1. Overview of Courier Services Companies in India
When you're starting to integrate with courier partners, what do you need to consider before selecting a shipping service provider? Orders may be placed in droves, but success can only be measured by order completion and customer satisfaction. After an order is placed, a new logistics system switches into high gear to ensure the parcel journeys by sea, road, or air to its final destination.
Numerous factors come into play from the moment a product leaves a warehouse until it is placed in the customer's hands, like the product's safety in transit, the route being used for shipment, and the time taken for delivery. Having trustworthy and efficient courier partners that offer expedited shipping options can significantly improve the customer experience.
With the continuous evolution of the eCommerce industry over the past decade, there has been a sharp increase in the number of courier services provider companies in India that deliver customer-requested orders on time.
Every eCommerce company wants to ensure good, hassle-free courier services to grow its business in today's competitive world. The process becomes more complex with more than 100+ courier service providers in India. This is because they can claim to be the India's best courier service for eCommerce.
To resolve this problem and help the eCommerce business to finalize the best courier company or partner to fulfill their customer needs, ClickPost is here to help you in every possible manner. The list below of the best eCommerce courier services provider company has been compiled after a proper review and research process and checking all the details.
We have checked key metrics like Delivery Range & Capacity, Cargo Weight, Shipping Costs, Fast Delivery of Goods, RTO Percentage, Cash on Delivery, Courier Delivery Proof, and Security to finalize this exclusive list for eCommerce business enterprises.
2. Top 10 Best eCommerce Courier Services Provider Companies in India [2022 Updated List]
In India, are more than 120+ courier companies provide high-quality, cost-effective courier services solutions to both small and medium and large-scale eCommerce enterprises. ClickPost has Shipping and Courier API integrations with each one of these.
In the below post, you will learn about each of these courier companies in detail. You need to check the most updated list below of the top courier companies in India. With this information you can finalize the best courier partner according to your eCommerce business requireme nts.
2.1) Delhivery
Delhivery started its logistics business in 2011 and has risen to the top ranks of e-commerce courier providers. Delhivery serves over 10,000+ customers across India, 75% of whom are major eCommerce businesses. This is because of the wide range of services this company offers. It is often appreciated for providing efficient reverse logistics and COD services.
However, its focal point lies in providing various options for express delivery, including on-demand delivery, same-day delivery, and next-day delivery. With the help of Delhivery API integration, businesses can automate shipping label generation, cancel orders, display accurate EDDs and manage shipping exceptions.
2.2) DTDC
DTDC (Desk to Desk Courier & Cargo) Express Limited is the Indian division of this major global logistics company. DTDC offers eCommerce businesses the option of customizing deliveries as per customer preferences and services like COD, collect-on-delivery, bulk shipping, heavyweight shipping, and express delivery.
Both inter-state and intra-city delivery options are available to customer enterprises to maximize their fulfillment. These services are partly possible because of the DTDC API that provides instant access to shipping rates, estimated delivery dates, order tracking notifications, and AWB generation.
2.3) Blue Dart
Blue Dart is a global carrier engaged as a top courier service company since 1983 and is among the best courier services for online businesses. They offer multiple payment packages that bundle services together. Blue Dart has a reach of 35,000+ pin codes in India and 220+ countries globally.
These services include COD delivery, automated proof-of-delivery on order fulfillment, weather-resistant packaging for orders, express delivery, and time-base/slot-based delivery. The Blue Dart Tracking API allows ecommerce companies to stay on top of their inbound and outbound shipments via live order tracking. It closely monitors order delays, failed deliveries, and product returns.
2.4) FedEx
FedEx first made its name in the global logistics market before arriving in India to provide online businesses with optimum shipping solutions. It is considered one of the best courier services in India for eCommerce businesses as it is equipped to handle a highly diverse range of products, including heavyweight, fragile, high-value products and hazardous materials like lithium batteries and dry ice.
FedEx is a popular choice for shipping international and domestic orders because of the FedEx Shipping API that connects online stores to its flagship services, FedEx Ground, FedEx Freight, and FedEx Express. The FedEx API documentation allows easier returns management, shipping label creation, and performance reporting.
