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It is no secret that the modern day consumer prefers to shop online rather than visit the high street. With greater variety, cheaper prices and the ability to shop at any time and from the comfort of your own home, it is very easy to see why! The rise of online shopping has created a boom in the courier industry, which has been revolutionised as a result of this to meet demand. Consumers now want their packages to arrive within a few days and they do not want to pay through the teeth for delivery. As a result, couriers have had to adapt their approach to delivery. This has seen a dramatic decline in the Royal Mail in recent years as they struggle to compete with the flexible, fast and affordable services of courier companies. So, what are the issues the Royal Mail faces and how are couriers benefiting from this? Privatisation The Royal Mail may have tradition, British culture and even Postman Pat on their side, but when the Government sold its remaining 14% of shares in 2015, it saw the country take a step back from this tradition. Now fully privatised, they have attempted to streamline their operation through cutting back on employees and services. This resulted in a poorer service and many local Post Offices being shut down. Consequently, communities have had to look elsewhere to send and receive packages and found that there are faster and cheaper ways to do this. Even those that were brought up using the Royal Mail and see it as an important part of British culture have had to find alternative solutions due to the lack of small local branches (sorry, Postman Pat). Lack of Delivery Methods Although the Royal Mail does now offer a next day delivery option, many consumers are deterred by the hefty price that you pay for this. Courier drivers can offer the same service at a fraction of the price, plus they also edge the Royal Mail due to the range of delivery methods. You can now have your package dropped at a collection hub, in certain stores where you can pick it up or choose a specific timeslot for it to be delivered to your home. This flexibility is crucial for modern-day consumers who lead busy lives and often cannot stay at home waiting for a package to be delivered. What the Future Holds The Royal Mail will always hold an important place in British history, but the fact of the matter is that their inability to change with the times has resulted in their downfall. This was triggered by the government selling its remaining shares, and now delivery is dominated by courier companies. These companies are flexible, faster and cheaper and provide a much better experience for the consumer. It is hard to see a future for the Royal Mail unless they soon make dramatic changes and adapt to meet demand. Norman Dulwich is a correspondent for Courier Exchange, the world's largest neutral trading hub for same day courier jobs in the express freight exchange industry. Over 4,000 transport exchange businesses are networked together through their website, trading jobs and capacity in a safe 'wholesale' environment.
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