When it comes to selling your products, one of the most important aspects is finding the best courier service, to help to grow your business. You need to make sure you provide a positive experience for your customer.
Fortunately, once your customers are content with the delivery of their products, you’re more likely to get repeat sales and be able to build a great reputation that can e ven result in more first-time sales.
But how do you compare transport and courier services? Aren’t delivery companies all the same? What’s the things you should be looking for in a courier service? What do your customers expect?
We’ve created a checklist, in order for you to find the best courier service to support your business and build better customer relationships. The checklist covers some of the key areas you can consider when comparing between couriers.
- Speed of delivery
- Size and weight limitations
- Proof of delivery
- Customer service
If price is important to you, take a look at our previous blog on how to avoid costly mistakes when using a courier service for your business.
Just remember, cutting costs down completely and using the ‘most affordable solution’ may not provide the best service for you or your customers.
Speed of delivery
The timeframe it takes between collecting and delivering your goods can impact the reputation of your business, and increase (or decrease) your overall sale. This is because the happier your customers are, the more likely they are to use your company again.
Take the time to ask the Courier Company questions, such as; what’s the average timeframe you can get your vehicle to collection? How do you keep your customer informed of the progress of the delivery?
After all, they should know all the answers and be able to reassure you that their service is second to none.
Size and weight limitations
It’s worth noting the size and weight of your products so the courier can ensure the right vehicle is booked for your goods. Getting the most suited vehicle is very important – giving your courier company the size and weight of your goods means they can make sure that any limitations on a vehicle does not affect your requirements.
It also means the delivery company can sometimes even give you a few different options on how to get the products transported in the safest way. Don’t spare any details when it comes to describing the products that need transporting, it can possibly save you money!
Proof of delivery
If your items don’t get to delivery on time, you’re going to have some very unhappy customers!
Be on the lookout for courier services which will provide you proof of delivery in order that you’ll be sure your company is delivering to your expectations.
The better the delivery experience for your customers, the less hassle you’re likely to receive on your end for any problems encountered from your chosen courier service.
Some delivery companies will go one step further and send an email to allow you to know the precise time and date to expect the delivery and also the name of their delivery driver. This personal touch creates an excellent shipping experience.
Customer service
Even though you are using a third party for your courier services, your customers will associate the great (or awful!) service with your company – not the courier company itself.
The customer service provided by the delivery drivers of your courier service may not be in your control completely, but it’s definitely worth considering the reputation the courier service hold. You can do this by checking online reviews, such as Google and Trustpilot. Honest, personal reviews from current customers will be easy to find; and they’ll be able to tell you what kind of customer service the company provides.
How the delivery driver behaves in front of your customers may impact how likely customers are to buy from you again.
At the same time, there are problems surrounding delivery companies. Being aware of common issues your customers may experience when receiving deliveries can help you to find the right courier service for your business.
If you do receive delivery service complaints, how you handle and resolve the issue speaks volumes about your business. This is why it’s important to consider the process in which delivery companies go through to make sure all deliveries are completed to a high standard.
The right courier service builds trust and increases sales
When it comes to comparing delivery companies, this courier comparison checklist should help you in some way to find the right solution to support your business.
If you can get the delivery experience right for your customers, you’ll start to build more trust within your business, boost your reputation and increase your overall sales.
Finding the best courier service may seem like a challenging task, but it is certainly a worthwhile investment of your time.
To get a FREE quote, call our office on 01604 698237, or email sales@tlxgroup.co.uk