7 Things to Look for in a Quality Warehousing Service

Looking for a quality warehousing service? Wondering how to choose the best one for your needs?

Using quality warehousing services can be a lifesaver for your business. However, choosing the wrong one can cause a lot of headaches.

It’s important that you take the time to evaluate a potential warehouse service thoroughly before working with them.

Below we’ll look at the 7 top things you need to look for in a quality warehousing service.

1. Exceptional Fulfillment Services

Chances are that your business needs fulfillment services for packing and shipping your products. If so, it’s important to find out what the warehousing service offers and if they’ll be able to meet the demands of your business as well as your customers.

Find out about their turnaround time as well as their standards when it comes to packing a product securely. Do they have automated and manual assembling capabilities? Will your products arrive safely to customers?

Find out everything you can about the warehouse’s fulfillment services and try to uncover if they are the real deal.

Not all warehouses have the capabilities to meet the fulfillment needs of your business. It’s important to ask about a company’s process and make sure that they won’t leave you hanging when you need them most.

2. Strong Security

Any reliable warehouse will also take security very seriously. They will have great security measures in place and will go the extra mile to ensure that your stock is well protected from harm at all times.

A great warehousing service will have a 24-hour security system in place that will ensure the protection of your items from thieves. Many great warehouses will also have plenty of security cameras in place, onsite staff, and other provisions to ensure that nothing goes wrong.

If security matters to you, it’s important that you get a thorough explanation of how your items will be protected when choosing a warehousing service. It can take a weight off of your shoulders knowing that the warehouse has an increased level of security and that your items will be well-protected.

3. Tracking and Monitoring

A great warehousing service will also offer options for you to remotely access tracking data. They’ll have a system in place so that you can easily access information on your products and shipments.

A barcode tracking system can help make this simple and can assure that you always have access to the status of your belongings.

Along with remote user access, a barcode tracking system is absolutely crucial if you want to be sure that your goods are well taken care of. You’ll gain a greater peace of mind by easily being able to check up on the details of your items and shipments as needed.

4. Cross Docking

An excellent warehouse will also offer affordable and efficient cross-docking services. Cross-docking can help to greatly reduce the delivery time of packages and shipments. It can be a great help for giving your customers the absolute best service.

Cross-docking streamlines the shipping process. It allows products to be picked up from a manufacturer or supplier and then sent directly to a final destination.

This service is great for shipping items that are time and/or temperature sensitive. For many businesses, it is an absolute must-have feature from a professional warehouse service.

5. Industry Specific Standards

For many businesses, it’s also important to find a warehouse that understands the ins and outs of their specific industry and specific products that they will need to be stored and shipped.

Not all warehouses have what it takes to handle the needs of food and beverage industries, for example.

It’s important that you consider the needs of your industry and ask what experience the warehousing service has with your type of product. If you have any specific needs, be sure to discuss these beforehand.

If you’re storing food and choosing a shared warehousing service, you may also need to learn more about what will be stored near your items. Toxic materials and food products don’t mix well, so make sure you know what you can expect going in.

6. Ease of Use

When looking for a great warehouse, it’s crucial that you find a great team of professionals that you can trust. Look for a warehouse service who will work hard to make your experience as easy and simple as possible.

A great warehousing company will invest in their staff and train them well. They’ll have adopted some great processes and systems for managing products.

The warehouse should be extremely efficient and also very communicative with you. They should work hard to meet all of your needs and also provide a way for you to easily track and monitor your stock.

Look for a professional company that makes your job easier, and you’ll never be dissatisfied with your decision.

7. Flexibility

In addition to the above points, it’s also important that you look for warehousing services that are flexible when it comes to meeting your needs.

In business, all kinds of unexpected things can happen and your requirements may change suddenly. Find out if the warehouse company has any options for overflow storage. Ask if they have any special services and provisions to help your business at times of seasonal changes or increases in business.

A great warehouse will understand the needs of a business and the unexpected changes that can occur throughout the year. As a result, they’ll have processes in place that will help ease your burden when you most need it.

Choosing the Best Warehousing Service

If you’re looking for quality warehousing services for your business, it doesn’t have to be as hard as you think. By taking the time to consider the points above you’ll have the best chance at making the right choice and ensuring your needs are fully met by the warehousing company.

A warehousing service can revolutionize the way you do business and can make your business more efficient. But take your time when choosing a service to use, and ensure that you’re making the right choice.

Looking for a great warehouse service for your business? Contact us today to learn more about what Need It Now can do for you.

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6 Common and Expensive Shipping Mistakes to Avoid

There’s more to shipping than just getting your goods to their receiver. There are many factors that can influence how much it will cost you and what you get for the price.

To professionals, shipping represents the business. It demonstrates your reliability and commitment to giving customers what they want.

Saving time and money on shipments is a great way to do better business and get a sharper competitive edge. Avoiding the biggest pitfalls will help you spend less and reduce damage and delayed goods.

The ability to ship things in an efficient, controlled, and cost-effective manner makes a great improvement for anyone who ships a lot of things.

Keep reading to learn about six common costly shipping mistakes–and how to avoid them.

1. Lacking Attention to Detail

When you ship things, you must pay close attention to the details.

Don’t assume you know the weight, size, packaging type, and costs. You need to know for sure beforehand. And you need to make sure every address is 100% correct.

Getting these details wrong often lead to paying more than you have to. It makes the delivery less efficient as well.

If you seek shipping solutions for a company, the best idea is to create a database. Use it to log all the data for reference, calculation, and comparison. This can help you reduce big shipping expenses.

Even when you’re dealing with a last-minute shipment or a very rushed job, you need to impress and satisfy. Otherwise, you’ll lose customers.

It’s important to get the data right in these situations too, no matter how much you feel like you don’t have the time. The good news is that there are software solutions that can do the math for you and your customers.

