Inside The Courier Service Process: How Your Delivery Gets From A to B

We’ve all experienced the anticipation—refreshing tracking updates and wondering when that long-awaited parcel will arrive. Depending on where your item was dispatched, it might be making its way from halfway around the world! From processing centres and warehouses to ships, lorries, and delivery vans, every parcel passes through a network of dedicated logistics professionals working hard to ensure it reaches your doorstep.

So, what sets a courier service apart? Let’s take a closer look at what happens behind the scenes once you book a consignment through our portal.

Same Day courier service made simple.

When speed matters, our same day delivery service delivers—literally. As soon as your job is booked, a courier is dispatched within minutes, ready to get moving. Whether it’s a single letter or 100 archive boxes, we handle it all with precision and care.

From urgent medical consignments to time-sensitive commercial deliveries, we cover almost every address across England. Here’s what you can expect when you book a same day job with us.

1. Booking Recieved and Ready for Processing

Customers can place bookings via telephone, email, or through our user-friendly online portal. Once confirmed, the booking instantly appears on our operations team’s dashboard, ready for action.

Depending on the type of consignment, be it commercial or medical, and the vehicle selected (such as a motorbike) – the job is automatically routed to the appropriate department using our advanced IT system. From there, a dedicated team member known as a Controller steps in. Each Controller manages a fleet of drivers and is responsible for assigning the most suitable driver to the job. Once assigned, the driver is promptly dispatched and begins making their way to the collection point.

2. Courier Dispatched for Collection

Once a courier has been assigned to the consignment, they immediately begin their journey to the collection point. One of the key advantages of our same day courier service is the attention to detail—special instructions are carefully followed. If the collection location is hard to find or access, the courier works closely with their Controller to ensure a smooth and timely pickup.

Upon arrival, the courier scans the parcel to update our system in real time. At this point, customers receive a live notification confirming that the consignment has been collected and is now en route to its destination.

3. Real-Time Tracking and Reliable Delivery

One of the standout benefits of using eCourier is our live tracking feature, giving customers full visibility of their delivery in real time. If any issues arise along the way, our responsive customer service team is just a call or message away, ready to assist quickly and efficiently.

Upon arrival at the delivery location, our couriers follow any specific instructions provided by the consignee. Whether it’s a request to call upon arrival or deliver to a particular department, these notes are carefully followed by both the driver and our operations team to ensure a seamless experience.

With professional, punctual couriers and a commitment to precision, businesses can rely on eCourier to deliver with confidence.

4. Delivery Completed and Confirmed

Once the delivery is successfully completed, the courier scans a barcode to log the handover in our system. This action instantly triggers a real-time notification to the customer, confirming that the consignment has reached its destination.

Depending on the nature of the delivery and customer preferences, a Proof of Delivery (POD) will be made available through the booking portal. This may include a timestamped name and signature, or a photograph of the delivered item. If your business requires a specific type of POD, we encourage you to contact our friendly team in advance—we’re happy to tailor the process to meet your needs.

Next Day Delivery: How it Works

Next Day, or “Overnight” delivery, operates a bit differently from same day services. While same day deliveries are direct and streamlined, next day parcels pass through multiple stages and handling points before reaching their destination.

Unlike same day services, which are typically priced per mile, next day deliveries are usually charged based on the parcel’s weight and dimensions. This makes it a cost-effective option for longer-distance shipments that don’t require immediate delivery.

Curious about what happens behind the scenes with next day deliveries? Read on to discover the journey your parcel takes from booking to doorstep.

1. Arrival at Our Depot

Once your item is collected, it’s delivered to one of eCourier’s dedicated depots by a next-day courier. Upon arrival, our specialised Next Day & International (NDI) team takes over, carefully sorting parcels based on their destination and preparing them for dispatch to a designated Central Hub.

Each item is re-weighed and inspected to ensure it’s securely packaged for safe transit. If the actual weight exceeds what was declared during booking, the consignment cost will be adjusted accordingly.

2. Item reaches Central Hub

The next stage in your parcel’s journey is its arrival at our Central Hub. This hub plays a crucial role in the overnight delivery process, acting as a central point where large volumes of parcels are received and sorted based on their final destinations.

Here, items are grouped and organised according to region, ensuring they’re efficiently routed to the Local Hub closest to the delivery address. This streamlined sorting process helps maintain speed and accuracy across our next day network.

3. Timed Delivery Options for Added Convenience

At eCourier, we understand that timing can be everything – even with next day deliveries. That’s why we offer timed delivery options, such as pre-10am or pre-noon, to give customers greater control over when their parcels arrive.

These options are ideal for situations where recipients need to leave the delivery address by a certain time. For example, a client with a 1pm meeting might request a delivery before noon to ensure their item arrives well in advance. With our flexible scheduling and reliable service, you can plan your day with confidence.

To conclude…

The world of same day and next day logistics is both intricate and rewarding. Each service offers unique advantages, and the journey your parcel takes will vary depending on the option your business selects.

Next Day deliveries typically involve multiple handling points—such as depots and sorting facilities—so items must be securely packaged to withstand the journey. In contrast, Same Day deliveries are more direct, with parcels collected and delivered within a specific time window, bypassing depots entirely.

No matter which service you choose, you can trust that every delivery with eCourier is handled with the utmost care, precision, and professionalism—ensuring your items arrive safely and on time