7 Things To Know If You Have Customer In Different Timezones
If you sell services online, chances are you’ll have customers from all over the world. This can make fulfilling orders a bit tricky, especially if you’re not used to working with different time zones.
Services that are being sold globally require you to be aware of timezones to be able to properly schedule appointments and deliver services to customers who are located in different timezones.
For example, a customer in New York City might place an order for 3:00pm EST and a customer in San Francisco might place an order for 12:00pm PST.
If service providers are not aware of timezones, they may end up deliver services or meetings with customers at times that are inconvenient or even impossible for them. This can lead to customer frustration and ultimately lost business.
Here are 7 things to keep in mind when dealing with customer orders from different time zones:
1. Know your customer’s time zone
Make sure you know what time zone your customer is in. This seems like a no-brainer, but it’s important to make sure you have the right information before you start processing an order. Here are some manual ways to figure out the time zone of your customers:
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Use a time zone converter to find out what time it is in your customer’s location.
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Ask your customer directly what time zone they are in.
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Look up the time zone for your customer’s location online.
There are many online calculators that can help with meeting or delivery times in different time zones. A simple Google search should bring up several options.
2. Respect your customer’s time zone
Take into account any time differences when calculating shipping or delivery times.
This is especially important if you’re acting internationally. Make sure your customers are aware of any potential delays so they’re not left waiting for their delivery.
It is simply good business practice to be aware of and considerate of your customer’s time zone. By making an effort to accommodate their schedule, you can show that you value their time and business.
3. Provide different delivery options
If you have customers in multiple time zones, consider offering different delivery options for each. Some possible delivery options for an online business that provides services could include email, online chat, file transfer, or phone. Some of them are synchronous meaning they happen in real-time (phone, chat, video call). Others are asynchronous like file transfers or e-mail. Keep this in mind and allow your customers to choose a delivery method that works best for them.
4. Check holidays in different time zones
Be aware of any holidays that may affect delivery times. This is especially important for international orders. You can prepare yourself by checking holiday calendars of your customer’s location. The same is important for holidays of your local or distributed teams. Make sure your customers are aware of any potential delays so they’re not left disappointed.
5. Prepare your customer service team
Make sure your customer service team is prepared to handle inquiries from customers in different time zones. This includes being available during different hours and being able to answer any questions about delivery times and delays.
6. Use automation to manage time zones
Use automated systems to help manage orders from different time zones. You can use a CRM or manually track the time zone of each customer in a shared file. This can help take some of the pressure off of you and your customer service team and ensure that orders are processed and delivered in a timely manner.
7. Organize around time zones
Stay organized and keep good communication with your team. This is important regardless of where your customers are located. But when you’re dealing with different time zones, it’s even more important to make sure everyone is on the same page.
By following these tips, you can make sure your online shop is ready to handle orders from anywhere in the world.
Do you have customers in different time zones?
Managing an online business with customers from all over the world is not easy - especially if you need to manage multiple time zones. That’s where we help.
Online stores built with SoTrusty collect the time zone of the customers during the order process. You will be always able to see the correct time zone for each order so that you and your team can delivery at the right time for your customer.
When we use technology to its full potential, we secure the success of your business. With partners like SoTrusty, you can do so with no coding knowledge and at your own pace.