Many shippers have many more fees than you think. These fees may not be obvious to you and may seem unnecessary. You must be prepared to pay more than you thought if you don’t pay close attention from the beginning.

Look for any additional fees added to the bill. Examples include fuel compensation and residential services. Make room for these fees in your shipment budget.

Be very diligent. Even the slightest address correction can cost more than $10 with many carriers.

2. Using the Wrong Packaging

Getting the packaging details right is so important that it gets its own entry on this list. Pay close attention to the weight of the items you’re about to ship. It can affect the price more than you think.

If the weight you told the carrier and the actual weight of the package differ, you’ll be charged for it. There may be penalty fees with certain carriers.

Ensure that all the packages you’re ready to ship have the right weight that you budgeted for and specified. You need to understand how to ship heavy items.

Inefficient packaging is a very common problem that costs many companies a lot of money. Make sure that you’re not using packaging that’s too big for your delivery.

It may seem convenient at the moment to grab a big box and stuff your items in it, but it will be a waste of money. You have to pay for more space, so you’re paying for the empty space in the box.

You will also end up spending a lot more on boxes, padding, and other packaging materials. In the long run, these smaller costs will accumulate into big costs.

Extra packaging also adds extra weight, which you’ll pay more for. This can cause a difference in the weight you planned for, and thus the final weight. This will make you pay more than you budgeted for.

On the other hand, if you try to skimp too much on the packaging, you may risk damaged goods. It’s a balance you’ll find by paying attention to the details.

Last but not least, don’t underestimate the holding capacity of envelopes when shipping small items.

3. Making Promises You Can’t Keep

If you can’t tell the receiver when to expect their delivery, they may be hesitant about the shipment. If you tell the receiver they’ll receive the product at a particular time and it doesn’t come in time, you’ve got a major problem.

There is a straight-forward solution to this matter. For example, rather than guaranteeing delivery in two days, promise delivery in three days or less. This gives you an error margin.

It lets you be more flexible, and it can help you reduce costs. Most importantly, it will reduce the number of disgruntled receivers.

A good way to make things simpler and more efficient is to use next-day delivery.

4. Failing to Handle Unhappy Returns

If you have a return policy, make sure it’s clear, concise, and accessible. Make sure you have it fleshed out in writing, with all the details covered in concrete form. No maybes and a few conditionals as possible.

Put your return policy on your website. Make it visible to customers before they finish the purchase, or you may lose potential customers. This will establish trust and ensure that both you and the customer are accountable.

Good return policies focus on the customer and making things easier and more efficient for them.

5. Neglecting Automation

Automation is an effective way to reduce inconsistencies and human error. It doesn’t have to be a huge, complicated task to implement automation. It doesn’t have to be very expensive.

Assuming it’s not worth it is an expensive mistake. There are many benefits to automation.

Start in the shallow end. Connect data points with Microsoft Access or Excel spreadsheets. Set them up to memorize and recall data for you, keep track of numbers, and do your calculations.

Automating these documents to give you comprehensive graphs on how you’re doing is a quick task.

Then see how you feel about continuous automation. The more you automate, the less you have to do. And remember, computers don’t miscalculate or misspell.

6. Using Indirect Delivery

This one might seem like an obvious matter to some readers. However, it is a very common mistake that cost many people a lot of money.

This mistake can take a few different forms, such as:

  1. You order an item and have it shipped to your business. Then you send it onward to your customer.
  2. You buy an item and wait for it to come by mail. When it arrives, you get in your car and drive it to your friend.

This is such an inefficient way of doing things. It takes a lot more time than a direct shipment. It costs a lot more. And it’s a lot more work.

You could have the retailer or manufacturer do most of the work, without additional costs. Or you could use a shipping company to deliver it from the first point to the last.

Avoid These Expensive Shipping Mistakes

There are many mistakes that increase costs for nothing, from wasteful practices to unseen fees and penalties for negligent calculations.

Cutting down on shipping can improve your finances a lot. Not only do these mistakes cost more money, they’re often inefficient in other ways as well.

By following the advice on this list, you’ll avoid these costly mistakes and save money.

For more information on fast, cost-efficient shipping, contact us.

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The Many Advantages of Freight Consolidation

If you’ve been resisting freight consolidation perhaps it’s the idea of change itself that is the problem. You are in a comfort zone and change is risky. Stephen Hawking’s comment, “Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change,” is all the more powerful because of the changes he has seen in his life.

Read on to learn about the advantages of freight consolidation.

What is Freight Consolidation?

Freight consolidation is where small shipments are brought together and shipped to the same location. These smaller shipments may be too small to constitute a container load. Consolidation brings them together to form a container load.

The container is then shipped and de-consolidated at its destination. The individual shipments are then sent on to their final destination. This last part of the delivery, sometimes known as the “final mile” could be right to a customers’ front door.

Lower Operating Costs

Even if a container or truck trailer is not filled, shippers will often have to pay for the cost of the whole container or trailer. A full container costs the same as a half-full container. The shipper is paying to ship air.

Consolidation services overcome this problem of shipping air. They bringing together less than container loads (LCL) and less than truckloads (LTL). These shipments better use the space available reducing the costs of shipping.

These LCLs and LTLs are charged by volume rather than the flat rate for a container or trailer. There are extra costs are for shipping before and after the consolidated journey. There may be extra consolidation administration costs.

Underpinning this lower cost is a real saving in fuel and capital equipment. These cost reductions benefit the whole supply chain. They are also arguably more environmentally friendly.

Lower Capital Costs

Supporting a distribution process for LCLs can involve significant capital costs. Warehousing or distribution centers and transport can be significant capital investments. These can be reduced by using a third-party logistics operation utilizing freight consolidation.

