What Is Expedited Shipping and Why Do Retailers Need It?

Blame Amazon.

But in a world of next-day and same-day deliveries, retailers need to ship products fast if they want to compete. That’s where expedited shipping comes in.

This express delivery option lets every retailer compete with the biggest online brands. It can be expensive, but the benefits can be huge.

Intrigued? Then here’s everything you need to know to deliver the best expedited shipping service possible.

What is expedited shipping?

Expedited shipping (or express) is the fastest delivery option a retailer offers, typically guaranteeing delivery within one or two days. This can be longer for international shipments — something we’ll discuss shortly — but it will still be faster than standard or free delivery options.

Expedited shipping is usually the most expensive delivery option retailers offer. Even eCommerce behemoths like Amazon charge an additional fee for next-day deliveries unless you’re a Prime customer.

While retailers will be the focus of this article, expedited shipping isn’t limited to consumer goods. B2B businesses use expedited shipping to meet urgent supply chain needs — when things like raw materials, critical equipment or important documents need to be delivered without a delay.

How Is Expedited Shipping Different from Other Shipping Methods?

Expedited shipping differs from standard, economy, and even express shipping in several important ways:

It’s faster

It doesn’t matter how many delivery options you offer at checkout, expedited shipping will almost always be the fastest. How fast it is depends on you and your logistic partners. Express shipping usually takes no more than two-days, but some retailers can deliver goods the same day.

It’s more expensive

The faster you want something delivered, the more your carrier is going to charge you. It’s simple economics. In turn, this means it’s usually the most expensive shipping option on a retailer’s site, too. While some brands may absorb the higher costs associated with expedited shipping, most will pass them directly onto the customer.

It can come with a guarantee

Expedited shipping typically comes with more guarantees than standard options. Some retailers may offer dedicated delivery times, for example or offer customers a refund if the product doesn’t reach them in time.

5 reasons retailers should offer expedited shipping

There’s no law requiring retailers to offer an express delivery service to customers, but there’s plenty of reasons you should. Here’s how you can use expedited shipping to get happier customers who make more purchases and come back to your store again and again.

Make your customers happy

Expedited shipping can send customer satisfaction levels soaring. Why? Because today’s customers place enormous value on speed and reliability. Research by Wunderman Thompson finds that more customers would rather shipping be faster rather than cheaper. Consumers are only prepared to wait 2.15 days for their goods in 2023. Expedited shipping doesn’t just meet these expectations; it usually exceeds them.

Minimise cart abandonment

Expedited shipping could encourage customers to complete their purchases. That’s because McKinsey research finds 46% of consumers abandon carts because of shipping times that were too long or not specified.

It can also help you win customers from competitors that don’t offer fast delivery times. There’s nothing like blazing-fast delivery to set your business apart in a saturated market where the brand that delivers first wins.

Win the race for last-minute shoppers

Speaking of winning, expedited delivery can help your store attract last-minute shoppers. This is particularly important if purchases soar during peak seasons like Black Friday and Christmas. Retailers who offer expedited delivery are way more likely to capture the businesses of customers who have left everything to the last minute.

Keep customers coming back

A fast and reliable shipping option is an amazing way to build trust with customers and inspire the kind of loyalty that sees them return again and again. A 2023 study by Capgemini finds that almost three-quarters of shoppers happy with their delivery service will increase purchase levels by more than 10%.

Best practices for offering an expedited shipping service

So what does a good expedited shipping process look like? Here’s our tips for delivering a killer service.

User multiple carriers

If you want to offer the fastest and most competitive delivery service possible, it pays to take a carrier-agnostic approach. This gives you the freedom to pick and choose carriers in different territories depending on their speed, price and additional factors that may be important. Not all carriers offer the same level of service, either. So this approach also lets you test the capabilities of different shippers before working with a select few that have a strong track record.

Be clear about the cost

It’s vital you clearly communicate the cost of expedited shipping as soon as possible. Most consumers will be happy to pay for faster shipping, but they won’t like it if you leave it until the very last page of the checkout process to give them a figure. Providing clear, transparent pricing at checkout helps build trust and reduces cart abandonment.

Make it easy for customers to track their products

Customers want to know where their parcels are at all times, so make sure you use an eCommerce delivery service with exceptional tracking functionally. At Pro Carrier, for example, we give customers a minimum of six updates in their local language throughout the delivery process. They also have access to a tracking portal should they wish to find their parcel’s location themselves.

Set a minimum order level

There’s no getting around it, expedited shipping can be expensive. Offset this higher cost by requiring customers to hit a minimum order level in order to qualify for free or discounted shipping. This strategy won’t just save you money, it’s a great way to encourage consumers to add more products to their cart.

What About Cross-Border Expedited Shipping?

Cross-border expedited shipping is inherently more complex than domestic versions, but it can be even more valuable by allowing your brand to compete with local retailers. If you ship internationally regularly, you’ll need to account for additional factors like the following:

1. Customs and documentation: Customs is one of the biggest hurdles in cross-border shipping, where a delay can mean expedited shipping takes even longer than standard shipping. You’ll need to work with an expert to ensure a smooth cross-border experience — one where every customs form is filled out accurately and completely
2. Carrier selection: You’ll have to make the decision to choose a global carrier like DHL that offers several express options, a local final-mile carrier who may be able to deliver faster once the package arrives in the final destination, or a combination of the two.
3. Tracking and transparency: Offering real-time tracking for cross-border shipments is even more important than for domestic orders. Keep customers informed in their local language to reduce inquiries and complaints.
4. Mitigating costs: International expedited shipping is typically more expensive than domestic options, but businesses can mitigate costs by consolidating shipments, negotiating rates with carriers, and focusing on lightweight products for expedited services.

Make cross-border expedited shipping a reality with Pro Carrier

At Pro Carrier, we know how important a fast, reliable delivery service is in today’s global market. Expedited delivery is no longer a luxury for retailers, it’s a necessity whether you sell in a single domestic market or have a presence in a dozen countries or more.

That’s why we’ve created a dedicated expedited service, Pro Carrier Express, that promises next-door delivery across every major global market. Even our standard shipping times are faster because of the streamlined processes we have in place like managed line haul and integrations with your eCommerce platform.

With our expertise in international logistics and our strong partnerships with trusted carriers, we can help your business provide fast, reliable, and cost-effective shipping to customers around the world.

Find out more by speaking to one of our experts today.