What is White Glove Delivery and How Do I Set It Up for My Business?

If you want to set your business apart from the competition, consider offering white glove delivery service. What is white glove delivery? It’s a premium delivery service that gives customers added convenience and luxury.

This blog post will discuss what white glove delivery is, how it works, and more.

What Is White Glove Delivery Service?

White glove delivery is a courier service that puts customer care first in the last-mile shipping process. It ensures special attention for products because they are either large, expensive, or delicate.

White glove delivery couriers are carefully trained and equipped to install and assemble your product, with specialized equipment if needed. Overall, this delivery service creates exceptional protection along the product’s journey to its destination.

This “special attention” can make a world of difference to customers, who are willing to pay extra for the assurance and ease that comes with it.

The Top 5 Benefits of White Glove Delivery Service

These are just a few of the many benefits that come with white glove shipping.

1. Lower Costs

According to McKinsey & Company, investing in white-glove services is an excellent way to minimize costs. These services speed up customer service issue resolution and increase trust between customers and companies by leaps and bounds. A win-win for everyone!

2. Customers Pay More

According to research by Capgemini, over 80% of customers are willing to pay premium prices for enhanced customer experience with white glove service. The amount of people willing to spend varies depending on the industry and the high-value services offered.

For instance, Thumbtack reveals that customers will pay up to double the price for full-service moving services compared to standard options. This rate applies when relocating a three-bedroom property.

3. Extra Package Protection

Products that call for special care are often too delicate or may not fit in a regular cardboard box, requiring more protection. Some may need specific packing materials such as bubble wrap, custom-shaped boxes made of cardboard, wooden crates, and packing peanuts; you name it.

This service may even use temperature-controlled packaging and innovative security measures, all to ensure your shipment arrives in pristine condition.

White glove services go the extra mile with their packaging for higher customer satisfaction. This careful attention to detail and ensuring each item is perfect in its packaging sets these services apart from others.

4. More Reliable Service

With white glove deliveries, there’s no need to worry about lost or delayed shipments. Experienced professionals manage your cargo and will provide tracking information and regular updates to keep you in the loop. You can rest assured knowing exactly when your shipment will arrive at your customer’s doorstep.

5. Better for the Environment

Opting for scheduled deliveries over traditional shipping methods that require multiple attempts to deliver a single item is more efficient and better for the planet.

How Does White Glove Delivery Service Work?

White glove delivery services vary depending on the shipping company.

Let’s break down what this courier service offers.

1. Inspection

Pre- and post-site inspections are necessary for white glove deliveries to ensure that products arrive in perfect condition. Inspection is essential for items needing specific setup configurations.

2. Protective Packaging

White glove delivery offers reliable protection for your packages with premium and standard packaging materials that ward off damage, extreme temperatures, and moisture.

3. Delicate Handling

Packages are cared for with the utmost gentleness and respect throughout the shipping process. Most couriers are taught to carefully handle packages marked as white-glove deliveries, treating them with the most attention.

4. Eco-Friendly Transportation

To guarantee that packages are delivered safely and securely, shipping companies use eco-friendly, safe transportation methods for white glove delivery.

5. Attentive Service

Customers will enjoy secure and expedited delivery, with a team of experts handling their parcels. White glove service delivery makes it easy to make inquiries concerning any shipment while it is in transit and get timely updates and feedback along the way.

6. Product Assembly

If a customer needs to swap out a device or gadget, certified professionals can disassemble and assemble products on location with care and precision. This way, customers can seamlessly transition between devices without any hassle.

Here’s a quick 7-minute read on crowdsourced delivery and how it works. 

Who Needs White Glove Delivery Services and Why?

So who exactly needs white glove delivery services?

Business owners that often deliver large, expensive, and fragile goods often benefit the most from white-glove delivery services.

If your business falls under one of the categories below, you should consider offering white glove delivery services to your customers.

1. Electronics Industry

Nearly a quarter (22%) of all retail eCommerce sales consist of computers and consumer electronics. These items are delicate and require special attention when it comes to packing. 

Although some electronics come pre-assembled, others may require you to assemble them yourself. This is where white glove delivery typically comes in. The item is shipped directly to its desired location and assembled by professionals.

2. Healthcare Industry

Final mile delivery providers, like Dropoff, offer high-quality delivery services, including handling sensitive items with care. We offer customizable options, bringing the highest delivery experience to recipients and allowing businesses to focus on other operations. The Dropoff delivery experience benefits medical delivery services and premium retail companies. Medical equipment or lab tests could have life-threatening consequences if not handled carefully.

Millie Tarallo, Chief Revenue Officer at Dropoff

Handling delicate medical shipments can be a tricky business. Quality assurance is essential, as these items are often costly, and hospitals expect absolute security from possible damage during transit. To guarantee the utmost safety of such cargo, comprehensive shipping protocols must be followed at all times. 

Choosing white glove delivery is an excellent way to ensure medical shipments arrive safely and securely. Professional personnel will handle the package with extra caution until it reaches its destination.

3. Home Appliances and Furniture Industry

Businesses may opt for white glove delivery when delivering home appliances and furniture due to several factors, such as the size or complexity of the item. This could include needing assembly, installation, and setup before it is ready for use in customers’ homes. 

If you’re in the furniture industry, white glove delivery is a great way to draw in customers who need assistance with setup and installation. Although these services come with extra costs, customers know that their items will be handled by professionals upon arrival. 

