In today's world, where promptness and efficiency are essential, pharmacies face the challenge of improve shipping management to meet the expectations of their customers. The global pandemic has accelerated the adoption of technological solutions in various sectors, including catering, however, the pharmaceutical sector still presents significant opportunities for innovation in the delivery experience.
Shipping management in pharmacies has traditionally relied on manual and inefficient methods. It is common for orders to be placed by telephone and for delivery to take place without tracking or traceability, resulting in an obsolete and error-prone process. This reality not only affects the customer experience, but it also impacts logistics costs and the operational efficiency of pharmacies.
Faced with this scenario, it is imperative that pharmacies modernize their logistics processes. Implementing innovative technologies and strategies can be the key to improve shipping management in pharmacies, encouraging customer recurrence and optimizing margins in an industry characterized by competitiveness and low profit margins.
In this article, we will detail three practical tips for pharmacies to improve their home channel, addressing key points for optimizing their delivery services.
1. Delivery Fleet Optimization and Collaboration with External Fleets
An effective strategy for pharmacies is to reduce their own fleet and complement it with external fleets, using a Orchestrator like Picker. By doing so, pharmacies can transform fixed costs into variables, better adapting to fluctuations in demand. This allows you to maintain high-performance delivery people and handle peaks in demand without compromising customer service.
Collaborating with external fleets through an orchestrator allows pharmacies to be more agile and cost-efficient. During hours of low demand, they can operate with a small fleet, and at times of high demand, they can scale quickly using external resources. Not only does this improve responsiveness to customer requests, but it also optimizes resource utilization and reduces operating costs.
2. Promotion of Direct Sales Channels such as WhatsApp
Instead of investing in developing their own applications and competing for space on users' mobile devices, pharmacies should focus on more accessible and used direct sales channels, such as WhatsApp. This approach makes it possible to take advantage of a channel already familiar to consumers, facilitating the shopping experience and improving the efficiency of the home delivery service.
By using automated tools, pharmacies can manage orders more efficiently and provide a simple and satisfying user experience. Automating direct sales channels not only improves the customer experience, but it also allows pharmacies to focus their efforts on providing quality service and customer loyalty.
3. Improving Internal Logistics and Reducing Multiple Pickups
A common practice in pharmacies in Latin America is to manage orders without considering the stock of each branch, which often results in the need for delivery people to pick up products from multiple locations. This practice not only complicates logistics and increases delivery costs, but it also prolongs the waiting time for the customer.
To address this problem, it is recommended that pharmacies use the customer's geolocation when receiving an order through digital channels such as WhatsApp. This way, they can determine which branch is closest to the delivery point and limit the availability of products based on that inventory. This simplifies delivery logistics, reduces waiting times and reduces costs associated with shipping.
The implementation of these strategies not only contributes to improve shipping management in pharmacies, but it also represents a step forward in modernization and adaptation to new market demands. With efficient, customer-focused shipping management, pharmacies can ensure a shopping and delivery experience that encourages customer loyalty and satisfaction.
In conclusion, improved shipping management is an investment that can translate into a differentiating service and sustainable growth for pharmacies. With the adoption of innovative technologies and the optimization of logistics processes, pharmacies are well positioned to face the challenges of the future and meet the expectations of an increasingly demanding consumer.
