The Courier Blog

International Courier companies around the world are preparing themselves for the busy festive period ahead.
With the growth in online sales and ecommerce trading over the last few years, courier companies have had to be able to cope with the demand in services, not only with local transportation but also international consignments.

Online Trading has given retailers the opportunity to be based anywhere in the world whilst still be able to retail their products in any given country. Reasons for relocation might be cheaper overheads and taxes, but in turn this leads to the requirement for international couriers to help deliver the products overseas.

Naturally , online retailing happens 365 days of the year but come the Festive period, sales can quite literally ‘boom’ putting additional demands on the international courier industry. It is important that the couriers can meet these demands given the expectations that the festive period brings!

One of the issues that might cause delays during winter is the weather. Be it increased turbulence or icy roads the International Couriers need to try to deliver whatever the weather. However, as we saw in the U.K. a couple of years ago sometimes it is just too dangerous to attempt to make a delivery. No matter how much the courier companies prepare for the festive delivery rush it can all change at the drop of a hat if the weather turns on them. For this reason, it is always recommended that online shoppers refrain from ordering their gifts at the very last minute to avoid disappointment.

One of the other things that online retailers do to try and avoid consumer disappointment is provide shipping cut off points. The retailers will work with the courier companies to advertise a date that is realistic in terms of getting the products to the front door of the consumer on time. The onus is then on the customer to ensure that they place their orders before the deadline date to ensure a timely delivery.

So, whilst most companies around the world slowly wind down to the Christmas break it really is quite the opposite for the  International Courier and Courier Companies. The festive season is one of, if not the busiest time of year for them and can often continue right up to the last drop on Christmas Eve.

The increased in demand needs to be managed sufficiently to ensure that service levels do not drop - otherwise complaints could end up flooding in, not only from the end consumer but also the retailer that the courier is working for.

Each and every year, during the festive period the International Courier is under immense pressure to reach the expectations of the world in time for Christmas.

New York to London - next day delivery?  No problem! With Christmas time just around the corner, global retailers and online retailers are starting seasonal promotions to help kick off the festive spending spree.  Many of us will soon sit down with a cup of coffee in front of a computer browsing gift ideas for family and friends.  What some of us might not realise though is where the retailer (sometimes also known as eTailer) is actually based - and I don’t mean where they are based within the UK, I mean the world.

Online retailing has grown massively in the last 10 years, and sales figures peak massively around Christmas time, but its fair to say that without the support of International Courier companies these online retailers would not have been able to grow at the pace they have if they were not able to distribute their items efficiently to customers.

The International Courier may have become something that we take for granted.  After all, getting around the globe seems to becoming an everyday occurrence for millions of people and is no longer something considered only by the rich and elite within society.

What should never, ever be taken for granted though is the planning and expertise that goes into fulfilling an international shipment.

Each shipment may change hands 5 or 6 times depending on its destination, and within that exchange the parcel needs to be logged in and out of a hub where it may spend any period of time waiting for the collection and next stage of its journey.  On top of that the international courier must handle all things concerned with customs and excise which is no easy task as different borders may require different protocols to be upheld.

The different types of transport that the courier companies need to use to extend their network world wide and support global retailers can vary from job to job.  The method of transportation can often depend on the type of package that is being shipped.  For example, it would be very difficult to get larger, bulky items into an aircraft so shipping by sea might be the only option.  For smaller time sensitive deliveries air travel is the best way to go as it is much quicker and cost effective for smaller items.

International Couriers aren’t new to us or the industry, but they are becoming more common place than ever.  They silently get about their work whilst we sit in front of our computers ordering gifts and products that eventually turn up on our doorstep.  The next time you order something from the U.S. for example, why not take a moment to think about exactly how it has ended up on your doorstep.

London Courier companies are out in force every single day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks of the year. The relentless work that they carry out never ends as the demands of businesses and consumers require that packages, letters, parcels and other items are delivered to their destinations on time and in one piece.

A london courier company is typical of the city itself. From time to time, a courier in London might feel that it is non-stop pick-up and drop off, and this can happen not only during the working day but into the night aswell.

It is not uncommon to see both push bike and motorcycle couriers in London as they set out on short routes to try and beat the traffic. In some cases you may even find a courier on foot if the package is small enough to carry.

London Courier companies provide all different types of services for their customers. Here is a short list of services that you might expect them to deliver:

Same Day
A same day courier service means exactly that. Getting your package to its destination the same day that it was collected. Due to the nature of the service it is not uncommon for their to be a cut off point during the day as to when it is actually feasible to deliver it on the same day.