4. Automotive and Aviation Industry

When shipping large and fragile items such as automotive or aviation products, the best way to ensure safe delivery is through white glove service. This way, business owners can trust that their shipment will be handled with expertise by a team of knowledgeable technicians who understand exactly how to keep the product secure during transport.

This supervision level guarantees safety and satisfaction for all involved in international deliveries.

How to Choose a White Glove Delivery Service for Your Business

Before choosing a white glove delivery service, do your research. Find a reputable and experienced company that provides exceptional customer service, values social responsibility, and has numerous customer reviews to support their guarantees.

Here are just a few qualities to look for when choosing a white glove delivery service:

1. Professional Customer Service

Choose a white glove service provider with a reliable and easily accessible customer service team. You need a team that provides answers to any questions or concerns quickly.

To get the best value from your investment, choose a company that gives you easy access to your account details and allows you to understand their procedures and processes.

2. Social Responsibility

There are also more variables to consider than just costs and speed of delivery. Look at how a company manages its employees and interacts with the local community.

Does a company offer reasonable wages, reasonable working conditions, and provide opportunities for career growth? Is the company actively giving back to the community in some way or starting meaningful initiatives?

Supporting companies that actively practice corporate social responsibility by treating their staff well and trying to make positive contributions will ensure our money goes towards those who make an effort to better society.

3. Excellent Customer Reviews

When looking for the right white glove delivery service for your needs, look for one that backs up its claims. Customer reviews and service awards are great at showing a company’s level of customer service. And their ability to perform the job efficiently, politely, and organized manner.

Consider researching various companies to determine which delivery services have received positive reviews. Do your due diligence!

Looking for other delivery services? Here are ten reasons you should hire a nationwide courier service.

4. Additional Services Offered

A company offering white glove delivery service is an invaluable asset for any business looking to enhance its supply chain management.

Many companies offer valuable auxiliary services, such as inventory and returns management and automated shipping. Such services help streamline the overall order fulfillment process, allowing the business to focus better on other operations.

5. Additional Questions to Ask

To give you a little bit more guidance in choosing a white glove delivery service provider, here are some questions to ask:

  • Can I schedule a specific delivery time? 
  • Are weekend and evening deliveries available? If so, are there extra charges? 
  • Do you include product assembly? 
  • Will you clean up and remove the product packaging? If so, are there additional costs? 
  • How often will I be updated on the progress of my shipment?
  • Do I need to be present to accept the delivery? 
  • Do you have an automated delivery option?

For businesses looking to enhance the customer experience, consider offering door-to-door delivery

White Glove Shipping Service Examples 

Individuals and organizations can benefit from white glove shipping services, moving homes or installing business operations.

Here are examples of white glove services:

  • Moving expensive artwork and antiques. Objects with high sentimental value are candidates for white-glove shipping.
  • Moving furniture. Fine furniture is an art form in its own right. Those who acquire such pieces are looking for excellent service and care, as well as respect for their home or work area when the item is delivered.
  • Building or remodeling high-end properties. White-glove services are often essential when delivering luxury materials such as a custom fireplace mantle or an opulent marble countertop for contractors, builders, and architects constructing custom homes or business spaces.
  • Commencing interior design projects. Are you a designer who works on projects involving costly pieces of furniture? If so, white-glove delivery services are the way to go. Don’t let your expensive products be damaged in transit – this is a surefire way to prevent delays and keep costs down.

How Dropoff Can Help with White Glove Delivery 

Dropoff is a convenient, reliable option for businesses needing white glove delivery services. We offer a suite of features such as rush orders, reliable logistics technology solutions, and 24/7 customer service support.

Thanks to Dropoff’s modern technology, businesses can expect their items to be delivered within an agreed-upon timeline, from contactless delivery to white glove shipping services.

Our user-friendly interface allows customers to place orders without the hassle and track their deliveries in real-time. Businesses have access to reliable drivers, an array of available vehicles, and accurate ETAs that ensure customers experience a smooth and efficient white glove service every time.

Talk with a Dropoff expert today and give your customers the ultimate delivery experience.

FAQs on White Glove Delivery Service

1. What does white glove service mean?

The term “white glove service” is often associated with high-end, personalized services. Its origin traces back to English footmen who donned white gloves as a sign of wealth and status, but it has evolved significantly since then.

Today, businesses across many industries offer a white glove service for those needing more hands-on attention and faster, more convenient services. White glove moving companies, for example, not only provide transportation services but also secure wrapping and packing of items, as well as their unpacking on the other side and cleaning up any packing materials afterward.

2. What does white glove delivery mean?

White glove delivery is a courier service that puts customer care first in the last-mile shipping process. It ensures special attention for products because they are either large, expensive, or delicate.

White glove delivery couriers are carefully trained and equipped to install and assemble your product, with specialized equipment if needed. Overall, this delivery service creates exceptional protection along the product’s journey to its destination.

3. Does white glove delivery include assembly?

White glove shipping services typically offer product assembly for an additional cost, making them ideal for customers. For example, retail stores that frequently need to update their product displays could quickly and easily assemble bulk purchases with the help of a white glove delivery service.

4. How much does white glove shipping cost?

To receive an accurate cost estimate for white glove shipping, it’s essential to consider a variety of factors, such as:

  • The distance of transport
  • The shipped product
  • The speed of your shipment
  • The dropoff location
  • Any special handling or considerations
  • Optional add-on accessories
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