Overview
The United Kingdom is one the largest economies in the world and a growing market for eCommerce trade. Being one of the largest online shopping markets in the world, the country is home to a growing number of online sellers.
However, eCommerce as an industry requires the services of sectors to ensure they are able to reach their customers. And one of the most important industries that eCommerce requires help from is the shipping industry.
Shipping companies are essentially responsible for online sellers connecting with their customers physically. Since eCommerce companies operate on digital real estate, shipping solutions are necessary for them to make their sales complete.
In this article, we discuss the top shipping solutions providers in the UK and how to choose the right partner for your business.
Top 10 Best Providers of eCommerce Shipping Solutions in the UK
Here is a list of providers of best ecommerce shipping solutions in the UK and what they have to offer to eCommerce companies.
1) Hermes
Hermes is a leading shipping solutions provider in the United Kingdom. The company was founded in 1972 and is owned by the Otto Group, the largest mail order delivery company in the entire world.
The company employs more than 15,000 people through the world and can be used to ship products to over 20 countries. The company is a major eCommerce carrier in the UK and works with the top 100 retailers throughout Europe.
Hermes offers several shipping solutions to eCommerce businesses in the UK including express shipping services, bulk order shipping, international shippin services and specialized delivery solutions. The company also provides tracking facilities to businesses and helps companies with reverse logistics.
2) FedEx
FedEx is one of the largest provider of ecommerce shipping solutions in the UK. It was established in in 1971 and is currently present in over 220 countries. Iy employs more than 600,000 people worldwide and handles a volume of more than 12.5 million packages every single on an average.
FedEx is known for its express shipping services in the UK with several options such as overnight shipping, same day shipping and express international shipping available for eCommerce companies.
Further, the company also provide additional services such as customs clearance, bulk order delivery and specialized delivery solutions.
3) DHL
DHL is another major international carrier with significant operations in the UK. The company was established in 1969 and is currently one of the largest shipping companies in the world in terms order quantity and revenue.
The company employs more than 400,000 people worldwide and allows companies to ship products to over 220 countries. It handles over 1.8 billion shipments every year.
DHL offers a wide range of shipping services to e-commerce companies in the UK including freight services for air surface and ocean-based shipments. The company also offers specialised shipping solutions such as bulk shipping, shipping for sensitive items and cross-border shipping.
4) Royal Mail
Royal Mail is a government owned shipping solutions provider established in 1516. The company as a leading carrier in the UK and has been operating for over 500 years. The company employs more than 150,000 people. It allows e-commerce businesses to reach over 230 countries around the world.
Royal mail provides several shipping solutions to e-commerce companies including supply chain management, mailing solutions, marketing solutions and cross-border shipping.
5) Yodel
Yodel is a UK-based ecommerce shipping solutions provider established in 2008. The company was originally known as home delivery network however it rebranded itself in later years of operation. The company spread across 50 different facilities around the UK and as a major carrier in the country.
The company provides a variety of shipping solutions to e-commerce companies including its express delivery services that allow online sellers to reach their customers within 24 to 48 hours.
The company Allows online sellers to reach customers in over 200 countries around the world, ship sensitive items, and manage reverse logistics. The company also provides tracking capabilities to e-commerce sellers.
6) UPS
UPS or United Parcel Service is a leading international shipping solutions company that was founded in 1907. The company has presence in over 200 countries around the world and employs approximately 500,000 people.
The company is a major provider of shipping solutions in the UK and handles an average of 4.7 billion packages every single year.
UPS helps e-commerce businesses make international shipments, express shipments, and also provides custom clearance services. The company also provides a light solutions such as shipping label generation, free services reverse logistic management.
7) DTDC
DTDC is a shipping company that was founded in 1990 and is one of the biggest shipping services providers in the United Kingdom. The company has a reach of about 240 countries and employs more than 35,000 people.
It is one of the largest shipping services providers handling over 12 million packages every single month.
The company offers several shipping solutions to e-commerce companies including express shipping services, cross-border shipping, air, surfacne and ocean freight services supply chain management solutions and more.
8) TNT Express
TNT express is a subsidiary of FedEx and is a major shipping and logistics company in the UK. The company allows e-commerce companies to reach over 200 countries around the world and is a major e-commerce shipping solutions provider in the United Kingdom.
PND express, like its parent company FedEx, provides a host of express shipping solutions international shipping options and more.
