Courier services and technology during the Covid-19 crisis

The global coronavirus crisis is causing significant disruption to businesses and industries around the world, including courier services. Courier services are a significant global business, with combined annual revenue of over $300 billion, with more than 580,000 courier firms worldwide employing more than four million people.

Also, the coronavirus crisis means that the courier network is under higher pressure than ever before, with retailers around the world briefly closing down their brick and mortar stores, forcing the shoppers to buy online.

Services such as DHL USA and FedEx USA have issued multiple safety guidelines for their employees and customers as they continue to operate nationwide, around the clock.

All courier businesses are influenced by this digital age and rely on technology, and during these unparalleled times, this dependence becomes much more significant.

Besides services such as courier management systems to book and monitor services, process data, etc., technology can assist courier services in various ways:

1. Contactless delivery options – To facilitate this, the driver will retain possession of the scanner and essentially sign on behalf of the customer if he/she is present. At the point where the parcel is scanned, the GPS coordinates are also captured. Several courier services encourage individuals to use 24-hour pickup services.
2. Route mapping – One way to reach more customers on a single journey is through route optimization software, which helps plan optimized routes with directions, and factors in essential elements such as weather, traffic, and desired delivery time for customers.
3. Drone deliveries – Drone deliveries, pre-coronavirus, had been mostly about experimenting with the possibilities. Nevertheless, the industry has seen a “renewed interest in drone deliveries” following the coronavirus outbreak. According to The Independent, it is expected to rise to $43 billion in the next four years.

In conclusion, technology can help courier services become more efficient, flexible, and ultimately increase their capacity, whether they are used to post a package overseas or locally.