Should You Choose Tracked or Standard Parcel Delivery Service?

Tracked delivery, standard delivery, signed for delivery, first class delivery, second class delivery… so many options to choose from. Well, for small and large businesses across various industries, there are many decisions that need to be made when organising deliveries to clients and customers. One of the main ones is whether to arrange tracked or untracked parcel delivery. There are benefits to both types of parcel delivery services but you may find one suits your business model and requirements better than the other. If you’re uncertain which option to go for, consider the differences and advantages between the two.

Tracked Delivery

Tracked parcels delivery is sometimes confused with signed for delivery, but there is a difference between the two. With signed for delivery, it only shows where a parcel is once it has been signed for, there is no visibility en route. Whereas with parcel tracking you can view where the package is and its delivery progress along the way.

What are the benefits of tracked delivery?

Obviously, the main benefit of tracked parcel delivery services is that they provide peace of mind or ecommerce business, and for your customers. These types of parcels can be easily tracked. Many clients and customers will be encouraged by parcel tracking options, especially if they require products quickly. Such visibility also presents your business as trustworthy and reliable, as well as creating opportunities to contact customers with new offers and information. Additionally, it eliminates wasted time and finances answering customer enquiries about the location of their orders.

Seriously, just think about the number of phone calls that you get when you send untracked parcels. “When is my parcel arriving?”, “Where is it?”, “Why is it late?” etc.

Tracked delivery services can be ideal for businesses selling expensive products. These types of businesses will especially benefit from parcel tracking, as both customers and the company will really want to be sure that the items get delivered safely. Large retailers hoping to streamline their delivery processes and make it as easy as possible to keep tabs on many deliveries will make the most of tracked deliveries too. With one invoice, a range of formats, optional delivery days and more, this can make parcel tracking a lot clearer for big online retailers and ecommerce companies. Those selling via Amazon and eBay can use tracked services to give their customers a premium delivery experience.

Standard Parcel Delivery

With a standard parcel delivery service, there is tracking or visibility of where the package is during the delivery process, but it can be easier to manage for businesses dealing with high volumes of parcels on a regular basis. Usually, the information given about the package’s whereabouts is very limited, if any at all.

Large letters and parcels of various shapes and sizes are eligible for a standard parcel delivery service. If you don’t have urgent products that need sending out, or customers relying on being able to watch their deliveries, then a standard parcel delivery services may be the best option.

Again, it really depends on the types of products that you want to ship, how expensive are they, how fast they need to reach their destination, etc.

Are there any benefits when it comes to standard delivery?

Well, obviously, the cost is much lower. A standard parcel delivery service is a lot more cost-effective than a tracked service. It providesa lower cost option that is perfect for businesses sending out many small goods regularly. For large letters as well, if there is no need to keep tabs on them, using an ‘untracked’ service can save your business money if it requires small package and letter deliveries often. Deliveries go through essentially the same process, just with different service level options and without the additional costs attached for tracking.

So, who is this for?

E-commerce companies and online retailers operating on a smaller budget or looking to keep costs low. These companies will benefit most from untracked parcels delivery. As will businesses that have a large existing customer base and do not need to build trust through tracked services. They can also be great for businesses sending out large volumes of letters and/or small parcels, not just for being cost-effective also saving you time and space.

To sum up

Consider which option is best for the parcel delivery your business requires. Try to have a balance between cost and peace of mind. Maybe a £5 product doesn’t need tracked postage, but the secret here is to offer the option of a tracked shipping service, and a cheaper untracked service option.

If your customer wants to pay £15 for tracked shipping for his/her £5 product, why not? It’s their option at the end of the day. But if you offer free shipping on all of your products, try to offer untracked/cheaper options for your cheaper products. And obviously, try to offer tracked shipping for your more expensive products. It’s common-sense.