{"id":29957,"date":"2022-04-28T13:05:46","date_gmt":"2022-04-28T20:05:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dolly.com\/blog\/?p=6260"},"modified":"2026-04-28T07:54:40","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T14:54:40","slug":"choosing-the-right-routed-delivery-provider","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.taskrabbit.com\/blog\/choosing-the-right-routed-delivery-provider\/","title":{"rendered":"What to Look For in a Routed Delivery Provider"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Featured in <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/mytotalretail.com\/article\/what-to-look-for-in-a-routed-delivery-provider\/\" target=\"_blank\">TotalRetail<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.freightwaves.com\/news\/commentary-what-to-look-for-in-a-routed-delivery-provider\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">FreightWaves<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today\u2019s competitive retail landscape makes it imperative for retailers to prioritize the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/dolly.com\/blog\/why-customer-experience-matters\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">customer experience<\/a>.&nbsp;With that in mind, delayed delivery schedules, damaged products, cumbersome tracking could turn customers away from your store. This, in turn, will take a toll on customer retention, brand reputation, and revenue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you\u2019re running an online store or a brick-and-mortar outlet, timely deliveries are crucial for a hassle-free purchase experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That, in turn, emphasizes the need to partner with the right routed delivery provider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Routed delivery involves finding the best routes for delivering various orders while optimizing vehicle capacity, fuel usage, driver efficiency, and speed. While it\u2019s possible to handle routed delivery in-house, you\u2019ll need specialized resources to plan and schedule deliveries.&nbsp;In such a scenario, partnering with an experienced routed delivery provider is a more efficient and cost-effective option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the following sections, we\u2019ll discuss a few factors you should keep in mind when outsourcing routed delivery to a third-party provider.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. Delivery Speed<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Finding a routed delivery provider isn\u2019t as simple as choosing one that offers the fastest delivery speeds. Instead, you need to carefully understand the delivery preferences of your customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s say you own a home furniture store. Instead of opting for same-day delivery, most customers would prefer to receive a product at their convenience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019d thus need a delivery partner who offers flexible delivery speeds, including time-definite and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/dolly.com\/blog\/same-day-vs-next-day-delivery-sustainability\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">same-day<\/a>. Make sure they prioritize the needs of your customers while scheduling product deliveries too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2. Experience<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>You should work with an established delivery partner that\u2019s been in business for several years. An experienced delivery provider is equipped to anticipate and mitigate the challenges associated with route planning and scheduling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ask for a track record or client testimonials to understand the quality and reliability of their services. It\u2019s a good idea to check their online reviews and ratings as well. Find out what kind of approach they use for routing and scheduling various orders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, you need to find a company that specializes in handling deliveries for your industry. It\u2019s particularly crucial if you sell bulky items, such as flooring materials, household appliances, or furniture. Novice delivery providers won\u2019t be familiar with the nuances of safe handling and timely delivery for such products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3. Reliability<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>If a delivery provider is trusted by other businesses in your industry, chances are they know what they\u2019re doing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s why it is crucial to ask for client reviews and testimonials when you\u2019re assessing different delivery services. You could even ask to connect with their existing clients for a first-hand account of their experience.&nbsp;Also, find out the company\u2019s approach to recruiting and training delivery professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do they run extensive background checks before hiring a delivery executive? Are they more likely to hire experienced delivery professionals with a robust skillset? What kind of training do these employees undergo before they\u2019re ready to handle routed deliveries?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Make sure you ask for the answers to these questions before choosing a delivery partner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>4. Use of Technology<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The best delivery services are the ones that leverage cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning. They use sophisticated route planning software for efficient routing and scheduling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The software helps automate workflows and eliminates the need to rely on guesswork and intuition. It collects a wide array of data, including weather forecasts, traffic conditions, and available manpower, to automatically generate the most suitable route.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Make sure the delivery partner you select uses an AI-powered route planning solution. Additionally, they should provide you and your customers with a simple and user-friendly platform for tracking product deliveries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>5. Services Offered<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Not all delivery providers are created equal. Some companies only take care of securely transporting your products to a customer\u2019s doorstep at the selected time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other companies offer a wide array of white-glove services, including unpacking, assembly, room-of-choice delivery, and installation of products. They even handle dunnage removal and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/dolly.com\/blog\/reverse-logistics-for-retailers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reverse logistics<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Depending on the type of products you sell, it might make more sense to choose a white-glove routed delivery provider like&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/dolly.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dolly<\/a>. Get a complete overview of the services offered by a company before making the final selection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>6. Delay and Damage Policies<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Even the most efficient delivery providers with the best route planning software will experience unforeseen delays. Various factors, including vehicle breakdowns and accidents, could wreak havoc on pre-planned delivery schedules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Find out your partner&#8217;s approach to re-attempting a product delivery. Do they schedule it for the next available slot? Or would they get in touch with the customer to deliver the product according to the latter\u2019s convenience?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Similarly, mishandling of products could lead to cracks, dents, spills, and other signs of damage. In such a scenario, customers will likely refuse to accept the product. The burden of shipping a replacement will fall on you. Check whether the delivery provider offers insurance to cover these costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Harness the Potential of Routed Delivery With Dolly<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Modern retailers need experienced and reliable routed delivery providers that utilize the latest technology to optimize operations.&nbsp;Also, your delivery partner should offer additional services, including reverse logistics and product installation. They should also provide flexible delivery speeds according to the needs of your customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dolly.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dolly<\/a>&nbsp;ticks all those boxes and more. Our white-glove delivery services and trusted delivery professionals ensure a hassle-free experience for your customers. To learn more,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/dolly.com\/partners-form\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">schedule a demo<\/a>&nbsp;to find out whether Dolly is the right fit for your business.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Featured in TotalRetail and FreightWaves. Today\u2019s competitive retail landscape makes it imperative for retailers to prioritize the&nbsp;customer experience.&nbsp;With that in mind, delayed delivery schedules, damaged products, cumbersome tracking could turn customers away from your store. This, in turn, will take a toll on customer retention, brand reputation, and revenue. Whether you\u2019re running an online store [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[644938189],"tags":[644938196,31822,644938012,644938219],"class_list":["post-29957","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-retail","tag-customer-experience","tag-delivery","tag-retail","tag-routed-delivery"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Your Guide to Choosing the Right Routed Delivery Provider<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"An experienced and trusted routed delivery provider is essential for the success of retailers. 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