Expert Opinion

How are the UK courier companies adapting to coronavirus?

For UK courier companies, there has never been a busier time for deliveries than in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. As people are forced into lockdown, they are reliant more than ever upon online delivery.

With such increased demand and the potential health concerns to worry about, how are UK courier companies adapting to coronavirus?

Delivery guarantees have been suspended

One measure delivery companies are having to take as the surge in demand continues, is to suspend their delivery guarantees. This means, services such as timed slot deliveries and next day services can no longer be guaranteed. Sites such as Parcel2Go.com have been inundated with delivery requests, making it difficult for couriers to fulfil guaranteed orders.

Of course, companies are doing all they can to still deliver packages in a timely manner. However, consumers are no longer protected by time-based guarantees.

Contact free deliveries

One of the main measures being taken throughout the coronavirus pandemic, is contact free deliveries. With standard deliveries, the courier would knock on the door, hand you your parcel and get you to sign for it on their handheld devices. Contact free deliveries work slightly differently.

Each courier has its own contact free delivery method. Some will simply leave the parcel in a safe place and sign for it on your behalf such as Hermes. Others, like Royal Mail will still need you to be present, staying 2 meters apart, while the driver signs for it for you.

Another potential option would be for companies to allow customers to sign for packages online. This is already being carried out in some countries.

Taking on additional staff

All of the major courier companies are experiencing a surge in demand. In order to accommodate the additional need, they are having to hire thousands of additional drivers. This should help to make online deliveries much faster in the coming weeks and months.

The need for new drivers is also helping thousands of people who would otherwise be out of work due to the lockdown.

Implementing safety measures onsite

As well as ensuring customer safety, couriers are also adopting social distancing measures within the workplace. DPD for example, has incorporated a wave delivery system. This means that start times for drivers has been staggered to ensure there aren’t too many workers on site at any one time. They are also unable to be within 2 meters of one another when working within the warehouse.

These are some of the main measures being adopted by courier companies to address the coronavirus pandemic. Without deliveries, we’d be in a much worse situation than we currently are under the lockdown. So, it’s reassuring to know courier companies are adopting their practices to ensure they can still provide this crucial service.

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