B LE M S T H AT O C C U R IN

PRO
IS T R I B U T IO N O F G O O D S
T HE D
DELAYED SHIPMENT
WHAT IS DELAYED SHIPMENT?

• DELAYED SHIPMENT REFERS TO AN UNFORESEEN LOGISTICAL ISSUE WHERE THE DELIVERY DATE OF A
PACKAGE MUST BE POSTPONED TO A LATER TIME.
CAUSES OF DELAYED SHIPMENTS

• POOR WEATHER CONDITIONS AND NATURAL DISASTERS CAN PREVENT TRANSPORTATION OF GOODS
RESULTING IN DELAYED SHIPMENT.

• MATERIALS OR PARTS OF THE SHIPMENT MAY NOT BE READY BY THE SCHEDULED DELIVERY TIME.
• THE BREAKDOWN OF TRUCKS, LORRIES, OR SHIPS TRANSPORTING GOODS MAY RESULT IN DELAYED
SHIPMENT IF THE ISSUE CANNOT BE RESOLVED IN A TIMELY MANNER.
CAUSES OF DELAYED SHIPMENT CONT’D
• LOST GOODS: IF YOUR GOODS HAVE BEEN MISPLACED, YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THEM UNTIL
THEY HAVE BEEN LOCATED AND CAN BE SHIPPED TO YOU.

• LABOUR SHORTAGES: IF COMPANIES ARE SHORT-STAFFED, THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO FULFIL ALL OF
THEIR OBLIGATIONS TO CUSTOMERS.

• HOLIDAYS: IF YOU ARE PLACING AN INTERNATIONAL ORDER, THERE MAY BE HOLIDAYS IN THAT COUNTRY
THAT YOU ARE NOT AWARE OF. IF THE EMPLOYEES RESPONSIBLE FOR ARRANGING DELIVERIES DO NOT
WORK ON HOLIDAYS, YOUR DELIVERY DATE CAN BE DELAYED.
CAUSES OF DELAYED SHIPMENTS CONT’D

• INACCURATE SHIPPING INFO: IF THE CUSTOMER MISSPELLS THEIR ADDRESS OR ENTERS SHIPPING
INFORMATION INCORRECTLY, THE BUSINESS MAY NOT HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO CORRECTLY
DELIVER THE PACKAGE RESULTING IN DELAYS.

• AN INCREASED AMOUNT OF ORDERS OR REQUESTS FOR DELIVERY REQUIRES INTENSIVE LABOUR TO

FULFIL ALL ORDERS. DURING PEAK SEASONS LIKE CHRISTMAS-TIME WAREHOUSES ARE SWAMPED AND
COURIER COMPANIES ARE VERY BUSY SO DELAYS ARE VERY LIKELY.
WHAT CAN A BUSINESS DO TO HANDLE
DELAYS?
• THEY CAN COMMUNICATE THE ISSUE TO THEIR CUSTOMERS.
• THEY CAN USE AUTOMATED AUDITING SERVICES TO HOLD CARRIERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR ISSUES.
• SHOPPERS AND DEBTORS CAN TRACK THEIR SHIPMENTS IN REAL-TIME.
• THEY CAN CONSIDER USING MULTIPLE CARRIERS.
• THEY CAN LET CUSTOMERS KNOW THAT THOUGH THEY PROMISE TO DELIVER GOODS BY A CERTAIN TIME,
SOME ISSUES ARE UNFORESEEN AND UNAVOIDABLE.
HOW DO SHIPPING DELAYS IMPACT
RETAILERS?
 LOST REVENUE - SHIPPING DELAYS CAN NEGATIVELY IMPACT RETAIL REVENUE ON A HUGE SCALE.
 DAMAGE TO BRAND TRUST - WHEN SHOPPERS RELY ON RETAILERS TO DELIVER ITEMS ON TIME, THEY’RE
INEVITABLY GOING TO BE DISAPPOINTED WHEN THEIR ORDER DOESN’T SHOW UP WHEN EXPECTED.
THAT DISAPPOINTMENT CAN LEAD TO FUTURE CONCERNS ABOUT DELIVERY TIMES AND POTENTIALLY A
RELUCTANCE TO RE-ORDER.
 INVENTORY ISSUES - SHIPPING DELAYS CAN MAKE IT HARD FOR RETAILERS TO EFFECTIVELY FORECAST
DEMAND AND PLAN THEIR INVENTORY. AS A RESULT, RETAILERS MAY OVERSTOCK AND END UP PAYING
HIGH COSTS FOR INVENTORY STORAGE. ALTERNATIVELY, THEY MAY UNDER-FORECAST CUSTOMER
DEMAND, QUICKLY SELL OUT, AND BE UNABLE TO RESTOCK QUICKLY ENOUGH TO MEET ACTUAL
CUSTOMER DEMAND.
BEST PRACTICES TO COMMUNICATE
REGARDING SHIPMENT DELAYS
 BE APOLOGETIC, YOU CAN’T CONTROL THE WEATHER, BUT YOU CAN APOLOGIZE ON BEHALF OF IT.
 ALWAYS BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT THE CAUSE OF DELAYS.
 WHEN OFFERING SOLUTIONS TO CUSTOMERS, PRESENT THEM WITH OPTIONS TO ALLOW THEM TO HAVE
CONTROL OVER THE SITUATION.
 OVER-COMMUNICATE WITH CUSTOMERS DURING DELAYS SO THEY KNOW YOU HAVEN’T FORGOTTEN
ABOUT THEM OR THEIR PACKAGE.
BEST PRACTICES TO COMMUNICATE
REGARDING SHIPMENT DELAYS
 WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM TO REDUCE DELAYS.
 COMMUNICATE DELAYS AS SOON AS THEY HAPPEN TO ALLOW CUSTOMERS TO SET NEW EXPECTATIONS
ABOUT THEIR DELIVERY.
 PRESENT REALISTIC DELIVERY WINDOWS DURING CHECKOUT SO CUSTOMERS KNOW WHEN THERE IS
AN INCREASE CHANCE FOR DELAYS.
 DURING EXCEPTIONALLY BUSY TIMES, INCLUDE NOTIFICATIONS ABOUT DELAYS THROUGHOUT THE
CHECKOUT PROCESS.
 BEFORE THE HOLIDAY SEASON ARRIVES PROMPT CUSTOMERS TO BEGIN SHOPPING EARLY AS TO AVOID
DELAYS.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!

GROUP MEMBERS

• KAYLA PERSAUD
• KHRISTON AMSTERDAM
• SUMAYA SINGH
• KAMANI MURPHY