Transportation Options

When a shipper is focussed only on their own logistics need the range of options is limited. This is because of scale. A one size fits all approach is taken.

With consolidation, there are more options. Where trucking appeared to be the only option, rail, air or sea may be available to the consolidator.

Logistics is a strategic activity for any business. It can be the key to business success or failure. Understanding and exploiting the options available is vital.

Reduced Wastage

Small, multiple shipments involve multiple touchpoints. The hub and spoke distribution process will involve much more handling than consolidation. The more times the item is touched, the more opportunity there is for damage, loss or theft.

With fewer touchpoints, a consolidator can reduce damage, loss, and theft. This is because there are fewer occasions when the consignment is at risk. A full container is a more secure entity than multiple small consignments can ever be.

Flexibility and Speed

You need to ship a consignment to a customer but the quantity or volume is too small to make it cost effective. The natural logistics based thinking is to wait until the order quantity is sufficient to make it cost effective to ship. In the meantime, the customer is waiting.

That customer may be happy with your product quality and even price. Without timely delivery, you are exposed to the risk of a more flexible and speedy competitor stealing your customer from under your nose.

A consolidation strategy provides the means of providing a more flexible response to customers. Freight consolidation makes flexible and fast delivery more economic. It also helps meet sales and marketing expectations for delivery.

More importantly, it satisfies customer expectations.

How to Take Advantage of Consolidation

Finding the right carrier to provide freight consolidation for you is the first important step. Not every carrier will or can provide this service. It takes specialized operations and expertise.

When assessing the services of a carrier offering freight consolidation, do thorough costings. Make comparisons between your current arrangements and those of the prospective carrier.

You will need to change your operations in order to make the most of the new logistics. Planning must change otherwise you will fail to realize the benefits of more flexible delivery. There may be a need to change packaging, labeling, and documentation.

Sales and marketing may need to incorporate communications about delivery methods. While you may be able to deliver in a more timely manner, the consolidation process itself may take more time than a direct delivery. This will need to be incorporated into planning and schedules.

The Right Freight Consolidator

Freight consolidation is only advantageous if it’s the right consolidator and they are right for your business. The advantages come with the following:

Right location

Check that the consolidator is located in a suitable place. The consolidator may offer great shipping rates but you need to consider the end to end costs.

Right scale

Do they have the capacity to handle your business including any future growth? Are they geared up to handle any seasonality in your business?

Right flexibility

Can they handle your changing demands and that of your customers? Can they handle the variability in your products, consignments, schedules and more?

Right reputation

Have they got a reputation for delivering on their promises? You will be partnering with them to service your customers. You need to know they will care as much about them as you do.

Check reviews, reference sites and meet their operation people, not just sales representatives.

Consider a Change

With a greater understanding of the advantages of freight consolidation and how to realize them, you can now approach making a decision. Think about your reasons for change and test your arguments.

If it’s right for you, develop a clear vision and targets for where you want to get to. Share it with others. Build your organizations capacity for change including getting the resources, time and people you need.

Make a plan and take the first few steps towards a consolidation strategy.

To learn more and talk to people who understand shipping click here.

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7 Times You Need a Walking Courier

walking courier

‘Postman, postman, please be quick, get this to my cutie quick, quick, quick!’ That little ditty might raise a smile, but the truth is, it can be hard to find a delivery service to sort out the more special or time-sensitive deliveries in your business life.

Nationwide courier services are great for general deliveries, non-sensitive and non-urgent items, and we love them for that. But not every item and customer has the same delivery needs. Check out these 7 instances you should use a walking courier to deliver your parcel.

1. Highly Sensitive Documents

Whatever your business does, it’s likely that at some point, you’re going to have some private or sensitive documents to sign. Or, perhaps you need to send out original copies of important and precious documents.

Either way, sending them by mail is pretty risky. After all, how many times have you heard that an item was never received, or was lost in the mail?

When you’re dealing with very sensitive documents, then a walking courier is the safest and most reliable way to go.

2. Forge Customer Relationships

Do you have a new customer and want to build trust? Using a walking courier is a good way to provide great service.

It can be difficult to show your clients that you’re serious about doing business with them, so you need to make a good impression.

If you have a product or document that needs to be delivered to a client, it will show them you really value them if you get it there the same day. Plus, it’ll get your work done faster, too.

3. Meeting Deadlines

If the pressure’s on and you’re dealing with deadlines at work, you’ll need to get things done, fast.

Maybe your customer needs their item delivered for an IT installation the next day. Or perhaps you need a quick turnaround for a wedding cake tasting for a busy bride.

No matter what your business or goods to be delivered, a walking courier can get it there on time.

They’ll handle your package with care, and deliver it safely to the recipient, adding that personal touch that makes business sweet. And it gets you across the finish line in great time.

4. You Need Documents Signed the Same Day

This one’s kind of self-explanatory, but in the world of business, time is money.

There will be customer contracts that need to be signed and exchanged. Perhaps you’re renting new office space. Or maybe it’s something bigger, like a business merger.

When you need documents signed by both parties, and you can’t get there yourself, then a walking courier is the man (or woman) for the job.

Entrust your documents into their care, and they’ll make sure they arrive with the recipient on the same day, so everyone can sign on the dotted line in record time.

5. Get Your Exchange, or Money Back, Fast

Ever ordered something from another company and it’s been damaged, or wasn’t what you thought it was?

For inexpensive items, it’s not such a hardship to wait a week or so to return your item and get your refund.

For a costly item, though, you might be less inclined – or simply unable – to wait patiently for them to put that large amount of money back in your business account.

Or, if you desperately need that item for a specific job, or to help your business run, then you can’t sit twiddling your thumbs while a standard courier ferries the item back and forth.

