Anyone who manages an online store, prepares packages, and/or works with a shipping partner has undoubtedly heard the term ‘cut-off time,’ but what does it mean? The cut-off time is the latest time a consumer can place an order on your webshop to receive their order the next business day. It has been proven that a later cut-off time increases sales because consumers are becoming more demanding. They want to place their orders later but also receive them faster. For smaller webshops, the cut-off time is an area where things can go wrong.
Make Agreements with Shipping Partners!
If you run a webshop, you likely have one or more shipping partners, like bpost. How else would your packages get to the consumer? To professionalize your webshop, it’s essential to make clear agreements with your shipping partner. Among other things, agree on a fixed pick-up time. This allows you to provide your customers with a specific cut-off time. You see it on every webshop: “Order before x time, delivered tomorrow!” If you can’t keep such promises because your shipping partner comes at irregular times, this will lead to negative reviews.
Cut-Off Time and E-Fulfillment
As an online store owner, you want to serve your customers as quickly as possible. Timely delivery of packages is crucial. If you manage the logistics process yourself, there’s a chance your customer may have to wait a few days for their order because you’re not specialized in the logistics side of e-commerce. In today’s world, this seems unprofessional, and attracting and retaining customers is not easy. A delayed pick-up is something to avoid.
For smaller webshops, it is particularly difficult to offer a late cut-off time, as you may rely on the post office or haven’t yet shipped enough packages to have the shipping partner come at 10:30 PM.
A partnership with an e-fulfillment provider can solve these issues. An e-fulfillment partner specializes in picking, packing, and shipping packages. Every fulfillment company values respecting the cut-off time. If you want to guarantee delivery within 24 hours, it’s best to reach out to an e-fulfillment provider. This way, you bring in an extra level of expertise.
Cut-Off Time at Webship
Of course, Webship works with a cut-off time, which is currently set at 8:30 PM. Depending on the chosen courier, this cut-off time may vary, but our maximum cut-off time is currently 8:30 PM for next-day delivery in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Need Help?
Can’t guarantee the cut-off times and worried you might lose sales because of it? Don’t hesitate to contact Webship. We handle inventory management, picking, packing, and shipping. Webship ensures that you don’t have to worry about the logistics process and the delivery of your packages.
Tip: Use our price calculator to get an initial idea of your all-in fulfillment price.
