In this day and age of instant communication, it’s easy to forget that there are certain tasks that cannot be accomplished through the use of the Internet. The bricks and mortar world still demands that physical goods are dispatched by a business and reach their destinations quickly. An often overlooked influence of the Internet is that it has led to a business environment that is incredibly demanding – and the ‘just in time’ demands of business have become even more urgent. This is why small and medium-sized businesses need to find a business courier service that is both customer-centric and efficient.
However, selecting the right business courier service can be challenging. It is a highly competitive niche business that has companies vying for customers – and the result is that many of the less scrupulous business courier service companies can be guilty of cutting corners or neglecting to offer a professional service in order to offer what can seem (at first glance) to be incredible deals. However, often the quality and scope of those services leave something to be desired – and that can have far-reaching negative consequences when it comes to customer and stakeholder relations.
So what does a reputable courier service offer?
1. Speed
As mentioned above, speed is of the essence in today’s business environment. Items need to be delivered quickly and efficiently in order to meet the increasingly demanding requirements of business partners and customers. Using a local, dedicated delivery service to transport items is far preferable to using surface mail. Not only is it far faster but you will be dealing with a single service provider that will track the item and ensure that it is delivered efficiently.
2. Peace of Mind
A business-focused courier company will build its reputation on the basis of making sure that the package is delivered quickly, but just as important is that the goods will be delivered in pristine condition – and the professional courier company will go that extra mile to ensure that goods in transit reach their destination undamaged. Many professional companies will ensure that the item is insured – and will provide proof of delivery in order to ensure peace of mind.
3. Cost Implications
For medium, to larger-sized businesses, there is always the temptation to purchase a delivery vehicle, especially when a high volume of items need to be delivered to an ever-changing number of addresses. However, this approach has cost ramifications for the business. Not only do vehicles have to be financed (or involve a large outlay of capital), but human resources cost in the form of a trusted driver will also impact the bottom line. A courier service is the trusted way to ensure that the documents or other items reach their destination in a cost-effective manner.
4. Streamlining Operations
Self-delivery may seem like the most logical way for deliveries to take place, but the business that undertakes deliveries using existing staff (no dedicated delivery vehicle and driver) is inevitably going to be falling into the trap of not optimizing its human resources. The simple fact of the matter is that someone doing a delivery is probably not doing the job they were hired to do. It’s far easier to call for a courier. The process is fast and hassle-free – and you know the job will get done professionally.
When you take into account these various factors it quickly becomes clear that a business courier service simply makes sense – no matter the type of business or the frequency of deliveries.