Nowadays everything is delivered by courier. Since COVID-19, less people are out and about, and more people want their shopping and restaurant food delivered to them. Courier services in the UK have never been in such demand, with an estimated 23 percent market increase in 2020. Whether your business is a storefront or a restaurant, you want to get your product to the customer as soon as possible.

The good news is, there are plenty of courier services to choose from. The problem is, you could easily choose the wrong courier service for your business. Before you commit to a courier service it’s important to know your business’ needs and priorities, and you’ll need to consider a few things:

What Is It You Need in a Courier Service?

How do you prioritize time, safety, budget, and sustainability when it comes to delivering your product? Will you be delivering food or goods? How will these items be packaged? Are you going to be shipping locally, nationally, or internationally? Do you need to have your goods delivered rapidly or is bulk transport the way you want to go? When you have this figured out, you can start looking at the best courier service to meet the needs of your company.

PARCEL DELIVERY

Royal Mail

Small businesses voted Royal Mail as their first choice for delivery services in 2019. More than 37 of 100 of UK’s top online retailers use Royal Mail. Always reliable and  inexpensive, Royal Mail aims to meet the needs of small businesses throughout the country. They focus on a parcel service called Special Delivery, which guarantees domestic delivery by 9:00 a.m and another quick option by the next working day at 1:00 p.m. Royal Mail provides 23,000 parcel shops across the nation, specializing in UK delivery, pick-ups, and exports.

For small businesses looking for both national and international options, Royal Mail’s Parcelforce delivers within Europe, offering fast, easy, dependable service.

Hermes

If environmentally-conscious is your business priority, you may be glad to hear Hermes’ goal is to provide emission-free delivery by 2025. The company is the most popular choice for the UK’s top 100 retailers. Known for its speed and convenience, the service offers next day and stated day options, as well as 40,000 pick-up locations throughout the UK.

DPD

Looking to expand internationally? DPD specializes in delivering parcels anywhere in Europe. They make picking up your parcel quick and painless, with 22,000 pick-up points across the nation. DPD has the environment in mind by purchasing carbon credits to offset their carbon emissions.

DHL

Affordable and easy, DHL has a great reputation as the top international delivery system. Focusing on next day delivery for worldwide clients, DHL leads the way for global ingenuity. The company offers a variety of environmentally-friendly options to suit the needs of eco-conscious businesses, offering biodegradable packaging, energy-saving warehousing, and carbon-efficient freight

FOOD DELIVERY

Since COVID-19 changed the way we do business, food delivery is as popular as it’s ever been. If your business is food, you need to get in on the food delivery train. There are plenty of local and international companies that tailor their services to meet your needs. Many have taken health precautions: adapting to pandemic times with healthy, safe, contamination-free practices. Here are some excellent options to help get your food to your customers quick and easy:

Deliveroo

Here’s a company that gets the food to your customers fast. All that is needed is an easy-to-use app that keeps the customer posted on delivery times. Deliveroo uses local drivers and cyclists equipped with insulated equipment for quick deliveries. Their company goal is simple: They will deliver the food within 30 minutes, at any time of day. It’s no wonder they are one of the favorite food delivery services around.

FEAST

This London-based food delivery service is the dependable choice for efficient service. Providing an authentic London culinary experience, FEAST delivers food from nearby restaurants fast and cheap.

Foodhub

Here’s a plus: Foodhub doesn’t charge customers for delivery. Working with more than 20,000 restaurants, the company offers discounts and savings as another bonus.

Delivery has Never Been So Easy

Whether your business is a restaurant or a storefront, your business can take advantage of the need for delivered goods. With the right courier service, you can still do business in these ever-changing times, getting the product to your customers safely and right on time.