While it’s safe for Australian businesses to hire a courier from well-known brands, it’s always wise to research to make an informed decision. To choose the right courier service in Australia, it is important to determine what you require, learn about different options, and ensure you have what you need at a reasonable price.
This article compiles a list of critical factors when selecting a courier provider for your business. Let’s look at five things you must consider when choosing a courier service:
Do You Need Local or International Courier Service?
When selecting a courier service company, you must consider several factors, such as the distance, destination, and the sender’s needs. If your suppliers and customers are within the city, you can hire a courier service company near you for a faster and cheaper courier service.
If your business involves international shipping, you must scout for a reliable overseas courier provider with a proven track record and insurance options.
What Courier Features Do You Need?
It is also critical to consider the services you require from a courier service provider. When you’re limited in funds, go with a local business. On the other hand, if you value speed and round-the-clock quality service, partner only with a reputable courier service provider. It may cost extra, but it guarantees high-quality service every business needs.
Some niche businesses also require specific courier companies that cater to similar products. This includes artwork, plants, fresh produce, an ecommerce business, etc.
Finding an express courier delivery provider familiar with handling the products you offer is paramount to ensuring your goods get delivered safely to your customers.
What Is Your Budget for Courier Service?
As an ecommerce business, you must choose the best courier service and parcel delivery service, consider your budget, and compare it to theirs. If you have a lot of money, you can choose a more expensive courier service with more delivery options.
On the other hand, you can go with a courier service that charges very little for delivery and shipping cost. This is a viable option for startups and small-to-medium-sized enterprises that still need their delivery system and need to keep their prices competitive.Â
Thankfully, it is easy to choose the best courier, as many courier companies in Australia offer low-cost courier services, partnering with many independent entrepreneurs, startups and SMEs.
How Fast Do You Need Your Products Delivered?
Some products demand same-day deliveries, like food products and other perishables. The speed of delivery service, then, should be considered when choosing a courier provider. Since time is money for a business owner, getting your packages as soon as possible must be a top priority.
A common misconception is that same-day delivery solutions are expensive. Thankfully, Australia-wide delivery services offer such express deliveries at affordable costs, so you don’t need to hike up prices for your customers.Â
How Is Their Customer Service?
One of the critical aspects of choosing a courier service is their consistency in delivering your product.Â
Therefore, you must get a dependable provider with a proven record and excellent customer service.Â
It also helps if they have an automated tracking system with notifications. Thus, you know exactly where your goods or products are at any given time. In case of unavoidable delays, you can manage your customers’ expectations and avoid the cancellation of orders and the like. 24/7 responsive customer support is also vital to ensure a smooth flow of pick-up and delivery each time.Â
To find out if a courier service is reliable, ask for references from previous customers and check out their history.
To understand the courier industry, read our Courier Services: A Complete Guide for 2023 blog post.
15 Essential Criteria to -Help Choose the Best Courier Services in Australia
You now know what to look for when choosing a courier delivery service in Australia. We have created a list of essential criteria that every e-commerce courier delivery service should meet.Â
1. Serviceability
Does the courier ship to all the locations that my customers are based in? Can my courier service handle my required order volumes?”.
These two questions are vital to better understanding whether a courier service will give you the best customer service and help your business grow.Â
2. Limitations in Parcel Size and Weight
Every delivery service company has a different set bandwidth for deliveries. Some delivery service companies are better equipped to handle smaller parcels like USPS and Zoom2U, while others, like FedEx UPS, specialize in large and bulky deliveries.
Depending on your e-commerce business, you want to choose the delivery service that specialises in the same parcel size that you need to have shipped 90% of the time. Most shipping companies in Australia will offer different shipping weights and size limitations for orders that are both domestic and international.
3. Shipping Rates
The shipping and delivery costs for every courier company in Australia are different. Shipping rates are further differentiated depending on the parcel size, urgency of delivery, location, and any special features requirements.
The best way to determine if a courier company will be a cost-efficient shipping option is to compare the shipping services price charged to the price offered by other companies. Some of the best courier service providers offer free shipping costs to companies during promotions.
4. Delivery Speed
Express delivery and delivery speed are something every e-commerce business should prioritise, given the rising consumer expectations of urgent deliveries and customer satisfaction. Customers will not wait 3-5 days for their order to be delivered.
When you choose the correct courier service provider, you can offer your customers fast delivery services like Same-day delivery, next-day delivery, hyperlocal delivery, and express deliveries.
5. Hidden Costs And SLA Terms
Some shipping companies are notorious for becoming hugely expensive in checkout. This is because, in e-commerce shipping, costs keep adding up until they become unaffordable. The items that make shipping expensive typically include extra charges and hidden fees not mentioned on the website.
