DPD UK launching “early warning” system for parcel deliveries

Parcel carrier DPD UK is launching a new “early warning” email and text notification service for its deliveries on behalf of fashion e-retailer ASOS. The new service comes on the back of previous innovations like Follow My Parcel, launched last June to allow consumers to track their ASOS delivery in real time on a map as it draws near, before delivery occurs within a 15-minute time slot.

DPD said the new service will send notification to consumers on the night before their parcel is expected to arrive, to provide them more time to plan to receive the item.

It will mean notifications going out 12 hours earlier than the previous service.

DPD said customers will be able to access five “in-flight” delivery options from that evening before, including three new options – delivery to a safe place, collection from a nearest depot or the possibility of upgrading to a service like before 10am or Saturday delivery, as well as changing the delivery day or having items delivered to a neighbour.

ASOS is one of the UK’s largest online-only fashion retailers, with 29.5m people visiting its website each month shopping from 65,000 products. The company founded in the year 2000 saw sales grow by 39% last year to £769.4m, with UK growth at 34% year-on-year and international growth 44%. The company now sees 63% of its total sales in the cross-border market to consumers living outside the UK.

ASOS director of delivery solutions Matt Rogers said the new early warning service was part of “fine-tuning” the customer experience.

“For us, making sure customers receive their goods promptly and safely is every bit as important as being able to find what they want on the site in the first place,” said Rogers.

“We know a lot of customers can make arrangements the night before if they know exactly when a parcel is coming. Equally, things can change, so to be able to offer five different real-time delivery options right up until 15 minutes before the driver arrives at your door is a fantastic advantage too.”

DPD

DPD UK, part of La Poste’s GeoPost Group, delivers about 1.6m parcels each week with a work force of 7,000 people, a network of 49 locations and a fleet of more than 3,500 vehicles.

The company created more than 1,000 new jobs last year as it invested in capacity to respond to growing parcel volumes, with a significant portion of its growth fuelled by innovations like the Predict service, which offers a one-hour delivery window.

Dwain McDonald, the DPD UK chief executive, said the consumer reaction to the Follow My Parcel service last year was “unbelievable”.

He said: “Online fashion retailing is a fast moving business and our aim is to provide a home delivery service that exceeds people’s expectations and helps turn shoppers into repeat purchasers and loyal customers.”