Five ways to cut failed deliveries

Every failed delivery is paid for twice: once for the wasted trip, and again for the redelivery. For a busy courier, trimming the failure rate by even a few points is one of the highest-leverage things you can do.

1. Capture a working phone number

Most failures trace back to the recipient not being reachable. Make the mobile number a required field at booking, and validate it.

2. Send a "your parcel is on its way" message

A heads-up an hour before arrival dramatically improves first-time success. Courivo fires these automatically at every status change.

3. Offer a safe-place option

Let customers nominate a safe place or neighbour up front. A one-line note on the job saves a second visit.

4. Give drivers the full picture

Access codes, gate instructions, the floor number — surface them on the job so the driver isn't guessing at the door.

5. Track the pattern

If the same postcode fails repeatedly, that's a signal, not bad luck. Your analytics should make those patterns obvious.

Small changes, compounded across a week of routes, add up fast.