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Kaagazo.
FreeSHIPPING SLA

On-Time Delivery Rate

Calculate the percentage of shipments delivered on or before the promised date.

100% client-side. Nothing you type is uploaded or stored on a server.

"Delivered in 2–3 days" is a promise; on-time delivery rate is how often you keep it. It is the share of shipments delivered on or before the promised date, and it drives reviews, marketplace rankings, repeat purchases and the number of "where is my order?" messages your team answers. This calculator computes OTD rate from delivery records, shows the average delay on late shipments, breaks performance down by courier, zone or period, and lets you compare carriers on the same lanes before you renew a contract.

The formula

On-time delivery rate = Shipments delivered on or before the promised date ÷ Total shipments × 100.

Out of 860 shipments in August, 782 arrived by the promised date → 90.9%. The 78 late ones averaged 1.8 days late; 11 were more than 4 days late — and those eleven generated most of the support chats. Use the promise the customer saw (the marketplace's EDD or your own "by Friday"), not the courier's internal SLA.

How to use the calculator

  1. Enter total shipments and those delivered on time — or paste promised and actual delivery dates for each shipment and let the tool compute both.
  2. Tag shipments by courier, zone (local, regional, national) or service (surface, air) to compare.
  3. Read OTD rate, average and maximum delay, and the distribution (1 day late, 2 days, 3+).
  4. Track weekly and by carrier; renegotiate or reroute lanes that fall below 85%.
  5. Combine with order accuracy for the perfect-order rate.

Improving on-time delivery

  • Promise honestly: set EDDs from actual carrier performance by lane, plus one day of buffer; a kept 4-day promise beats a broken 2-day one.
  • Dispatch same day: most delays are dispatch delays, not transit. Print shipping labels in batches at fixed times.
  • Pick carriers by lane: the courier that is fastest to Delhi may be slowest to the North-East; the comparison table shows it.
  • Address quality: confirm PIN and phone on WhatsApp; undeliverable attempts are the biggest single cause of lateness.
  • Track proactively: send the AWB on dispatch through the WhatsApp link so customers check themselves.
  • Plan for holidays and strikes: count promised days as working days with the business days calculator; a bank or transport strike week needs longer promises — see the bank strike continuity plan.

B2B deliveries and contracts

For B2B supply, the promised date is on the purchase order; late delivery can trigger penalty clauses and delays the buyer's payment clock under the 45-day MSMED rule. Record delivery dates on the delivery challan or proof of delivery, and reconcile them monthly.

Benchmarks

Metro-to-metro surface: 92–96% within 3 days is achievable; national average across all lanes 85–92%; remote and North-East lanes 70–85%. Marketplaces typically require sellers to maintain late-dispatch rates under 2–4%.

Frequently asked questions

What date should "on time" be measured against?

The date promised to the customer — the marketplace EDD or your stated delivery window — not the courier's internal SLA.

What is a good on-time delivery rate?

Above 95% on metro lanes and 90% overall is strong for a small seller; below 85% will show up in reviews and marketplace metrics.

Should undelivered attempts count as late?

Yes, if the customer did not receive the parcel by the promised date; track "customer not available" separately to see how much is address quality.

How do I compare couriers fairly?

Same lanes, same period, same service type. The calculator's tag mode lets you filter to matching shipments.

How do I reduce "where is my order" messages?

Send tracking on dispatch, promise realistic dates, and message proactively when a shipment is delayed — before the customer asks.