Overnight / Next Day
Need something delivered the following day? A London Courier can usually do just that. No matter if the delivery is within London or further afield, a courier company can deliver your package to its destination on the following day from pick-up.

Time Sensitive Deliveries
From time to time you might you need to something to a client or customer by certain time. London Courier companies offer a service where you can get something to its destination pre 9am, 10am or midday. These services may also come with penalties should the package not arrive on time.

Nationwide Delivery
London Couriers arent restricted to deliveries within London. They can also deliver your packages nationwide. For smaller couriers this is sometimes done through a network of courier companies, or larger companies may have their own nationwide fleet ready to make your delivery

International Delivery
International Courier services get your parcel delivered overseas. With an understanding of how customs works, and an international fleet of vans and planes, the courier is able to get your package delivered to its international destination with minimum fuss and effort. International Delivery can also cater for large bulky items which are usually sent via sea rather than by air.

The above services are just a few that can be provided by London Courier companies. Ultimately, a courier may be able to customise a service to fit your requirements.

In todays tough economic climate, value for money can easily be interpreted as the cheapest service but the two terms couldn’t be more different.  Value for money is a term used to describe getting the most for your money where as cheapest services are just that - cheap and usually without any real substance.  However, that doesn’t mean that you cant get value for money from a cheap service.

When it comes to International Courier companies, in my opinion, you should never go head first into the cheapest service that comes along, especially if you have clients and customers that are on the receiving end of the shipment.

Value for money can vary depending on your expectations of the service.  Naturally, the most important part of the International Courier (and indeed any courier service) is the ability to get the package to its destination on time and in one piece but there are also a number of extra services that you should look out for when searching for the best value for money service.

Is your package insured?

If the item is of high value its always worth checking with the courier company to see how much they will insure the item for.  Insurance should generally be taken out against damage or loss of the item.

Do they outsource your consignment?

Some international courier companies might pass your consignment between several different companies.  This is very common with international shipments when smaller companies take on the task of delivering your package.  In an ideal world, if you put your faith in one company to deliver your package you would expect them to handle it from start to finish.

Do they offer live online tracking?

Most Courier companies these days will offer a facility to track packages online.  This means that you can see what your package / parcel / letter currently is en-route to its destination.  Live Tracking is generally done via the companies web site and can be accessed via a tracking code that will be issued to you before the package leaves for its destination.  In most cases you will also be able to see who has signed for the package once it has been delivered.

Time Sensitive Deliveries

Again, not uncommon in the industry, time sensitive deliveries allow for your package to be delivered before a set deadline.  If this deadline is not met then penalty charges can be invoked.  It is worth checking to see if your International Courier company offers time sensitive deliveries and how much extra you might have to pay for them.  You could save yourself a bob or two if you plan ahead and allow plenty of time for your delivery to reach its destination.

The important thing to remember is that, whilst on the face of it International Courier companies look the same in terms of services offered, sometimes the quality and professionalism may differ from one company to another.

The sight of an international courier these days is all too common.  Be it transportation by air, sea or road, International Courier companies are active both collecting and dropping off in virtually all of the developed countries in the world providing services that allow organisations of all sizes to reach out and touch an international courier base.

International Courier companies provide a service that many companies rely on.  They are the link between a business and its customer.  They are the face that the customers interact with when taking receipt of a parcel, letter or package.  They are the necessity that allows many online and mail order type businesses to trade.

International Courier companies have been around for a while now, but the current demand and way of life determines that they are now more important than ever.

Going back a few decades an International shipment will have been quite rare.  Perhaps the odd letter as friends and family write to each other overseas.  These days things are quite different.  The frequency of shipments has become more intense and the time sensitive deadlines are now more demanding than ever could have been envisaged just a mere decade ago.

However, as the demand has risen, International Courier companies have reacted and responded with more routes, better service, enhanced technology and improved customer service.

These days when you send a parcel overseas you can, in most cases, track the consignment in near real time as it hits depots en-route.  It allows you to see when the package was delivered and even who signed for it.  Who would have thought that a few decades ago!

As transport has become more readily available the couriers have been able to make improved promises on delivery times.  Its now just as easy to say that a parcel will be in New York and delivered Pre Midday than it is to say it could be in Manchester at the same time.

The evolution of the International Courier service has seen changes in the types of packages that can be sent overseas.  No longer are we limited to letters, post cards and small packages, but now much larger, bulky items such as furniture and house hold items.  To get these items overseas a number of different methods of transportation might be used including Plane, Ship, Train, Van, Bike, Foot and even horse back in the less developed areas of the world.

