What is Delivery Time Window?

A delivery time window is a time slot chosen by the customer or offered by the seller when an order is placed. This is generally done after an order is placed on a brand’s mobile application or online web store, before the final check out, where the customer can enter his/her preferred delivery time or choose from the available time slots.

The customer’s demand for faster and same-day deliveries is increasing by the day, and so is the demand for convenient customer-preferred delivery timelines. Because of this, time-slot-based deliveries are becoming popular in consumer goods or grocery deliveries, home services, and delivery of specific goods such as furniture, home appliances, or equipment that needs supervision or assembly at the time of delivery.

Benefits of offering customer-preferred delivery time windows

• Logistics managers can plan daily and even hourly dispatches in a more efficient manner
• It helps in reducing the number of missed or failed deliveries and achieve a higher First Attempt Delivery Rate (FADR)
• Time-slot based delivery helps managers gain more control over logistics activities, and communicate better with customers
• It improves customer satisfaction as they feel valued by the brand when they can pick their own delivery timelines
• Pre-defined delivery windows also allow delivery partners to manage their day-to-day tasks effectively

How Locus helps businesses implement customer-preferred delivery windows

Time slot management system

A Time-slot management system allows customers to select their preferred time slots for delivery or services based on their availability or convenience. This enables businesses to plan and streamline deliveries or field service tasks.

Automated dispatch planning

Locus’ all-mile delivery software generates automated and optimal dispatch plans according to customer-preferred time windows. These accurately-timed dispatch plans help businesses assign loads by reducing manual intervention and truck wait times.

Delivery route optimization

By factoring into account 180+ real-world delivery constraints, Locus’ route optimization software helps your businesses to plan and create the most effective routes. Also, it lets you dynamically readjust, cancel or add jobs to the planned tasks.

Smart rider allocation

Locus’ dispatch management platform helps you pick and assign hourly or daily tasks to the most suitable delivery agents or executives based on their skills, preferences, serviceability and availability.

Real-time delivery tracking

Using its real-time fleet tracking capabilities, Locus’ fleet tracking software enables businesses to check the current performance status of the on-ground workforce and the jobs in their pipeline. It provides visibility to ongoing deliveries through real-time alerts, notifications, and reports.