2.5) Gati
GATI is a must-have on the list of top courier services in India. GATI was started in 1989 to optimize distribution for retailers and now for online businesses. It currently serves 19000+ pin codes within the country, with a reach that extends to 735 out of the 739 different districts within India.
It offers eCommerce companies a wide variety of distribution options, including express delivery options, transportation mechanisms, and warehousing solutions. It also has much experience handling COD orders and allows pick-up from warehouses to be customized.
2.6) DHL
DHL (Dalsey, Hillblom, and Lynn) is another major international courier service for eCommerce in India. Covering 26000+ pin codes across the country, DHL maintains a high standard in reducing wastage and environmental footprint in the delivery process.
Its globally managed and well-connected network of distribution centres enables it to efficiently optimize supply chain solutions to improve order fulfillment within the country and across 220+ countries across the world.
2.7) Ekart
Ekart Logistics is among India's leading courier service provider companies with full-fledged supply chain and fulfillment services. Ekart Logistics started in 2009 as Flipkart's in-house logistics arm. Presently it provides first-mile and last-mile delivery services to over 3800 pin codes across India.
The Ekart Logistics API allows e-commerce businesses to connect with numerous online marketplaces and storefronts and provide several payment gateways to customers like Cash-on-Delivery (COD), UPI, wallets, net banking, etc. The Ekart tracking API enables easy transfer of order tracking information between various systems and provides real-time order status notifications to customers.
2.8) Ecom Express
Ecom Express is among the best courier services for eCommerce in India. Covering 27000+ pin codes across India, Ecom Express is a heavy favorite for e-commerce businesses that handle high-value goods like jewelry. It offers additional services for security and surveillance during storage and transit.
Other courier services offered by Ecom Express include express delivery, doorstep quality checks (QC) for returned items, and a 72-hour delivery guarantee.
2.9) Safe Express
Safe Express, like Gati, is among the oldest courier company in India, with 20+ years of service in the eCommerce logistics industry. Serving 28000+ different pin codes in India, Safe Express prides itself on providing businesses with the most efficient supply chain solutions.
It equips each vehicle with PRS-enabled smart devices to ensure that eCommerce enterprises are able to receive real-time tracking updates while orders are in transit. This also enables transportation units to determine the optimal route for any delivery to reduce delays. Its secured delivery services, which include receipt of proof-of-delivery on fulfillment, give online businesses an added advantage.
2.10) Professional Courier Services
Professional Couriers is an experienced courier service provider company that has been working with supply chain experts for over a decade. There are over 1000 Professional Couriers offices maintained all across the country to ensure streamlined delivery. This company is known for providing fast courier services to businesses, with an added level of security and reliability. Efficiency is maintained through its well-distributed network of fulfillment offices.
3. Top 15 Essential Criteria to Choose the Best Courier Services Provider Company or Partner in India
Do you want to know about the fastest courier services to deliver a great number of orders? Or do you want to hire an affordable cheap courier partner for your online business to save money? Is the oldest courier company the best option or a newly established one? These are the frequently asked questions (FAQs) by any entrepreneur or an online business owner before partnering with a courier company.
The ultimate solution to all these FAQs is well explained in the below article. Further, there are a number of factors that need to be considered at the time of selecting the best courier company for your eCommerce business to ensure smooth and hassle-free customer service. So, go ahead and check about each of these best courier service providers for your upcoming or pre-existing eCommerce business in India.
Do you need the cheapest courier partner to keep costs low, or the fastest partner to ensure a greater number of orders? Is the oldest courier company better or the most established?
Determining which distribution network is right for your business depends on a great many criteria. To ensure that every shipping solutions company that you assign to handle your logistics is truly ideal, these are the determinants you must consider.
3.1) Serviceability
This is the base criteria that any courier partner must fall under. Serviceability deals with 2 simple questions. Does this courier company ship to your company’s desired locations? Can it handle the volume of orders your business receives on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis?
