America’s second-largest pharmacy store chain has recently announced same-day delivery within 2 hours across the country. This announcement that came on the 4th of May is expected to greatly boost the e-commerce offerings of Walgreens. Moreover, it will allow the company to entice online shoppers to avail their prompt, and convenient services. In today’s post, we are going to talk about Walgreen’s same-day delivery services. Additionally, you will also get to know about the importance of fast deliveries for the transportation and logistics industry.

A bit about Walgreens

Walgreens is an American health and wellness store that was founded back in 1901 in Chicago. Over the years they have purchased a number of chains and stores to become the second-largest pharmacy chain of the USA. Presently, they are one of the most prominent names in the retail and wholesale pharmacy sector. Additionally, they have also established themselves as a health and beauty retailer. They have over 9000 retail stores across every state of the USA, US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. They offer omnichannel platforms supported by the latest technology for a truly unique customer experience.

Same-day delivery by Walgreens

Walgreens customers all over the US can now order over 24k items from the Walgreens store that are eligible for 2-hours delivery. In other words, whatever they are ordering will be delivered right to their doorstep within a matter of 2 hours. Customers can now conveniently shop all their pharmaceutical items and expect a contactless delivery which is of utmost importance ever since the pandemic. No minimum order is required to avail of the advantage of same-day delivery. All customers shopping from the Walgreens website or app need to choose the same-day delivery option before checking out. However, the fees for the 2-hours delivery might vary from state to state.

Walgreeens teamed up with 3 delivery platforms

Last year, they collaborated with DoorDash to facilitate the delivery of over-the-counter medications. According to the DoorDash CEO, the COVID-19 has made it crucial to empower the local communities by offering home delivery of pharma products. This was followed by a partnership with Uber-owned quick-commerce delivery service PostMates. In February they partnered with InstaCart to further expand their delivery capacity. Besides, in November 2020 they started offering a click-and-collect service allowing clients to select in-store or drive-through pick-up of desired otc medications.

The importance of same-day delivery of pharmaceuticals

In light of the pandemic, the home delivery of medicines and other essential items will allow customers to access the supplies they need the most without leaving the safety of their house. While 2-hour delivery of products adds to the convenience of the customers, it has become absolutely imperative since the start of the pandemic and the lockdown. Home delivery has become the order of the day and it is all the more important for the pharmaceutical industry. It has greatly benefited the patients, elderly people, and people with mobility issues and in all probability, this trend is here to stay. Therefore, the logistics and transportation industry has placed the focus on optimizing last mile logistics. Putting it simply, the primary objective of any business should be the convenience of the clients. Satisfied customers will lead to more order, more word-of-mouth marketing that ultimately translates to more profit.

The role of the transportation and logistics industry for speedy product delivery

The boom in e-commerce over the past few years and especially after the pandemic has prompted several retailers to partner with the top logistics companies to ensure the timely delivery of products for their customers. Shipping speed is determining the buying decision of a large number of consumers. Therefore, it can be safely concluded that speed has become the primary concern for the best international freight shipping companies. For this reason, many independent freight forwarders are venturing into the sector of parcel logistics. Choosing the wrong logistics company can spell disaster for retailers and e-commerce entrepreneurs. We are now seeing an increased dependence on small and mid-sized logistics companies (rather than the big players) for ensuring quick and smooth deliveries.

 A supply chain cannot provide great value unless it collaborates with a well-organized transport and logistics company. This is why the freight forwarding industry plays a major role to boost the quality of any supply chain. Nevertheless, speed alone is not the most decisive factor. Agility, credibility, and responsiveness are some other capabilities that any freight forwarder should have to compete in this competitive industry. For achieving this independent freight forwarders should embrace digitization and position themselves for the leading digital transformation. Customers are now spontaneously shopping from their smartphones. They are also somewhat impatient about receiving the shipment. With professionally organized logistics, businesses are able to answer short-time requirements. Regardless of the industry, retailers and e-commerce entrepreneurs can count on freight forwarders for cost-cutting and timely product delivery.

Tips for independent freight forwarders to improve their shipping process

• Reduce shipping options

Freight forwarding companies should reduce their shipping options to ensure quick deliveries. Even though it might appear that having several options allow to serve a wide range of customers, lowering the options is useful when it comes to quick e-commerce deliveries. Fewer options imply that the freight forwarder has easy shipping solutions that are predetermined. It allows for easy order preparation making the shipment process simple and hassle-free.

• Enhance visibility

Most independent freight forwarders prefer the LTL shipping mode. Even though LTL can be fast and convenient and fast, it can sometimes lead to delays. Additionally, LTL trucks are filled with several parcels from different companies. This inevitably leads to increased handling, longer routes, and eventually a delay.  This is why while shipping LTL freight, companies should use a track and trace system that allows them to watch over the movement of their cargo. Moreover, they should schedule their shipments properly to avoid the slightest disruptions.

• Consider partnering with 3PLs

Independent freight forwarders try to run every aspect of the process on their own. Nevertheless, controlling every aspect of the shipment process isn’t necessarily productive. For this reason, freight companies should outsource a part of their operations to technologically sound 3PLs. These third-party providers come with greater carrier capacity that can facilitate your delivery process. Moreover, they also allow for more visibility into your delivery process. The experience and know-how of a 3PL will enhance your delivery speed without increasing costs.

• Keep your clients informed

In case there is still a delay in shipment it is always better to inform the customers and all other stakeholders about the delay. This will help to prevent a negative impact on your credibility. Moreover making use of a TMS with a track and trace feature will do the job of informing your customers about the late delivery. When the e-commerce company receives your notification they will immediately inform their customers about the delay and provide them with a different date of arrival.

Sound technology, an efficient workforce, and good planning are some of the factors responsible for fast shipping. Logistics companies venturing into e-commerce services should analyze their weak points and work on them for the best results.