Top 15 Worldwide Couriers for eCommerce Success 2024

Worldwide Couriers: Top 15 Companies for eCommerce Success in 2024

As the French say, it is a “fait accompli” or an established fact that the growth of eCommerce is due to courier services delivering on time and delighting customers. Besides, a competent courier’s fast door-to-door pickup and cost-effective logistics make them the right choice for any eCommerce to outsource their deliveries to that particular service provider. In turn, it leads to improved bottom lines for businesses and further customer engagement. The growth of global courier services is expected to reach 5.7% between 2022 and 2031, creating a market value of USD 658.3 billion. 

How do you select the right service provider from the crowded marketplace of worldwide couriers?  

We have the answer for you. Our detailed research has led to the following top 15 worldwide couriers. You can compare their services, markets they operate and finally, their costing features to choose your appropriate partner.  

Significance of Courier Companies in the Global Shipping Landscape

Courier companies are vital to the shipping industry because of their fast and reliable delivery services. They facilitate the expansion of a business as they drive higher customer satisfaction with real-time tracking and on-time deliveries. Worldwide couriers see the rise of B2B eCommerce platforms as their largest growth segment in the coming years. 

2024’s Elite: Top 15 Worldwide Courier Companies for eCommerce (Fast and Affordable)

The driving factors for eCommerce companies’s growth are great products and best-in-class couriering. It means that every business will need to evaluate a courier company with respect to the services they offer. Let us consider some of the best worldwide couriers here: 

1. FedEx:

Founded in 1971 by Frederick W. Smith, this long-time service provider has its headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee, US. It has a commendable supply chain management. It offers fast-track shipping services, real-time shipment tracking and easy return options.

Features of FedEx: 

• Expedited services like overnight shipping on the same day, 2 days and 3-day delivery 
• Shipment tracking via FedEx mobile app or website 
• Returning orders is easy with the company’s drop-off facility

2. UPS:

Known popularly as United Parcel Service, it is a global courier and logistics company that was founded in 1907 by James E. Casey. It operates in more than 220 countries and is headquartered in Sandy Springs, Georgia, US.

Features of UPS 

• Businesses can ship up to 100 parcels at once
• UPS help businesses send parcels between multiple offices with ease
• Has one of the largest fleets of alternative fuel vehicles to facilitate transportation of packages.
• In-store services like computer access, notary services, passport and ID photos, shredding, office and mailing supplies, and design services.
• Offers companies several business shipping tools to simplify supply chains

3. ZTO Express: 

ZTO Express is a Chinese logistics company that was founded in 2002 by Meisong Lei. It is headquartered in Hong Kong. As of the first quarter of 2024, the company has a 23.4% market share in the express delivery industry in China. Its parcel volume increased by 20.5% compared to Q12022. 

Features of ZTO Express

• Express delivery services
• High-volume shipments are made easy
• Rapid customs clearance
• Direct access to France and Switzerland
• Special international logistic routes for electronic products exported from China

4. Blue Dart: 

It is an Indian logistics company that provides courier delivery services. It was established in 1983 by Khushroo Dubash, Tushar Jani, and Clyde Cooper and is headquartered in Mumbai. Blue Dart serves about 220 countries worldwide and covers around 33,867 locations in India.

Features of Blue Dart

• Reliability and efficiency
• Customer-centric approach
• ShipDartTM tech platform for shipping and tracking 
• Blue Dart Aviation operates in South Asian countries
• Blue Dart partners with the DHL group for international shipping
• Blue Dart makes three delivery attempts  

5. Deutsche Post AG (DHL):  

Deutsche Post AG (DPDHL) is a German multinational package delivery and supply chain management company. It’s one of the world’s largest courier companies. It is headquartered in Bonn, Germany and has been operational since 1995. Logistics services are done under the brand name DHL

Features of DPDHL

• National and international mail and parcel services
• Postal services under the brand name Deutsche Post
• Dialogue marketing and press distribution services
• Provides corporate communication solutions

6. DB Schenker: 

It is a global logistics company that offers courier services in over 40 countries. It is a division of the German rail operator Deutsche Bahn and has over 76,600 employees worldwide.  It was established in 2007 as a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn in Essen, Germany.

