How To Setup Local Delivery In Shopify

Being able to deliver your products to customers has become an essential part of the success, and survival, of most businesses. Since the pandemic, online shopping has transitioned from being convenient to necessary, heightening the need for stores to provide local delivery options. 

Transitioning from a brick-and-mortar, or click & collect, to using a delivery service can be daunting. The good news is that you can use a Shopify delivery app to set up a delivery process that best suits you. What’s more, the app will integrate into your existing online store, so most of the hard work is done for you. 

So, whether you’re setting up your first online store or an existing Shopify user looking to expand your offer, continue reading for everything you need to know about how to set up local delivery in Shopify. 


What is local delivery and why do I need it?

Local delivery gives a customer the option to have their purchase delivered directly to their door. Broadening your offer to include local delivery is a valuable tool to improve customer satisfaction and boost sales. 

Consumer spending habits are becoming increasingly dependent on the ability to purchase and receive items from the comfort of your home. In fact, eCommerce saw a 17.9% increase in market share from 2020 to 2022. That number is expected to reach 24.5% by 2025. 

What does that mean for store owners? Stores will have to transition to an online delivery model in order to keep up with the current market. Thankfully, there are a few different ways to set up delivery options in Shopify. 

First, you will need to choose a Shopify delivery app that provides delivery services. Shopify offers a local delivery app called ‘Pro Pickup: Store PickUp’ that has been designed for you to easily manage and track all orders that require local delivery. 

You can set your hours, stock levels, and break times to ensure a seamless customer experience. There’s also 24/7 customer service so you can access support if faced with any difficulties during setup. 

Ready to learn how to set up local delivery in Shopify and take your business to the next level? 

Setting up your Shopify Delivery App

Now that you’ve decided to set up a local delivery option for your online store, you will need to install a Shopify delivery app for the function to appear on your website. 

It’s important to ensure that your local delivery service is manageable and straightforward, not just for your running website but also for your team on the ground who will be organizing the orders for delivery. 

Ensure that you choose a Shopify Delivery app that will allow you to set boundaries on when and where you can deliver. This will make sure customers’ expectations are met and that you can effectively plan your local delivery strategy.

There are a number of things to consider when you install your Shopify delivery app.

Step 1: Research the best Shopify delivery app for your business

When choosing a Shopify delivery app, there are a few key features you should look for:

Ease of use: The app should be easy to set up and use, with clear instructions on how to integrate it with your Shopify store.

Flexibility: The app should offer a range of delivery options to suit your business, including local delivery, same-day delivery, and next-day delivery.

Customer support: The app should have a dedicated customer support team to help you with any questions or issues you may have.

Step 2: Install your chosen Shopify delivery app

Once you’ve decided which Shopify delivery app to use, the next step is to install the app to the backend of your online store. This is the easiest part.

All you need to do is log in to Shopify, go to the Apps page in the left menu bar, search the name of the app, e.g. ‘Pro Pickup: Store Pickup, then click ‘add app’. 

Your chosen Shopify delivery app will then appear in the “apps and sales channels” section of your Shopify account. Most trusted apps will provide a demo video to guide you through the setup, with customer support on hand for any further queries. 

Step 3: Set up your Local Delivery settings

The next stage is to adjust your settings depending on how to set up local delivery in Shopify that best suits the needs of your store. When opening the app, you will be taken to a new window that contains all of the different features and how to personalize them.

When choosing how to set up local delivery in Shopify, you will be able to add in delivery zones, prices, which products are available for delivery, cut-off times, and delivery limits per day. 

Be realistic with what you can deliver to avoid a backlog of delivery orders that will slow down your fulfillment plan. 

Step 4: Choosing your delivery option

Once you have your delivery options in place, you will need to decide how to deliver the products. 

In-House Delivery

You may decide to designate existing staff members or recruit new ones to deliver the items. How many people you will need depends on the size of your business, but it is important to have at least a few reliable people who can handle deliveries. 

This is a cost-effective option that is worth considering when first introducing delivery options. It may not be sustainable for long, depending on the demand, but it will allow you to find your feet during the first stages. 

Local Couriers

When you start seeing growth in your delivery orders, it will be time to consider using a local courier service. Using a local courier will take the responsibility out of your hands and allow you to deliver more products. 