On a final note, another area of evolution in terms of International Courier companies is knowledge.  The knowledge of how to handle items and packages that pass through Customs and border patrol during each journey.  In some cases a consignment might pass through several countries and thanks to International Courier companies this generally happens without a glitch.

The very nature of the International Courier industry provides courier companies with many different demands, pressures, deadlines and challenges.  Unlike a basic local shipping, International Shipments can require a lot of precision planning as they pass between hands, national borders and through various customs clearances.

Naturally, the cost of an International Courier shipment is going to be higher than your standard day to day local shipment as there is much more work involved in the planning of the delivery and the cost of the transport of the package.   There is a very strong chance that your package will be transported by many different types of vehicle on its journey, from on foot, right through to air travel.

Getting the package from one country to another is just one thing.  It requires special expertise and a knowledge of how the local customs departments work.  If you choose a courier that doesn’t have that expertise you could run the risk of losing your package en route.  The worst case scenario for any courier customer.

Planning the route is a challenge in itself.  Not only do you have different companies in different countries to contend with but you also need to work with their delivery schedules to make sure that the item makes it to the local depot in time, ready for it to make its next leg of the journey.

All this is fine, and an experience courier should be able to handle this, but throw into the mix time sensitive deliveries and the organisation and planning required steps up a gear.

International time sensitive delivery is there to provide businesses and consumers with a service that gets your package to its destination on a certain date, often before a certain time.  This service is widely used to help meet deadlines and where the delivery of the item is urgent.

Once an International Courier gets a time sensitive delivery confirmed it has to pull out all the stops to make sure that it fulfills the delivery promise to the customer.  This requires expertise not only in the planning department but also on the ground (and air), as the couriers work together to get the package to its destination on time and in perfect condition.

Another challenge for International Couriers might be large or complicated shipments.  In some cases even animals are required to be transported although this may lead to a specialist handling company who manages this.

If you think that you have a challenging or difficult shipment that needs to go overseas then its always worth talking to the courier company first to make sure they can make the promise to get the package to its destination on time and in one piece.

Over the last 5-6 years the Internet has seen a huge boom in the availability and success of web sites that allow people to purchase products online from the comfort of their own home.  The home is now one of the most popular places to make a purchase with the convenience of the product being delivered to your doorstep.

It is very often taken for granted just how much work goes into getting the product from the warehouse to your front door, or even just how far it has actually travelled during its journey from the supplier.

When you make an online purchase, you may not always be aware of what country the company you are purchasing from is actually based in.  It may be a local company, in the same country as you, or it may be a company on the other side of the world that, with the help from an International Courier, can reach out and supply goods and products to consumers all over the globe.

Without the services provided by International Couriers, it would be nearly impossible, or very expensive for the company to ship the goods themselves.  The courier company provides companies with a global network, knowledge of how Import and Export works at customs and most importantly of all, a promise to get the item to the customer in excellent condition and within a set time scale.  It is also important to know that the company that is selected to courier the products around the globe may have to outsource parts of the journey, especially once it reaches foreign soils.  With the larger companies this isnt usually the case, but smaller International Courier companies may work with foreign based providers to get the package to your doorstep.

One thing that Courier Companies have to consider when delivering consignments is that they are working as the face of the company who is delivering the goods.  Therefore, its important the the company supplying the products choses an International Courier company that they feel will be able to represent them professionally, both in terms of the employee that delivers the parcel and the promises and terms supplied for the delivery of the product.  The courier company also needs to be able to provide insurance in the case of damage or loss of the equipment.

Its pretty safe to say, that without International Courier companies it would be impossible for companies to be able to reach out to a global consumer base which would naturally severely limit the growth of their companies.  International Courier companies provide the piece of the jigsaw that seemingly brings the world closer together and allows businesses half way around the world to enjoy a customer base thousands and thousands of miles away.

An International Courier Company provides a service that allows consumers and businesses to get letters, parcels and products from one side of the world to the other. In todays modern age, businesses have come to rely on International Courier companies and in some cases may even see them as an out-stretched arm of their company! International Courier companies provide a service that allows companies to reach a global audience which naturally expands their client portfolio.

For example, if you need to get a package from Manchester to San Francisco an International Courier Company will handle each stage of the journey, from the initial storage at the local depot, to the moment it arrives on the doorstep of the recipient.

With advances in transport over the last 30 years, getting consumer and business consignments from one side of the globe to the other has definitely become easier, more efficient and quicker, and more and more businesses rely on the international courier service to reach out their customers.