Features of DB Schenker 

• A streamlined booking process
• 24/7 tracking
• Low administration complexity with a single point of contact

7. DTDC Express Limited (DTDC): 

It is a well-known courier company in India. Founded in 1990 by Debasish Chakraborty and Subhasish Chakraborty, DTDC is headquartered in Bangalore. It has its presence in over 14,000 pin codes. DTDC has a network of more than 12,000 franchisees and channel partners across India. 

Features of DTDC Express

• Cross-border courier management 
• Has an integrated technology platform to manage shipping and delivery
• Multi-vendor management 
• Warehousing & e-fulfillment 
• Last-mile delivery services

8. S F Express: 

It was founded in 1993 by Wang Wei and is headquartered in Shenzhen, China. It is the second-largest courier in China and offers services to over 200 countries worldwide. 

Features of SF Express: 

• The Standard Express Service provides swift shipping service with a short delivery period of 3-5 business days.
• The Economy Express Service is a cost-effective solution for not-so-urgent deliveries.
• Shipment Protection Plus is a value-added service that provides compensation for consignment damage or loss to customers choosing this plan.
• International freight shipment
• International oversize and overweight shipping

9. Royal Mail: 

Founded in 1516 by King Henry VIII, it is headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It provides mail collection and delivery services throughout the UK. Royal Mail is the only postal operator currently providing UK-wide end-to-end letter delivery services. Since its privatisation, it has been owned and operated by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky, who holds the biggest share of 25% of the company via Vesa Equity Investment Group.

Features of Royal Mail

• Same-day and next-day deliveries
• International Tracked and Signed Heavier service for securely shipping heavy goods abroad.
• Subsidiary parcelforce worldwide  

10. JD Logistics: 

Founded in 2017 by Richard Liu in Beijing, China. It is popular as an eCommerce shipping company. It provides cargo distribution, warehousing, and transportation, enabling retailers to reach customers across the world.  

Features of JD Logistics

• Provides superior and economical freight services through intermodal railways
• Employs time-saving shipping solutions
• Ships heavy goods
• Deliver perishable items also

11. Aramex: 

Founded in 1982 by Fadi Ghandour and Bill Kingson, Aramex is headquartered in Dubai, UAE. It operates in as many as 60 countries and has a large workforce of over 30,000 employees. 

Features of Aramex

• eCommerce shipping
• Expedited shipping
• Freight transportation
• Bulk order handling

12. DPD Group:

Founded in 1976 by La Poste, it is headquartered in Issey-les-Moulineaux, France. With more than 30 years of experience, DPD offers a wide range of logistics services for small and large-sized businesses. It supports cross-border logistics, eCommerce shipping and warehousing solutions for all logistics needs. 

Features of DPD Group

• Provide business delivery with bespoke services
• Out-of-home delivery solutions offered: parcel shops, lockers and eco-friendly urban depots
• Food delivery: customers can ship and receive food items
• Temperature-controlled shipping
• Healthcare delivery service:  deliver medical supplies, devices, consumables, pharmaceuticals, etc.

13. YRC Freight:

Founded in 1929 by A. J. Harrell and headquartered in Kansas, United States, YRC Freight is today a leading eCommerce courier company. It offers a number of services, including distribution, warehousing and transportation. Its services are spread across 190 countries.

Features of YRC Freight: 

• Freight shipping
• Reverse logistics
• Real-time order tracking
• On-demand delivery
• International shipping

14. GATI-KWE: 

Founded in 1989 by Shashi Kiran Shetty, Pirojshaw Sarkari, and Anish Mathew, GATI-KWE is headquartered in Chennai, India. It services over 19000 pin codes within India and has an extensive international presence for serving eCommerce businesses. 