The stages involved in choosing how to set up local delivery in Shopify may seem like a lot of work, but once this service is in place, it can be a great way to improve your business and expand your customer base.

Can I set up Shopify Local Delivery without an app?

In short, yes. Shopify offers built-in local delivery without needing to install an app. 

To use Shopify’s local delivery service, you will need to manually add in each location that you deliver from and set the distance for local delivery. Customers may or may not be eligible for local delivery, depending on their distance from your listed delivery locations. If you want to cover a wider area, you might need to have multiple delivery locations to cover that. 

Your local delivery options will depend on which Shopify plan you are subscribed to. For example, if you are on the Shopify Plus plan, your store will need to have less than 20 locations and have custom check out deactivated. 

Using an app specifically designed to enhance your local delivery service will give you more flexibility and better delivery options to offer to your customers. 

Tips For Using Local Delivery on Shopify

Here are a few tips on how to set up local delivery in Shopify to increase sales and improve customer satisfaction: 

Use a Shopify Delivery App

There are many great options to choose from when selecting a Shopify delivery app. As we covered earlier in this article, make sure to do some research to find an app that offers the best solution for your business. 

Ease of use, flexibility and reliable customer support are essential factors. Being able to try the app for free is a huge benefit and allows you to try before you buy. Just make sure to cancel before the free trial ends for those that aren’t suitable. 

Make sure you have a good shipping strategy

Local delivery can be expensive, so make sure to have a good shipping strategy in place. Here are some factors to consider: 

  • Understand your shipping costs: You need to make sure your existing price structure can accommodate shipping costs. You can choose to charge extra for shipping or mark up your existing prices to include it. Make sure to research your delivery options and document the prices – this is also a good way to monitor increases should fuel prices continue to rise. 
  • Put a shipping process in place: From the moment an order is placed for local delivery, the steps that follow should be clearly documented. This gives your team a consistent workflow and adds accountability for any mistakes. Consider who is responsible for what and set deadlines. For example, you may request that all orders are acknowledged and packed within 24 hours. 
  • Set up a delivery schedule for customers: Having a regular delivery schedule is important so that customers know when to place their orders. This is particularly important for small businesses that are not yet able to offer daily delivery to customers. 
  • Familiarize yourself with local couriers, delivery zones, and rates: Get familiar with your local courier. The better your understanding of zones and charges, the better you can plan and adapt to change. Remember, courier charges can often fluctuate depending on global fuel rates. 

Use proper packaging

Making sure your products are properly packaged is important for both customer satisfaction and to ensure that your products arrive safely. 

Consumer behavior is shifting to become more environmentally conscious, so you might want to consider using eco-friendly packaging. In fact, a 2021 survey by Trivium Packaging found that 67% of consumers deem it important for their products to be packaged in recyclable materials. 

Maintain customer relationships

Maintaining reliable relationships with your customers is even more important when offering local delivery. By providing this service to your customer base, you are already increasing the likelihood for customers to return to your store. 

What’s more, establishing a relationship with your regular customers can boost retention and improve your store or brand’s reputation. Manage your customer database by keeping a regularly updated system of all customer details. Make note of returning customers and find ways to thank them, this can be as simple as acknowledging they’ve been here before or offering free delivery on their next order. 

Local Delivery can be a great way to retain and reward customers for their loyalty. 


Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to change to delivery only?

Local delivery is a valuable way to expand your offer and speed up fulfillment time, but it doesn’t mean that you have to abandon the ability for customers to collect in-store. Local delivery works really well alongside store pick-up, and having it in place will add protection to your business if pick-up becomes restricted. 

How can I keep my customers updated on their delivery? 

In your Shopify local delivery app, you will be able to customize messages that are sent after your customer places their order and selects local delivery. Automated updates will then be sent to the individual, including order confirmation, when it’s out for delivery, attempted delivery, and order delivered. 

How do I choose the best Shopify delivery app for my business? 

This comes down to your business priorities and what features will help you the most throughout the process. Within the Shopify app store, check the star rating, view each demo, and make sure the interface looks manageable for you and your team. Keep in mind the points we have discussed about how to set up local delivery in Shopify. Take your time to choose your app and make sure you have a process in place for fulfillment. With all this considered, your store will be thriving from local delivery in no time.