Globalisation has quickly taken a hold over the world with borders and boundaries shrinking before our eyes. This means that business is being done at a rapid rate and companies now have access to customers across the globe, which they otherwise would not have had access to. As a business owner who supplies products to different parts of the world, you need a reliable courier company to partner with in order to make your operations efficient and your customers happy. Sure, you can opt for an in-house logistics department but that would mean investing in resources, time and manpower. So, if you’re thinking about partnering with a courier company and you aren’t sure how to choose one, this post is for you.
How to choose a courier company
When it comes to international package delivery, you need to be 100% sure that your package will arrive at the right address, at the right time, undamaged and in perfect condition. However, not all courier companies guarantee this. And this is why you have to carefully select your partner so that you have customer satisfaction each and every time. With this in mind, here are 10 factors to look out for when choosing a courier company.
Service availability: Deliveries is a broad term and it can refer to both international and domestic ones. In addition, you can think of deliveries as those that deal with small items such as mail in envelopes and bigger items such as packaged boxes. Then there is everything else in between. You therefore need to check what services your service provider offers so that you can be sure that all your needs will be covered.
Insurance: In most cases, the items which you will be shipping both domestically and abroad will be valuable. You do not want anything to happen to them. Yet, accidents do happen and this means you need to be prepared for the worst. With this in mind, you need to find out what sort of insurance your courier company offers you on your items and the delivery service so that you can have more peace of mind.
Regions and delivery areas: Some courier companies service a wide range of areas whereas others serve a small, more niche market. Depending on your needs, you need to ask your courier company what regions and delivery areas they deliver to so that you do not need to look for an alternative provider but that you can rather have each of your distinct package delivery needs fulfilled.
Industry reputation: Also important to consider is the industry reputation of your courier company. This reputation will be guided by their experience in the industry, their levels of specialisation, their expertise in local and international deliveries and shipping as well as reviews from current customers. The more positive reviews they have generated the better. But also don’t hesitate to look at negative reviews and the responses to them. Even if it’s a negative review, you can quickly ascertain how your courier company has dealt with the complaint. Was it in a timely manner? Was the issue ultimately resolved? Was some form of compensation offered in exchange?
Technology: Our world revolves around technology and shipping and couriering is no different. Technology has a way of easing our lives and making operations much more smoother and more efficient. This is why global package tracking through apps is essential as a part of the service offering and is another element that you should consider when selecting your courier partner.
Speed of delivery: It is also important to ask your prospective courier partner what options you have with regard to speed of delivery. Yes, the final destination for each package will vary but you should have an overall estimate of the average amount of time it will take to get your items to the furthest destination from you as well as the closest destination to you.
Safety and security: You should further consider what safety and security measures your courier company has implemented to ensure your items do not get damaged. For example, if it’s a small or medium sized box, will they do the wrapping and packaging and how will they deal with fragile items? If it’s a larger product that needs to be shipped in a container, what sort of container do you require? Will it be one that needs refrigeration in the interior or simply strong pellets to keep multiple items in place?
Costs: Of course, there is always the issue of costs and affordability. It would be wise to seek discounts from your courier company in the event that you plan to enter into a long-term relationship with them. If you cannot secure discounts, try to secure the best rates possible. This will mean going over the different package sizing options and their associated costs.
Customer service: As a final point, check out the courier company’s customer service. This will be either a hotline that you can call or a physical face that you can interact with whenever you experience a problem. You should look out for their friendliness, their timely response and their ability to resolve your issue.
Do you need a professional courier service in Barcelona?
When it comes to courier service from Barcelona, let DRG Solutions help you with any international deliveries you may need. As one of the best courier companies in Barcelona, your package will always be delivered on time, every time and with all the associated perks, assistance and technical support you may need. So, don’t hesitate to reach out and get in touch with us. We’re just a phone call away!