The right same-day courier service offers special care shipping for fragile items and notifies you after completing the delivery. Also, by using these services, you manage to free some time and focus on your business core competencies. Don’t forget, they offer extra security for your items, thus lowering the risks of theft and damages.
To enjoy all these perks and many more, be meticulous in hiring an experienced and reputable courier service.
But how do you pick an impeccable service if you don’t know what to look for? Read more about the seven factors to consider when hiring a courier service.
What is a Same Day Courier?
A shipping model where a customer orders an item that can be delivered to their doorstep within 24 hours is known as same-day delivery. This service is applicable on most days except for festive seasons.
Same-day delivery not only means happy customers but also lowers shipping and business inventory costs, allows businesses to gain more customers, increases margins as well as business opportunities and gives your business an edge over the others. The logistics behind same-day delivery are as follows:
- Order Confirmation: When the system asks for payment from the customer during checkout, it carries out a fraud check. Once the order is placed, a confirmation mail is sent to the customer’s inbox that also includes a tracking number.
- Order Processing: This step is carried out at distribution centers and involves picking, packing, and delivery of said products to the customers. Order processing depends on the nature of the product, packaging, shipping costs, and workforce productivity.
- Sorting and Delivery: Post sorting the package is sent out to the local destination hub where it undergoes sorting, scanning, and loaded to a delivery truck.
To understand the courier industry, read our Courier Services: A Complete Guide for 2023 blog post.
Factors to consider when choosing a Same-Day Courier
Whether you are new in the eCommerce industry or a well-established brand, the below-listed considerations will help you with streamlined delivery at reasonable costs.
Same-Day Courier Available Services
Different online couriers provide different set of services. If you need to transport some hazardous material or medical supplies, ensure the online courier service you hire has the appropriate equipment and resources to deliver the package securely and under regulations. For example, a fresh food business may require a specialist in the field. Such goods must be transported in clean, temperature-controlled surroundings by the logistics providers handling the delivery.
Consider Speed of Delivery
When shopping around for the best courier service, speed of delivery should be among your utmost considerations. If you’re a business owner, you want to ensure your goods will get to your customers on time. So it’s vital to work with a reliable company that’ll speed up your delivery and avoids unnecessary delays.
During your search, ensure to compare the average delivery speed of every company. Also, you can look into the range of speeds they can deliver at. Some services offer rush and standard while others provide an extensive range of delivery speeds to cater to varying needs.
You need to pick the courier service that you can rely on should speed up a delivery arise.
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Same-Day Courier Pricing
Before you hire a courier partner, find out how much they charge. You wouldn’t want to choose an expensive service and lower your profit margin. So, compare courier fees of different courier partners and pick the most cost-effective parcel delivery service. Again, many same-day courier service providers contain hidden fees, making them more expensive than they appear on the surface. So, even if you are trying to save money, do not skimp on the service quality.
Courier Reliability
It is always critical to ensure that your order is delivered to your customer for real. So, select a courier provider that provides you with shipment tracking features. Your courier provider must provide you with extensive detailed tracking capabilities to always let you know where your package is.
Service to Customers
Good customer service is essential for any business. Every buyer wants to purchase from a business that is easy to reach over the phone and has pleasant customer executives to resolve any issues. Therefore, your courier partner must be available to lend a helping hand in an emergency. In addition, you should also find out if your courier partner will assist you with unloading and loading the products.
Delivery Flexibility
Is your courier provider adaptable enough to manage deliveries in unexpected situations? An emergency is a normal part of life which is why your courier service provider must have scope for adjustments. Your courier service provider should be able to provide quality service to your clients regardless of the circumstances. In specific emergency cases, your courier partner should be able to send a driver to your location.
Covered Areas
Your courier service provider should cover as many pin codes as possible to help increase your customer reach. If you get orders from international customers, you should pick a logistics partner that handles international deliveries too. You may also request a guarantee from your courier partner that your overseas delivery will arrive on schedule.
