Handle deliveries yourself or continue outsourcing? 4 considerations

Handle deliveries yourself or continue outsourcing? 4 considerations

Late deliveries. Grumpy delivery drivers. Damaged boxes. Dilapidated delivery vans. Sound familiar? Then you're probably fed up with external delivery services. But is it smart to handle deliveries yourself? We help you decide.

3 advantages of in-house delivery

Everything that goes wrong during the delivery of your products negatively impacts your image, customer loyalty, and thus, your revenue. So it's no surprise you're considering handling deliveries yourself. Let's list the advantages of in-house delivery:

1. More control: If you handle deliveries yourself, you maintain control over the entire process and your customer's receiving experience. You determine which time slots your customers can choose from and at what price. If you use a logistics tool, you'll also drive the most efficient routes and times. And you'll no longer be dependent on the (sometimes limited) capacity of delivery companies that hinder your growth ambitions.
2. Better quality: Thanks to that control and positive customer experience, you deliver better quality, right up to the last mile. Moreover, you'll have more insight into your performance and quickly know where you can make minor adjustments to ensure everything runs even more smoothly. Your customers will appreciate that too.
3. Better image: If you train your own delivery drivers in friendliness at the door, drive recognizable (electric) vans, and your deliveries run flawlessly, that's excellent for your brand recognition. You give customers exactly what they expect from you. That positive experience makes people remember your company and happily order from you again.

Isn't in-house delivery extremely expensive?

In-house delivery is often slightly more expensive than outsourcing because you need to invest in electric delivery vehicles, space, route planning software, and additional staff. But in return, you get better quality. By providing top-notch service, your customer satisfaction, image, and revenue will receive a boost. Whether in-house delivery is attractive for you depends on your product type, business, and volume. Are you a price fighter delivering phone cases or flowers? Then in-house delivery isn't a good idea, as these can be easily and cheaply sent via an external party. The delivery time is also less critical in such cases. But if you deliver meal kits, for example, customers want to know exactly when their dinner will be delivered. You can only offer that transparency when you control the delivery process yourself. Even when delivering unusual products like gutters, furniture, or bicycles, in-house delivery is sometimes smarter than using an external party. It's not always cheaper to handle it yourself, but you naturally want to give these valuable products and your customers some special attention.

4 things to consider first

Deciding whether or not to handle deliveries yourself? A few things to consider:

1. The reason: Consider why you want to stop outsourcing. Is it just about the costs? Do you often receive complaints, jeopardizing your quality and image? Do you want to deliver more sustainably? Or are you only considering it because your competitor also handles their own deliveries? Food for thought.
2. Outsourcing costs: Calculate how much you currently spend on your deliveries. Also consider: every complaint about poor delivery means extra work for your customer service and other colleagues. Those are also costs. Therefore, include your current personnel costs in your calculation.
3. Volume: In-house delivery isn't always cost-effective. Therefore, consider how many packages you currently send or plan to deliver. Also, don't forget that if you handle deliveries yourself, you'll need a larger logistics department and more staff. That costs time and money. Determine if that investment is worthwhile.
4. National or regional: Decide whether you deliver nationwide or only in your region, outsourcing the rest. Nationwide delivery with low volumes naturally entails higher costs, but you can view this as an investment in your service. Another idea: you can also start small and expand to a larger delivery area as your customer base grows in other regions.

Enlist help

Handling deliveries yourself involves quite a bit of effort, so it needs to be a well-considered decision. Do your research so you can justify the decision to your management colleagues. Once you've made the decision to handle deliveries yourself, even more research awaits you. Does that prospect overwhelm you? Our advice: keep it simple. Don't invent a delivery solution for every exception. And ask experts for help if you get stuck. Ultimately, that will give you, the planner, the delivery driver, and the customer more peace of mind.

Free demo and calculation

Are you considering handling deliveries yourself, but unsure if it's profitable or smart? With our free simulation and calculation, you'll gain insight into the costs and possibilities for your business. If in-house delivery turns out not to be for you, we'll tell you that too. Arrange your demo here and ask for the free simulation.