Many customers appreciate the fact that the goods seem to come to them automatically when they shop online. For particularly private or valuable orders, however, they want the best possible control. If there is even the slightest chance that the order will “end up” with a neighbor, this can lead to customers abandoning their purchase. How do you gain the trust of such customer groups? In this article, we show how you can offer discretion and security with special shipping options from DHL and JTL-Track&Trace shipment tracking.
“In 2020, turnover in B2C eCommerce in Germany amounted to 72.8 billion euros. Compared to the previous year, sales increased by around 23%”¹ – rapid growth. If you want to benefit from this increase in sales, you need to know and meet customer needs in order to minimize abandoned purchases. After all, 16 percent of shipping-related abandoned purchases occur because the preferred shipping options are not listed².
Age-approved products - these laws must be observed when shipping
Anyone who sells products that are subject to an age rating has usually already dealt with the issue of identity verification, as retailers must meet precise requirements during the parcel handover process. They are particularly relevant for these product groups:
- Alcohol and spirits
- Tobacco products, e-cigarettes and accessories
- CDs, DVDs and Blu-Ray discs with the specification FSK 16 or FSK 18
- Video games for PC and games consoles with the specification USK 16 or USK 18
To enable retailers to comply with the legal guidelines easily and efficiently, DHL offers the “Ident-Check” or “age verification”. With the Ident-Check, the ID is checked during delivery to ensure a safe and direct handover to the intended recipient. The age check, on the other hand, guarantees that the order is only handed over to a person of the appropriate minimum age.
Personalized shipping for discreet and secure delivery
But even beyond legal guidelines, certainty or uncertainty as to whether an order can be delivered discreetly is decisive for the purchase decision. Customers often want to receive orders for these product groups in person:
- Cosmetics, drugstore and hygiene articles
- Gifts
- Erotic articles
- Luxury goods
- Important documents
For these cases, DHL offers the “personal delivery” shipping option. In this case, the ID is only checked if the deliverer does not know the person accepting the parcel. This way, you can be sure that the order remains a private matter, even if it is not subject to any legal guidelines.
Precise shipment tracking conveys reliability
However, it is not just at the time of delivery, but also during the shipping process that customers should be reassured that their shipment will arrive smoothly. This starts with an accurate and reliable shipment tracking system. JTL-Track&Trace is integrated directly into the ERP system JTL-Wawi as an additional module and gives you an optimal overview of current shipments even at peak times.
Whether “on the way”, “delivered” or “problem” – a clear folder structure sorts the shipments according to their shipping status. With JTL-Track&Trace, retailers know where each parcel is at any time. Customers can also easily view the status of their order at any time.
If problems occur with a shipment, JTL-Track&Trace gives you valuable time to intervene before customers notice anything. In the event of delivery delays, JTL-Track&Trace automatically sends a notification by email. Follow-up requests can also be created automatically. Unpleasant customer conversations in which you have to explain why an order is delayed are thus reduced to a minimum.
Overall, solid shipment tracking such as JTL-Track&Trace is one of the most important building blocks for conveying trust and reliability during the ordering process – factors that are a clear competitive advantage in the rather “impersonal” online business.
New customer acquisition thanks to discreet delivery options
Personalized shipping also plays an important role in new customer business. As a result of the pandemic, more and more consumers are buying products online that they used to buy in retail stores, according to a study conducted by IFH Köln GmbH on behalf of the German Retail Association. This is particularly true for online shoppers of medicines and health products: 77% can imagine continuing to buy medical and health products online. With the personalized shipping service, you offer advantages that new customers otherwise know and appreciate from stationary retail. After all, the purchase of medicines or health-related products is often linked to very individual and private reasons that – directly formulated – are none of the neighbors’ business.
More information on personal shipping services
Conclusion: Personalized shipping options are not only an important pillar of youth protection, but can also be a clear competitive advantage for online retailers. If you want to fully exploit your sales potential, you should therefore take a closer look at the advantages of the following services:
¹ Statista 11/2021
² Statista 2016