However, it isn’t always possible to get items to the most remote parts of the world. Naturally, an International Courier has to rely on the transport infrastructure to be able to make the delivery. The transport infrastructure might involve the availability of an airport or seaport, a depot and a passable road leading to the destination address. Whilst an International Courier company will always endeavor to make every delivery by what ever means of transport is required - for example they might even look to use a quad bike or horse if the job demands - it is a fact that in some cases it may not be possible due to the restrictions imposed upon them

Of course, whilst it is not always possible to get the package to its exact location, it might be possible to get it to a location nearby, so that the recipient can make a visit to a neighboring town where the consignment might be held for them. With any International Courier this would be a last resort though.

It is important to note that most International Courier companies will always look to find a way to get the delivery made. It is not generally in their nature to just leave a consignment ‘nearby’ as it is not what the paying customer expects.

In summary, yes there are places that an International, or even local, Courier company just physically can’t get to, but then in terms of how often that location would actually receive a package the chances of this happening are pretty slim. By using many different types of transport to get your consignment delivered, be it via air or on foot, International Courier companies are pretty good at keeping their promises and delivering parcels and packages to their destinations, in good condition and in a timely fashion.

Many businesses rely on International Courier services. With the boom of the internet and ecommerce it is now much easier for any business to have a global customer base and its vitally important that businesses are able to meet the expectations of the customers world wide.

In theory, International Courier services are no different to your national and local services. It’s just that they involve different types of transportation. However, look a little deeper and things become slightly more complicated in that along the way the consignment will make many stops at different depots, and may even pass into the hands of different courier companies along the way. Naturally you may not even know who these courier companies are, how they operate or what kind of service they deliver.

However, just to confuse matters, the best service doesnt always come from the most expensive company. Getting value for money involves a balance between cost and service. Whilst one customer might get best value for money using one courier company, it is possible that another customer might need to look elsewhere to get what they would consider best value. This is where it can start to confuse consumers, who simply want the best deal that reflects well on their business.

There are different ways that you can shop around, looking for the best international courier company.

Firstly, if you have the time you can simply shop around. The internet is a very useful tool that makes this very easy but it can be difficult to get the information that you require to make an informed decision on if that company offers a best value for money service.

Secondly, you can go and talk to courier companies. Again, as with shopping around on the internet, if you meet with a sales person its their job to talk the company up, so you dont always get the true picture or reflection of service. This process can also be very costly in terms of time spent trying to get the best deal.

Thirdly, you could contact a cost consultant. The consultant will spend many hours monitoring the international courier market, finding out which companies provide which services and at what cost. They may collate independent customer testimonials, both negative and positive and also record delivery statistics giving you a real true reflection on just how good that particular company is.

As the courier consultant has the data readily available, its an efficient process for them to compare one company against the other, and as already stated, a courier isnt a one fit solution so its important that a substantial cross section of companies is used in order to benchmark them against each other.

Using a cost consultant is typically free to the consumer, as the consultant has already agreed fees and commissions with the courier companies in question, so at the end of the day its a no risk practice.

There is certainly no shortage of International Courier companies these days, and its fair to say that many global businesses rely on them in order to trade.  The problem with choice is that its easy to make the wrong decision if you are not fully informed of the facts regarding that company before the decision is made.

One of the first things you should consider when looking for the best international courier company is what are you looking for from the service.  For example, are you just looking to save a bit of money where time sensitive delivery isn’t important, or do you need to be able to put your full trust in the company to ensure that your customer receives the consignment on time and intact.  Usually the better the service the higher the price, although this is not always true.

Courier companies come in all different shapes and sizes, from multi million pound global operations with their own aircraft to smaller family sized firms.  The aim of any courier company should be to provide a reliable service and deliver (excuse the pun) on their promises.
A courier company can often be seen as an extension to someones business, purely because they rely on them so much to keep their business in operation.  That is why it is so important that the courier company can be trusted.

Bigger isn’t always better

Its very easy to just go for the biggest company, just because they have a more dominant presence in the market.  However, in some circumstances you might be paying more for a service that can be equalled somewhere else.  With a large courier company you dont always get that personal touch that you might get from a smaller company.

Cheap isnt always cheerful

Likewise, you should carefully consider the choice of the cheapest courier company just in case they have any hidden gremlins up their sleeve.  It might save you a few pounds in your pocket, but equally could create you long term damage to the reputation of your business.

Choosing the best International Courier for you

Firstly, consider what sort of service you need. Is it time sensitive, does it need to be insured to a high value? Consider your own reputation, and what this delivery means to you and your customers.  If you still dont know where to turn then consider using an International Courier consultant.   International Courier consultants have already scoured the market looking for the best value for money.  By putting each courier company through its paces via tough benchmarking tests they will have put together the most comprehensive list of couriers in the country - and the data is readily available to help match you up with the best International Courier company for your needs.