Threshold Delivery: The Complete Guide for 2024 [Expert Tips]

We live in a time when delivery businesses must do everything in their power to provide superior customer service to stand out. Why? Because 90% of Americans use customer service as a factor to decide whether to do business with a company.

Offering threshold delivery is a stepping stone toward providing better customer service. If you are in the delivery industry, then you may be familiar with the threshold delivery method. It is a type of delivery that gives customers more peace of mind regarding the safety of their packages. 

In this article, we will go in-depth as to what packages fall under threshold delivery, the features of threshold delivery, the difference between types of service deliveries, and software that can make threshold shipping more effortless. 

So, let’s get started with the complete threshold delivery guide.

Understanding Threshold Delivery

Definition and Core Concepts

Threshold delivery is a way of safely delivering essential goods or packages. In this type of delivery, delivery drivers place packages in the first dry area on the customer’s property.

If you are delivering an essential package to a customer, threshold delivery ensures that customer orders are not left unprotected in case of damages from the weather, etc. Instead, packages will be placed in a designated dry place like the customer’s garage or standard porch drop area. It makes threshold delivery a more secure delivery option, keeping packages safe from weather and porch pirates

Essential Components of Threshold Delivery

Threshold delivery offers customizable shipping services for excellent customer experiences. Here are a few factors to remember when offering basic threshold delivery services.

1. Delivery zones and coverage

Where you deliver the packages is crucial in threshold delivery. If you deliver to a customer in an apartment building, the right place to leave it is in the lobby.

When delivering to a customer’s house, delivery drivers must leave the package at the front door, covered porch, garage, or the first available dry area, whichever is applicable.

The main thing to remember in threshold delivery is that delivery personnel are not required to deliver packages inside the house or any type of property.

2. Service levels explained

There are two types of delivery within threshold delivery services—basic threshold delivery option and threshold delivery option.

The main difference between the two is the customer’s presence in accepting the delivered package. In basic threshold delivery, goods are placed in a secure area—the first dry area that the delivery driver first encounters, marking the completion of delivery.

In the second type of threshold delivery, the customer requests to receive packages at a certain delivery window, and delivery is marked completed after obtaining signatures from customers. In this way, an appointment is created to deliver packages safely.

3. Time efficiency

The timeline for threshold delivery is usually 7-14 days. Packages ordered this way are generally shipped within the next 3-4 business days. 

4. Pricing structure

The delivery cost of the threshold is higher than standard delivery. The shipping cost differs depending on the carrier, but it is incurred on top of the LTL or less-than-truckload. 

Since threshold delivery does not involve an additional service like assembly or delivery inside the home, the additional cost is relatively less than white glove delivery.

Basic vs Premium Services

Two types of threshold delivery services are: 

Basic and Premium. While the basic threshold involves delivering a package to the first dry and safe area. On the other hand, premium threshold delivery involves customers requesting for their orders to be delivered when they are available to receive them directly.

Threshold delivery is perfect for items that aren’t too heavy or fragile and don’t require much assembly or installation.

Comparative Analysis

Now, many customers may be looking for more hands-on delivery. When packages include larger items that need to be assembled by a professional, threshold delivery alone cannot offer excellent customer support.

Other delivery types, like white glove, are more customer-centric and especially preferable when there are large packages. Let’s look at the differences between threshold delivery and standard or home delivery and white glove services. This will also clarify when you must select threshold delivery.

Threshold vs standard delivery

Standard delivery is the most common delivery method we see in our daily lives. Here, the priority of the delivery driver is to deliver the package anywhere within the premises of the recipient’s property and move on to fulfill other last-mile deliveries.

Although primarily a safe model, packages can sometimes be stolen or affected by elements like heavy rains. Package security is more important in threshold delivery, with some cost differences. As mentioned above, threshold delivery often also involves getting the customer’s signature for sensitive deliveries.

Threshold delivery boosts customer satisfaction and offers a better delivery experience. You won’t have to deal with bad reviews or unhappy customers. Hence, it’s the more secure way to go.

Threshold vs white glove service

Customers sometimes require help with packaging removal, transferring the product inside their homes (specific room of choice), disposing of the packing materials, and assembling the product. 

In such cases, white glove delivery service option is the kind of service you should provide to your clients. The demand for white glove delivery services has expanded greatly over the years. The global market is also expected to reach $4 billion by the end of 2028.

Cost Comparison Analysis

White glove delivery services are often more expensive than threshold delivery as they provide additional services, such as in-home delivery, unpacking, and assembly, and disposal of packaging materials.

Service Differences

White glove delivery services represent a premium shipping option that goes beyond standard delivery methods. Unlike threshold delivery, white glove services offer a more comprehensive approach to product transportation and setup.

Threshold Delivery

• Delivers products to the entrance of a property
• Minimal additional services
• Cost-effective and time-efficient
• Suitable for lightweight or standard items

White Glove Delivery

• Provides extensive support including:
  • Packaging removal
  • Product transfer to specific room of choice
  • Packing material disposal
  • Product assembly
• Ideal for complex or heavy items like:
  • Furniture
  • Exercise equipment
  • Large kitchen appliances (refrigerators)

Which Products are Delivered Using Threshold Delivery?