This is where a walking courier comes in real handy. They’ll collect your item and deliver it back to the supplier so you can get what you need when you need it.

6. If You Mess Up

It happens to all of us at some point – we mess up a client’s order.

If your business is delivering goods to customers and you’ve made a mistake, the best way to make it better is to first say sorry, and then fix it as quickly as possible.

While the initial reaction from your customer might be really bad, hopefully, you can win back their good favor by showing them how eager you are to make things better.

A walking courier can collect a new item from you, and take it straight to your customer that same day.

And even if you don’t provide a physical service, you can use a walking courier to send a disappointed client something to say sorry, such as a gift basket.

7. If You Want to Save the Planet

Earth is a pretty awesome place to live, but us humans are making it sick. And with all the exhaust fumes, heat and gasses that are being released into the air every day from vehicles on the road, Earth gets a little sicker every day.

If the thought of a dying planet makes you sad, then using a walking courier will help cheer you up because they, well… walk.

That way, you know your goods are getting to where they need to be, and all with a pretty carbon-neutral footprint to boot.

The Verdict on a Walking Courier

When you have a package that needs to get somewhere fast, your options are kind of limited.

You could, of course, deliver the item yourself, but that’s pretty inconvenient, and wastes time that you could be using on something more profitable.

Or, you could entrust your precious item to a national delivery service, knowing it’ll get there the next day, at least. The next day’s fine… right?

Well, maybe. But if you want to really impress your customers, have important documents signed pronto, or exchange that duff product for another, a walking courier might be exactly what you need.

If you ever find yourself in one of these 7 situations, remember our advice, and check out the walking couriers available in your area. It makes good business sense, we promise.

If you’re in the market for a walking courier, then click here to see how we can help.

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What Causes Delivery Delays?

delayed shipping

They said Tuesday.

You called them Tuesday. Then they said Wednesday. You called them Wednesday. You got it on Friday.

Delivery delays can be a serious headache. Not just causing frustration, but delays in fulfilling promises to your customers.

If it’s a personal order you waste time and productivity sitting around while things don’t come.

Understanding some of the most common reasons for delays can be the first step in combatting them and keeping your productivity where it needs to be.

Here’s our guide to the top 5 reasons for delays, and how to overcome them.

1. Peak Time Deliveries

In many businesses, the time before and around the holidays is nuts. Delivery companies are no exception.

With more and more consumers buying their gifts, and everything else, online, couriers have never been busier. Companies do try to factor this in and make arrangements to deal with it.

However, as was seen last year with Amazon’s shipping partner around Christmas, many delivery centers are simply overwhelmed with the volume of packages they have to process.

Solution

It’s a headache, it takes forethought, but as much as possible, plan well ahead to avoid peak times.

Although an occasional last-minute order may be inevitable, try to think a few months ahead and highlight peak times on your calendar when deliveries may slow. This will keep productivity high and disappointment low.

2. Incorrect Customs Paperwork

With international shipping, if the vendor misses a detail or two off the customs declaration you’ll face major delays.

The value and type of the goods are the most common issues, as the receiving country needs to ensure that all relevant taxes and duties have been paid.

Be careful with deals from abroad that seem too good to be true – the dream may turn into a nightmare if you are stuck with a hefty bill from customs.

Solution

Check with the vendor before placing the order what they will be declaring to customs and whether it’s in line with your expectations.

Supply them with any additional details needed ahead of time and ensure that they put an accurate value and description on the goods.

Also, check locally and with the vendor for who is liable to pay any taxes and duties that may be levied when your good finally get to you.

Everybody along the chain needs to buy into this chain of accurate information, so follow up to make sure that your information will be passed on to the next link in the supply chain.

3. Manage the Supply Chain

If you are a business dealing in bulk shipments, then there can be a disconnect between your requirements and the capacity of every link in the supply chain.

Imagine you order a large shipment of t-shirts from a supplier in New York to be air freighted to LA. Clearly, there needs to be capacity at both ends of the journey for the order to be stored while awaiting transit.

A communication breakdown could occur between customer and supplier if these factors are not taken into consideration when agreeing on delivery timescales.

Especially with relatively small and medium-sized orders, priority may not be given to them. This can lead to a temporary breakdown in the logistical chain and delay occurring.

Solution

Build relationships with your suppliers.

When placing orders, talk through the logistics of the delivery with them. They may feel that that is their concern, but if it’s going to affect delivery timeframes, it’s very much your concern as well.

Work together to identify potential hold-ups and discuss how to overcome them. It may be that once likely hold-ups are factored in, a supposedly slower method of transport becomes the faster option.

The key is communication and lots of it. Never be afraid to ask awkward questions early in the process – it can save a lot of grief down the line when delivery delays kick in.

4. Monitor the Climate

By climate, we’re talking political, not meteorological here.

Trade union standoffs, strikes and unrest can quickly cause delivery delays to mount up, leaving you not knowing when you’ll receive your merchandise, if ever.

Solution

Whilst no one can see the future, it can pay to keep your ear to the ground and listen out for potential rumblings.

Monitor industry specific websites and news feeds to keep up to date with the latest threats of action. If you’re worried that they will result in delivery delays for your company, be prepared to make alternative arrangements.

5. The Actual Weather

Goods being shipped from overseas can be particularly prone to delays due to seasonal weather conditions.

Certain shipping lanes and ports are affected by typhoons and tropical storms which can add considerable time to journeys, or delay them from setting off.

Within the country, it might be sunny in Arizona, but your supplier in Wisconsin might be knee deep in snow. Road hold-ups can mean that your shipment gets stuck before it even gets started.

Solution

If you’re considering placing a priority order, check the weather.

If there are weather warnings out that might impact on delivery times and logistics, take the safe route and either hold off or choose a supplier who is more likely to deliver the goods on time.