Features of GATI-KWE

• Time-definite cargo shipping
• Efficient returns management
• Special services like Laabh for transporting commercial household items, home appliances, etc.
• Real-time order tracking on the branded tracking page
• Provides end-to-end logistic solutions for individuals and corporates

15. Purolator: 

Founded in 1960 by John Ferguson and headquartered in Mississauga, Canada, Purolator has an extensive shipping services network. It supports eCommerce companies across the world and services in as many as 210 countries.

Features of Purolator

• Provides truckload and less-than-truckload freight transportation
• Ship dangerous goods with exemplary safety measures
• ‘Mission Critical’ for most urgent deliveries
• Provides industry-specific packaging and shipping services for eCommerce and retail businesses, healthcare sector, Telecommunication industries, etc. 
• Offers shipping tools, software and integration solutions for businesses

Picking the Perfect Global Courier for Your Online Store: A Step-by-Step Guide

The partner you choose to deliver your eCommerce store orders is a critical decision as it will significantly impact your business’s success. To ensure a positive post-shipping experience for your customers, consider these factors to find your best worldwide courier:  

1. Areas Serviced:  Some courier services specialise in particular industries and have specific areas they cover. If your business takes orders from different countries, you need to find a service that can deliver those orders. 

2. Shipping Rates: It is important to consider shipping rates as you will need to deal with high volumes of orders and frequency. You should negotiate for competitive shipping rates based on the likely weight and size of the orders.  

3. Real-Time Updates: In order to improve customer satisfaction, real-time tracking has proved to be a helpful tool. Transparency enhances the client experience.  As a business, real-time updates will also help in patching post-dispatch interoperability issues. 

4. Speedy Delivery: The time it takes for customers to receive their goods can impact your brand’s reputation and whether they will buy from you again. 

Fast delivery can also lower inventory costs. Having less safety stock to store means fewer items taking up space in a warehouse and lower capital expenses.

5. Specialised Courier Services:  If you need to ship products that require specialised handling. For example, if you need to ship perishables or dairy products, you’ll need a courier that can offer temperature-controlled trucks. 

6. Courier Management:  An established courier management process is very important to help businesses consider complete logistics visibility. It will be important to plan and optimise delivery routes.

7. Reverse Logistics:  Reverse logistics is the process of returning products from the consumer to the manufacturer or distributor for recovery, repair, recycling, or disposal. It is an important stage of the supply chain. 

8. Insurance Policy:  Insurance covers the risks of transporting other people’s goods. Without insurance, you could be held personally liable for issues arising while delivering goods. 

Couriers and hauliers need insurance for their vehicles and public liabilities. 

9. Cargo and Shipping Weight Limitations:  The weight limitations of parcels are very important because exceeding the weight limit could result in additional fees or the package not being accepted for delivery. Since couriers measure packages by volumetric weight, the final weight of the package is more important than the size.  

10. Proof of Delivery:   It is the evidence that the package was delivered to the intended recipient. It also records the package’s physical condition during delivery to avoid disputes about damaged or lost packages. It is usually a signed delivery receipt. It can be in the form of a  paper document or an electronic device to confirm receipt of the products or services. 

Conclusion

eCommerce companies are evolving into specialised online stores with their extensive creatives, sales campaigns, social selling and networking capabilities. Complementing the vibrant marketplace’s capabilities are agile partner courier companies that manage the crucial areas of shipping, order management, and customer service.  

Worldwide courier companies offer a wide range of delivery choices for eCommerce retailing.  These range from same-day, next-day, 2-hour, hyperlocal, and on-demand services. The courier companies also bear the responsibility of managing issues during the shipping process. Hence, deliveries are always seamless, uninterrupted and on-time.  

Selecting the right courier company is the most important decision for every eCommerce business and retailer. It will decide the scale of your operations and the leverage you can expect to increase sales with prompt deliveries. You should consider factors such as customer service ratings and pricing models to make your decision.