If your business sells physical products, sooner or later you will need a courier’s support. A courier will be able to ensure deliveries are made on time, and that your customers’ orders arrive in the same condition they left you in. With internet shopping quickly becoming the norm, there are more couriers operating than ever before. Let’s look at the basics of finding a courier service, so you can be confident that the one you ultimately hire is experienced, knowledgeable, and most importantly, trustworthy.
Order Tracking
The first quality you need to look for in a courier service is order tracking. Customers want to see their orders in real-time. Tracking orders gives them confidence that their orders are on the way and haven’t been lost. Being able to track delivery drivers also makes your life a lot easier if orders go missing since you can find out which drivers were handling your parcels, too. Order tracking is something almost all couriers offer today, so it’s not something you will have to look hard to find.
Positive Reviews
A courier service’s reviews should be overwhelmingly positive, otherwise, there is no point in hiring them. Good reviews are a clear sign that a courier can be trusted. Most couriers have public reviews, but not all do. If the company you are interested in hiring does not have a public review page, you can get in touch with them directly and ask for testimonials from past customers. Alternatively, you can see if anybody has said anything negative about them anywhere on the internet by conducting a very basic search. Simply type their name, followed by ‘bad experience’ in a search engine of your choosing.
Large Fleet
A large fleet is definitely something to look for. The larger a courier’s fleet is, the faster they will be able to deliver parcels. This is because they will have more vans on the road. To find out how large a courier company’s fleet is, get in touch. They may be able to physically show you around their depot, or at least give you a specific number of drivers they have working for them. You can find out more about the size and efficacy of a courier’s fleet by reading reviews, as suggested above.
Fast Delivery Times
Finally, think about delivery times. Fast delivery times are absolutely essential. Under no circumstances should you ever hire a courier who’s known to delay deliveries. The only way to find out how quick a courier is is to take a look at their reviews. One other option you have is to get in touch with a company they have worked with in the past and ask them how fast their deliveries were made. If you have any doubts about a company’s ability to properly aid your business’s shipping efforts, don’t hesitate to find an alternative to work with.
Finding a courier to work with can be difficult. However, just because something is difficult does not for a second mean that it is impossible. Use the guidance given here to find the right courier for your business.
Darren is an expert on driving and transport, and is a member of the Institute of Advanced Motorists