Also, make sure that you are using a quality nationwide courier service who can handle your requirements.

The Takeaway – How to Avoid Delivery Delays

It might not be foolproof, but trying a few of these suggestions could help you to cut down on the number of deliver delays you experience.

Especially when you have crucial orders that are time sensitive, it pays to do some extra homework on the weather sites, trade union boards and shipping lanes to make sure that your goods will arrive when you need them.

For peace of mind, make sure you work with a courier company you can trust and have great logistics.

Need it Now Delivers are specialists in all aspects of shipping from air freight to warehousing and last mile home delivery.

Click here to check out the great services we have for you and your business.

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5 Reasons to Use a Courier Service For Shipping Large Items

If there’s one thing that business owners from across all industries can agree on, it’s that sending large packages can be a pain. Shipping large items is more expensive, they’re not easy to handle, and they’re an overall pain to deal with.

Luckily, there’s something business owners can use to make shipping easier for items of all sizes. A courier service makes shipping and delivering items simple. Curious about how a courier can help your business? Read on to learn more!

Reasons to Use Courier Services for Shipping Large Items

The small amount of money you spend to hire a courier service to help when you’re shipping large items will be well worth the benefits. There’s a reason why so many big-name retailers rely on couriers for their most important shipping needs.

Are you not convinced that your business could benefit from courier services on your biggest deliveries? After you read this post, you’ll be wondering why you haven’t used courier services in the past.

1. Be Timely

It’s a slow day, but a big order just came through. One of your sales representatives is taking down the customer’s information, but they take a moment to pause and ask you a question. “This client needs a big order, but they need it in 24 hours.” In the blink of an eye, one of your biggest sales just disappeared into thin air because you can’t get them what they need on time.

Nearly every business owner has found themselves facing the problem we just mentioned. Luckily, a courier service can help ensure that your customers get the items they crave in a timely manner. Courier services will help you 24/7. It doesn’t matter if your customer needs something in 24 days or 24 hours, a courier will get them what they need.

2. Save Money

If you’re a business owner, you don’t have to be told how expensive overnight shipping is. If you’ve been shipping large items without a courier, you’ve been losing money. In most cases, businesses that use traditional mailing services end up paying a lot of money for overnight shipping. In some cases, the price for shipping may exceed the overall price of the product being shipped.

Think about how much shipping large items cost when you’re doing regular shipping. The weight can add a lot of money to the original price. When you factor in weight and overnight costs, it can get very expensive. There’s also the issue that the average customer expects a lot from the companies they’re buying from.

Thanks to a world where people can purchase items with the click of a button, a lot of your customers aren’t going to want to wait an extra day or two to get their goods. If you want to retain customers, many business owners have no choice but to eat the extra cost of overnight shipping to keep their customers happy.

A courier service is on average more affordable than traditional shipping options. Aside from the fact that you save on the overall cost of shipping, you get better service and overall nice “extras.”

3. Pay For Safety

When you pay for overnight shipping the traditional way, you’re really only paying for the package to get to a location in one day. You don’t pay to ensure that the package and goods are well taken care of. You don’t put any money towards making sure it’ll get there at a certain time. You just pay to ensure that someone drops the goods off.

We’ve all received packages that seemed like they were carelessly tossed on porches or lawns. Now imagine one of your trusted customers getting damaged or broken merchandise because the delivery person was careless. When you use a courier service for shipping large items, you know that your cargo is in good hands.

They’ll treat everything they’re delivering with the utmost respect and care. You won’t have to worry about things being carelessly left in the wrong place and you’ll be guaranteed that your items will arrive on time.

This may come as a shock, but even reputable services like the United States Postal Services have admitted to having issues with internal package theft. You may think it’s difficult to steal large items, but with the right knowledge and equipment, it’s easier than you realize.

4. Pay for Options

What do you know about the USPS or FedEx worker that’s delivering packages to your customer? Can their workers do much else aside from making sure your packages get to where they need to go? If you’re shipping large items with a courier service, you’re going to have a lot of options at your disposal.

One of the best benefits of working with a courier service is the sheer amount of options you have for your delivery. If you need any kind of specialized shipping service, you should go with a courier.

Do you want a white glove delivery service that can make sure your packages arrive with style and class? A courier service can easily do that, but a postal worker can’t. Do you cater to legal clients and need packages delivered with legal process servicing? You couldn’t get that with a traditional shipping service.

5. Guarantee Deliveries

Standard shipping services have gotten better when it comes to making deliveries, but that doesn’t mean you can rely on these companies 24/7. What if you need to ship something during a major holiday, or a government holiday? Would they be able to fulfill and make a delivery that comes in at 6 pm on a Saturday evening?

A courier service is great for shipping large items at all times. It doesn’t matter if you need something sent out on Christmas Day or the weekend, a courier service has you covered.

Your Turn

Now that you know how beneficial a courier service can be, it’s time to start using one for your business! Contact us today so we can talk about your shipping needs and determine which of our services is right for you.

While you’re waiting to talk to us, check out our blog to find ways to improve your shipping. Our post about top 5 shipping problems can help ensure that you’re shipping your goods in the best way possible.

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What To Expect From Courier Delivery In Bad Weather

During the winter time more than all other seasons, customers have grown to expect shipping delays. When there are snowstorms, airport shutdowns, and major storms coming through, there is little that a delivery service can do to keep the delivery flow going. Still, you might be wondering what to expect from a courier delivery you’ve scheduled in the case of bad weather conditions. Will the package still be delivered on time? Where is it? Will it be protected from the elements? How bad does the weather have to be before courier service is interrupted? Where can you find courier delivery services you can trust?

