How to expand your local delivery service

As the e-commerce landscape continues to change, so too must the strategies of local businesses. In order to stay ahead of the curve and keep up with larger businesses, it’s important for local business owners to be proactive about expanding their delivery services.

There are a number of ways to do this, but in this article, we’ll focus on nine easy steps that any business can take to expand their local delivery service.

1. Assess your current situation

The first step is to assess your current situation. This means taking a close look at your business model and asking yourself how delivery could fit into it. Are you currently set up to handle delivery? Do you have the necessary staff and resources? Would adding delivery put too much strain on your business?

2. Identify your customers’ needs

The second step is to identify your customers’ needs. Why do they want or need delivery? What are their pain points when it comes to shopping locally? Understanding your customers’ needs will help you better tailor your delivery service to meet them.

3. Decide what you’re going to deliver

Now that you know why your customers need or want delivery, it’s time to decide what you’re going to deliver. This will vary depending on your business, but some common items include food, groceries, flowers, and gifts.

4. Choose a delivery method

The next step is to choose a delivery method. There are a few different options to choose from, including using your own employees, partnering with a local delivery service, or using an online platform like Uber Rush or Postmates. Each option has its own set of pros and cons, so be sure to do your research before making a decision. For example, if you have your own drivers you may have to buy red diesel drums to store fuel for reliable service.

5. Set up your delivery area

Once you’ve chosen a delivery method, it’s time to set up your delivery area. This involves mapping out the geographical boundaries of where you’re willing to deliver to and ensuring that you have the necessary resources in place to service those areas.

6. Choose your delivery days and times

The next step is to choose your delivery days and times. This will vary depending on your business, but it’s important to be consistent and offer delivery during times when your customers are most likely to need or want it.

7. Promote your delivery service

Once you’ve got everything set up, it’s time to start promoting your delivery service. This can be done through a variety of channels, including social media, email marketing, and even traditional advertising like flyers and signage.

8. Train your employees

If you’re using your own employees to handle delivery, it’s important to train them properly. This includes teaching them how to pack orders correctly, load and unload the delivery vehicle, and properly interact with customers.

9. Monitor your progress

As you start to offer delivery, it’s important to monitor your progress. This means tracking things like how many orders you’re getting, what times of day are busiest, and what areas are most popular. Doing so will help you make necessary adjustments to your service as needed.

By following these nine steps, you can easily expand your local delivery service, and better meet the needs of your customers.

** This is a collaborative post