Ian
Carrier companies are the lifeline of
e-shopping portals. They can make a business or break a business.
How many times have you heard the
phrase, ‘express delivery’ ‘guaranteed delivery’ ‘delivered within 24
hours’, but when you actually pay for them and wait a week or
sometimes even a fortnight or a month, it is frustrating to say in
the least.
Not all carrier companies are bad. In
the same wavelength, not all carrier companies are good. With FedEx
and UPS inducting dimensional weight pricing for all ground
shipments, the worry about choosing the best carrier has become a
nagging concern.
Before selecting a carrier company, a
business has to look at:
– Whether your business caters to local
customers, or say outside of your country.
– Do you have one main pick-up station
or you source your products from multiple stations in the
country/abroad.
– Do you deliver perishable goods or
non-perishable goods.
– Is your product/service 100%
time-bound (tuxedos, wedding gowns, medical supplies, etc.)
– Majority of your average package size
dimensions.
Domicile:
If you are running a
business that caters to local customers, say pastries/bouquet look
for a local carrier company. There are a good number of region-based
carrier companies that are doing quite well in terms of punctual
pick-up and delivery. Having a local carrier will also help reduce
costs compared to the major league ones.
Sourcing Stations:
Are your
products to be picked up from one particular warehouse or from
different places? If it is from different places, research well to
see the carrier companies who have resources and technology to pursue
and fulfill your shipping needs.
Care & Precaution:
If your
business is shipping items with extremely short shelf life, the
carrier company should have all infrastructure required to maintain
the item in the prescribed state from pick up to delivery. Also it is
necessary to affirm if they provide the containers, or you have to
provide them with the containers. Certain items are to be transported
according to certain regulations. Is the carrier company willing and
able to follow such ordeals?
Track Record:
Ask the carrier
company to show you the record of their performance in delivering on
time. Choosing a company that is already delivering a range from your
line of business has always proven to be beneficial.
Packaging:
Are you charged by
the dimensions or by the weight is an important point to consider in
2015 when choosing a carrier company for your business.
Businesses are getting smarter by doing
a detailed background check on the carrier companies they contract
for their business. Whether it is about insurance/liabilities,
resources, infrastructure, manpower, technology, and expertise in the
areas – businesses are making sure that all these aspects are
checked, inspected and ticked off before they get to shaking hands
with the carrier company.
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