Transport of Goods
It is important to know how your courier partner handles your package, especially if you are transporting fragile items or commodities that must arrive in good shape. There are several instances where products are delivered broken due to several reasons. It is mainly due to the mistreatment of sensitive objects along the journey and the use of frequent vehicle swaps to save money. You may want to browse customer reviews to see how your courier partner handles packages for reassurance.
Check the Experience of the Courier Company
Considering the experience of a company is necessary whenever you want to hire any service. This determines the quality of services you get and if the company will satisfy all your needs.
To review a company’s experience, look at the length of time they’ve been into the industry. Also, you can consider the size of the company and the number of customers they serve.
If a company is big and has been handling deliveries for a long time, they’re experienced. This is because they’ve been doing that job repeatedly until they learn new skills. If possible, hire a courier service that has been in existence for at least five years.
Services Not Included
A prominent courier partner is expected to provide additional services to its customers. Your courier partner’s services should go beyond simply transporting packages from your place to the customers’ locations. They should be able to provide some perks. Some courier partners provide additional services like logistics, packaging, warehouse management, and labeling. While you can handle some of the listed things yourself, it is far better to hire a professional. So, choose a logistics partner that provides additional services in addition to parcel delivery.
Ask for Referrals
It can be overwhelming to find the perfect one with many courier services out there. You’ll need to comb through the options to see the one that matches all your needs. If you’re not cautious, you can be confused by these numerous services and end up making wrong decisions.
To lessen the burden of finding a suitable courier service, start by getting referrals from reliable sources. These sources can be; friends, relatives, and colleagues who use or use courier services regularly. Ask them about their experiences working with the courier company they use.
If they are satisfied with their services, don’t hesitate to ask for recommendations. If they regret choosing that specific company, walk away and seek other referrals.
Don’t be complacent after getting recommendations. Please go through the list and narrow it down to a few manageable options. Then reach out to your prospective companies interview them to learn more about their services.
Read Online Customer Reviews
Of course, you don’t want to work with a disreputable company, right. Before hiring any courier service, visit their websites to read the customers’ testimonials. This will help you see what customers say or feel about the same-day courier service.
A typical company will have positive and negative reviews from past and current customers. However, If you find the negative comments exceed the positive ones, scratch off that service from your list. Many negative reviews signal a huge problem, so don’t take chances.
To ascertain that your courier service is reputable, research it on Better Business Bureau site. It contains detailed reviews showing why customers are happy or unhappy working with a particular company. Sometimes online reviews can be biased, so take them with a pinch of salt.
Special Care Shipping
Some items are very fragile, requiring unique packaging and special care during shipping. This ensures they reach their destination when they’re in pristine condition. If you’re delivering delicate items, it’s crucial to find out how a courier service handles them.
Ask them about the procedures and materials they use to package fragile things. Don’t forget to inquire about their loading and offloading styles. Before hiring any company, get the assurance that your goods will be in safe hands.
If your items are fragile, having them break while on transit sets not only your business back but also your clients. This is avoidable if you work with an experienced and reputably courier service.
Tracking Capability
Tracking your goods when they’re in transit gives you peace of mind. This is because you’ll know where your delivery is and where it has been at all times during transportation. So, choose a courier that offers detailed real-time tracking capabilities to enjoy this perk.
Tracking helps you provide your customers with a more accurate timeline about when they’ll receive their goods. Also, it reassures your customers that you didn’t waste their money and they’re going to receive their orders.
Pick a Same-day Courier that Specializes in the Latest Technology
Same-day delivery is the new normal. Around half of consumers abandon online shopping carts because of slow or unclear delivery times. But how reliable is same-day delivery?Â
One of the main ways same-day delivery works is with same day couriers. Same-day couriers ensure recipients receive their packages the same day they are ordered and sent. Same-day delivery serves all industries, including medical businesses and retail.Â
One way couriers guarantee reliability and efficiency is through the technology they use. Read on to learn about the technology same day couriers use, so you can have peace of mind your package is in safe hands.Â
Online Tracking PortalÂ
If you are sending a package to an important client, you want a way to track it.  The good news is that same day couriers such as Mobile One have online portals so you can track your parcel. Check recipients receive important packages, such as medical supplies and essential documents.Â
You can also turn on email notifications to follow a parcel’s status as a recipient or sender. And you can also contact customer services 24/7 if you would prefer for them to check the status of your parcel.Â
Signature CaptureÂ
Signature capture uses technology to capture a handwritten signature electronically. Usually, it uses scanning technology or an LCD touchpad with a stylus to record the signature. Not only does this reduce paper usage, but it is a reliable way to check authenticity and confirm delivery.
