Home Delivery Solutions (HDS) makes over 2700 home deliveries per week 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."
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 shoppers and retailers alike.
