Access Point Technology + Parcel Carrier Delivery Apps = Flawless Last Mile Delivery

Both UPS and FedEx have developed ecommerce solutions for retailers and native apps (IOS and Android) for consumers to augment standard shipping options and improve the consumer experience. Key features include the ability for consumers to:

• Ship directly to a retail Access Point when they won’t be home and don’t want to risk having the carrier release the shipment in an open and exposed area.

• Have connected delivery app technology to the Access Point delivery/consumer pickup experience, allowing the recipient to redirect shipments to an address of choice, which could very well be a UPS Access Point or FedEx On-Site location.

The goal is to offer flexibility to the consumer and improve first time delivery performance which in turn decreases loss and improves carrier efficiency via residential delivery stop aggregation at a single point. This is also important as it supports improved ecommerce-related sustainability and drives down the cost of residential delivery, which is the lowest margin delivery for UPS and FedEx. The single stop residential delivery is an ugly and costly experience for the parcel carriers.

This is how the two solutions work from the perspective and experience of separate technology components working collectively to support a flawless last mile delivery experience for the consumer:

HubBox Access Point Selection Technology: This gives ecommerce merchants shipping via UPS, and their customers, access to tens of thousands of global pickup locations via best-in-class user experiences. The technology is trusted by thousands of retailers – from some of the world’s largest ecommerce merchants to boutique online stores – to offer customers local pickup/delivery options via an easy-to-use map interface.

UPS/FedEx IOS/Android Delivery App Technology: Both the UPS My Choice and FedEx Ship Manager delivery aps empower the recipient/consumer to:

• View all details for inbound and outbound shipments.

• Receive delivery alerts and photos. 

• Change the delivery date or location.

• Tell the driver where to leave your package.

• View the estimated time for delivery.

• Follow shipments as they move toward their destinations.

The recipient of record can make these changes without possessing the tracking number and in most cases, at no additional cost.

Together, these two technology solutions permit the consumer to select customizable out-of-home delivery solutions that best meet their individual needs, even after the merchandise has shipped.  Examples of customizing the delivery experience include:

• View a listing/map of the available Access Point/On-Site retail stores closest to the consumers home that will accept and hold merchandise for pickup. As a bonus and often-times, this shipping option is cheaper for the merchants as residential delivery fees do not apply.

• View store operating hours, which almost always provide extended pickup windows as many stores are open late and even 24 hours.

• The ability to easily redirect a shipment to any address of choice, to include an alternate residential address or a different Access Point.

The best part is that you can do all this via your mobile phone and not have to personally engage the ecommerce merchant or parcel carrier customer service to make the necessary changes. 

The smartest people on the planet are leveraging technology to their advantage to save time and quickly manage the complexities vying to complicate our lives, including home delivery. However, consumers do need to take the initiative to select preferred ecommerce merchants that offer Access Point Out-of-Home Delivery solutions, and that work with parcel carriers that provide robust delivery apps.   As a consumer, take control and leverage technology to make it easier to shop online and reliably receive your ecommerce deliveries.

About HubBox HubBox technology enables the consumer to pick up their package at a time and place that best suits them, which prevents shoppers from abandoning their online shopping cart, or risking not being home for their delivery. Access Points driven by HubBox technology are a dependable and lower cost alternative to home delivery. UPS and FedEx operate nearly 45,000 Access Points across the US.

#FedEx #UPS #amazon #ecommerce #accesspoints