Oversized products that are too heavy to move by the customer alone are not usually a good choice for threshold delivery. Bulky items like large furniture or home equipment that may not fit through the entryway will also prove difficult to move. 

In those cases, customers should be advised to opt for delivery services that carry packages to their homes’ inner premises. Special, expensive, or luxury items are always advisable to be delivered with a customer present to accept them. 

That said, the items that can be quickly delivered using threshold delivery include:

• medium-sized furniture
• bedding
• mattresses 
• heavy items like personal gym equipment
• mid-sized items like couches, etc.

The shipping company charges separately for the threshold service in addition to the standard fees. Some companies also offer custom threshold shipping with fees based on the order size or delivery vehicle size. Moreover, the customer is also expected to tip the delivery company drivers.

Step-by-Step Process of Implementing Threshold Delivery

1. Understand the Basics of Threshold Delivery 

Recognize that threshold delivery involves transporting goods to a customer’s doorstep, garage, or first dry room without bringing items inside. This service enhances convenience and safety, particularly for bulky items like furniture and appliances.

2. Assess Your Business Needs 

Analyze your current delivery processes and customer feedback to identify pain points, such as frequent complaints about packages being left in exposed areas. Evaluate the cost-effectiveness of adopting threshold delivery compared to your existing logistics expenses.

3. Choose the Right Delivery Partners 

Select reliable logistics partners experienced in threshold delivery. Research their track record, request case studies, and ensure they can integrate with your existing systems for a seamless operation.

4. Integrate Threshold Delivery into Your Operations 

Modify internal protocols to accommodate this new service. Train staff on the updated processes and ensure that your logistics software can track threshold deliveries effectively.

5. Communicate with Your Customers

Inform customers about the new threshold delivery option through various channels such as email newsletters and social media. Highlight its benefits, such as convenience and safety, and provide clear instructions for selecting this option during checkout.

Best Practices

Safety Guidelines

• Assess Delivery Locations: Ensure delivery personnel are aware of potential hazards at the delivery site, such as stairs or uneven surfaces.
• Use Proper Equipment: Equip your delivery teams with necessary tools (e.g., dollies, straps) to safely transport large items.
• Weather Considerations: Plan for adverse weather conditions by providing instructions on handling deliveries in rain or snow to protect items from damage.

Customer Communication Tips

• Clear Instructions: Provide detailed information on what customers can expect from threshold delivery, including where items will be placed.
• Proactive Updates: Use SMS or email notifications to keep customers informed about their delivery status, including estimated arrival times.
• Post-Delivery Follow-Up: After deliveries are completed, reach out to customers for feedback to refine the process and improve service quality.

Get Optimized Routes for Threshold Deliveries Using Upper

Now that you are aware of what threshold delivery offers businesses and customers alike, it is essential to implement tools in your business to offer these services properly. This is where Upper comes into play. 

Upper is a modern technological solution for all your route planning and optimizing needs. Upper software is made for service-based business owners like yourself to streamline their workflow, increase revenue, and improve customer satisfaction. 

Upper can benefit your delivery business in so many ways. Here are some of them:

1. One-tap route optimization

No matter how thoroughly you plan your threshold delivery details, your efforts will be wasted if you don’t reach your customers on time. This is where Upper comes in handy. It automates route planning and route optimization to bring the shortest multi-stops routes for you. 

With Upper, you always have the most efficient routes, which take delivery constraints into account and make sure you’re never late.

2. Collect e-signatures and images 

No more lost packages with Upper. Drivers can easily upload pictures of successful deliveries with the exact delivery spot. Also, if you rely on the manual collection of customer signatures, it is time to automate this for better business productivity. This keeps everyone in the loop. 

The delivery person collecting proof of delivery improves drivers’ accountability and, in turn, increases customer satisfaction.

3. Update customers about the ETA

Whether you require customers to be physically present at the delivery location or not, it’s always a great practice to update them about the ETA so they can be prepared.

You don’t want to attempt failed deliveries just because the customer wasn’t at the site. Upper helps you send automatic ETA notifications to customers.

Through Upper, you can now capture better proof to provide to your loyal customers. Try Upper’s free 7 days trial and see for yourself.

Conclusion

We have comprehensively elaborated on the different delivery types you can offer your customers. The type of package care needed is also different depending on the kinds of products to be delivered.

Threshold delivery is also more popular today as it is more sophisticated than standard delivery service. It directly leads to more happy customers and responsible delivery services, thereby meeting delivery expectations. A route planning and optimization software like Upper can help you improve your threshold delivery processes. 

From collecting proof of delivery to automatically notifying customers about ETAs, Upper, route planning and optimization software, is all you need to make seamless threshold deliveries. Try Upper route planning and optimization software’s 7 days free trial today.