so, he created a customer-centric business model that made his enterprise special.

Likewise, a great ecommerce logistics service puts the customer first by tailoring the last-mile delivery process to their expectations.

2. Emphasize on operational excellence

Walton was obsessed with operational efficiency and believed that cutting costs would lead to lower prices for customers. He implemented strategies like centralized distribution centers and cross-docking to reduce costs and improve supply chain management.

Top ecommerce fulfillment processes use similar techniques today. While industry leaders like Fedex, DHL, and Amazon have mastered the art of automation and well-placed fulfillment centers, new digital ecommerce platforms are helping smaller retailers attain the same operational excellence.

3. Focus on expansion

Walton was a visionary entrepreneur who recognized the potential for growth in the retail industry. He was always looking for opportunities to expand his business and invested heavily in opening new stores.

Small businesses who nail their shipping strategy are much more likely to expand than rivals who don’t. Not only will improved functionality and quick delivery times boost their reputation, but business owners will likely have more time to focus on growth tasks like expanding into cross-border markets rather than chasing their tails dealing with warehousing logjams, missed deliveries, and finding the best returns practices.

In fact, you could say that sustained growth is almost impossible without putting the right ecommerce and delivery solutions in place. But how do we know what these look like and how they can benefit our business?

Have a UAE ecommerce business but not sure how to stand out? swftbox’s five-minute registration will give you access to a digital logistics service that helps provide fast deliveries, higher returns, and a reputation as a retailer that truly cares about their customers.

The 6 best ecommerce delivery solutions and strategies for your business

From the moment a customer clicks ‘buy’ on an ecommerce business site to when the package appears on their doorstep, different elements of the shipping process play a key role in achieving successful delivery and high customer satisfaction.

Getting fulfillment services right is crucial in this, and is a major component in building the reputation of a new ecommerce business and encouraging customers to make repeat purchases and referrals.

Here are six ecommerce delivery solutions that can help UAE business owners reach this point.

Get the right team together

When we think of delivery, we tend to just get an image of courier services dropping the package off on the doorstep, but to make that happen there needs to be a solid unit behind them pulling all the right levers.

Great delivery services are built on teamwork. Whether an order fulfillment team that picks, packs, and ships orders efficiently, or friendly customer support staff who deal with complaints, the different parts of the end-to-end delivery process must be in-sync.

When done well, the right delivery team ensures timely delivery, improves customer satisfaction, protects brand reputation, reduces costs, and supports business growth.

The good news is that tech advances are making this dream a reality for small enterprises via novel ecommerce shipping solutions, like digital logistics platforms, which can give them access to a ready-made fulfillment team and streamline their delivery process.

2. Make fast delivery a central goal

In the GCC delivery sector speed is becoming more of a priority, and multi-day delivery services of old are looking increasingly out of date.

According to consulting firm Kearney, well over half of consumers in the region expect delivery within the same day, often within one hour.

The need for speed in the GCC

Source: Kearney analysis

As such, having a reputation for quick deliveries is a surefire way to boost conversions as consumers demand their products ASAP, yet this is easier said than done for small retailers starting out who struggle with the challenges of same-day delivery.

One tactic could be to start off by providing guaranteed next-day delivery as a way of getting a foot in the door. Even doing this exceeds the expectations of a third of consumers, if we use the above statistics.

Then, once an SME has a solid customer base, same-day delivery becomes more feasible, as does developing a reputation for providing top-class shipping options.

3. Offer the right delivery perks

For small retailers struggling to provide same-day delivery, there are other perks that score highly with e-commerce buyers.

Online shoppers love a bargain, particularly in tough economic times, so free shipping is a big selling point, or at least making it cheaper than rivals.

According to McKinsey research, 70% of consumers are happy paying more for a product if it includes the cheapest delivery possible, so companies might even be able to build this cost into increased product prices or setting a minimum spend for free shipping on your website.

The power of cheap delivery among consumers

Source: McKinsey & Company

Flexible delivery, too, is important. A surprising number of retailers make returns very difficult.

Another way is to provide flexible payment options. Many customers seek cash on delivery, for example, something which many retailers don’t offer.

4. Measure delivery performance through key metrics

Analyzing certain metrics is a key tool in ensuring that delivery performance is as high as possible.

Central to this is customer feedback. Knowing what buyers liked and disliked about the shopping experience can help delivery companies identify problem areas, and cut down on issues like cart abandonment.

Keeping a digital record of average delivery times, success rates, shipping costs, and returns, is also vital for companies to measure their performance. By regularly reviewing these metrics, they can pinpoint areas for improvement, and make data-driven decisions to improve the delivery experience for their customers.

5. Aim for a fluid company structure

In the fast-paced UAE delivery market, responding to supply-chain issues as quickly as they arise is key for small businesses just starting out.

But what does this entail?

Well, the best way to carry this out is by building an agile company structure. In practice, this means sharing decision-making among workers so that they can make spur-of-the-moment decisions without having to consult bosses.

Even retailers with a small number of staff can build a cross-functional team pretty quickly by ensuring that everyone is well-versed in different disciplines, including sales, marketing, operations, and finance.

Secondly, adopting agile methodologies such as Scrum teams or Kanban boards can help small firms manage projects and workflows in a flexible and responsive manner. Keeping business goals and the key performance indicators (KPIs) in mind not only keeps everyone singing from the same hymn sheet, but also ensures they are responsive to sudden changes in the delivery process.

Only by producing a streamlined workflow that allows for nimble troubleshooting can small retailers really hope to make a mark in the UAE’s crowded delivery scene.

6. Embrace cutting-edge logistics solutions

Embracing the latest technology should be near the top of any small retailers priority list, and the good news is that disruptive delivery tools are more accessible than might first appear.

Many small retailers now have access to shipping software that manages the whole delivery supply chain via automated processes, providing enhanced visibility for both seller and customer.

On the customer side, users can track their orders with real-time GPS tracking, reducing the risk of lost or delayed shipments. They can receive automated SMS updates on shipment status, and access live customer service chat via an integrated app.

Retailers, meanwhile, benefit from automated logistics operations, such as warehousing stock counts, that streamline the supply chain, improve accuracy, and cut costs.

While accessing such a system would have been impossible or, at least, prohibitively expensive just a few years ago, we’re now seeing widespread availability of these digital services. Research firm Markets and Markets forecast a quadrupling of the global digital logistics market to $46.5 billion by 2025, and software like this will form the backbone of such a rise.

Retailers who don’t adopt them soon face being left by the wayside in busy markets.

A customer-centric approach to delivery solutions for ecommerce

When we scan over the delivery solutions and strategies that are helping ecommerce retailers make a mark in the UAE today, it’s easy to see one unifying feature: a focus on customer satisfaction.

Whether working fluidly to quickly respond to complaints or measuring delivery performance, the common objective is to put the customer first. This is because, in such a crowded market, UAE business owners need to get smart and make their delivery service an attractive selling point rather than a means to an end.

Innovative digital logistics solution swftbox helps small retailers do this by working with them as partners rather than treating them like clients. That way, any online store that plugs into the swftbox platform gets direct access to its customized shipping options and automated logistics features as if they were its own, rather than via a third-party provider.

And their customers get the top-class modern delivery experience they crave.

This way, even new players in the market can improve their reputation quickly, encourage customers to make repeat purchases and referrals, and ultimately foster growth.

Ready to see what a cutting-edge logistics solution can do for your business? Sign up to swftbox in just five minutes to unlock faster deliveries.

6 Ecommerce Delivery Solutions to Outshine Your Rivals in the UAE