How to Choose the Right Courier Partner for Your Business in 10 Steps

If you need to ship a ton of products to customers, you’re probably looking for reliable courier companies.

But sadly, it’s not as easy as choosing the first carrier that appears in search engine results.

You need to assess multiple factors. From the type of parcel you’re sending to the carrier’s ability to deliver it as quickly as possible. It’s also worth reading what the experience is like for other business owners.

In this article, we’ll walk you through the critical steps in finding the right courier partner for your business. You’ll learn how to evaluate your findings and make the best choice for you and your customers.

Let’s begin!

Step 1: Are You Sending Locally or Internationally?

The best place to start is by looking at where your parcel is headed. Are you sending it within Australia, or is it going overseas? Once you know, look closer to determine if the destination is in the city or a regional area.

Knowing this information will help narrow down reliable courier options. Some specialise in international shipping, while others are experts in Australian locations only. For domestic deliveries, check the regions they service and their experience getting parcels to remote towns.

Step 2: What’s Your Budget?

You should have a rough idea of how much you want to spend on parcel delivery. It doesn’t mean choosing the cheapest option. Weigh up the cost versus the value of the service.

It’s also worth exploring if there are any surcharges or fees that apply post-delivery. For example, if you’ve chosen the wrong service based on your parcel dimensions or the package requires additional handling, you may have to pay extra for these mistakes.

Step 3: How Fast Do You Need Your Parcel Sent?

Research from SOTI found that 63% of Australian consumers would only continue to shop with retailers that delivered goods the fastest. Depending on your customer expectations, you may need to opt for same-day, next-day or express delivery services.

These services aren’t available with all courier providers. The prices also vary. You even need to consider the location of your customer can inhibit their ability to receive a parcel the same or the next day.

Step 4: What’s the Size and Weight of Your Parcel?

One of the most significant factors in delivery costs is the parcel's dimensions. When shopping around for a courier service, you’ll need to enter the size and weight of the package to calculate a rate.

Inputting the wrong figures can result in fees and surcharges. Providing the correct dimensions is also vital as it determines what services are available to you. For example, if you use StarTrack’s Express service, parcels are limited to 150 centimetres in size and up to 30 kg in weight.

Step 5: Are Your Products Permitted to Be Sent by the Courier?

You might be surprised to learn that not all courier companies will deliver any type of product. They each have a list of restricted and prohibited items for domestic and international delivery. Some examples are furniture that isn’t flat packed, items over a specific dollar amount, and alcoholic beverages.

Take a moment to review the list of restricted and prohibited items before placing an order. Shipping these products can result in prosecution, heavy fines and imprisonment.

Step 6: Do You Need a Parcel Warranty?/ Is Your Parcel High Value?

Sometimes, it doesn’t matter how many layers of bubble wrap you place around an item. You’re still going to stress about the delivery of high-value products. The last thing you want is to be out of pocket for a lost or damaged parcel.

Fortunately, many courier companies provide transit warranties. Some include it with the price of delivery, while others require you to pay extra for it. If you’re shipping an expensive item, you should review your options for insurance for additional peace of mind.

Step 7: Check Customer Reviews

Before you buy anything online, you should read some customer testimonials. Many courier companies will make it easy to find these on their website. However, you should also do your research elsewhere in case they only display positive feedback.

Check out Google reviews and look for comments on Facebook. You might even find video reviews on YouTube. Don’t be afraid to go as deep as you need to so you feel comfortable in your choice.

Step 8: Do They Have Quality Customer Service?

As part of your research into customer reviews, look for any comments or stories related to their support teams. You want to find out how they resolve problems that arise during deliveries. More specifically, how quickly they fix them.

Ideally, they should have multiple communication channels so that you can connect with them on your terms. For example, you might prefer to email after hours rather than make phone calls during the day. Live chat can also be a helpful tool.

Step 9: Are Live Tracking and Notifications Included?

Shopify discovered that 70% of shoppers are less likely to buy from companies that don’t inform them of shipping delays. This issue can be resolved by providing customers with live tracking and notifications utilising the carrier’s platform.

Access to parcel tracking also reduces customer enquiries. They won’t contact you every second day asking where their parcel is. Instead, they’ll receive updates from the moment it leaves the depot to the time it arrives at their doorstep. Some will even include proof of delivery as confirmation.

Step 10: Send a Test Order

It’s a good business practice to get a taste of what your customers experience. One example is sending a test order with the courier you plan on using.

While it might not give you the same insights as customers located in different locations, you can review the quality of the parcel when you receive it. You should also test the tracking notifications and messages relating to the delivery and decide if this is the experience you want to provide your customers.

Save Time on Shipping Using Interparcel

Assessing courier companies is time-consuming. While it is worth reviewing providers, it’s a task that you’ll need to regularly complete to ensure carriers continue to meet your expectations.

Another option is to utilise a multicarrier solution like Interparcel.

You can leverage our team of shipping experts to figure out what the best couriers would be for your specific shipping needs.

If you schedule an appointment today we will create a customised shipping strategy unique to your business.

• Instant access to a range of domestic and international courier companies.
• Exclusive negotiated shipping rates normally reserved for enterprises.
• Multiple delivery services available, including same-day, next-day and express.
• Packing recommendations based on parcel and product dimensions.
• $100 free transit warranty with an option to purchase more for products valued up to $2000.
• Millions of satisfied customers across Trustpilot and Google Reviews.
• Highly recommended customer support team providing personalised shipping strategies.
• Customisable Branded Tracking portal for customers wanting to track their deliveries.
• User-friendly shipping calculator that allows you to send test parcels.

You can access a suite of time-saving tools and a team of shipping solution experts by signing up for a free account and getting started today!