What is an Actual Time of Arrival in e-commerce?
An actual time of arrival (ATA) is the specific time that a shipment arrives at its destination, preferably at the warehouse. It is used in order fulfillment to measure the performance of carriers and measure the accuracy of their estimated time of arrival. ATA is an important metric used to measure the performance of the order fulfillment process.
Significance of Actual Time of Arrival in e-commerce Logistics
The actual time of arrival is an important metric in e-commerce logistics as it directly affects the customer experience and satisfaction. Customers increasingly expect items to be delivered in a timely and efficient manner, and ATA is a key factor in determining whether this expectation is met.
- ATA also helps identify areas of improvement in the logistics process and can be used to optimize delivery routes and reduce costs.
- Furthermore, ATA can be used to measure the performance of logistics providers, enabling e-commerce companies to make informed decisions when choosing an order fulfillment partner.
Prerequisites to Calculate Actual Time of Arrival and How It Works
In order to calculate the actual time of arrival, the following prerequisites are required –
- The order’s point of origin and the point of destination
- The estimated time of departure (ETD) and the estimated time of arrival (ETA)
- The type of logistics partner
- Additional information like weather conditions, temperature, direction, road conditions, etc.
- The route of shipment
The actual time of arrival is calculated for individual points of scan and is compared to the ETA for accurate arrival time.
Use Case With Actual Time of Arrival
A use case with the actual time of arrival in e-commerce could be for a delivery service. For example, when a customer orders a product online, they can check the estimated time of delivery and track the delivery in real-time to get a more accurate time of arrival. A customer’s address can be determined using the tracking system of a delivery service as well as other factors, such as traffic and weather conditions. This would give the customer the ability to plan their day around the delivery and give them peace of mind knowing when their product will arrive.