All of these questions and more are sure to spring to your head if you have hired a courier service to deliver an important item but nasty weather has moved in. Not to fear — in this article, we’ll answer all your weather-related delivery questions and leave you feeling assured that you know the drill when it comes to bad weather and package deliveries.

What Will Happen to My Delivery in Bad Weather?

If the weather along a courier’s delivery route is inclement, expect a natural delay. Couriers are devoted to their mission, but some things cannot be prevented. Expect to receive a call or some form of contact from the delivery company if there will be an interruption in your service. They will reach out as soon as possible to notify you of any delays or cancellations. Trust that they are working around the clock and doing the best they can to get your package to you.

Couriers understand the importance of their services, and they will not wait a moment longer than absolutely necessary to ensure that the delivery happens on time and as expected. You can also rest assured that your package or item will be well protected in the event of bad weather. It will not be left outside, exposed to the elements. It will be well protected as it is transported to its ultimate destination.

Couriers often put their delivery items in plastic bags or other sorts of cases when the weather is wet or dangerous. Despite bad weather, couriers are committed to getting their packages to satisfied customers on time. There may be a delay or a new estimated delivery time, but don’t worry! If your package is entrusted to a reputable courier service, it is in good hands. Your satisfaction is the ultimate goal.

Protections Against Delays

One of the best parts of hiring a courier delivery service is that you will be provided with up to date notifications regarding the status of your delivery. If your package is going to be delayed, you will know about it. Maybe you’re sitting at home waiting for your delivery and you see bad weather rolling in. Instead of simply wondering what will happen and hoping your package will arrive, you’ll be able to know the exact status and find out where it is at all times.

Tracking options and delivery notifications are provided so that you can be sure not to miss anything. Remember: a courier’s goal is to get your items delivered as quickly as possible, no matter what. Still, when safety or health is at risk, it’s important to show patience and compassion and trust that the courier is only delayed because it’s absolutely vital that they avoid the weather.

How Bad Is Bad Enough?

Maybe you expect your courier to trek through snow, sleet, and hail to get your package delivered to you on time. And maybe they will! However, how bad does weather have to get before you should assume that your delivery will be delayed? Usually, couriers will brave even the worst conditions to get your items delivered to you. Snowstorms, stormy days, and even heat waves won’t hold them back.

But what about natural disasters like hurricanes or wildfires? Recent years have proven to us that the forces of nature are nothing to be mocked. Serious weather conditions can present extreme danger and even cause death. In cases like this, you should expect that your package probably won’t arrive at you on time.

Nothing is more important to a delivery service than getting your items delivered to you when you expect them, but when there are human lives at risk, that’s where companies have to draw the line. If a courier is at risk of serious bodily harm, expect to experience a delay in your delivery. It is simply natural human compassion to have patience in situations like that. Couriers will do what they can, but they are not super humans!

Still, you’ll be amazed at the harsh conditions your courier will endure to get your item to you as promised! Rain, winds, and the hot summer sun are no match for your mighty courier.

Quality Courier Delivery Services

Looking for courier delivery you can count on? Need It Now employs the kind of couriers who will stop at nothing to get your items delivered on time. When you need a delivery service you can trust with the timely and careful delivery of your most important packages, you know who to call. Plus, the Need It Now website has tracking capabilities built in, so you’ll never have to wonder where your package is or what time you should expect it. Simply plug in your tracking number and you’ll be able to check in on your package every step of the way.

From final mile home delivery to luggage drop-offs, our courier delivery services can do it all. We can locally deliver your packages using our fast and dependable walking couriers. For deliveries over fifty pounds, you can rely on our delivery vans to get the job done. Our couriers are prepared to handle any situation that may arise, from bad traffic to bad weather!

Contact us today for a free quote or to hear more about the wide range of courier and delivery services we offer. We’re excited for you to experience our delivery services.

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Why You Need an On Demand Courier Service On Speed Dial

From small businesses to large corporations, companies need guaranteed shipping solutions to function properly. But there are so many choices available in the shipping venue that it can be difficult to know where to begin. Depending on the exact needs of a business, a business owner can determine which shipping options will work best for their company.

Some companies have strict shipping schedules. Others may not even use shipping that often. That’s why it’s important to know all the options, especially when it comes to on demand service. It could mean the difference between getting something there on time or not.

In this article, we’re discussing how on demand service can fit the needs of any business, large or small, with daily pickups or even once a month. Keep reading to learn more.

Rush Courier & On Demand

Companies can expect time-definite delivery of their important packages with rush courier and on demand service.

Super rush service and rush service is picked up within one hour of request. Super rush service delivers packages directly to their destination. Rush service guarantees delivery within 3 hours in the same county.

When a pickup gets ordered by 10:30 am, on demand service guarantees same delivery by 5 pm. Next day orders will get delivered by 5 pm the following day.

Businesses can also benefit from pre-scheduled delivery which ensures delivery at an exact requested time. With scheduled service, a company can have packages picked up as late as midnight. Packages will then be delivered by 9 am the following morning.

This service may be available in 50 major cities throughout the United States.

Pre-Scheduled Routed Delivery

Whether a company is delivering envelopes or pallets, pre-scheduled delivery can help. Get something across town or across the country with an on demand service from a local courier. Service fleets include cars, vans, and trucks, so anything will fit.

Express STAT service provides pickup within sixty minutes. Then, the courier drives it directly to the delivery location. Express service usually guarantees delivery within three hours of the original pickup.

Businesses can also op for Standard service. Orders only need to be placed by noon to have guaranteed delivery by 5:30 pm the same day.

On demand service couriers focus on retrieving packages from local area airports for single and large-scale delivery.

Warehousing

Effective product distribution is available through warehousing services provided by a local courier. They understand that each business has specific needs and requirements related to supply chain challenges.

