Finding the right long-term courier partner can be difficult, however with plenty of in-depth research, you can be sure to find a courier on a budget that aligns your business needs, in addition to having your customer’s best interests in mind.
We are going to look at key things to look for when choosing a long-term courier.
Experience
When looking for a long-term courier for your parcel delivery, it is important that you look at how much experience each courier company has. This is crucial, as this could be the difference between a successful delivery process, and one that is full of mistakes.
What’s more, the experience is of increased importance when special documents or valuable items need to be delivered to and from your business.
Tracking
In addition to the courier service needing to have plenty of experience, you also need to ensure it’s using reliable courier tracking software. Being able to track your parcel to its destination means that you can see whether it will arrive on time or not, and this translates to better customer service.
This could also be beneficial for business to business overseas, as it will allow parcels to be sent internationally and tracked throughout every stage of the process, making this perfect for high ticket items or important documents.
Customer Service
Another feature to consider, when looking for a long-term courier partner, is if they have a reliable customer service helpline.
This will help your business to run seamlessly because you will be able to contact your courier if you need instant help regarding a parcel. This open communication between you and your long-term courier is excellent if an order is cancelled or if an order has been packaged incorrectly, or even sent to the wrong address, as the problem can be solved without any hassle.
Cost
A big contributing factor that should be deliberated, is the price of the service that you are paying for. The prices need to be affordable, in order for it to be cost-effective for your business.
However, the price is something to be aware of. You must keep an eye on the prices, in case they begin to rise, without informing their customers first. You want your chosen courier company to be a long-term solution, not short-term.
Availability
If you are spending a large amount of money on courier services, you need to ensure that they will be available for the time periods that you need them for.
This should be organised before committing to the partnership, as this can have a substantial effect on the orders that your business can deliver. This is particularly important during the holiday season if you need orders to be delivered at specific times for your customers. If your courier has limited availability, you run the risk of falling behind.
We understand that choosing a long-term courier company can be a stressful time, however with a little bit of research, you will be able to find a reliable and cost-effective courier in no time at all.