DPD introduces “early warning” system for customers of online fashion retailer ASOS

DPD have announced they are to launch a newly introduced “early warning” system, consisting of an e-mail and text notification service for its deliveries with online fashion retailer ASOS.

The new service will give customers notification of when their parcel is anticipated to arrive the night before of the expected delivery date. This comes as an expansion on the Follow My Parcel initiative that was introduced previously, which enabled customers to track their parcels in real time, before delivery occurring within a 15 minute time slot.

The new “early warnings” method will allow customers to be aware of when their shipment is likely to be delivered up to 12 hours beforehand.

The notification, which is to be sent to the customer the evening before, will provide them with five delivery options, some of these being delivery to a safe place, being able to collect the shipment from the nearest depot and giving the option of upgrading the service for delivery before a certain time, or even delivery on a Saturday morning. Further options for the customer will also include offering delivery to a neighbour or rearranging the delivery day for a more convenient date.

Having been founded in 2000, ASOS has become one of the UK’s biggest fashion retailers, being based solely online. With a reported 29.5million people visiting the website on a monthly basis, with a range of around 65,000 products to choose from, ASOS has seen growth in their sales by £769.4 million last year, this being an increase of 39%.

Matt Rogers, Director of Delivery Solutions at ASOS, has spoken of the impact the new system will have on the customer experience in shopping with them: “For us, making sure customers receive their goods promptly and safely is every bit as important as being able to find what they want on the site in the first place.” Rogers further says that the ability for customers to change their delivery preferences “is a fantastic advantage too.”

Further to this, DPD’s UK Chief Executive, Dwain McDonald, has expressed the importance of an effective delivery service to their business: “Online fashion retailing is a fast moving business and our aim is to provide a home delivery service that exceeds people’s expectations and helps turn shoppers into repeat purchasers and loyal customers.”