Home Delivery Solutions (HDS)
deliver over 2700 items per week to UK households from its base on Markham Lane
in Chesterfield. The company which provides
storage and distribution services to retailers including the likes of B&Q and
Screwfix, is helping firms in Derbyshire meet their Christmas delivery promises
with its out of hours home delivery service.
HDS has experienced a
significant year-on-year growth of its out of hours service. With Cyber Monday, the biggest online
shopping day in the retail calendar just around the corner on December 2nd, the
company is hoping to help more businesses in the area to meet the needs of
their customers with its early morning, evening and weekend deliveries.
Alan Kirkby, Manager at HDS
explains, “Consumers don’t want to take extra time off work to take delivery of
something if they can help it.”
“With our Out of Hours Home
Delivery service, retailers can give their customers the opportunity to take
delivery of anything from a bed to a three piece suite when it suits them, so it’s
a win-win situation for both the customer and the retailer,” said Alan.
Research
by the consumer campaigners Which? found that 60 per cent of online shoppers
had problems with the delivery of their item last year. With more and more people shopping online for
large household goods as well as small items, problems could get worse.
“We’re helping retailers to safeguard against
potential problems in the run up to Christmas with stock control as well as
deliveries,” Alan explains.
“Often retailers don’t have
the space to store goods before collection, so we’ll store their goods and
arrange delivery with the customer so it takes the pressure off the retailer.”
“Because we provide
proactive customer notifications and track and trace, the customer is kept
informed throughout the delivery process. And because we deliver at anytime,
they have the benefit of taking delivery when it’s convenient for them.”
“We also give electronic
proof of delivery and reports including customer satisfaction surveys so
retailers can monitor our quality of service.”
With
increasing reports in the media of failed deliveries and disgruntled home
shoppers having to take time off work, as well as wait in all day because of
wide delivery windows being given, HDS is hoping that an open and proactive
approach to communications, state-of-the-art systems and its out of hours
deliveries will make this a stress-free Christmas for both shoppers and
retailers alike.
