In the ecommerce industry, the quality and timeliness of parcel delivery can make or break customer satisfaction. For small ecommerce businesses, ensuring that parcels arrive on time and in perfect condition is critical. That’s why more and more of these businesses are taking control of the process by bringing parcel labelling in-house. Jay Kim, Managing Director of BIXOLON Europe GmbH, explains how this shift can enhance the customer experience and boost business success.
TheDelivery Imperative
Ecommerce companies have long recognised the importance of a robust, reliable delivery experience, from offering customers delivery choice to ensuring products arrive on time. However, new research reveals just how damaging a poor delivery experience can be: almost two thirds (63%) of frequent shoppers in the UK will abandon an online retailer over a poor delivery experience. The situation is similar in France, where 53% of shoppers will abandon a retailer, dropping to 38% of German shoppers. Clearly, improving shipping and delivery processes holds significant value.
Yet many smaller businesses continue to struggle with delivery certainty due to extended queues at Post Offices and damaged barcodes and labels, which leads to parcels being returned instead of reaching customers. With Post Offices closing and the Royal Mail offering a parcel pick up service, many companies are now rethinking their delivery strategies and taking responsibility for their own parcel and post labelling.
Efficient and Green Solutions
Investing in technology like label printers has always been an option, but traditional products had limitations, such as needing to print several labels on one sheet of A4. The latest generation of linerless label printers is changing the game for small businesses. These printers use a roll of sticky labels that require no backing, offering a new level of flexibility.
With linerless labels, companies can print labels of any size, allowing them to include all necessary information – barcodes, addresses, product safety information – on a single label. Moreover, these labels are far more robust, protecting barcodes from damage caused by rainwater, sunlight or scratches, leading to greater delivery certainty.
Linerless labels also support sustainability goals. Without a plastic liner, businesses are able to comply with the EU directive on packing and packaging waste more easily. Additionally, because labels are cut to size, there is no wastage. And with the price of linerless labels dropping significantly in recent years, there is no additional cost associated with this eco-friendly approach.
Post Office Improvements
Linerless label technology is also enhancing postal services’ delivery experiences. In Europe, postal workers use mobile linerless printers for ‘you were out’ parcel delivery information. Instead of scrawled paper notes that customers can barely read, postal workers can print the time of delivery, location of parcel for collection, and opening times on a label, which is then attached to a paper card and posted through the letterbox. This technology ensures there is no plastic waste created throughout the process, making it much easier and safer.
Additionally, this technology is used to offer self-service access within Post Offices. Kiosks are becoming more popular too, allowing people to pay for shipping and print their address labels in the Post Office, which helps to reduce queue pressure. Printer manufacturers are leveraging vast amounts of data collected from diverse printer products to deliver the new levels of reliability that are essential for any self-service experience.
Conclusion
For businesses in ecommerce, being able to offer flexible and reliable delivery options is crucial for customer satisfaction, and repeat business. By taking control of the printing process – particularly through the use of robust and sustainable linerless labels – small businesses can significantly improve delivery certainty for their customers. This proactive approach not only makes for an all round improved customer experience, but also supports wider sustainability goals, ensuring that businesses stand out against their competitors, and are environmentally responsible. ClickHERE to learn more about our range of linerless label printers, and embrace the future of parcel labelling with our cutting edge solutions, to take your ecommerce delivery strategy to the next level.
