With so many people doing much of their shopping online these days, providing a good experience is paramount. The delivery experience is more important than ever, as it can be one of the main factors people take into account when deciding whether to shop on the same website in the future. They're not getting an in-store experience, so how the delivery process is carried out will affect their opinion of the brand instead. If you want to ensure your online store provides a great delivery experience for your customers, there are a few important things you will need to consider.

Giving your customers a good choice of delivery options is one of the best ways to offer a delivery experience that they appreciate. Not only does it mean they can get their order in a way that suits them, but it can also give them a selection of prices so they can pick something that fits their budget. Offering different delivery options can include having various speeds available, or it could be giving your customers the choice between different delivery companies. They might have a preferred delivery service and appreciate the option of being able to choose it.

When preparing an order for delivery, it's an opportunity to think about the overall delivery experience. Of course, you need to package items so that they reach their destination in one piece. However, there are other factors to consider, such as the materials you use and the size of the packing. People are increasingly environmentally conscious and won't want to receive their orders in an excessive amount of packaging, or in materials they can't recycle. You also have an opportunity for some branding when you package your orders, including on the outside of your package and what you use internally.

Customers want to be able to track their orders so that they know they're in progress and when they should be ready to receive them. If you're using third-party delivery companies, many of them will provide a range of tracking options using technology such as data matrix codes to scan deliveries at different stages. Allowing customers to track their orders in real-time is a good way to provide transparency and show them how quickly their deliveries are moving. They can benefit from seeing that their orders are on the move, or know when to enquire if they're stalled.

When returns and refunds are required, this can form part of the delivery experience too. Most people don't want to have to pay for their own returns, so including a return label can be one of the best ways to provide a better experience. Offering a generous return window can also help if you want to improve customer satisfaction. Be as clear and transparent as possible when it comes to your terms, as well as instructions for how to make a return if necessary.

When online stores provide good delivery experiences, customers are much more likely to come back for more.