If you run your own online business or ecommerce shop have you ever stopped to consider the impression that courier companies create on your business? As the internet has evolved over the last few years, more and more companies have started to trade online. Where physical goods are involved this has meant that the role of courier companies has significantly increased in importance.

As online trading has grown, so has the number of courier companies. This is mainly due to demand but also due to competition where couriers are all competing for business.

The snowball effect has meant that customers of online stores now expect delivery of their orders to take place within 1-3 days. In the past mail order has been able to get away with a 3-7 day turnaround but expectations have changed thanks to the digital revolution.

Of course, for Courier companies this is exciting times. The increase in sales means that there is more business to go around, and with the Internet making International boundaries smaller it has also meant that courier services are required to ship orders from continent to continent.

Many courier companies have entered negotiations with some of the larger online retailers, who want to be able to deliver orders to customers in the shortest possible time. In fact, for some online retailers the realisation of same day delivery is now happening!

This natural growth, thanks to the internet, has meant that many courier companies have been able to expand their fleet of vehicles, either through choice or necessity. They have also had to invest in better technology that enables them to handle orders more efficiently and to track parcels in real-time so that the customers and clients know where their packages are at all times.

The Internet has proven to be a catalyst for the growth of local, national and International courier companies and there is no sign of slowing down just yet. In 2009, Internet orders for Christmas are forcasted at record numbers yet again, and there is a steady growth in this trend as more and more people find it convenient and safe to shop online.