As e-commerce retailers attempt to win over customers looking for more flexible delivery options, Very.co.uk has become the latest firm to raise the stakes and give shoppers more control over shipping.

Internet Retailing reports that the company’s partnership with logistics giant Yodel will now enable people who place orders via safe shopping online to alter aspects of the delivery on the day that it is due to arrive, so long as they make any changes 60 minutes prior to its scheduled drop-off time.

Amendment capabilities are accessible either via the retailer’s website, or via its standalone smartphone application. The wider rollout of these features comes after a successful trial conducted over the past few months, with Very.co.uk set to complete the implementation in early 2019.

Company spokesperson, Phil Hackney, said that people who had participated in the testing phase of this scheme were very happy with the results. He also said that because customers were put in the driving seat, there was less need for them to contact customer services as a result of issues arising due to delivery complications.

Customers can effectively message their delivery driver directly, letting them know where to leave a parcel if they are out, or instructing them to take it elsewhere, such as to a designated collection point, allowing for a more convenient pickup.

It is even possible for users to effectively hit pause on their order, with the delivery firm then tasked with holding onto the package until it can be received safely. This will help those who have to change their plans suddenly, or who order something and then remember that they have prior commitments.

Furthermore with live tracking built into the service, it will be possible to see precisely where a delivery van is at any point, taking the stress out of waiting to receive an order.