There’s no doubt that the pandemic changed the way people talk to each other. Social distance had a big effect on the dining and retail industries. Because eating out and shopping in person involves being around others, public health and safety rules made it very hard for businesses to run.
This is where no-contact delivery services come in. These services don’t involve face-to-face interaction between the driver and the customer. For businesses, it’s difficult to define what ” no-contact delivery” really means. Clients are often given a choice of options and technology to help them.
Still, No-contact delivery options are helpful for customers, even though the pandemic is ending. Let’s discuss what “no contact delivery” means and how businesses use it.
How does 'No Contact Delivery' Work?
What does it mean for delivery without contact? To put it simply, it’s when a business sends goods to a customer without meeting them in person. As an example,
- The person delivering the pizza puts it near the front door and texts the person to let them know it’s there.
- The person can pick up their groceries at the curb and have a store employee load their trunk without touching them.
- Food delivered to your home by drone or self-driving car.
- Someone picks up their food or other order at a locker or hotspot without talking to store staff.
What counts as “no contact delivery” is when a customer gets goods without having to talk to the delivery person or store staff directly.
What are the Benefits of ‘No Contact Delivery’?
From a business point of view, offering no-contact delivery options lets you reach customers who don’t want to talk to store employees. Even though vaccines have made getting COVID-19 less dangerous for your health, some people still prefer delivery methods that don’t involve direct contact.
Let us look at some of the advantages of no-contact delivery.
- The Survival and Profitability of a Business
To keep up with what customers want, businesses have to change with the times. Clients will trust a business that offers no contact delivery because they will know that the business cares about their safety. A big selling point will be labels that say the goods the businesses sell are contact-free. This helps businesses get more customers, which is important for staying in business and making money.
- Customer Streamlining
The service a customer gets is often what makes them decide what to do. No contact delivery lets customers pick when they want their packages delivered. On top of that, you can give them regular updates and the choice to pay electronically.
- Reducing the Possible Transmission of the Virus
Without touching the package, customers can stay at home and be safe. Since people don’t have to touch the delivery people anymore, the virus doesn’t start to spread as quickly. Businesses can put the health and safety of both their customers and their delivery staff first with this method of delivery.
- The State of Digital Readiness
By going digital, companies can better meet the needs of their customers as they grow. Organizations can keep customers informed, help them, and get them involved with real-time and contactless communication. In a world full of tech-savvy people, being ready for digital would be a plus for any business.
- Brand Relationship
A no-contact delivery system that is safe and clean lets a business talk to the customer directly through digital means. Through real-time conversation, businesses can build trust and a strong brand identity by giving customers a good experience.
- Ensure the Safety of Employees and Customers
Everyone is afraid to touch each other because of the pandemic, including customers and employees. You don’t have to worry about this with no contact deliveries. People will trust businesses more if they follow strict respiratory hygiene guidelines and sanitization procedures.
Businesses that don’t have an online presence need to get better at what they do and come up with new ways to connect with their customers if they want to stay in business. The COVID-19 pandemic showed how important no contact delivery is. It lets normal business go on as usual. A safe way to shop is likely to remain popular with customers, and a no contact delivery system is the only way to make that happen.
What are the Drawbacks of ‘No Contact Delivery’?
People make mistakes all the time, especially when it comes to deliveries. Sometimes drivers mislocate the house or are unable to find it. They can be late due to traffic issues and accidents, which compromises the safety and quality of items like food. Orders may be incomplete due to missing or damaged items.
A customer who receives a contactless delivery cannot immediately file a complaint with anyone. To put it another way, they must give your business a call or speak with customer service to have the issue resolved. To get their money back, customers might need to use technology or a virtual assistant.
This results in a negative customer experience. They are not immediately able to speak with a driver or someone who can identify the issue. The driver cannot go back and solve the issue since they are stuck. Sometimes, shocked or disgusted, customers will shake their heads and stop doing business with the company.
The customer may not always be informed by the contactless delivery system that the product has arrived at their home or designated pick-up location. Here, there might be misunderstandings, hold-ups, and ire. Put simply, it’s more difficult to identify service errors and provide easy fixes.
Which Businesses Use 'No Contact Delivery'?
No-contact delivery management features are still used by Domino’s and other well-known food delivery apps. When you order something to be delivered, you can choose not to be contacted. The technology that the business uses will determine how ordered status and delivery alerts work.
One example is Domino’s, which has a pizza or order tracker. You can check your account to find out where the driver is and when the order is picked up. A message in your email or app will let you know when the delivery is at your address or business. After that, you can be sure it’s waiting outside the front door.
GrubHub and other food delivery apps have something like this. But sometimes the driver will text you to let you know that the package is outside your door. For curbside delivery, grocery stores like Safeway also let you know when the order is ready to be picked up.
You just need to park at one of the many spots along the curb. Say hello to the store when you get there. A worker will come out and bring your order to your car after you tell them which space you’re in. This method is also used by other companies, like Lowe’s and Target.Â
The best options for no-contact delivery are listed below.
Several businesses might be able to offer no-contact delivery:
- Dining places
- Buying groceries
- Deals in alcohol and liquor
- Businesses that sell recyclable goods, like packaged goods, to consumers
- Home improvement store chains
- Animal shelters
Nevertheless, some businesses that sell expensive things like cars are also trying out delivery options that don’t require contact. You can still run your business even if it doesn’t fit into one of those groups. It’s anything that has to do with getting a good or item to a customer. You might just need to think outside the box or give them safe choices.
That being said, no-contact delivery options are best for grocery shopping and ordering food from a restaurant. People may be more worried about the health risks of these products. It’s very personal what people eat, and when food safety is compromised, it affects their health.
What should a Company Focus On?
Thinking about offering delivery options that don’t require contact is one thing. Another thing is to put them into action. Details about how the process works might be scary, especially if you don’t know much about technology. You can add no-contact delivery options to your business, though, with the help of app builders and digital vendors.
You will need to decide on a few things, though. One is the way you’ll talk to clients. The others are ways to show proof that orders were delivered and ways to get your money back for service. Like, will you automatically send customer notifications? If so, which ones? Or will your drivers send some of these things by hand, like delivery confirmations?Â
Conclusion
Now you should have an improved understanding of what “no contact delivery” means. Finally, the phrase “no contact delivery” means that there will be no face-to-face contact. People place an order and then either get it or pick it up without having to talk to anyone.
Customers usually don’t see your employees and rely on emails to know what’s going on. No-touch delivery options are here to stay, so companies should figure out how to add them or keep them.
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