There are a wide variety of businesses that would benefit from a courier service
, whether you are a business that regularly despatches orders on a daily basis or simply require a trusted delivery service for odd parcels here and there. No matter how small your business there is a courier service that can help you save both time and money so it is well worth spending some time researching your options. Here are a few basic points to look out for when choosing a courier service.
Competitive rates this is important to any business but remember the rates are often calculated differently between couriers so you will need to do the maths to make sure you are getting the best rate possible for you. For example, some couriers charge a rate per parcel and have a sliding scale for weight. Others base calculations solely on the weight of a consignment regardless of the number of parcels within it. Some couriers offer cheaper rates for certain postcodes and delivery timescales.
Online services even if you only send out a few parcels here and there it is worth choosing a courier that offers you an online account because this makes managing your deliveries far easier. Look for a service that offers track and trace for your deliveries and a database of addresses to save you having to enter each one manually. It may also be useful to have downloadable PODs (Proof of Deliveries) and a set-up that allows you to arrange collections and remote collections online.
Good delivery service this seems obvious but many businesses run into difficulties when trying to deliver to awkward addresses, especially large business sites. Make sure that your chosen courier will attempt a delivery more than once before returning the items to the depot and that your customer can easily contact them using a helpline.
Shipment protection even if the goods you ship are not hugely valuable it is still important that your courier offers sufficient shipment protection in the event they should become damaged in transit. You will need to ensure that fragile goods are packed adequately but even then there is always a chance that items will be broken. Check that you can opt for additional cover if needed for more valuable goods.
Collection options having a courier collect from your workplace saves you a lot of time that would have been spent queuing at the Post Office. If you do regularly have to leave the office then make enquiries to see if your courier will collect from a designated safe place to save you having to wait in for the collection.