Couriers Services
Couriers play a vital role in your business’s supply chain by delivering goods safely and efficiently to your customers or clients. There is a wide range of courier services to choose from depending on your business’s and customers’ needs, but regardless of the services you choose, it’s important to choose a courier that you trust and can count on. A supply chain isn’t always plain sailing, and working with the wrong courier could have a negative impact on your operations, customer experience and bottom line.
We have a number of courier companies ready to connect with you here on SavvySME. With so many courier services to choose from it can be difficult to cut through the noise when building your supply chain and shipping strategy. Our goal is to give you an overview of the services offered by couriers to help you choose the best courier, freight and shipping solutions for your business.
What is a courier service?
A courier service is an entity that specialises in transporting and delivering goods, documents and mail from one location to another. Some couriers specialise in certain types of shipping and delivery services such as same-day delivery or international shipping, while others offer a wide range of services. Some of the most popular courier companies you may have heard of include:
- DHL
- FedEx
- TNT
- Fastway Couriers
- StarTrack
- CouriersPlease
- USP
- USPS
Learn more about the courier, freight and shipping solutions offered by popular couriers.
What services do couriers offer?
Some of the most popular services offered by couriers include:
- Local courier services: Local couriers provide speedy delivery services for documents and packages within a specific regional or metropolitan area.
- International courier services: International courier transfer and deliver goods overseas. International shipping costs vary greatly depending on the type of goods, size of package, weight, speed, etc.
- Standard delivery services: Standard delivery services are the most cost-effective way to deliver your goods if you’re not in any rush. Standard courier services usually follow set guidelines (location depending) so you know what to expect.
- Overnight courier services: Overnight delivery services deliver your goods the next morning or at a particular time the next day.
- Same day express courier services: Same day courier services can deliver urgent documents or packages to the recipient on the same day.
- Freight shipping services: Transporting larger volumes of goods and cargo.
Some couriers also offer additional logistics and warehousing services to streamline your operations including storage services, pick packing and shipment sorting and distributions.
What is the difference between a courier service and a postal service?
The main difference between a courier service and a postal service is that a courier is a private company that provides premium shipping services, whereas a postal service is government-owned and serves the general public. Couriers base their services on speed and efficiency and can generally provide faster on-demand services than postal services. Unlike postal services, you can develop a stronger and more flexible relationship with couriers as their services can be tailored to align with your supply chain and fluctuating customer order activity.
What are the benefits of using a courier for small businesses?
You may be wondering why you should work with a courier as opposed to using a postal service or hiring an in-house shipping and delivery team. Below are some of the top benefits of working with a courier:
- Convenience: Courier services are very convenient for busy business owners and customers that want their goods fast, especially with fast delivery options.
- Customs clearance: Couriers have a good understanding of customs clearance procedures and the documents needed. They can help you get goods cleared much faster if they’re held up.
- Flexibility: Couriers can work with you to create bespoke services that align with business and accommodate for fluctuating consumer demand and order activity.
- Insurance: Most couriers have full insurance to protect your goods in the event they are lost or damaged while in transit.
- Reliability: Couriers have a great reputation for their reliability and usually offer a tracking service so you can see exactly where it is and when it’s been delivered in real time.
- Delivery speed: Couriers can’t be beaten on the speed of their delivery service. If you need something to be delivered urgently, you can put your trust in a courier.
- Cost-effective: Using a courier service is considerably cheaper than setting up an in-house team. With so many couriers now on the market, service prices are also very affordable.
How do I choose the right courier service?
Not all courier services are the same. Choosing the wrong courier could result in glitches in your supply chain, late deliveries, damaged goods and unhappy customers. You can find the right couriers by understanding your business needs, doing your research and asking the right questions. Below are some key considerations to help you:
- Understand your business’s needs: Before you do anything, you need to have a clear insight into your business needs, consumer demand, key supply chain issues, etc. This will help you determine the most suitable type and level of services you need and steer you in the direction of well-suited couriers. For example, you might only require standard delivery services or you may need a bespoke service that can be tailored to order activities.
- Reputation: The courier you choose will ultimately need to be a company that you trust. They are responsible for delivering goods to your customers’ door and it’s your business’s reputation that will be on the line if your customers experience any issues. Do your homework on their reputation by reading reviews and testimonials.
- Areas covered: Where you ship to (e.g. locally, nationally or globally) could affect which couriers you choose. Some businesses choose to work with one international courier only to account for all possibilities, while others choose to work with several couriers depending on what is being shipped and the location.
- Flexibility: If things like delivery service speed, tracking capabilities, proof of delivery and other additional add ons are important to you, then make sure a courier can accommodate this.
- Size and weight limitations: Some couriers have size and weight limitations or have additional fees for packages that exceed these limitations. Find out this information as this could be a major factor in your decision.
- Level of insurance: Most couriers have insurance to cover the loss and damaged goods, delays and other issues. It’s always worth checking to confirm the type and level of cover to avoid any unwanted surprises down the line.
- Cost: It’s important to choose a courier that offers competitive pricing and offers value for money. The cheapest price isn’t always the best option in terms of value so avoid making this a top priority. Compare price only once you know they can offer the services you need.
- Problem and dispute resolution process: A good courier is accountable for their mistakes and resolves issues efficiently to minimise further issues. For example, what is a courier’s process if goods are delivered to a customer in an unacceptable condition? How will they deal with delayed customs clearance? Ask them how they handle problems and disputes and take note of how they respond.
How much do courier services cost?
The cost of courier services varies greatly and is impacted by factors such as:
- Service required, e.g. same-day delivery
- Package type
- Value of goods
- Weight and dimensions
- Destination
- Shipping distance
- Season, e.g. courier rates are higher over Christmas
- Additional services required, e.g. tracking and signature-on-delivery
It’s generally cheaper if you ship items in bulk. It’s also a good idea to establish and build a good, long-standing relationship with your courier as this can also help you negotiate fees.
Where can I find courier services?
You can find a wide range of courier services here on SavvySME. Simply answer a few questions and we’ll connect you with couriers that service your local area. Follow these steps to get started:
- Submit a job: Answer a few questions about your business and what you’re looking for so we can identify the most suitable couriers.
- Compare proposals: Receive and compare up to five proposals from couriers in your area. Check out their SavvySME business profiles and reviews from other small businesses to determine if they’re a good match for your business.
- Hire a courier: Once you’ve narrowed down your options, hire a courier and start delivering goods to your customers.
You can also get expert advice from supply chain consultants or reach out to our community of other small business owners for advice and recommendations.