Always talk to your chosen shipping company beforehand about how much everything costs.
6. Specialisation
The need for specialisation in shipping has increased with several different kinds of businesses entering the e-commerce industry’s ecosystem. Many shipping services like FedEx can provide supremely convenient temperature-sensitive transport for specialised products.
Some courier service providers in Australia can offer other services like heavyweight, bulk, and fast delivery times. That can be useful for companies selling furniture, exercise equipment, heavy machinery, etc.
Specialisation can also include shipping other products that the Australian Post will not ship.
7. Security And Insurance
Sometimes, damages can and will happen when a parcel is in transit. It is important to plan when items are damaged in transit.
It would be best if you addressed customer questions asking who is responsible for the costs when items are damaged. Fortunately, you can get an insurance plan or choose to use a courier service that offers an insurance plan.
An insurance plan will protect you and your business when damages happen while keeping your customers happy.Â
8. Delivery Mechanisms
Customers want to know how long it takes to deliver orders for online shopping. Given today’s heightened customer expectations of fast delivery, a longer delivery time will surely put off customers. So naturally, an e-commerce business should always inquire about the kind of delivery services and delivery times a courier service offers.
Many courier delivery service companies in Australia provide same-day and next-day delivery options, express delivery, curbside delivery, scheduled delivery, and on-demand delivery. Knowing your courier company’s delivery service options will help you effectively plan optimized delivery routes and provide a better shipping service to your customers.
9. Proof Of Delivery
Proof of Delivery can now be used as a digital document, which the customer signs on successfully receiving their order. It helps e-commerce stores gauge fulfilment rates and swiftly act on delivery exceptions.Â
10. Return to Origin (RTO)(%) In ECommerce
A return to origin happens when a delivery company cannot deliver a shipment to the customer after multiple attempts. A courier company in Australia will make at least three attempts to deliver a parcel before the item is marked return to origin.
A high RTO percentage can cause alarm for business owners as it strongly indicates that the company has a recurring delivery problem with the shipping company.
It is vital to make sure you do your research into a courier company’s RTO before choosing to use the company, as this can make or break your business.
11. Returns Management
Return management is when orders travel back to the warehouse from the customer to the seller’s warehouse or 3PLs. Returns are an inevitable part of e-commerce shipping. Therefore, an e-commerce company in Australia must figure out a way to streamline the returns process to minimise losses.
A courier company that offers effective returns Management will quickly address returns/refunds and exchanges while delivering the order or parcel back to the warehouse to be integrated into the exciting inventory without delay.
12. Stuck Shipments
Most e-commerce delivery service companies will have a few undelivered packages in their warehouse. While this is not necessarily a cause for concern, more stuck shipments should be a significant concern. A delivery load can often remain undelivered because of confusion or unsolvable issues.
13. Technology
Technology is one of the most significant contributors to the development of e-commerce industry and courier services worldwide. E-commerce delivery has rapidly advanced thanks to new technological developments in blockchain, big data, and AI.
Today, services like Locate2U can offer online stores in Australia that can provide customers with superior delivery service with route optimisation, automatic order status updates, real-time GPS tracking, and fleet management to name a few benefits.
14. Additional Services Offered
When looking for a reliable courier service, it is crucial to partner with a courier company in Australia that provides additional benefits.
Depending on your type of industry, you may find some or all of these services suitable for your e-commerce venture. These services could also be an effective strategy to partner your business with companies with 3PL services, distribution centres and localized warehousing.
15. Research The Past Performance Of the Courier Company
Researching customer reviews about a courier service is an excellent way to judge a courier delivery company. If your courier service in Australia has been repeatedly reviewed as a service that provides quality delivery services. Then that is the service for you.
Final Words
Courier and delivery companies in Australia can help online businesses scale up their businesses enormously. However, finding the correct courier service to fulfil your business needs should take effort and time.
By looking carefully at all the essential features a successful courier company should have, you can choose and find the best courier services company in Australia for your business in no time!
FAQs
Which Is The Best Shipping Company In Australia?
The best shipping company is the courier company that fulfils all the delivery and shipping needs a business would have while allowing the owner to scale up in the process. In this regard, many excellent shipping and logistics companies like Zoom2u and Locate2u exist in Australia.
How To Find A Reliable Courier Company In Australia?
Reliable courier companies need to meet a minimum of three different criteria. One, the company must have an excellent on-time delivery record. Two, the courier service offers parcel and delivery tracking and visibility to inform customers of the delivery times. Third, the delivery service provides businesses and individuals affordable shipping options and rates.
