Courier services are a fast-track ticket to simplifying your life and making international moves in particular that little bit easier. From same-day courier service providers to international shipping solutions, Relocate Antigua brings you a quick overview of what courier services include, and how to choose a courier service that’s right for you.
How does a courier service work?
Courier services handle postage and shipping for belongings and consignments, providing a national and international delivery service that gets your things where they need to be – from valuable items and household goods to important documents.
Courier services vs. postal services: what’s the difference?
- Time-sensitivity: courier services specialize in time-sensitive deliveries, where postal services are limited in the turnaround times they can offer. There are same day courier services and next day courier services.
- Higher-tech offers: although postal services are upping their game to catch up with the competition, courier services are generally better-equipped in terms of to-the-minute tracking, and opportunities to tweak details at the last minute, such as delivery slots and addresses.
- Pricing: because of the on-demand nature of the services they provide, you can expect to pay more for the bells and whistles that a courier offers. However there are cheap courier services that will also prove to provide the same efficiency.
- Flexibility and reliability: depending on how bulky or cumbersome the item you want to send is, you may run into difficulties if you choose to ship with a postal service. Likewise, less fine-tuned platforms and systems mean greater unpredictability and unreliability, compared to couriers.
If you are looking to find the best courier services, keep in mind that couriers operate on a national or international scale, with some larger courier companies offering cross-over between the two.
Relocate Antigua offers professional fast courier services in Antigua and will ensure that we meet your needs.
National courier service
The world is a much smaller place than it once was, and major international couriers are gradually gaining ground in territories where national services would have once dominated.
Some couriers have nevertheless managed to hold onto their domestic foothold, and our at-a-glance table gives you an idea of the major companies operating in a handful of our clients’ home countries.
| Leading national couriers | |
| United States | FedEx, DHL, United Parcel Service and USA Couriers |
| United Kingdom | DPD, Yodel, myHermes, ParcelForce |
| Australia | StarTrack Courier, Fastway, Australia Post, Couriers Please, Toll |
| China | China Post, Hong Kong Post, SF Express |
| Japan | Yamato Transport, Sagawa Express, Japan Post, Seino Transportation |
| Antigua | Wings, JDG Courier Services |
International courier service
The international courier market has exploded with the rise of the digital economy and a more globalized approach to living.
We’ve selected the four most popular international couriers around to get you started, but with new companies emerging on the market every week, feel free to shop around. There are many US based courier services that cater to the Caribbean and other countries around the world:
- Originally founded in the United States in the seventies, FedEx is probably the first name to spring to mind when it comes to worldwide shipping specialists. FedEx handles millions of international shipments every day.
- UPS is one of the oldest couriers around, and can trace its roots back to 1907. UPS boasts an impressive range of services, including an ultra-fast Express option.
- Billed as the world’s leading logistics company, DHL serves over 220 different countries and regions, safely delivering millions of documents and packages on a daily basis.
- TNT was originally one of the ‘big four’ couriers, and was acquired by FedEx in 2016. It continues to operate its slick and seamless next-day delivery service.
Importance of courier services?
Courier services aim to take the hassle out of sending and receiving items across the world – from crucial paperwork to bulky kitchen tables.
As they’ve grown, most courier services have adapted to changing consumer demands, becoming faster, cheaper and more user-friendly to work with than ever before – with even greater emphasis on digital user experience and customer service.
So why use a courier service?
Time-sensitivity
Express courier service, next-day delivery, 24-hour delivery – the list goes on. Drawing on intricate logistics networks around the world and ultra-high-tech management software, couriers can get your consignment where you need it, all in the blink of an eye.
Geographical flexibility
Back when companies and individuals were forced to rely on clunky national postal services, some hard-to-reach locations were cut out of the action. Those days are long gone. Working with local operators teamed with international head office teams, couriers can dispatch and deliver packages to far-flung destinations.
To-the-minute tracking
Apps and websites designed for courier service tracking now give clients scope to follow the delivery process from start to finish. Delivery drivers can be tracked in real-time, deliveries can be rescheduled, and door-to-door service can be arranged for the most sensitive and valuable of documents and items.
Bespoke services
Today’s 24-hour courier services can even provide on-site packing for non-standard orders – meaning that if you find yourself caught out at the last minute. You can pick up the phone, schedule a delivery, and have a courier come and pack, label and dispatch your goods for you.
It’s worth bearing in mind that this is an add-on service you’ll need to discuss ahead of time, but it’s good to know it’s there – an optional extra that wouldn’t be available from the local post office.
Hassle-free relocation
Couriers take the hassle out of the relocation process, handling the minutiae of shipping and customs paperwork so you can focus on the more inspiring parts of making your move. Couriering is a fundamental part of any good relocation services package.
Choosing a courier service
With so many different couriers a click or swipe away, it can be difficult to know where to start. Begin by taking a good hard look at what you’re sending and where and work your way backwards.
Location
Are you sending a rare book to Germany, or trying to get documents dispatched to the States? Where you’re based and where you need your consignment to go are key to deciding what courier to work with.
The costs associated with major international names may not be worth the expense. If you’re simply looking to deliver a letter to the next city across – but equally, a local outfit may not be up to the task of whisking your passport half-way across the world.
Reputation
Reputation in the digital age is everything. Check up on your chosen company. Read reviews, browse online communities, and get word-of-mouth references from professionals working in your industry, or residents to ensure that you chose the most reliable courier service.
Speed
It doesn’t matter how professional courier service is: if they don’t offer 24-hour delivery, and you promised a client their documents would be with them tomorrow, the relationship isn’t going to work out. If speed is important to you, then keep an eye out for express and speedy turnaround services with in-built guarantees.
Extra features
If you’re the micro-managing type or your consignment is particularly valuable, it can be highly reassuring to work with a courier that offers top-notch tech add-ons and state-of-the-art features. Look for real-time tracking apps, time-stamped data, and extra flexibility in rescheduling deliveries mid-process.
Courier services in Antigua
Small yet perfectly formed Antigua is an idyllic island haven for business and professionals, which has resulted in a strong network of logistics and delivery experts for you to draw on. FedEx, DHL, and ParcelForce are all active here, alongside national names such as Wings.
Relocate Antigua has built its name on inside-out knowledge of Antigua’s nooks and crannies, and offering bespoke, quality relocation services. In addition to our personal assistance and turnkey Antigua visa solutions, we take care of all your courier needs across the island, too.
Our courier services include:
- Door-to-door pick-up and delivery of important documents to government and immigration offices
- Complete confidentiality
- Total security and care in handling valuables and paperwork
Our teams are experts in the local landscape and are always on hand to talk through your needs for bespoke service in moving to the Caribbean. Because we also offer certified translation and immigration support, Relocate Antigua is an excellent choice of 360-degree partner.
We handle all your paperwork, from collecting and filling in forms to translating certificates, and deliver your applications so you don’t have to.
Drop by and say hello, or give us a call to find out more!
Final thoughts: courier services for a more seamless experience
Couriers take the pain out of organizing, coordinating and managing deliveries, bringing you door-to-door service and guaranteed delivery times to work with.
If you’re short on time, dealing with valuable or precious consignments, or simply looking to minimize stress and create the most fluid experience possible for yourself, then couriers are the way to go.
Boasting years of experience in catering to our clients’ everyday needs and a rock-solid local network on which to draw, Relocate Antigua’s courier services in the Caribbean give you peace of mind from a partner you can trust. Contact our friendly teams to talk through your needs.
