The estimated time of arrival and a better on time rating.
It’s only an estimate. Although it’s ten miles away, and traffic is thicker than molasses. However, an automated function calculated the distance and now the race is on. The courier knows the roads. The courier may even know a shortcut or two. However the courier is not using a flying vehicle. Therefore, it might be a close one. Not the pickup, but the estimated time of arrival.
That’s the thought as the journey to the pickup location unfolds. This one is tricky because the main route is under construction. Regular delays happen on the main route. However, the workaround (shortcut) is an extra five minutes because it’s over a ridge. Furthermore, there is the traffic to consider on either route. The shortcut is a popular workaround, therefore the traffic is usually heavy. And due to the road construction, there are usually long lines of stalled traffic on the main route.
All of that went through the courier’s mind immediately after accepting the delivery offer from the queue. It’s why the decision was for the route with the shortcut. While it still might have delays, at least there is a greater probability that traffic will be moving. It’s important to keep moving toward the pickup while trying to avoid delays. The consistency is how to make the estimated time of arrival at the pickup location.
The Estimated Time Of Arrival
It’s only an estimate. However, it is eerily on point at times. Other times it’s unclear if computers ever really advanced at all. Traffic as thick as molasses during rush hour, and there’s a storm pouring heavy rain. However, the app has given the merchant an estimated time of arrival for the courier as five minutes from now. Now it’s four because you blinked. Trying to achieve the arrival time in that time frame causes a slight feeling of anxiety. Or worse, creates a lead foot courier.
With this in mind, there are ways to improve the odds when time is short. The delivery app sets the pickup time on criteria other than just traffic conditions. In fact, it’s unlikely current road conditions factor heavily in a delivery app. It’s more about courier proximity, and the merchant’s timetable for pickup. Furthermore, it’s possible another courier previously declined the delivery offer. This means the estimated time of arrival may get a slight tweak. Depending on the amount of times the offer returns to the queue.
Meanwhile, a courier eventually accepts the offer and the estimated time of arrival initiates. It begins. It’s not about racing the vehicle in a careless way. It isn’t about taking risks in traffic, or abolishing road etiquette. It’s about doing what the courier does best. Move with purpose. In other words, no wasted motion. An intelligent system for navigating a route is readily available in the courier’s experience, and familiarity, with a delivery zone.
A Better On Time Rating
Achieving the estimated time of arrival is possible without breaking the local speed limit laws. A courier doesn’t have to qualify for the Daytona 500 in order to get to a pickup location on time. It’s the Indianapolis 500. And while that is an exaggeration the idea of safety should not be. Excessive speed is good for getting to the next red light before anyone else. Go speeder. See you at the light. Furthermore, excessive speed, is a resource waster.
That business about speeding to the next red light is very common. It’s an easy mindset to get into. It feels like driving faster is progress. And it is, straight to the next red light. Or a stop sign. Or a legal road user that prefers to stay within the posted speed limit. And maybe it is a new driver with very little experience. Once the mindset of relentless speeding sets in, all these instances become obstacles. This actually slows the courier.
It can also create an anxious mindset. Then, rather than flow through the pickup process, the courier is fighting just to be within the estimated time of arrival. This struggle can come down to one or two minutes in some cases. For the courier focusing on maintaining better than average ratings it can be frustrating to get a ding in the ratings from being one or two minutes off the mark.
Estimated Time Of Arrival Update
One or two minutes. The time it takes to sit through a red light. Similarly it only takes a couple of minutes to walk inside the merchant location and confirm the arrival with the delivery app. One or two minutes that could have been saved if the courier pressed the confirm arrival button the moment the ride was in the parking lot of the merchant. In fact, some apps do this by proximity and automatically. The courier will notice the arrival confirmation on the dispatch screen.
For an app that does not mark the courier’s arrival automatically, the courier must mark it manually. The sooner this is done the better. It gives the courier the acceptable rating for the estimated time of arrival. For example, if there is a red light right before the entrance of the pickup location, it is acceptable to confirm the arrival right then. Once the red light turns green the courier will pull into the pickup location. Meanwhile the courier is not marked late for the pickup. One or two minutes can make a world of difference. Stay safe out there.
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