It helps e-commerce companies move bulk orders, get clearance from customs, and provides dedicated solutions for different industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, and more.
9) Agility
Agility is an international shipping solutions provider that was founded in 1979. The company is currently operational in more than 40 countries around the world and is a major provider of shipping solutions in the United Kingdom. The company employs more than 16,000 people throughout the world.
Agility offers various shipping solutions to eCommerce businesses in the UK including freight forwarding, supply chain management and returns management.
The company provides international shipping solutions to e-commerce companies and offers specialised services such as custom clearances to businesses. It also offers a host of extra shipping solutions such as same day delivery and next day delivery.
10) UK Mail
UK mail is a UK-based shipping solutions provider which is formally known as business post. The company is owned by DHL and has over 52 facilities across the UK. The company employs more than 4000 people and helps e-commerce companies deliver to over 220 countries around the world.
UK Mail offers several shipping solutions to online sellers including last mile delivery services, international shipping, and more. The company also provides marketing services to online sellers in the country and help them develop advertisement campaigns.
How to choose the best providers of eCommerce Shipping Solutions in the UK
With so many options available in the market it can easily become overwhelming for e-commerce companies to decide which shipping solutions provider to choose for their business. Therefore, here is a list of some key factors to keep in mind when choosing the right shipping solutions partner for your business.
1) Cost of services
The cost of services is an important factor as it can directly impact the profitability of an e-commerce business. Therefore, when choosing a shipping company always consider the cost of operations before deciding on a partner.
The cost of shipping must not be so high that the business cannot sustain but also choosing the cheapest option available in the market can be detrimental. While an expensive option is likely to affect profitability the cheapest one in the market is usually accompanied with work quality of services.
Therefore, while choosing shipping solutions provider and e-commerce business must consider profitability and affordability and choose a partner which is reasonably priced .
2) Restrictions on size and weight
E-commerce businesses must keep in mind that certain shipping solutions provider please restrictions on the size and weight of items that can be moved by them.
Therefore, businesses must understand the types of products that they sell and choose a shipping partner accordingly.
For example, a business that is selling large sized products would likely face problems if their shipping partner places restrictions on the size of products that they can ship.
3) Serviceability
While choosing shipping solutions provider an e-commerce businesses must understand the area covered by the company. It is important to choose a shipping solutions provider that is able to cater to the target market of your business.
Generally, white or coverage area should be preferred by e-commerce companies since it allows them to reach more customers and expand their customer base.
4) Shipping options
Including shipping services company e-commerce businesses must understand the different types of services that they offer. It is important that e-commerce businesses identify their needs and choose companies based on the types of services that they provide.
When shipping solutions providers offer relevant solutions, it makes the entire shipping ecosystem more efficient and delivery experience more wholesome for the customer.
5) Expertise
Different shipping solutions providers specialise in different aspects of the industry. Before choosing a provider it is necessary that businesses understand what is the area of expertise for a provider and how it benefits the company.
It is always advisable to choose a partner who specialises in shipping solutions that directly impact the performance of the e-commerce business.
6) Reverse logistics solutions
Returns are an integral part of the e-commerce industry and one of the most expensive affair is that an online business has to deal with.
Since revenue is lost on the return product the cost of shipping for sending and getting the product back to the businessIs both to be borne by the business itself.
Therefore when choosing a shipping solutions provider it is important to understand that some products will inevitably be returned and therefore managing them would be key to the business.
7) Historical performance
When choosing a shipping solutions partner companies were get reviews of the shipping company from previous clients.
This helps understand the quality of service that the provider offers and also the kind of clientele that they have had to deal with in the past. These factors can help assessThe potential of the solutions provider and how it can help the e-commerce business.
Final thoughts
Shipping solutions are an integral part of the e-commerce ecosystem. Especially in a country like the United Kingdom where the market is growing rapidly and there is huge demand for products.
Therefore it is important to partner with the right shipping solutions provider in order to capture the market and establish a sustainable customer base while allowing the company to grow.
FAQs
1) Who are the providers of best shipping solutions in the UK?
Show me the best shipping solutions providers in the UK are Hermes, FedEx, DHL, UPS, and Royal Mail.
2) How to choose the best shipping solutions providers in the UK?
Some factors to keep in mind when choosing a shipping solutions provider or the cost of services, restrictions placed by the provider, serviceability, different options available for shipping, and industry expertise.