Net, post and courier can co-exist & grow together

The internet has revolutionised the way business is done, not only in India but all over the world. In fact, India, though a late beginner, has in a way overtaken most of the western world. It is well known that Indian organisations are behind some of the major innovations in software development globally. To be fair to the postal department, it has taken the challenge in its stride and reinvented several strategies. Speed Post is a well-known and successful product today. Besides, the department is also aggressively marketing its bulk mailing’ products, which are real value-for-money. While it is true that most documents today travel electronically to achieve the benefits of speed and cost effectiveness, postal services can never be done away with. The same is the case with the courier industry as well. Both compliment each other and have a significant and selective customer base for each of their respective products. In most developed countries like the US, UK and Singapore, postal and courier services compete with as well as complement each other. In Singapore, which is one most efficient countries in the world, the Singapore Post and DHL, or Fedex or UPS or TNT are all competing for the business. Earlier, only important/original documents travelled by courier. This was at a time when the courier industry was in a nascent stage and was a premium high-priced product with no mass coverage. With the courier industry now reaching out to every walk of life and expanding its horizons, economies of scale have effectively been brought in. There are in fact cases when it is actually more cost-effective to use courier services even when compared to post. Besides, the courier industry has quickly diversified into carriage of samples, personal effects, gifts and other low-value commercial items where customers require efficient, cost-effective and timely service. Also apart from pure courier products, value-added cargo is also moving through the courier. The world over distances are being bridged by technology. Hence, there is need for movement of goods at a faster pacer. The courier industry is dynamic and quick to adapt to these changes. It is this ability that has ensured its consistently high growth rate year after year, not just in India but also on global basis. Today courier load does not comprise only documents, but many other products such as computer peripherals, auto-parts, product samples, vaccines and life-saving drugs. We, at Patel On-Board Couriers have also witnessed demand for courier services actually increasing over the last few years, irrespective of the internet and various other modes of communication. The world has become a global village with more and more economies opening up and the need for constant communication across nations to build upon relationships as well business. The internet can facilitate communication but cannot replace postal or courier services, as both complement and support each other. Technology can definitely be supportive and has played a vital role in business across the globe, but it will be unfair to undermine the importance of postal or courier services. Internet and the postal department are not threats to the courier industry. Both have played a role in the growth of the courier business. After all, without the internet a very important component i.e. track and trace would be non-existent. Post also helps courier companies reach out to certain remote areas where it is not economically viable to operate regular courier services. So long as this spirit of mutual co-operation and inter-dependency continues, internet, post and courier will all successfully grow together. We believe, they are complementing each other. The writer is vice-chairman, Patel On-Board Couriers Ltd