Facilities are located near major ports to cater to the immediacy of any shipping needs. Couriers will store and ship freight that is required to be on-hand ready for shipping at any time. They can also use cross-docking for shipments that need transferring for the most expedient delivery in a local area.

Store, ship, and fulfillment services are also available with a warehousing contract. Couriers work non-stop to ensure delivery of shipments anytime, anywhere.

Air Freight & Freight Services

With air freight service, a company can ask for same day delivery anywhere in the United States. The courier picks up the requested package immediately ensuring that it gets on the next flight out of town. The company also has a choice to get the package picked up and specify when it must get delivered.

Couriers base freight costs on weight and distance for pickups and deliveries. This can save companies money on other domestic shipping options.

Freight services include rush and pre-scheduled delivery. Light and heavy trucking, and line hauling from pickup locations to airports for packages destined overseas are also available. Some companies may benefit from late night delivery available anytime.

Freight services include international shipping to overseas destinations. Sea freight forwarding and time specific shipping is also available with a courier service.

Baggage Delivery

Businesses and individuals alike can benefit from baggage delivery with a local courier.

Pick up service includes baggage pick up from a specified location. The courier then ships the luggage to the traveler’s destination. Not to mention sending the baggage back when the trip is over.

Wrapping services include wrapping items for shipment in protective coverings. They’ll also label everything to ensure accurate and timely delivery. Simply call the courier service with a pickup and they’ll take it from there.

Domestic and International services include pick up and drop off at any location in the United States.

And, rest assured that deliveries come complete with electronic notifications. These send alerts via email when items arrive at their destination.

Last Mile Home Delivery

Courier services really go the extra mile with last mile or final mile delivery. Last mile delivery guarantees on-time delivery. Couriers use both planes and ground transportation for this method of delivery.

Businesses can rely on last mile delivery to get packages to recipients quickly and efficiently. Instantaneous tracking is available and signatures are required upon delivery.

In some cases, a driver may even stay on premises while recipients open their packages. This helps to confirm the items and ensure they were received as expected.

Refrigerated Services

Refrigerated transport and refrigerated courier services are just another reason to keep an on demand service courier on speed dial. With cutting-edge temperature technology, courier services can drive almost anything, anywhere.

Couriers Provide On Demand Service

A courier can get the goods delivered on time, every time, without the hassle and headache of some other shipping options. Companies can rely on a courier to pick up shipments within a moment’s notice and deliver materials across the street or across the globe.

On demand service is a specialty held by couriers to provide the best service possible. Companies can expect friendly, professional service with each and every transaction. Couriers are licensed and insured so there is never doubt or concern for trouble.

If you need on demand courier service for your business, you’ve come to the right place. Contact us today.

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How a Professional Courier Service Can Help Construction Companies

Are you beyond frustrated waiting for your building supplies to arrive? It certainly doesn’t help when you have deadlines to meet or stress piling up in relation to pleasing your client or meeting your budget.

In fact, according to the National Association of Home Builders, the cost of building materials, including lumber, gypsum and readymade concrete has risen substantially since April 2017.

With this in mind, you don’t want to have to mess around with terrible delivery services who lose your materials or take an eternity to arrive at the correct location.

When you’re a construction company, you don’t just need a delivery truck. You need a company who can provide you with well thought out on-time services that don’t have any delays. A professional courier service is what you need to help you make your projects run smoother.

Provides You with on Time Deliveries Every Single Time

A professional courier service can locally deliver any packages you need on time, every time. Not only can they get their reliable workers to locally deliver any packages you need, they also have a fleet of vans on hand for packages over 50 pounds in weight.

This is a perfect service to use for those steel poles or support beams that may be difficult to get delivered any other way.

Offers You Prescheduled Deliveries

Do you want to stay on top of your onsite time management? What better way to do this than through planning a prescheduled delivery with a reliable and professional courier service?

Thanks to advancements in technology over the years, outbound shipments can easily be pre-made. Not only that, you can expect your delivery to arrive at the optimal time of the day for you and your crew. That means that your materials won’t get stuck in traffic and it’ll come at the exact moment it’s expected!

What if you need to include an extra load at the last second? The delivery experts can easily fit that in with your already pre-scheduled delivery.

All you need to do is schedule your next important delivery.

The Courier Service Includes Warehousing Options

Do you have a project that’s taking a while to get off the ground? You probably have materials floating around everywhere and you need somewhere safe to store them?

Luckily, a professional courier service is here to help you out. They can help provide you with shipping and storing services which are all ready to be accessed the moment you need it.

But that is not all that they offer.

They can also transfer your supplies by cross docking shipments, so even if your materials are stored on the other side of the state or country, you can receive them without delay.

Reliable Trucking Shipping Services

If you need a reliable service that delivers to your worksite any timeframe the day, you can rely on a professional courier service.

Their trucking services should provide you with both local and long-distance services all across the United States. It doesn’t matter the size or the volume of your shipments or whether it’s a regular or rushed delivery, they have a fleet of vans and trucks ready to deliver your supplies.

They can also drive your deliveries at any time of the day and night, including late night deliveries for every single day of the year. From small suburbs to huge highways, a high-quality delivery fleet will go anywhere to give you your goods.

Includes Air Freight Services

Along with a reliable trucking service, your friendly professional courier service should also provide you with a quality air freight service. This is especially helpful if you have supplies being delivered from overseas.

If you have a worksite in America or Canada, you should expect same-day delivery in any part of the country from a courier service you can trust.

Offers You Last Mile Home Delivery

Did you order some emergency supplies to finish a project? You may be worried that they won’t arrive in time to complete the project before the deadline. Luckily for you, a professional delivery service can help save you in this predicament.

They can reliably and quickly ship your emergency supplies to any part of the country, right to the doorstep of where they are required. With this in mind, you can be sure to trust their services with your goods!

