subject: Customer Updates From Shipping Companies [print this page] When a customer is using a company to move their goods for them, they frequently worry about the things which are out of their control. That is why the best LTL carriers out there do everything that they can to reassure their customers that they are going to keep them as appraised as possible in regards to the status of their shipments. The best companies in this industry make an effort to contact customers when there is anything that they feel they would want to know about right away.
The way that a courier company updates their customers on the status of shipments is going to change depending on which kinds of updates need to be proffered of course. If the status updates are of the regular type, such as that a delivery has reached a given city, or is in a certain location, then those updates will likely be automated. The courier companies usually have software which does this automatically, which the client can then check at their own leisure using their reference number and the tracking system in place at the courier company.
There are other times that they will have an automated contact made to update on certain statuses. The most common of these is delivery completion. Many courier companies now utilize an instant POD system so that customers will be notified the minute their delivery has been completed, something that many of them appreciate a great deal. They use the new technology in handheld courier units to electronically capture the signature of the recipient of the package. That is then put into a proof of delivery notification which is instantly emailed to the customer.
Courier companies will also contact customers directly if there is a need to inform the customer of a problem, or if there is need for action on the customers' part. This usually only happens when something significant happens which is going to cause a large delay in the projected shipping. A good example would be when something is held at an international border because of missing or erroneous documentation. In this type of situation, the courier would call the client immediately in order to make them aware of this situation, and to guide them if action is needed.
Generally speaking, courier companies are excellent at keeping customers in the loop. They want customers to know that they can trust the courier with their valuable goods, and show this by always letting customers know what is happening with their packages.
