The What, How, When and Why of Courier Services

What is a courier service? How does it work? And how much does it cost? These are all valid questions that any entrepreneur may be asking themselves. As a business owner, it’s typical to handle every facet of the business. From handling different aspects of the business including marketing, shipping, customer service, business development, and many more, entrepreneurs often find themselves pressed for time.

It will come to a point where entrepreneurs in the ecommerce industry will look at different ways to expand their business or create time for other things that matter in life. The question is how can a courier service help you?

What is a courier service?

A courier service is a transportation or logistics company that specializes in transporting goods and packages from one place to another. This kind of service is a great option for businesses that need to send or receive items quickly but don't have the time or manpower to do it themselves. Courier services can pick up and drop off packages, as well as provide other logistical support, such as tracking packages and arranging for delivery times.

How much do courier services cost?

If you’re familiar with running an online business, then you know that shipping and delivery can be expensive. But how much do courier services actually cost? And is there a way to save money on them?

On average, courier services cost around 100 PHP minimum to ship around Metro Manila and it can go up to 500 PHP if you ship going to the provinces. However, the price may vary depending on the size and weight of the package, as well as the distance it needs to be transported. Additionally, some courier services may charge an additional fee for rushed delivery or same-day service.

When to use a courier service?

Now that you know how much courier services cost, let’s take a look at how they actually work. Typically, when you need to send a package or item, you’ll first need to contact your chosen courier service and give them specific delivery instructions. This could include your customer's address of where the package should be delivered, as well as any special instructions or requirements (e.g. requiring a signature upon delivery). The courier service will then pack and ship your package, and will provide you with regular updates on its status through its tracking platform.

Why can a courier service help your business?

If you’re running an online business, then having a reliable courier service is essential for ensuring smooth operations. Courier services can help you save time and money by taking care of the logistics for you, and they can also help you build trust with your customers by providing safe and timely deliveries. Additionally, courier services can help you expand your reach to new markets, as they can often provide shipping service to customers that are far from your reach such as international customers.

But there are times when a courier service can be unreliable. Packages can arrive at your customer's doorstep late or maybe even worse, the package can get lost in the process. This has definitely created problems for business owners in the past, and they remedied this by having multiple couriers ready whenever they need them. The issue with this is that you will have different processes, forms, and tracking URLs to give out to your customers which can be very confusing especially if you're handling hundreds of orders.

How can Shipmates help your ecommerce business

This is where Shipmates come in! Not only can Shipmates deliver your orders, but it has five different couriers under one platform. From waybills that can automatically complete your customers details to tracking multiple packages using different couriers, Shipmates' courier platform can definitely help you save time on your entire shipping process. It's very user-friendly as well, so anyone can easily understand and use the platform without any problems! If you want to try Shipmates, you can sign-up for a free account today!