supply chain

Delivery operations can make or break a business, but organizations face a dilemma when it comes to choosing between handling deliveries internally or outsourcing them. Each approach has its pros and cons, impacting the company’s bottom line, customer experience and more. Let’s explore the key aspects of both models and factors to consider when deciding between them.

THIRD-PARTY DELIVERY SERVICES
Outsourced delivery involves partnering with specialized third-party logistics providers.
Pros:
– Expertise: Providers have dedicated teams and resources, offering you instant access to efficient delivery processes and industry best practices and technology.
– Scalability: They can handle fluctuating volumes and offer broad geographical coverage, enabling easy expansion of your business into new markets.
– Focus: Outsourcing frees your organization to concentrate on core competencies and strategic initiatives.
Cons:
– Control: Outsourcing reduces control over the delivery process, potentially affecting service levels and customer experiences.
– Customer Touchpoint: A direct interaction between your brand and its customers is eliminated, leaving fewer chances for positive impressions.
– Flexibility: Third-party services may lack customization options to accommodate specific delivery requirements and customer requests.

Take the online marketplace Etsy for example. Etsy partners with various third-party carriers to offer its sellers an easy way to get their products into customers’ hands. This gives sellers access to a trusted delivery network and massive customer base that spans across continents, all without the need for any personnel or bandwidth from Etsy itself. However, because Etsy doesn’t handle logistics directly, they can make no guarantees about the delivery process. They have little control over product handling, delivery timelines or the quality of interaction with customers during product delivery.

Etsy is also at the mercy of its partners when it comes to what kinds of shipping options are available to sellers. They circumvent this to some extent by partnering with multiple providers, enabling sellers and customers to choose the most suitable delivery solutions for their unique requirements.

IN-HOUSE DELIVERY LOGISTICS
In-house delivery involves managing deliveries within the organization’s infrastructure — drivers, vehicles, routing software, etc.
Pros:
– Control: You get complete visibility and control over the entire delivery process — especially useful when delivering sensitive or high-value goods.
– Flexibility: Adapt delivery operations in real time to optimize around variable factors, such as traffic flow, customer availability or order priority.
– Customer Interaction: Direct interaction with customers strengthens relationships and drives repeat business.
Cons:
– Initial Investment: Acquiring and maintaining a delivery fleet, hiring and training drivers and building infrastructure require significant upfront investment.
– Scaling Challenges: Scaling operations can be a complex and costly proposition, potentially compromising service quality.
– Resource Allocation: Managing logistics diverts company resources from core business activities and competencies.

Some luxury vehicle manufacturers, like Mercedes-Benz, for example, give customers the option to have newly purchased vehicles delivered to their doorsteps. Customers expect premium experiences from their brand, which is why Mercedes-Benz handles their vehicle deliveries in house. This empowers them with absolute control over the delivery process to ensure that everything is executed to their high standards — safe transportation, cleaning and disinfection of the vehicle before handover, polite and professional customer interactions, etc.

Such control comes with a cost. To make all of this possible, Mercedes-Benz had to buy a fleet of delivery vehicles, invest in last-mile delivery tech, and hire and train employees to plan logistics and execute the deliveries. It also limits their ability to quickly and easily scale. If they were to see a sudden surge in delivery requests, they’d struggle to keep up without operational expansion, which only adds to the mentioned costs. Alternatively, if demand drops, Mercedes-Benz would be left with redundant vehicles and staff draining their finances.

HIDDEN PITFALLS OF THIRD-PARTY DELIVERY SERVICES
Some pitfalls of outsourcing deliveries may not be immediately apparent at a cursory glance.
– Misaligned Incentives: Priorities between businesses and third-party providers may not align, impacting customer satisfaction and incurring additional costs. For instance, speed of delivery vs. handling of packages. Performance-based contracts and clear metrics can help address this issue.
– Data Security: Outsourcing raises concerns about data protection, since you’d be relying on the provider to handle data appropriately. Implement agreements and protocols to ensure the security of sensitive customer information.
– Unpredictable Outcomes: External factors like weather or strikes can disrupt deliveries. Create contingency plans and nurture relationships with multiple providers in order to maintain operational continuity and avoid the risk of reliance on a single provider.
– Infrastructure Requirements: Some third-party services may require investments in new technology that can integrate and interface with their solutions, incurring additional upfront and ongoing costs.

RECURRING COSTS OF IN-HOUSE DELIVERY
Though the bulk of your initial investment for in-house delivery may be one-time expenses, there are a number of recurring costs to be aware of.
– Labor: Managing a large fleet involves significant labor costs, including hiring, training, benefits, overtime, etc.
– Fuel: Implementing fuel management strategies is essential to mitigate the impact of fluctuating oil prices.
– Maintenance: Regular maintenance of vehicles, equipment and software ensures reliable operations and prevents significant breakdowns.
– Packaging Materials: Selecting appropriate packaging materials reduces the risk of damage during transit.
– Warehouse or Storage Space: You’ll incur recurring expenses for rental and maintenance of inventory or storage facilities.
– Insurance: Ongoing insurance premiums to protect against liabilities during transit.

KEY CONSIDERATIONS WHEN CHOOSING A DELIVERY MODE
With all of that covered, here are the key factors to keep in mind when deciding which delivery model is the right fit for your business:
– Cost Implications: Evaluate upfront investments and ongoing fees of in-house versus outsourcing, considering long-term savings and scalability.
– Control Over Operations: Decide on the level of operational control and visibility that aligns with your priorities and requirements.
– Scalability and Flexibility: Assess which delivery model best supports your business growth plans.
– Quality of Service: Choose a model that ensures delivery experiences that meet your service standards.

The right delivery model for you depends on your organization’s size, budget, growth plans, desired level of control and more factors discussed above. Weigh the pros and cons carefully and make an informed decision that aligns with your goals and circumstances.