subject: Obtaining Proof Of Delivery From Your Courier Company [print this page] Shipping with a courier can involve a lot of details. If you're not extremely familiar with the Houston courier service that you're shipping with, you may not know which details are the important ones, and which are the ones which can be overlooked without causing any serious damage to anyone. One of the details that you should never overlook, and one that can actually help you form your opinion about which courier company you should open an account with, is that of obtaining a proof of delivery from your courier company.
There are two different types of proof of delivery notifications that a courier may offer you. One is the more traditional type. This is when, well after the delivery, you will receive a copy of the document that the recipient of the delivery signed when they received their package. You should still insist on this as well, but you also want to be receiving a service based on the new courier technology. This is instant, real time proof of delivery notification.
This is something that is obtained by the use of the handheld units that most courier drivers now carry with them everywhere they go. These allow them to electronically capture the signature of the person that they are making the delivery to. Therefore, after a successful delivery, they can immediately email you a POD which includes a digital capture of that signature. This way you know the instant your delivery has been made without having to spend needless time waiting around to find out the status of the shipment.
Proofs of deliveries, in general, are very important. This is because sometimes people claim that packages were not delivered to them when they were, or sometimes they were delivered to the wrong person. Other people may claim damage to their packages. Having documentation showing who took possession of the package and when, can be very important when it comes to settling any disputes of this nature.
When you're trying to decide what courier company you might want to to open an account with, you probably want to go with one that has a real time proof of delivery notification option. This is becoming industry standard, and a company that doesn't offer it is falling slightly behind with the times. Besides, most clients of courier companies that are receiving that service see quickly how useful it is, and you will too if you hold out for a courier company that offers it.
