IMRG finds retailers’ delivery and returns propositions are crucial to the Ecommerce customer experience

A new report by UK ecommerce organisation IMRG, gives a “state of the nation” of delivery and returns offerings, including:

• 56% of the merchants surveyed don’t offer free delivery

• 10% of retailers do not offer a dedicated page, or even a place on the delivery page, for returns information

• Only 22% of the merchants surveyed offered third-party click and collect services

The Delivery Service index (DSi), sponsored by nShift, highlights the role of clear information relating to deliveries and returns and the impact this can have for retailers on increasing new customer conversions. It also finds that offering the right mix of delivery options and price points is key to protecting retailer margins without discouraging customers.

State of the nation on delivery

The DSi examines the types of delivery and returns services that retailers are providing, how the information is presented, the areas that could be improved and the impact to both consumers and retailers of getting delivery and returns right.

With returns, retailers often debate whether they should be free, and previous IMRG research has shown that 70% of customers expect this to be the case. From the DSi sample, 42% of merchants offer free returns with pre-paid labels, amplifying the divide in perspective. The most common time frame offered for returns is 30 days (37%).

Delivering the best possible customer experience  

Customers today look at the delivery and return options before they shop. If one online retailer can’t meet their needs now, they’ll simply shop elsewhere. The DSi illustrates how providing a first-class customer experience through excellent delivery and seamless returns, can help build loyalty with customers. This increases the chance of repeat purchases and recommendations which, in turn, leads to greater revenue.

In the report, nShift offers five tips for delivering the best possible customer experience:

1. Provide and clearly display a range of delivery options at checkout – some shoppers seek swift deliveries. For others a low price, or low emissions options, are paramount. Offering a range of options at checkout increases conversions.
2. Ensure transport capacity – during busy periods, it’s crucial that retailers ensure they can keep their promises. This is best achieved through relationships with multiple carrier companies and ensuring that the company’s tech stack can quickly facilitate these relationships.
3. Maximize delivery success – giving shoppers the opportunity to identify and choose alternative Out Of Home (OOH) collection options is a welcome alternative to having to wait at home for a delivery.
4. Keep in touch – relevant communication keeps the customer engaged and helps contain any negative feedback. If a retailer distributes communication in their own look and feel, it helps build the brand in the moments that matter.
5. Make returns easy – operating a simple digital returns process gives shoppers confidence in the brand. It also makes it easier for the retailer to track patterns and work out why items are being sent back.

Andy Mulcahy, Strategy and Insight Director, IMRG said, “Delivery and returns information is often a major factor in a shopper’s decision to complete a purchase, yet 72% of the sites surveyed here put it below the fold. Exactly how to structure a page is always a contentious question, with many different things that can be tried to help optimise conversion; experimenting with this information, particularly where it is something good to advertise (free delivery at a threshold perhaps) is worth looking at as part of that process.”

The DSi is now available for download from IMRG.

For more information on how nShift can help maximize your ecommerce customer experience with your delivery and returns proposition, please get in touch below.