Given the recent boom in online retail and e-commerce businesses, multiple courier partners are needed to meet the rising consumer demand. As more industries expand to web-based platforms, distribution needs become increasingly complex. Selecting a courier company requires these complexities to be taken into account, some of which are listed below.
3.2) Limitations on Cargo Weight and Size
It’s important to remember that different courier partners can handle the different weight and freight capacities and different modes of transport available for shipping. While the exact size and weight of products and shipments may differ from order to order, the average size scale of cargo being transported on a regular basis must be considered. An ideal courier partner would be one that is familiar with handling shipments of that size and to the locations required.
Some courier companies are better equipped to handle larger products, while others may maintain a focus on shipping bulk orders of smaller products. E-commerce businesses that sell heavier and bulkier products like machinery or furniture will have very different shipping needs as compared to online merchants that deal in items like pharmaceuticals or cosmetics.
For bulky orders like furnishings, Delhivery and Ekart are the preferred courier partners. Other shipping companies pride themselves on reaching the more remote areas of the country and the globe. Selecting a courier partner with a larger reach can also insure you for the future, should your company decide to expand to other locations, both within the country and abroad.
3.3) Freight Costs
In case you find multiple courier partners that are within your range of serviceability in terms of location, volume and weight of shipments, you may still be unsure of how to narrow down the number. This is where the shipping rates can help you decide the best option. That isn’t to say, you should look for the lowest rates, but rather the best rates for the best overall service. Unsure about the average shipping rates in India? Head over to a detailed breakdown of ecommerce shipping costs in India and how they are calculated for better understanding.
Rates can vary based on range of delivery, speed of delivery, size and weight of cargo, type of cargo, final destination, etc. The question for any business owner then becomes: What are the most important elements of the delivery for my customers? For example, if your business receives same-day delivery orders frequently, then the most cost-effective option is to select a courier partner that specializes in same-day or ultra-fast shipments or one that does not charge extra for the same.
3.4) Delivery Speed
For any online merchant, fast delivery is the trick to winning over customers and giving them the best experience. Customers typically expect deliveries within 3-5 days. Beyond that time frame, customers tend to get anxious and often struck with buyer’s remorse. This can result in a high number of cancellations and RTO (Return-to-Origin). With platforms like Clickpost, you can monitor delivery speed for each delivery and effectively reduce RTOs through NDR management.
Speed of delivery can be affected by the training of delivery agents, warehouse and inventory management, choice of vehicle and numerous other factors. Courier partners with more streamlined distribution networks will likely have a history of speedy deliveries. In case speed is an essential part of a businesses brand, the ideal courier partner would be one that specialised in express deliveries.
3.5) Hidden Costs and SLA Terms
Much like how some logistics companies in India charge extra for single-day or scheduled fast deliveries, others may charge for different types of services, even ones that may be built into the distribution process. Hidden costs can pop-up in the most unexpected scenarios, like for packaging, printing labels, and even consolidated shipment sizes. In the case of RTOs, e-tailers can end up in a loss as the cost of the shipment will remain unchanged, even if the customer gets a refund.
An SLA between you and any service provider will bring much-needed clarity and transparency to every transaction. Quality control, NDR response, speed of delivery, exceptional circumstances and most importantly, penalties, can all be specified in an SLA, in addition to standard terms regarding the speed of delivery. The goal of an SLA is to ensure that the burden of any mishap, misstep, or miscommunication made by the courier partner does not fall with a thud onto the shoulders of the business.
3.6) Specialization
With more varied industries making their way to the internet, carrier companies have had to get extra creative with their shipping solutions. Depending on the type of products being transported, some courier companies have specialized resources that enable easy transport and the safety of a wide array of cargo.
Similar to how some courier partners focus on bulk shipments while others are better equipped to handle smaller orders, different shipping companies can have their own specializations, like express delivery, handling customs clearance, or even transporting wet cargo like water or petrol. If your business sells products that are temperature sensitive, fragile, flammable, radioactive or highly valued, finding specialized courier partners is of extreme importance.