Prevents Interruption of Work

There’s nothing worse about the timeline of a worksite than delayed construction. This can happen when you have to pull some of your workers off of the job site to pick up a delivery or send something in-between two worksites.

With the help of a professional delivery service, you don’t need to worry about wasting your manpower. They can not only pick up and deliver supplies for you, they can assist you in shipping materials between two worksites.

Now you can ensure that your worksite remains busy, and all of your projects get completed on time!

Helps You Avoid Paying Overtime

Do you hate having to pay more overtime than you need to? It’s frustrating having to send employees to pick up and send deliveries to other job sites for this exact reason.

It gets worse when they have to drive a long distance or they get stuck in a traffic jam because it means you have to pay even more. Therefore, this can have quite an effect on your wallet too.

In Canada, you have to pay workers one and a half times their regular wage rate for any overtime. So imagine how much it’s going to cost you weekly to send two or three employees on an hour’s drive during rush hour?

Thankfully, a professional delivery service will mean you never have to pay overtime again for deliveries. You can keep your employees on their respective worksites and ensure that the project stays on track and your expenses are considerably reduced.

Closing: A Professional Courier Service Can Help Improve Your Worksite’s Productivity!

Never worry again about late deliveries or unexpected delays!

A professional courier service has a variety of services readily available for you, so take advantage of them today for the sake of your construction company!

For more information or to get a professional quote, click here.

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How You Know You’ve Hired the Best City Couriers

Using a courier service is a smart idea for both individuals and businesses. You’ll save time, money, and it’s terribly convenient. You’ll also probably save your sanity because you won’t have to stress about your package getting to its destination on time. But not all city couriers are the same. Before you pick up the phone or go online to give them your business, read this. You’ll want to make sure you’ve hired the best for your needs.

Here’s what to look for.

Make Sure the City Couriers Are Licensed, Bonded, and Insured

Make sure the city couriers are licensed to do business in your city. It’s requirement for every courier service to have one. Next, see if they are bonded and insured. You don’t have to be held responsible if something happens to the courier while they’re handling your business. If they lose or damage the package they’re handling, you also don’t want to be held responsible for replacing it. They should.

Your packages are precious to you. Work with a company you can trust. Don’t forget to hire a company whose couriers require IDs. They should also stay with your package until it’s delivered. See if their delivery vehicles are clearly marked and that their employees are wearing clean, professional looking uniforms.

Ask to ensure they’ll wait for a signature before leaving so your documents and equipment are guaranteed to be delivered to the right person, at the right time, at the right location.

Determine If They Can Handle Your Type of Needs

Everyone has different needs. Some companies may have large packages that need to be delivered. Other companies may only need the occasional delivered. But that document needs to be delivered as soon as possible. The needs of individuals will also differ. Maybe you’ll only need to use those city couriers once or twice a year.

Choose a delivery service that can handle your needs as economically as possible. The fees will be dependent on three things.

  • The size of the packages or documents being sent
  • The number of packages being delivered
  • How far you’re shipping them

For large volumes over long distances, look to a regional or national freight carrier. If your packages need to be delivered same day and are also locally based, try a local courier or messenger service.

Sometimes, your needs don’t fit into one category. You might have multiple types of deliveries. Some may even require warehousing. That’s when an integrated transportation company will be the right choice.

Try to find one company that can meet all your needs.It will make your billing process easier. It will also make it easier to train employees the shipping procedures.

Check to See If They’re Reliable

Whether you’re sending equipment, medical packages, or vital documents, find a service that can reach you as soon as possible. Especially if your needs are often during an emergency situation.

By you promising delivery to wherever you’re sending your package to, you’re putting your own reputation on the line. Choose the city couriers who won’t let you down.

Make sure they provide proof of delivery and offer online tracking. Go one step further and check out Yelp and other review sites to see what others are saying about the city couriers you’re thinking of using. The Better Business Bureau is also a great place to look for complaints.

But you can also head over to social media. Most companies are on one or more social media sites like Facebook. Take a look at what they’re posting and what visitors to their social media page are saying about them. Lastly, check out their website. Make sure it looks professional and clearly states what services they offer.

Ask If They Can Handle Special Requests

When you’re in a crunch for time, it’s easy to forget about small, but really important matters. Ask if they can handle special requests before you actually need one. That way, should it ever arise, you’ll know your city couriers will be able to go the extra mile. Make sure you ask if they can handle an oversized package. If the answer is yes, ask if they’ll provide help with loading and unloading. Another good question to ask is if they are properly equipped to handle special needs like delivering perishable items or hazardous goods.

Figure Out If They Have a Fast Turnover

If you need to send packages through a courier service, you’ll need to think of this process as if you’re hiring an employee. The city couriers will actually be an extension of your business, so choose a company you know you can depend on when it really matters. Ask if they have same day services or emergency delivery services. Make sure they’re focused on the logistics of your business and can handle all your needs. They should be able and willing to provide you with superior service each and every time.

Ease of Business

Before making your final decision, check out a few more things. It should be easy for you to place an order online or by phone, depending on your preference and needs. Ask what their invoicing procedure is. Then ask about any hidden costs that might raise up the price of a delivery. You should know exactly what the final cost of delivery will be before you give the go ahead.

Choose a company dedicated to making your life and business easier, not more difficult. If they aren’t interested in answering your questions, don’t work with them. Even worse, if they can’t answer your questions in an easy to comprehend way, then keep searching.

Why You Should Choose Us

We have options because we know how busy you are. So place an order by phone, app, or online. We’ll e-mail you when the package has been picked up. We’ll also notify you when the package has been delivered to its destination. We also provide local and nationwide delivery services. We even provide same-day delivery for those rush items that can’t wait. Like those important deliveries, you shouldn’t wait to hire us. Set up a new account today.

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