Should your business consider adding a delivery service?

In the business landscape, the concept of incorporating delivery into operations has reached a fever pitch. Over the last few months, Amazon announced several different plans to improve delivery through same-day delivery services in major metropolitan areas like New York and Los Angeles or with drone delivery. Google has recently announced plans for a delivery service where partnered businesses allow consumers to order online and have items sent to a desired location. Car service Uber is also rolling out a parcel delivery service.

While this makes sense for companies that have an online retail option, this expanding role seems to be pointing to a future where more companies need to rely on a delivery option to boost revenue.

A recent article from The Washington Post examined this trend more closely. The first thing companies need to do is ask a number of preliminary questions to make sure a delivery service is the right call.

"Are my competitors delivering? If they are, how are they doing it? Is there a demand? What are they charging? Try a service for yourself by ordering from a competitor and being a critic. Take notes on what went well, what didn't and how you could improve it," the article reads. "If they aren't offering delivery, find out why. Are insurance costs too high? Have they tried and failed? Pretend to be a customer, and call to ask for delivery. Then, ask whether they're considering doing it in the future. The answers could be enlightening."

What steps should businesses take?

The article then goes on to look at the steps that companies need to take in order to take products out of their stores and get them to the consumer's doorstep. The idea of adding a delivery service can seem daunting, and without the right steps, it can be nearly impossible for organizations to do so successfully.

The piece goes on to layout several specific pieces of advice. These include:

• Start small - You can always expand if the idea proves to be successful. But starting small allows a business to work the kinks out.
• Appoint a project head - Have someone whose sole job it is to handle the delivery service. This creates a single point of contact for the system.
• Set clear expectations - Make sure everyone is on the same page.
• Ensure training - It is critical for every employee involved to be trained properly.
• Survey and solicit feedback - Don't be afraid to ask consumers for feedback. This is the best way to improve the customer experience.

In the end, this is entirely about meeting consumer demand. If your company is going to start a delivery service, it can not be something that is taken lightly or done on a whim. There are also better ways for companies to handle delivery instead of trying to create something on their own.

By partnering with a local third party logistics and shipping service, any company can immediately gain the knowledge of what is needed for a successful delivery service. This will allow any small business to not only offer a system but also add the services that can make it successful.