3.7) Security and Insurance
Speaking of high-value products, insurance is something that can save any person or business from facing an immense loss. This goes doubly so in the case of cargo transportation. While every product shipped needn’t be treated like the Mona Lisa in transit, knowing that a certain standard of safety is guaranteed by your shipping agent will reduce an immense amount of costs spent on damaged or degraded products.
Many courier companies pride themselves on their safety standards and train their transportation professionals to handle items with the utmost care. In the case of highly valued or fragile products, this can make or break a company’s reputation. For example, online jewellery merchants, which usually ship high-value products, usually use Bluedart. Having a standard insurance plan with a trusted courier partner can also help a business avoid heavy losses.
3.8) Delivery Mechanisms
This term essentially encapsulates the entire system used by any given courier company for regular shipments, including storage, transport, and communication. Miscommunications between an online store, a courier company and the customer can become a huge bone of contention for business owners.
The process starts from the moment an item is ordered and picked up from a warehouse or distribution center and continues until the moment it is successfully delivered to the customer. How a company trains its employees, the number of fulfillment centres along the way, the tracking platform used, messages sent to the customers and updates provided to the company all fall under this category and can impact every customer’s overall experience.
3.9) Proof of Delivery
Not all deliveries are successful, though many are updated as such and as a seller, you may become aware of the problem only after receiving customer feedback when the situation is beyond repair. Having a strict policy and setup for communicating proof of delivery can ensure that complaints made by customers can be easily verified and will also hold delivery agents accountable for the state of the product at the time of delivery.
It is important to check with prospective shipping companies what their existing method for communicating proof of delivery is. Some companies may do it via text, or an automatic update while others may have an existing policy that demands photographic evidence, which provides the most information about whether the product was delivered fully intact, packaging included, into the hands of a customer.
3.10) RTO Percentage
Frequently failed deliveries is one of the biggest problems any e-commerce business can face. RTOs can contribute to major losses, especially if the product is not returned in usable condition or if the shipping company used does not have a system for reverse logistics and returns in place. RTOs also occur more frequently in cases of delayed delivery or if a customer is having trouble tracking a product.
Prior to selecting an eCommerce logistics partner, it helps to determine which courier partners have high numbers of RTOs on a regular basis. While RTOs may not be completely avoidable, they can be reduced if NDRs (Non-Delivery Reports) are handled efficiently. When an initial delivery attempt is unsuccessful, how many additional attempts are made to successfully complete the order?
In case the courier agent is unable to reach a customer, is there a mechanism in place to receive additional contact information from the customer to ensure the second or even the third attempt is successful? A standardized response system to NDRs can effectively reduce your RTO percentage, which is offered by unified platforms like ClickPost . Efficiency in overall delivery and efficiency in the completion of initially unsuccessful deliveries are equally important.
3.11) Returns Management
While NDRs may lead to orders being automatically returned to their point of origin, another important scenario is that businesses and online merchants have to think of orders being returned after successfully completing the delivery. While the item can be returned for numerous different reasons, the end goal of a returned order is for the product to safely make it back to the storage facility or warehouse it came from.
A courier company with an efficient returns management system will play an immensely important role in this long and tedious process. A time must be scheduled for pick up and the burden lies on the courier partner to ensure the package retraces its steps to return to the business. An added bonus that integration platforms like Clickpost can offer is the instantaneous collection of customer feedback data, which can help improve the provision of services.
3.12) Stuck Shipments
With thousands of orders being processed and transported on a daily basis, a few stuck shipments probably wouldn’t stick out. However, customers can become increasingly frustrated to learn that their orders are being held at a warehouse or fulfilment centre in another city or more annoyingly, in their own city. And this could potentially become a much larger issue.
Stuck shipments can occur for numerous reasons, from customs clearances to logistics issues like delays in the pickup and vehicular difficulties. Monitoring the causes for the majority of your stuck shipments can help you select a courier partner that is equipped to overcome those specific challenges.
