A strong delivery promise with the Logistic Services via bol

In his conversations with partners, Vercruysse is crystal clear about what makes the difference on a platform like bol. “Customers are spoiled. For some items, like perfume, fast delivery is a luxury. But for others, like diapers or toothpaste, it's a pure necessity,” he explains. “And those expectations are only growing. If you sell a premium brand, consumers also expect premium delivery.”

That's where the delivery promise comes in. “Those who work with our logistics propositions always have a strong, reliable delivery promise. That is crucial. Just look at yourself: you come home in the evening, eat something, and then scroll on the couch. Then you realize you urgently need something. If you can still order it at that moment and have it delivered the next day, you'll be much quicker to purchase.”

Consumers also want control. “Anyone who isn't sure when a package will arrive today will drop out. People want to know exactly where they stand. With our logistics solutions, you can offer that.”

And the great thing is: you can choose what suits you best. “Our fulfillment solution, Logistics via bol, ensures speed, reliability, and scalability. You delegate all logistics to bol. But Shipping via bol is also extremely interesting. You can bring your items to a delivery point yourself or have them picked up at your warehouse. Because we arrange the delivery, you can no longer get strikes and you benefit from strong carrier agreements and fast delivery times.”

The biggest advantage of Logistics via bol? “Without a doubt: more conversion,” Vercruysse says decisively. “Because you can no longer get strikes, you have the best delivery time, and you can offer all Select delivery options, your conversion will increase significantly.”

That really makes a difference, Vercruysse knows from experience. “I know a partner who sells a brand where 5 competitors offer the exact same item, at the same price. Yet he sells more – simply because he works with Logistics via bol. Thanks to Select and a strong delivery promise, he wins the buy box more often. And so he sells more.”

Scalability is also a huge plus. “Partners who could initially handle ten orders a day can easily process fifty thanks to Logistics via bol. This is because we take the work off their hands. You no longer have to pack yourself, print labels, or handle returns. Our warehouse does that quickly, efficiently, and with modern technology.”

Nevertheless, some partners still have doubts. “Larger partners who sell through multiple channels sometimes find it difficult to maintain separate stock for bol. I understand that well. In that case, Shipping via bol is a great solution. Our delivery person can also pick up packages for other channels and at the same time improve the delivery time.”

For Belgian partners, it's different. “Shipping via bol is not yet available there. I often advise them to start with a few bestsellers via Logistics via bol. The uplift they see on that often makes it worthwhile quickly.”

Some objections are practical in nature. “For items with a low price, margin can be a challenge. Then I help partners with a profitability calculation. But if someone says: ‘I want to continue shipping myself’, then I ask the counter-question: do you want to keep doing everything yourself, or do you want to grow?”

According to Vercruysse, both propositions are powerful growth accelerators. “There are actually two buttons: views and conversion. And views x conversion = sales. You can turn both buttons. With a better delivery time, you increase your conversion. And with more visibility through, for example, promotions or advertisements, you attract more views.”

“If you deliver quickly and use Select, your conversion and visibility increase. You are included in promotions and recommendations. You just have to try it; measuring is knowing! And because there are no contracts, you can just test it. If it doesn't work, you stop. But most partners quickly see results.”

Vercruysse also sees a lot of potential in the Belgian market. “Too often, Belgium is still seen as the thirteenth province of the Netherlands. While 25 percent of the revenue comes from Belgium. We really need to pay more attention to that.”

He himself would like to help with the introduction of Shipping via bol in Belgium. “They can already use Logistics via bol. There is also a lot of potential for Shipping via bol, but the challenge there is still in the network. Our carrier Ampère is growing rapidly in the Netherlands, but is not yet available in Belgium. That needs to change first.”

What Vercruysse perhaps loves most about his profession is the pioneering. “We do things that have never been done before. Sometimes it takes a while, but we dare. And I think that's fantastic. bol's logistics propositions are true growth accelerators. They give partners peace of mind, scalability, and control. And ultimately more revenue.”