If you run a business, then you may be responsible for the transportation and shipping of goods. Transporting and shipping goods can be very laborious (and extremely expensive). It is essential that you take steps to streamline your business’s shipping processes. The more streamlined your business’s transportation is, the more money you’ll save, and the faster items will arrive.

But what modes of transportation are worth considering and how can you transport goods quickly and efficiently, you might ask? This post will answer these questions, telling you once and for all how you can improve your company’s shipping and transportation.

Air Couriers

If you have to ship things internationally, then air couriers are definitely worth looking into. You can learn more here about how they work (and get an idea of how much it costs to ship using this method). Air shipping is best for parcels that need to be delivered quickly. The only other method of international shipping is by cargo ship. Cargo ships can take days, sometimes weeks to arrive at their destinations though. Because of this, they are nowhere near as efficient. If you are going to offer customers an air shipping option, then you need to make sure that you charge them a premium for it. The reason for this is that air shipping is not cheap. Your customers need to be the ones to foot the bill.

Postal Service

To be completely honest, the postal service is a pretty efficient way of shipping things, too. If you need to send items to your customers in a hurry, then the postal service could be one of your best options. It does need to be noted though, most independent courier companies will be a lot faster than the postal service will. The only reason that the postal service is good is that for small parcels, it is extremely cheap. There aren’t many postal methods quite as affordable as the domestic postal service. Posting internationally is not advised though, as they tend to charge a fortune.

Freight Shipping

Freight shipping is a popular method of delivery,  though it’s nowhere near as fast and efficient as air mail. If you are planning on using a freight shipping company, then get in touch with them first and ask how long it’ll take for your items to arrive. When you are sending items to customers, you need to give them a delivery timeframe. If you are unable to do this, then they could end up not buying items from you. Make sure you send any freight-shipped items with tracking, so customers can follow them on their journey.

Personal Delivery

If customers are ordering items from you and live near to you, then you could always hand deliver them. Hand-delivering items can be a nice touch, especially if you own a restaurant or café. Customers will appreciate you coming out to them personally. Hand-delivering items also gives you an opportunity to meet your business’s customers. Getting to know your customers can be an effective way of building relationships with them. Building relationships with your customers is essential if you want them to come back and buy more products from you again in the future.

Efficient Packaging

When you are sending items out to customers, it’s essential that you package them up properly. A lot of businesses make the mistake of using flimsy packaging. If you don’t use robust and durable packaging, then items could get damaged in transit. If they do, then you will have to foot the bill. Customers are not going to be happy if their products arrive damaged. They will return them and demand a refund from you. This means you’ll have to pay them and you will have lost a product (unless you are able to repair it). Always add bubble wrap and foam balls to the interiors of packages carrying delicate items.

Courier Research

When looking for a courier, it’s essential that you shop around. There are lots of different couriers for you to choose from. You need to choose the one that’s best for you. In order to do this, read reviews, ranking guides, and ask other businesses in your area for their advice. The reason it’s important to read a courier’s reviews before doing business with them is that by doing this, you’ll get to find out what their past customers think of them (and learn about their experiences). Bear in mind, on-site reviews are nearly always biased.

If you regularly ship items out to customers, then it’s essential that you work with a reliable and efficient courier. It can be difficult finding a good courier to work with, especially if you are new to international shipping. You can use this guide’s advice to help you find the best one in your area.