Courier integration platforms like Clickpost can help you monitor your stuck shipments with multiple courier partners to get a comparative view of the shipping solutions you need.
3.13) Technology
Given that e-Commerce logistics businesses are heavily technology-driven and improving their tech-savviness every day, courier partners, logistics companies and shipping solutions firms also maintain an obligation to do the same. API and UI-driven platforms can serve to increase delivery efficiency, streamline tracking of orders, and also help immensely in dealing with NDRs and reducing RTOs.
An up-to-date courier company will be equipped with tech that enables quick communication, regular updates on the status of the product, an easy method to process photographic evidence of delivery and quickly receive customer feedback.
3.14) Additional Benefits
While these may not make the top of the list of criteria to look for in your search for the best courier, they still offer amazing opportunities to increase efficiency and fulfil orders successfully. These can include storage, inventory management, the printing of shipping labels and aiding in customs clearance and cross-border formalities, depending on what the logistics firm offers and what your requirements are.
3.15) Reviews and Track Record of Courier Company
Numerous websites and forums provide regular reviews and insights on how different courier companies perform, especially larger ones like UPS and DHL. These can help you determine if they suit all your other needs and the criteria listed above.
Most established shipping partners and logistics companies have also spent many years sculpting their reputation and creating a solid base in their area of specialization. A careful review of their past performances will give you a clearer perspective of which courier partners will be able to provide you with efficient fulfillment solutions customized to your business.
Courier Company
|
Headquarter
|
Founder
|
Founded
|
Products
|
Industry
|
Revenue
|
Aramex India Pvt Ltd
|
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
|
Fadi Ghandour, Bill Kingson
|
1982
|
Express Logistics, Domestic Express, Freight Forwarding, Logistics, Shop & Ship, Warehousing, Customs Clearance
|
Freight forwarding, Express logistics
|
$398 Million (2019)
|
Blue Dart Express Ltd.
|
Mumbai, India
|
Tushar Jani, Clyde Cooper, Khushroo Dubash
|
1983
|
Delivery, express mail, freight forwarding, third-party logistics
|
Courier
|
Rs.794.73 crore (2019)
|
DHL
|
Bonn, Germany
|
Adrian Dalsey, Larry Hillblom, and Robert Lynn
|
San Francisco, CA
|
DHL Express Worldwide and DHL Express
|
Express logistics
|
$72.4 billion (2019)
|
DTDC Express Limited
|
Bangalore, India
|
Debasish Chakraborty, Subhasish Chakraborty
|
1990
|
Delivery, Express mail, Third-party logistics
|
Courier
|
INR. 500 cr
|
Ecom Express Pvt Ltd
|
New Delhi
|
T. A. Krishnan T.A. Krishnan, Manju Dhawan, K. Satyanarayana and Sanjeev Saxena
|
2012
|
Ecom Express Services (EXS), Ecom Fulfilment Services (EFS) and Ecom Digital Services (EDS)
|
Courier
|
INR. 1,000 crore
|
FedEx
|
Memphis, Tennessee
|
Frederick W. Smith
|
1971
|
Post delivery, express mail, freight forwarding, third-party logistics
|
Courier
|
US $69 billion (2019)
|
Gati
|
Hyderabad, India
|
Mahendra Agarwal
|
1989
|
Logistics and supply chain management
|
Courier
|
178 Crores (2019)
|
Safexpress Pvt Ltd
|
New Delhi, India
|
Pawan Jain
|
1997
|
Logistics and Cargo services
|
Courier
|
INR 500 cr
|
The Professional Couriers
|
Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra
|
T. Balachandran
|
1987
|
Transport and Courier Service
|
Courier
|
INR. 150 crore (2019)
|
4. Final Words
So, these are the top eCommerce courier services provider companies in India that you can partner with and deliver your customer's orders on time and on their desired location. All of them have been in business for the past couple of years and have a good customer base & reputation in providing high-quality courier services with a PAN India presence. Hundreds of different small and medium-sized eCommerce businesses have hired these courier service providers in the past to fulfill their customer needs on time.