Online shopping may have some advantages over heading to the store, but the ability to try on multiple sizes of a shirt or shoe is still something better done at a brick-and-mortar retailer.
But DeliverIT wants to change things up. The company is piloting a program to let you try things on at home with the same ease as you do in the store.
Shoppers at select e-commerce retailers can check the multiple size option on a clothing purchase, and DeliverIT will ship one size up and one size down along with the selected size. When the package is delivered, shoppers can quickly try things on while the delivery driver waits, or have the driver return in 30 minutes to pick up the merchandise that doesn’t fit.
The service is enabled by DeliverIT’s e-commerce plugin, which allows retailers to easily add precise delivery estimates to shopping sites. The delivery company works with local businesses to track inventory levels and has developed a system for closely tracking drivers so customers can know precisely when a product will get delivered.
“If you have the data, why not bundle it in?” said founder Cameron Tan (pictured right). “There’s no reason not to give a more accurate time estimate.”
By knowing which products are in stores or warehouses, keeping a close eye on traffic and using smart routing software, DeliverIT can show product delivery estimates before customers even add products to their carts. And customers can track where their package is on a map, so they know if they have time to walk the dog before their new shoes arrive.
“While you're browsing the product, looking to buy a shirt, you'll see right there: 'Get it at 2:25.' Exact, down to the minute,” Tan said. “I wanted to eliminate that hesitation of when their delivery is going to get there.”
Another key to the company’s tracking success is hiring full-time drivers, as opposed to Uber-style contract drivers. For Tan, the predictability of the full-time workers means that he ultimately has more control over the product.
However, Tan has self-funded the project so far, and the current iteration isn’t quite ready for a nationwide rollout just yet. He hasn’t put any marketing money behind the project and is even working as a delivery driver to help figure out the kinks in the product.
He’s also working on building relationships with Chicago area retailers to add delivery estimates to their e-commerce sites. One example is Re.Stock Shop, which is currently offering both the multiple size option and real-time delivery tracking.
Tan is pretty sure that his model will be the norm going forward. As the growth of online retail steadies out, businesses will be expected to provide more information to the customer.
“It's one of the things no one is doing and no one has done yet, but I'm pretty sure it will be the norm pretty soon,” Tan said. “I'm really positive that this is going to take off.”
