Top Tips for First Time Bookers: Booking a Same Day Courier in London
Chances are, if you work in procurement or operations, your role will most likely require you to engage with a courier service. Courier services, by definition, are services dedicated to transporting goods from collection to delivery often within the same day. Booking a same day courier in London is much easier than you think!
eCourier is known for transporting time-bound urgent goods from one location to another often within 90 minutes for Central London postcodes. It is one of the most popular same day couriers in London for a reason, with accurate GPS tracking and reliable customer support around the clock.
Although courier services are an integral part of last-mile delivery, they can be slightly confusing to new bookers. We have compiled some of our most frequently asked questions as well as helpful tools and resources to guide first-time clients through the courier experience.
Online Booking Portal
eCourier offers a fully intuitive online booking portal, powered by intelligent dispatch technology that automatically assigns the closest available driver to your collection postcode for a fast and efficient pickup.
Being asked to book a courier can sometimes feel more complicated than it really is. In reality, as long as you have the right information to hand, the process is quick and simple. At a minimum, you’ll need a full collection and delivery address, along with contact details for both locations.
Depending on your account setup, your company may also require additional mandatory fields to be completed during the booking process. Common examples include:
- PO (Purchase Order) number
- Mandatory telephone number
- Booker’s full name
- Goods description
- Staff ID number
- Department code or cost code
- Booker’s department or site name
- Reference number or Job ID
These fields are typically configured by the account holder. If you’re booking on behalf of a business and don’t have this information available, it’s best to gather it before starting your booking to avoid any delays.
Please note that our customer service team is unable to advise on which cost codes, account numbers, or other mandatory details to use. These requirements are set internally by the account holder and agreed with authorised bookers.
The Importance of Accurate Booking Information
One of the most common causes of delivery delays is incorrect booking information. Something as small as an incorrect door number or a single wrong digit in a phone number can be enough to significantly slow down a delivery.
That’s why we always encourage bookers to carefully check all collection, delivery and contact details before submitting a booking. If an error is identified, our friendly customer service team can quickly step in to amend the details.
The sooner a mistake is corrected, either via our online portal or by contacting customer service, the faster our team can get things back on track and keep the delivery moving on time.
To make this as easy as possible, customers can reach our helpdesk through email, live chat or by phone, with support available 24/7 so no booker is ever left in the dark.
Booking the Correct Vehicle
Another frequent cause of delays is selecting a vehicle that isn’t the right size for the consignment.
We have an interactive Vehicle Guide readily available on our website to help bookers select the most suitable vehicle for their delivery. As a general rule, anything that fits inside a shoebox can be carried by one of our bikes, which are among the fastest transport options, especially within London.
For Central London postcodes, our Cargo Bikes are one of the most popular zero-emissions options for businesses needing fast, sustainable deliveries. Booking Cargo Bikes and EAVs with a same day courier service in London helps keep your carbon footprint low, while beating traffic by using back streets and cycle lanes for a quicker delivery.
Is that Same Day, Next Day or International?
Depending on your account type, your business may be able to choose between same day, next day, and international courier services. If a consignment isn’t time-critical, many customers opt for next day delivery as a cost-effective way to transport goods across the country.
- Next Day Courier Services are ideal for consignments that aren’t overly bulky or fragile. A full list of restricted items is available on our website. If your goods aren’t restricted, you can book in seconds through our online portal or by contacting our customer services team. If the item is being collected from your account address, typically a London-based location, we can arrange same day collection. For collections away from the account address or outside of London, collection will me made on the next working day day. All next day bookings are delivered on the next working day, excluding weekends and bank holidays.
- Same Day Courier Services are ideal for urgent consignments that need to move from collection to delivery within the same day. We offer a wide range of vehicles, from bikes to Luton vans with tail-lifts, to suit jobs of all sizes. For more complex requirements, we also provide specialist courier services that need extra hands or additional care. This include booking driver helpers, specialised vehicles and other tailored solutions for more challenging consignments. For further details, you can contact our specialist logistics team or visit our Specialist Logistics page.
- International Courier Services are available exclusively to business account holders with eCourier. These services offer expert customs support fast, efficient bookings, to export consignments from the UK to destinations worldwide. For international shipments, providing accurate and complete information is essential to prevent delays or consignments becoming held at customs. Our International page shares the latest guidance and updates on shipping requirements, helping customers stay informed of new regulations and avoid unexpected issues. Our friendly International team is also available via email to answer questions and assist with bookings.
Tracking Your Courier
Once your booking is confirmed, you can track your courier live via our website. This gives you complete peace of mind with accurate delivery ETAs, helping you plan your day with confidence.
To track your consignment, simply enter your eight-digit consignment number into our tracking portal. From there, you’ll be able to view your booking details and follow your courier’s live GPS location.
For any ongoing jobs, we recommend contacting our customer services team directly for prompt, helpful support. Our customer service helpline is available 24/7, so there’s always someone on hand to assist, whatever the time.
To Conclude
A same day courier in London is responsible for more than just deliveries, it is a vital part of many UK businesses’ last-mile operations. At eCourier, we make it easy for your business to maintain professionalism by acting as a reliable, stress-free courier partner.
Our customer service team is always on hand, whether online or over the phone, to answer any questions about our services or your past, current, and future bookings. We know that for new bookers, arranging a courier can feel daunting, which is why our team is ready to guide you every step of the way. Swift, helpful support ensures your operations run smoothly, because excellent customer service truly makes all the difference.
Are you ready to book? You can create an account and get your first courier on the road within minutes, sign up here.
Still unsure and need some questions answered? Reach out to us via Live Chat, email, or telephone here
Don’t have an account? Don’t worry, create one here in under two minutes.
Ready to book? Sign in here.