7 Things To Consider When Using A Delivery Service
To many businesses, the delivery of products to consumers is a crucial aspect of their service. While some businesses have their own fleet of delivery vans, others engage the services of a third party to manage their delivery and freight needs.
By outsourcing the delivery of goods, these businesses don’t have to worry about dealing with licenses, regulations, fuel costs, taxes, and driver training. However, it is important to ensure that you choose the right company as it can reflect directly on your company. You definitely want your business to be perceived as reliable and reputable, and who your business associates with plays a key role in portraying this image.
However, with so many road hauliers, couriers, and major national parcel delivery services out there, you might be wondering how to go about choosing the best one.
In need of a safe, reliable and courier? Give Sub60 a call today.
1. Speed
When shopping around for the best delivery service, speed of delivery should be one of your most important considerations. How fast you are able to get your goods to your customers will have a huge impact on how they perceive your business. While timing isn’t always much of a big concern, it is crucial to have a reliable company should the need to speed up a delivery ever arise.
Compare the average delivery speed of each company as well as the range of speeds they can deliver at. While some companies only offer standard and rush, others offer an extensive range of delivery speeds to cater to varying needs.
2. Areas Covered
In case your business takes orders from customers throughout the country, you need to find a delivery service that can efficiently fulfil these orders. If your business sells to the international market, go for a courier who can handle both domestic and international deliveries without much hassle.
3. Special Care Shipping
Some items will require special care and unique packaging when shipping to ensure they arrive in pristine condition. If your business deals with such kinds of goods, it is crucial to find out how a particular company handles them.
For Wayne’s Landscaping, an Australian landscaping company, they say that a product arriving safe and sound should be a cornerstone of any courier business. “If your product is fragile, having it break while being transported sets not only your business back but also the customer. It’s a completely avoidable situation and breaking products costs thousands, so it’s crucial that the courier can promise your product will be delivered just as it should be.”
4. Experience
It is always important to consider the experience of the company when seeking any kind of service. Find out how long they have been in business and how much experience they have handling deliveries. Your best bet is to hire an established courier that has experience working with businesses similar to yours. Such a courier will not only be able to provide you with the best service, but they can also offer highly useful and insightful advice on improving your own delivery process.
5. Tracking Capability
It goes without saying that knowing exactly where your delivery is at all times can help to give you some much-needed peace of mind. So, go for a courier who offers comprehensive and detailed real-time tracking capabilities that allow clients to know exactly where their package is and where it has been.
Tracking capability is also a vital part for Paul Ferguson’s electrical company, because it helps him provide customers with a more accurate timeline of when jobs will get done. “Knowing exactly where my product is and when it will arrive gives me confidence in telling the customer when a job will be done, plus it also reassures my customers that their money is going to be well-spent and not wasted.”
6. Customer Service
Dealing with a company that is hard to reach to address your concerns and queries can be a very stressful experience. It is always smart to go with a smaller, locally-established company. In case of anything, you can directly speak with the owner. It is also important to find out whether the drivers usually offer assistance when it comes to loading/unloading by hand.
7. Price
While pricing is definitely an important factor to consider, it shouldn’t be the determining factor. This explains why it is last on the list. When choosing a courier service, it is not always advisable to go for the cheapest option. Those low prices are often a reflection of low-quality services. Be wary of hidden surcharges and other reasons their prices are cheap. The point here is to get quality services at an affordable rate.
Sub60 Couriers understands that the shipping needs of every business are different. This is why we tailor our courier services to meet the unique needs of every customer. Our capable team is on standby to respond to all your questions and concerns. And we are always happy to provide references.
Contact us today to learn more about our services, or to book your first delivery.