Fast Courier Requirements in Modern World
Domestic courier and international courier services are preferred than traditional methods of parcel transportation because they are secure, customizable, fast and reliable. Other requirements for domestic courier and international courier/overseas courier services include ability to trace parcels and products while on transit. To meet the demand for fast delivery, a company may need to invest in relevant and modern technology, whether it deals with internet order placement, order tracking, tracing of products/parcels while on transit and in real time. There is high demand for faster courier services amidst a globalizing world. People still need to send parcels/mails/documents for business, work and personal needs. For instance, some companies serve clients from all over the world and country, and they need to send them information (and receive information) and products that have been bought. Some companies also hire from all across the world and institutions admit students from all over the world, meaning job applications, physically signed letters, physically signed admission applications need to be sent while replies (acknowledgements, admission letters) need to be done by receiving institutions. Both international courier and domestic courier services use internet order placement where a client can place an order without travelling to the office location. Other companies allow clients to place orders through phone calls. A client will coordinate with the courier company staff on phone and internet, who in turn coordinates with the agents on ground, drivers and then gets back to the customer and enters the order on the internet database. These will put into consideration the needs of the client as regards collection of goods/parcels and other information that allows customization of the service in relation to client needs. The internet provides pricing data, ability for client and company to track products/parcels, ability for client to coordinate with company and offer feedback. The company determines the mode of transport by considering the speed of delivery required, weight of product (and other characteristics), destination and source. Whether it is overseas or local/domestic courier services, goods can be handled manually and/or automatically at loading, sorting, packaging, tracking and offloading, but automatic means are faster. Automatic loading can cut down the cost and time required to transport a parcel, whether for domestic or local transport.
How Domestic Courier Services are organized for fast delivery of parcel & documents
Order can be placed by clients through the phone, at a local office or through the internet. In advanced systems, customers are able to receive emails for proof of delivery (POD) and view the signature when products are delivered, after placement of an order or during transit. The POD can be used to trace the product because some companies scan products and parcels for the POD, while on transit, during offloading and loading. The parcels/goods are identified through the bar-coded labels and RFID tags that can provide information about location of products when on transit, and the client can get this information when it is updated on the internet in real-time. Parcel delivery for same day courier services can be done though motorcycles if the distance is considerably long and speed of delivery required is fast. Slower methods such as bicycle can be applied for same day courier services when the distance is short. Other methods used to transport parcels between local cities include the vans, Lorries and railway.
How International courier services are channelized for speed delivery across the globe
International courier services are similar to domestic ones as regards ordering of services, tracking goods/parcels and tracking orders, except the mode of transport is airplane. Products/parcels are sorted after arriving on the hub destination country and a company can use chutes, conveyors and electronic detection system to sort them according to place of destination. This is done further using vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles and vans depending on destination distance from the hub, the speed of delivery required and characteristics of parcel/product. This resembles domestic courier transportation now. The person doing this could be an agent of the company, branch of the primary transporting company (similar to one at the country of origin) or a contractor.
Conclusion
There is high demand for faster courier services, especially in a globalizing world. Domestic and international courier services operate with similar principles, except that modes of transport differ. Today, clients and transporting company can trace the parcel/order from source to destination using relevant technology.