E-commerce is undoubtedly the next big thing in today’s business world. Many businesses in Australia rely on efficient delivery services to transport documents, goods, and/or parcels from one point to another. But sometimes, shipping can involve many complications, such as fees, contracts, financial records, and materials. Without integrating Australia-wide delivery services in their operations, every business won’t run efficiently.
But how do Australian businesses go about delivering goods and items from point A to point B? What about the general population sending packages from one point to another? What are the processes involved when you get a package successfully sent or delivered?
In this post, we’ll look at the different steps involved in the shipping process.
Step 1: Gathering all the essentials for shipping and fulfilment
Before shipping a document, parcel, package, or freight, all the necessary information have to be indicated. It’s important to get everything in order. Without getting the basics down from the start, the shipping and delivery process can’t be completed.
Categorise the item
First and foremost, the category of the item is identified. Is the item in question a document, parcel, etc.? Does it contain electronics like mobile phones, laptop computers, and batteries? There are hundreds of categorisations of products, which affect charges, custom regulations, taxes, and duties. This is why it is important to categorise the item accurately.
Determine the delivery time
If you’re getting a package delivered from a different state to your doorstep, you have to determine the delivery time that is suitable for you. The internet is your handy tool to fulfil this important step. You can use online shipping rate calculator tools to compare delivery times for multiple couriers at once.
Confirm the recipient details
Finally, the shipping and fulfilment stage is completed by confirming the recipient details. You have to make sure the contact person’s email and phone number are accurate. This is for the courier to reach the recipient in case of any delays and other delivery problems. You’ll be surprised by how many packages end up undelivered as a result of an error in the recipient’s address, so make sure the details are correct.
Step 2: Dealing with regulations and requirements
Australia has specific international and national standards when it comes to shipping, which usually relate to ship construction, equipment, crew and vessel safety. When getting an item delivered from outside the country or sending a package abroad, it’s important to research the country-specific regulations and look up the rules on the item. For instance, food and nutrition products will be subject to different regulations depending on the country.
Under certain categories, you may need to acquire permits or complete specific forms to ship items. Looking up these regulations is now made easy with the help of country-specific shipping tools found on the internet.
Step 3: Comparing and choosing couriers
If you’re a business owner shipping a package to a customer, be sure to choose a reliable local courier company. Your brand reputation should not be at risk due to delivery issues, so take the time to compare different courier services and find one that suits your requirements.
When choosing a courier service, there are important factors to consider like shipping cost, quality of tracking, and delivery time. Once again, you may use shipping calculator tools on the internet to get a quote for your shipping. Be careful with hidden fees, though.
Many online “get a quote” tools do not include hidden fees including fuel surcharge, taxes and duties, remote areas charge, and other surcharges for shipping. You can get a quote from select major couriers’ websites (if a shipping calculator is available, of course).
Step 4: Preparing labels and documents M
You’re about ready to ship! The next step is creating a shipment through the courier company for Australia-wide delivery service. At this point, you have to decide if you or your recipient will pay for the shipping costs, tax, and duties. Usually, businesses offer free shipping for items that reach a certain amount.
In this step, carefully fill out and print out all the labels. You have to prepare essential documents as well: air waybill, commerce invoice, customs declaration form, and MSDS document for dangerous goods.
Step 5: Packing the items
Now, it’s time to pack the item. You have to place it in the right-sized container or envelope. Oversized containers increase the shipping cost as they add extra weight and dimension.
Courier companies will compare the dimensional weight and the actual weight to determine the item’s final weight, which is used to charge the shipment.
When sending items, be sure to add bubble wrap and other cushioning. Also, use packaging tape and tape the top and bottom sides of the container using the H-taping method. The courier representative may also put a “fragile” sticker if the item declared is glass or any material that easily gets damaged during shipment.
Step 6: Shipping and delivery
The item is now all set and ready to go. Confirm if the courier offers pick-up services and commit to the time if they do. When requesting a pick-up, be sure the item is packed, wrapped, and is ready with all the labels and documents. You may also check the nearest drop-off location of the courier service and head over to their office during their opening hours.
Step 7: Tracking
The courier provides a shipment tracking ID which you can use to track the shipment online. Be proactive and check your item. If you’re sending it to a customer, make sure to send the tracking ID to them so they can also track it on their end. For higher quality tracking and much better customer service, opt for express couriers.
And that’s a wrap! These are the processes involved in international and Australia-wide delivery services. Keep these things in mind to ensure your shipment is delivered safely.
Got any item you need to deliver?
If you’re looking to deliver items to a client or send a package to relatives, let us do the job for you. Here at Couriers by Demand Express, we ensure that your package arrives safely at a destination with our same-day, national, and global deliveries. Contact our team here at Couriers by Demand Express to get started.
