Fast shipping is no longer a luxury in e-commerce—it is a customer expectation. However, expedited delivery often comes with higher costs that can eat into your margins. The good news is there are strategies that help you offer faster shipping without dramatically increasing expenses. Here’s how small businesses can deliver speed and save money at the same time.
Use Regional Carriers for Local Deliveries
Regional carriers like OnTrac, LaserShip, and Spee-Dee Delivery specialize in fast, affordable shipping within specific geographic areas. These carriers often deliver faster and cheaper than national services like FedEx or UPS for local and regional destinations. Incorporating regional options into your shipping strategy can significantly speed up delivery while maintaining affordable shipping services.
Offer Shipping from Multiple Fulfillment Centers
Partnering with third-party logistics providers such as ShipBob or Red Stag Fulfillment allows you to store inventory across multiple warehouses. This means orders can be shipped from the location closest to the customer, reducing delivery time and shipping costs. This fulfillment solution for small businesses is especially effective for brands scaling nationwide.
Optimize Your Cutoff Times
Setting earlier daily order cutoff times encourages customers to place orders sooner in the day, improving the chances of same-day shipping without needing expensive express services. Many platforms like Shopify allow you to display order cutoff information directly at checkout, motivating faster purchase decisions.
Use Hybrid Shipping Services
Hybrid shipping services like UPS SurePost and FedEx SmartPost combine private carriers with final delivery by USPS. These services offer a balance between affordability and speed, often reaching customers faster than basic ground services at a lower cost. Learn more about these options through UPS SurePost and FedEx SmartPost.
Pre-Pack Bestselling Products
Pre-packing your most popular products in advance can save critical time in your fulfillment process. Using order management systems like Skubana or NetSuite helps forecast demand, so you can prepare shipments ahead of time and get orders out the door faster without additional labor costs.
Buy Discounted Shipping Gift Cards to Offset Costs
Even when faster shipping is necessary, you can offset some of the extra costs by using discounted gift cards. You can buy discounted USPS gift cards or shop discounted FedEx gift cards through cashback platforms like Fluz. Saving upfront on shipping services enables you to offer quicker delivery without dramatically raising prices for your customers.
Automate Shipping Rules in Your Platform
Most shipping software, such as ShipStation, Shippo, and EasyPost, allows you to automate carrier selection based on package weight, delivery zone, and urgency. Automating these decisions ensures the fastest, most cost-effective method is selected without manual intervention for each order.
Offering faster shipping without premium pricing requires smart logistics choices. By using regional carriers, storing inventory in multiple warehouses, automating shipping rules, and purchasing discounted shipping gift cards, small businesses can speed up delivery without sacrificing profitability. A strategic shipping setup helps you meet customer expectations, reduce cart abandonment, and scale your brand effectively.