Bar Code Scanning
Bar code scanning helps same day couriers enhance their delivery logistics in different ways. When a package is sent, a shipping bar code helps identify the shipment. The pattern can usually only be read by a machine.
Same day couriers use technology such as bar code scanning at each phase of delivery to track inventory and packages. It is easier to lose track of parcels without barcodes due to human error, making it harder to recover the package. Bar code scanning guarantees true chain custody, reducing the risk of errors.Â
Bar code scanning also helps confirm proof of delivery and gives real-time parcel information. Bar code scanning updates online tracking portals too. So you can rest assured that you have the most up-to-date location information.Â
GPS Package TrackingÂ
Another way same day couriers use technology is through GPS package tracking. This technology tracks the package’s precise location, sending the information to the couriers’ software so they can manage delivery as efficiently as possible.Â
GPS package tracking also reduces the risk of damage and improves customer satisfaction. You have the most up-to-date and accurate information about package location. Plus, it reduces the chance that the item is damaged or opened during delivery.Â
You will have the information you need to track items efficiently. It helps secure your packages and reduces downtime when you need to search for a package. GPS package tracking guarantees you will feel in control of delivery.Â
Business Application Integration
When sending and receiving packages, you want it to be an easy process. Delivery should be efficient and reliable. However, a common challenge for industries such as healthcare is delivery management.Â
It is a lot easier to hire same day couriers to fulfill the job for you. They have the technology to make delivery as smooth as possible, such as application integration. Business application integration connects different systems and applications to work together, which improves capabilities and efficiencies.
Same day couriers often use application integration software to ensure customers have an integrated system to manage their deliveries. This improves efficiency, delivery accuracy, and customer satisfaction.Â
Do not worry about separate platforms for different logistical aspects of your business. Instead, everything is in one place to make delivery management as efficient as possible.
Picture Verifications
Picture verifications can also confirm your package has been delivered to the correct location. It helps receivers know where to locate the parcel if they were not in for delivery, avoiding miscommunication or unhappy customers.
Couriers can also use picture verification to help confirm proof of identity when handing over a package, such as by checking ID or proof of age.
Performance Metrics
Another way same day couriers keep up efficiency is by measuring performance metrics with technology. Performance metrics help same day couriers provide the most reliable service, as they are constantly looking at ways to improve their logistics.
Performance metrics also indicate that the delivery company cares about its work and provides good customer care. They have the technology to manage any issues, such as damaged goods, and ensure on-time shipping results.Â
Audit ApplicationsÂ
Delivery services such as Mobile One Courier also use a field audit app to perform randomized audits on drivers. It is not just about delivering the package on time for many industries. There are also other concerns, such as PHI and OSHA requirements.Â
Audit applications are there to ensure the courier service has control over all delivery stages. The technology helps check that the vehicle is secure and up to the right cleanliness standards. After all, with industries such as the healthcare industry, patient sensitivity and safety is paramount.
Audit applications also check client-specific orientations are being met. And it ensures the driver is following rules around attire, tools, and grooming.
These Are Factors to Consider When Choosing a Same Day Courier Service
Hiring a reputable courier service is like finding a needle in a haystack. There is a multitude of courier services out there, so picking an impeccable one can be daunting. However, the task becomes easier if you know what to look for during your search.
Same day couriers use technology in different ways for the safe transport of packages. But not all the same day couriers provide equal service. You want to pick a reliable and reputable service that uses advanced technology.
There is no use picking a same day courier service that uses technology but does not have the reputation to match. Zoom2u is Austrailia go-to provider of same-day delivery and logistic solutions. We have the technology and expertise to provide meet your business needs.
