5 Way Courier Services Help Small Businesses Compete
For small businesses that face fierce competition from larger companies, courier services can help minimize other companies’ competitive advantage. If you run a small business and are trying to survive amid bigger companies that have faster delivery times, lower shipping costs, and better efficiency, then here’s how a courier service may help your business.
1. Offer Same-Day Delivery
Same-day delivery used to be reserved for commercial customers, such as automotive garages that order parts after checking a car or law firms that need documents immediately. Today, however, many customers have come to expect two-day shipping, and some customers even receive two-hour delivery times on certain items.
With a courier service, your business is able to offer same-day delivery. Often, the closest that freight companies come to this is by offering next-day service. When a customer wants or needs a product immediately, next-day service doesn’t provide the same instant gratification.
2. Reduce Rush Shipping Charges
Of course, courier services are also able to provide next-day delivery within their service area. In many cases, they charge less for such service than freight companies do – especially when delivering bulky or heavy items. They’re able to charge less because they don’t have as much infrastructure to support and are set up to deliver packages more directly within a local area.
If your business is regularly sending items overnight, then switching from a freight company to a less expensive courier could yield significant savings. These savings can help boost your bottom line, or you can pass them on to customers.
3. Provide Extended Delivery Options
Many courier services offer flexible delivery options, including evening, night, and weekend services. Some even provide holiday deliveries. Having items delivered during nonbusiness hours usually comes with a surcharge, but some customers will be willing to pay the additional fee for a special delivery time.
For example, customers may work all day and want an expensive item delivered to their door in the evening when they’re home. Other customers might want a present delivered on a specific day when they’re celebrating.
Most customers who have special requests like these understand that there’s an additional fee for such customized service. They won’t mind if you pass on that fee to them. Some may even purchase from your business specifically because it’s the only business that offers a certain delivery option – even if the option is more expensive.
4. Maintain Customer Satisfaction
Just as couriers may deliver at almost any time, they can also pick up packages at off hours. This usually comes with a surcharge, so you probably don’t want to make it a regular part of your business operations. There’s at least one situation when paying the fee may be a wise business decision, however.
If you’re unable to ship an item on time, then you might want to have a courier service pick it up as soon as the item is ready for sending – even if that’s in the middle of the night or Sunday morning. Sometimes, accepting the surcharge for this service is better than having an upset customer.
Whether using a courier service is the best way to handle a shipping delay is a decision that must be made on a case-by-case basis. When delays happen, however, it’s nice to have the option.
5. Suggest White-Glove Service
If your business ships large items, like furniture, a courier service lets you offer customers white-glove service. While most freight companies only deliver to the doorway or reception desk, courier services offer options to deliver items exactly where customers want them. For customers who can’t move large items that they order, this service is essential.
If you’d like to learn more about how a courier service could help your small business, contact us at Bullet Deliveries.
