A quality control checklist for the delivery app courier.
It’s getting to be that time of year again. Warmer weather, longer days and very soon, one less hour to enjoy it all. Speaking of limited time, a delivery app courier knows all too well the effects of limited time. Between the rush to get to the pickup, and the hustle to reach the drop-off, it’s a race against time, every delivery. Furthermore, it can’t be considered a successful delivery, unless it is both complete, and accurate.
The accuracy of a delivery, has much to do with quality control. New couriers may think of delivery accuracy as finding the correct drop-off location. However, finding the delivery customer is what the courier does. In fact, that’s the easy part. With old school techniques, it’s relatively easy to find the drop-off location. With a GPS navigation map, and old school techniques, it’s even easier to find the delivery customer. In a timely manner. Therefore, delivery accuracy, has little to do with location awareness.
The delivery accuracy in a drop-off, is in the pickup. If that sounds confusing, it’s meant to be. Confusing things have a way of sticking in the memory. Therefore, the delivery accuracy of the drop-off, is in the effort at the pickup. This sounds, and reads, much easier than it is in real life. For example, in real life, the courier just arrived from the road. There was one minute to spare. Otherwise, it would have been a late arrival. No courier wants a late arrival at the pickup location.
A Quality Control Checklist
At the pickup location, there is chaos. The dinner rush is in full swing. Furthermore, the line of customers is long. Not only does the courier need to hurry, but also the courier needs every single item on the list. There is a list. Every delivery has one. Similarly there might be special notes. The special notes usually involve getting additional items from the merchant. The list…is the reason the courier is there to begin with.
The list is every item in the order. Furthermore, no matter the delivery app in use, every delivery has the list. Many merchants seal the delivery items in a bag. And couriers do not open delivery cargo bags under any circumstances. This means the list of items in the delivery order is not verifiable. Not verifiable by the courier. However, the items in a sealed bag don’t need courier verification. That is between the merchant and their customer. The courier’s job is to take the sealed bag from point A (merchant location) to point B (at home customer).
It’s a simple process. Why then, would a courier need the list, if it’s all in a sealed bag? The answer is simple. The extras. The things that don’t fit in a bag. Or maybe it’s things only the courier can do. For example, filling fountain drinks. Or drinks in general. Those are the most overlooked, and forgotten items, of them all. Similarly it might be extra sauces. Sauces that only the merchant’s kitchen can fill. However, requests like that usually appear in the special notes section of the delivery.
Delivery App Courier
In most POS systems there are options for the customer to add additional sauces and side items. Occasionally the at home customer will add a special note requesting more sauces or additional side items. This involves the courier asking for the additional items. In some cases the merchant is able to help. Other times it isn’t possible due to additional charges. This is when the customer should be contacted. It allows the customer a chance to choose a workaround solution, while the courier is still on location.
The important thing to remember is the drinks. Additionally, the deserts, if there are any. Those two items are the most overlooked and forgotten items on the list. Therefore they need the most effort with quality control. That’s one reason why checking the list, or the summary of items in the order, is so important. Once the courier has left the merchant, it’s exponentially more difficult to fulfill the basic order. Not to mention any special requests.
There is a moment. Right there, between the arrival at the pickup location, and the walk inside. It’s a free moment when the vehicle is switched off, and there are no distractions. Therefore it’s a great time to check the list. A quick scan is all that’s needed. A quick glance over the order to count the drinks. Look for and count, each individual one, just like the Count on Sesame street. Now the courier knows about the drinks. Forgetting them is not an option. Although inconvenient, they are still a part of the delivery.
Quality Control and Accuracy
The drinks are part of the delivery. Desserts are also part of the delivery and can be overlooked when not packaged with the meal. Especially desserts packaged in separate containers. Furthermore, in busy times, it’s easy for the merchant staff to forget the dessert. This is why it comes as a separate reminder in the app. Asking about it is important. Even if included in the shipping bag, it’s good to be able to confidently reassure the at home customer.
Quality control is as much about thoroughness as it is accuracy. However, with a healthy mix of both, it is easily achieved. It all comes down to reading the list. Find out what the cargo is, and check for extras. Additionally, the courier will get clues from the app. Most delivery apps will pop-up flash reminders for the courier upon arrival. Between the popups, and the quick scan of the items on the list, the counter should see consistently good accuracy ratings. No matter which delivery app is in use. Stay safe out there.
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