Outsourcing a courier service not only helps you build your reputation but also helps you to scale up your business. So much so, you can be able to save up on a lot of costs that you would have otherwise incurred if you had an in house fleet management team. With a courier service provider in place, you no longer have to worry about fuel, maintenance, hiring, and insurance costs as all that is catered for by the courier company. The twist, however, comes in when deciding on the courier company to use for your shipment processes. There being many of them, it can be a daunting task having to settle on one. In this article, we will be looking at some of the things you need to consider before choosing one;
- Reputation
Be sure to find out what people are saying about a given courier service provider. Ask your business partners as well as your family members about the courier services they use to get their products delivered. This will, in turn, help you get some referrals of companies you can trust. Also, go ahead and check the reviews online. Log into the courier service providers websites and see what other people are saying about the services they received. Choose one that has a good reputation and is highly rated by its clients. If you want to learn more, go to your website and show map and also search up the differences between the courier companies and compare them.
- Experience
For how long has the courier company been in business? This is something you need to find out before signing a contract with any of them. Whether the goods being delivered are fragile or not, you have to ensure that the company you choose has the ability to deliver them in good shape. Ask them how long they have been in business and you can also request them to give you referrals of the customers they have served or are still serving. This is an extra step you can take to ascertain that the company indeed has the ability to handle your delivery system effectively.
- Speed
Clients always want their orders delivered as soon as possible, and that’s why you need to consider how fast the courier delivers the orders. Look at how long a particular courier company takes to deliver the orders and gauge if they will meet your needs accordingly. Go for a courier service provider who makes fast deliveries both locally and internationally. As a matter of fact, choose a service provider who also offers day deliveries to the clients who need the orders delivered immediately.
- Costs
You have to pay for the delivery services that you will be receiving from the courier services. And that is why you need to compare theirs. Choose a company that offers professional services and at the same time is within your budget. Websites such as Flagship save you the hassle of having to look for every company one by one as it already has a compiled list of the prices that different couriers offer their customers. However, note that the price is directly affected by other variables such as distance, how fragile the package is, the weight of the package, and so on. As such, never make a mistake of choosing a courier service based on price alone without putting the other factors into consideration.
- Customer service
Many are the times that you may want to inquire about something concerning the shipments that should be delivered. For this purpose, you want to work with a company that values your time and is always ready to attend to you at any given time. Hire a company that is transparent and will keep you on the loop until the delivery reaches the client. It is quite annoying having to deal with mad clients who have not received their packages due to a mistake made by the courier service. As such, ensure that the courier service provider you hire is honest and has excellent communication skills. Moreover, hire a company with a 24/7 customer care support team.
- Location
What areas does the courier service provider serve? If you have both domestic and international clients, choose a company that can be able to deliver to the specific regions accordingly. To be sure, ask the company to give you a map of areas that they have offices or pick up points. This will ensure that the consignments you give them do not get lost at any point and they reach the clients in good time.
