The days of peak retail season are fast approaching. And as they arrive, your peak season strategies are put to the test. Have you secured enough last mile capacity? Are your operations well-oiled for peak performance? Is there time to implement a last-minute option to address an unexpected challenge?
As peak unfolds, strategies are put to the test. There will be some tactics that overperform and some that underperform. It’s nearly impossible to plan for everything, and that’s why taking a holistic approach with a combination of solutions is necessary. By not relying on a single solution, you can fill delivery gaps. That’s exactly where UPS and Roadie come in.
The value of having the right tool for each job can’t be overstated. That’s why companies that use a global logistics leader like UPS with the capabilities of an innovative platform like Roadie get fast, flexible and highly reliable deliveries in almost any scenario. Here’s how retailers across categories are gaining a peak-season edge over the competition by using both delivery models.
Different models for different needs
By air, by ocean or by brown package car, UPS offers businesses an extensive, global logistics network for reliable and timely deliveries, even during peak-season demand surges. Customers turn to UPS for a high-quality delivery experience, on-time performance and extensive reach for items that fit neatly into boxes.
Roadie offers companies solutions for the hard-to-deliver local deliveries — think oddly shaped, oversized, heavy or any combination of the three. For these kinds of orders, RoadieXL™ is a fast and affordable same-day delivery solution for oversized goods. Complementary to UPS’s traditional solutions, Roadie enables businesses to gain flexibility, speed and efficiency when needed, even for those hard to deliver items.
Need for speed
Retail is no longer simply about price or product to your customers. The customer experience is every bit as important — whether you’re an ecommerce entity, a brick-and-mortar enterprise or an omnichannel merchant. When speed matters, it’s make or break. Same-day, on-demand delivery is essential in a peak-season delivery partner. Roadie is the industry leader in speed — enabling same-day in more places, for more items, more reliably — increasing the benefits of being a UPS customer with streamlined billing through your UPS account and allowing you to count same-day delivery spend toward UPS revenue tiers.
Cost-saving convenience for oversized items
Using crowdsourced delivery gives you the flexibility to move any item where it needs to be — up to 100 miles from your warehouse, manufacturing facility or brick-and-mortar location. Do you have big, bulky and oversized items that need to be delivered in a specific time window? You can request pickups on your own timeline and pay a flat rate rather than having to determine dimensional weight and packaging costs.
In fact, you don’t even need to package the item for shipment. When you use Roadie, you get matched with a driver who will arrive with the correct-size vehicle for your delivery and the hand trucks, straps or mats necessary to ensure it’s safe and secure. And if you want to further save on shipping and storage, you can tap into RoadieXD™. This premier cross-docking solution enables local same-day and next-day delivery at scale by accepting FTL or LTL trailers at a Roadie cross-dock facility, which are then sorted to outbound delivery vehicles within hours of reaching the cross-dock.
Flexibility and scalability without strain
During peak times, your delivery needs may double or triple. Combining Roadie with your UPS capacity gives you additional delivery options outside of standard cutoffs and above projected volume if needed. Rather than scrambling to hire extra staff or looking for local delivery options, you can use both networks together to master the final mile.
Complementary delivery solutions
What sets crowdsourced delivery apart is its ability to seamlessly integrate with your existing logistics operations. By leveraging both UPS and Roadie, you can enhance your delivery capabilities. Whether your customers are ordering bulky furniture, perishable goods or last-minute gifts, you can rest easy knowing there’s a flexible, fast and reliable delivery solution ready to meet their needs.
