The world changes quickly, and one such change has been in the way people buy products. Increasingly, shoppers are moving online to make their purchases, and the marketplace is becoming more global than ever. DHL saw this – they saw an increase in cross-border eCommerce shipping and decided to create a service uniquely tailored to the demands of international shipping for eCommerce parcels.
The service is called ODD, short for On Demand Delivery Service, and we here at netParcel wanted to let you in on some of its benefits, as well as how it works. Since netParcel is partnered with DHL, you can take advantage of the ODD service for no additional charges, and without ever having to sign up for a program.
What Is The On Demand Delivery Service?
Essentially, the ODD service is a way of empowering your customers, by allowing them to specify how, where and when they receive their package through DHL. Complete with package notifications accessible through mobile and desktop, it is a more flexible, customer-service-minded way of shipping for eCommerce.
As a vendor, it’s as simple as activating the ODD service through the DHL website, choosing which delivery options should be available to your customers, and then leaving it up to the recipient how they would like to receive their package. So if you are an American vendor, for instance, selling in Canada, you would use netParcel for the cheapest shipping options to Canada through DHL and then activate their ODD service. Your customers then get to choose from a whole host of specific benefits, including the following:
-The ability to schedule their delivery
-A “Signature release” option
-A “Leave with neighbour” option
-The choice to collect their package from a service point instead
-An “Alternate address” option
-And the ability to put a hold on their delivery, should they be on vacation
What Benefits Does It Have For Vendors?
It is easy to see the customer benefit of the ODD service through netParcel: your customers get to save on shipping to the USA (or wherever they are based) as well as have control over their shipment, making for a more flexible experience. And in a way those customer benefits are also vendor benefits, since offering an easy, efficient shopping experience is a key factor in customer retention. Here are a few more of the benefits, as noted by DHL:
-The service increases “first time deliveries” – that is, deliveries that make it into the hands of their recipients the first time the doorbell is rung (figuratively speaking).
-ODD standardizes worldwide delivery service levels, meaning that all your customers’ packages receive the same amount of care and attention, regardless of their country and region.
-ODD offers a standard redelivery process, so you won’t worry about missed or failed deliveries.
If you haven’t already taken advantage of DHL’s On Demand Delivery Service, we encourage you to check it out. As you’ve read, there are loads of great benefits for your customers and for you as a vendor. And when you use the program through netParcel, the whole experience is even more inexpensive and streamlined. Just one of the ways that netParcel, and the carriers we work with, are making international shipping easier, more streamlined and less expensive!
