The same day delivery market is disrupting the courier landscape as more businesses than ever opt for specialists who truly, deliver, in every sense of the word.
As more companies turn to the experts than ever before, seen through annual market growth of 20% and with the sector predicted to be worth nearly $14 billion globally by 2027, does your business need to take a hard look at how your current courier service stacks up?
SpeedLink is the pioneer in the time-critical courier services for the B2B sector thanks to its unique, agile ‘can do’ ethos.
It’s spearheading the boom in the UK and Europe, covering 160 countries with a same day service, which includes a worldwide courier arm.
SpeedLink founder David McMillen explains the key reasons why the B2B community is switching to same day specialists.
First and foremost is the increase in the volume of time-critical companies where the courier built its business.
Another secondary factor is that delivery has become an essential service offering by B2B companies, meaning they are seeking better solutions to have a competitive edge.
Finally, there is dissatisfaction with conventional courier services, with new research published in The Fairfield Report revealing they are struggling to deliver reliably.
1. Time-critical
The main reason for the growth in the same day delivery sector is that, increasingly, a company’s products or services are time-critical, which is where SpeedLink first established its niche and created its business model.
In fact, at its core, there are nine key sectors where it has built its reputation. These are the aerospace, automotive, chemicals, energy, industrial & engineering, public sector, TV & film, and technology sectors.
It also serves the life science and healthcare industry, where meeting the deadline can literally be a matter of life or death – such as racing blood samples or stem cells to a lab.
Working in these industries for more than a decade and a half means the company has honed its offering building the infrastructure that ensures it not only delivers on time, but also in perfect condition, no matter how demanding the requirements are. And that expertise also includes specialist services such as delivering fine art, technology equipment, and even animals.
Dave McMillen attributes this to an in-depth knowledge of those industry’s needs, as well as investment in the support systems crucial to handling over 4,500 time-critical deliveries last year. No mean feat.
The company has also invested heavily in its bespoke IT infrastructure, which means clients have the peace of mind of tracking their shipments, with access to a fleet of over 3,000 vehicles, 87 service centres in the UK, global affiliates, and an end-to-end service for all.
SpeedLink also has a unique economy service option for overnight flights, even running high frequency routes daily, such as London to Paris & Brussels – a must-have service for those needing a time-critical delivery to the heart of the EU.
2. Your competition is delivering better
The second key driver is that delivery and service are an essential and competitive part of the B2B sector.
As the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite, pledges on delivery and cutting timescales for clients are one way that businesses can set themselves apart from their competitors, and the B2B sector is mirroring those customer services commitments to give themselves the edge.
So, can your business afford not to deliver quicker and better? The statistics speak for themselves as the same day delivery sector saw annual growth of 20%, according to insight published in the Global Same-day Market Research Report.
B2B companies are realising they need to up their game and upgrade their existing delivery service for clients who, to put it simply, will go to a competitor if they don’t.
3. Traditional courier services not delivering
Another key reason is that traditional courier services are not delivering, with information published in The Fairfield Report revealing customers are let down in the final mile of service.
This is due to a mixture of overwhelming demand and logistic complexities, from new border requirements caused by Brexit, as well as the war in Ukraine, which is restricting airspace.
This means that same day / next day specialists are now seen as a safe pair of hands, not just for the time-critical sector, but for a much broader business base.
4. Speed is of the essence
So, what should B2B companies do? The first thing is to audit your current delivery provider and see where there are opportunities to improve your offering.
Client feedback is also important, and your delivery system should be part of your normal customer service analytics. You’ll hear in those crucial reviews if your customers aren’t happy!
Finally, check out what your key competitors are doing and ask yourself whether your current courier service is delivering.
If the answer is no, then speak to an expert on cost-effective solutions to give your business the edge.