Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) – The Ultimate Guide, 2022

Direct to consumer became a popular term in recent years, and more and more companies are opting for using this model.

The direct-to-consumer model is based on the direct delivery of products or services, without the involvement of a third-party retailer or delivery application. 

The D2C market is continuously growing, as direct-to-consumer (D2C) eCommerce sales in the United States will reach $151.20 billion in 2022, up 16.9% from the year prior.

That is one of the reasons why it is an excellent time to bring your business online, and start selling D2C, instead of relying on third-party retailers.  

How to set up a competitive D2C platform? 

Regardless of what industry you decide to open your D2C business in, it is important to select the technology that will create a competitive and well-functioning platform.

From food ordering to flower delivery, the D2C business journey starts with the right technology, including a well-featured application and a visually appealing website that represents your brand. 

Customizable design 

When building your own D2C platform, you have all the freedom to creatively express your brand. From the visual aspects, like photos, videos, and color, to the text and shop features.

When choosing software for your D2C business, select one that is going to provide you with the option to design your platform, exactly how you want it to be.

In a stationery shop or a restaurant, you provide your customers will a full multisensory experience, through the service, smell, music, and interior. It is important to bring that experience online and make them feel like they are connected with your brand. 

Well-functioning delivery application 

The next step of building a D2C platform is having an excellent delivery application, that is going to be easy to operate and have as few steps as possible, from a selection of items to the payment and check out.

A short check-out process and the easiness of ordering are going to make your application comparable to the third-party retailers.

Customers nowadays are impatient and have a low attention span, which makes them want to go through the purchasing process as easily and smoothly as possible.

This includes adding and removing items from the cart, having a selection of payment options to choose from, and being able to save cart information from previous visits. 

Delivery and push notifications 

Deliver is another essential aspect of a successful D2C platform. Let’s start with the number of drivers. Your delivery should be working smoothly, without you increasing your costs unnecessarily.

That is why you should invest a lot of time in doing thorough research and deciding how many staff members will be optimal for a specific time and day. 

Now that you have your staffing figured out, the next step is the implementation of an excellent real-time delivery tracking map and push notifications.

Your customers should be involved in the process and have access to a transparent, real-time status of their orders.

This is not only going to keep them engaged, but also increase your reliability as a brand. Each time someone orders through your application, they know that they can expect quick delivery, and they will be swiftly informed in case of any possible delays along the way. 

Ordering dashboard 

The most important part of technology that you should take into consideration as an owner of a D2C platform, is having a well-organized supply chain, and making sure that your order management is clear and properly functioning.

For example, you should implement a system that will give you a full overview of the status of each order and delivery, as well as allow you to easily communicate with the customers.

With a platform like Ordering, you will be able to access features like:

• Viewing all of your orders in chronological order, filter by delivery type, price, and more on a single screen.

• View the entire operation in real-time from a bird’s eye, and if anything appears to be incorrect, solve it immediately.

• Filter orders. Create as many filters as required for your analytics and reports, and download them as required.

User analytics

Having access to all of your user data and statistics is one of the main benefits of having your own D2C platform.

Oftentimes, large retailers selectively give you access to the spending patterns and analytics of your page, which gives you a limited overview.

On the other hand, having an independent D2C platform provides full access to customer information and detailed reports on particular items available in your shop. 

If you need guidance regarding starting out your D2C online business, reach out to Ordering.

Their team of experts will be happy to assist you in choosing the right features, in accordance with the nature of your business. Reach out and schedule a call with our sales team! In addition, you can enjoy a selection of live demos and have access to Ordering university, if you would like to learn more.