Selecting the best dispatch offer from a queue
Making decisions is a part of everyday life. Sometimes the decision is easy, and sometimes it is not. Add in a time limit and things get exponentially more difficult. Take that same scenario, and add some speed on the road, and now the decision is more stressful. Although it isn’t a lot of stress, it also doesn’t alleviate stress. Especially in regards to making a split second decision.
With this in mind, how does a courier know which offer to accept from a queue? It is possible to decline offers from the queue. Furthermore, not every delivery offer from a queue, is lucrative. In other words, some of the delivery requests do not offer adequate compensation. However, delivery offers are relative to the courier that accepts them. For example, the courier is confident that the compensation is adequate to cover expenses, at a minimum.
This means the delivery offer is something the courier can work with. As mentioned earlier, some delivery offers don’t include adequate compensation for the courier’s circumstances. Solo couriers have specific circumstances. Therefore, a dispatch offer from the queue, must have elements the courier requires. This doesn’t have to be money. Perhaps the courier prioritizes low mileage delivery, over faraway delivery. Then the courier would be more focused on mileage, in the offer from the queue.
Selecting the Best Dispatch Offer
One of the advantages of using a delivery app is the flexibility. It’s flexible in scheduling but that’s not all. A delivery queue offers available deliveries. However, the courier is under no obligation to accept an offer. Although there are consequences in the ratings, the courier can decline any delivery offer. Additionally no explanation needed. It is up to the courier whether or not the delivery offer will work.
A delivery offer that suits one courier, may be a disaster for another. Therefore it is important to have a fixed mindset on what the courier wants from the queue. In fact, a little experience is also needed. For the new courier just starting out with a delivery app, the queue is daunting and tricky. Furthermore each offer has a time limit. In mere seconds the courier must make a decision on the offer. With so little time to study, there needs to be a quick system to sift through the bad delivery offers.
One of the best techniques is sticking to a plan. For example, the courier wants to make as much money as possible, in the shortest amount of time. This would mean the courier watches the amount of money offered, each time an offer shows in the queue. Similarly the courier will want to monitor the mileage on the offers. Long and faraway deliveries take more time to run. Therefore an offer with higher payouts, and shorter mileage, is ideal.
The Queue
The queue is where the solo courier finds the next delivery. It is an interesting thing that sometimes has a crappy sense of humor. However, there is also relevant information. The kind of info the courier needs to make an informed decision. Learning to decipher this information quickly is how the courier builds up earnings. It comes down to the finer points. Additionally it helps if the courier is very familiar with the delivery area.
The finer points of the offer are the distance traveled, and the money offered. Those two points are the ones that stand out. They give the courier a basic idea of the delivery offer. The next thing a courier will likely want to know is where. Where is the pickup, and where is the drop-off? This detail isn’t about the mileage. It’s about courier preference. Similarly, the courier’s criteria for selection may be about the locations.
There are only seconds to gather the information, and make a decision. This is one reason why experience with accepting offers from the queue increases earnings for the new courier. Particularly at first. After a little experience, the learning curve is less of a problem. Having a clear idea of what is most important to the courier is a best practice. Especially when selecting an offer from the dispatch queue. Stay safe out there.
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