The comparison of the package delivery services provided by UPS and GLS

Which delivery service should your company utilize for its goods? It is not uncommon for many businesses to experience difficulties in the area of logistics, and it may be challenging to determine which carrier is the best option for your company. 

The field of logistics is becoming increasingly competitive, and each delivery company is able to provide services that are unique to themselves. This can provide a variety of benefits, but first, you need to determine which services are required by your company and which ones are desired by your customers. It is essential to conduct research on each provider so that you can select the alternative that best meets your needs. Continue reading to learn how to select the most suitable delivery company for your company, as well as the factors that should factor into your decision-making process. 

In addition to that, this article provides an overview of the two largest carriers in Europe, namely UPS, and GLS: Continue reading for additional details on each available carrier. 

How To Determine Which Delivery Company Is Best For Your Organization 

Before you start looking into the specifics of various shipping services, you need to make certain determinations first. 

1. Figure out how many packages you send out each month. 
2. Determine whether you ship packages domestically, internationally, or both. 
3. Create a reasonable spending plan to avoid going over your allotment for shipping costs. 
4. Become familiar with the expectations of your customers. 
5. Establish goals for success that are attainable. 
6. Determine whether or not you will provide more than one option for delivery. 

It is essential that you have a solid understanding of both the volume of your shipments and the locations to which you send them. It can have a significant bearing on your decision, particularly when deciding between a delivery company that focuses more on the local area (national) and one that is more widespread or even global (international). 

Having a predetermined budget will also assist in preventing a loss in profits. You will need to ensure that the shipping cost will not cut into your profit margin if the products you ship have a low-profit margin. However, suppose you have the profit margins to facilitate flexibility. In that case, you might want to think about offering a variety of premium services at prices that are comparable to those offered by other businesses. It might include delivery on the weekend or the same day, or it might even be a subscription service for delivery. These can make a positive impression on your customers by providing them with more options for their convenience, increasing the likelihood that they will purchase from your webstore. 

Be sure to strike a balance between what your customers want and what they expect from their delivery and the budget that is available to you. If you can get this straight in your head, selecting the appropriate services for your company will be much easier. 

However, it would help if you never prioritized cost over the quality of the service. Be realistic about the services that can be provided, but put a high priority on providing a good delivery service. If a customer has a negative delivery experience, there is a good chance that they will not return to your store and may even leave a negative review. 

How to Conduct Research in Order to Determine Which Delivery Company to Use

After you have answered the questions in the preceding section, you will have a crystal clear picture of what your company requires from its shipping services. You are now able to begin the process of conducting research. This makes it easier to avoid selecting the service that is either the most convenient or the cheapest. Carrying out the necessary research enables you to give your clients the very best.

Shipping both domestically and internationally by GLS 

GLS provides a range of international shipping services to customers in Europe and elsewhere in the world. If you decide to book shipping directly through GLS, you will be required to provide the specifics of your shipment on their website and choose between having it delivered to a home address or a GLS parcel shop. Suppose you decide to book shipping directly through GLS. In that case, you will be required to do the following: When you use the international shipping services provided by GLS, the maximum parcel weight can range anywhere from 30 to 40 kilograms, depending on the route. 

The options that are available for domestic delivery, as well as international delivery with GLS, are dependent on the country that the shipment will be coming from. As a point of reference for this page, we have used Ireland; therefore, if you are shipping from a location other than Ireland, you should verify that the service is available. 

GLS Offers Solutions for Domestic Package Shipping 

• Business Parcel: Deliveries in less than 24 hours, packages that can weigh up to 30 kg, and a maximum combined weight of 300 kg.
• Business Small Parcel: Deliveries in fewer than twenty-four hours, packages weighing up to two kilograms that are able to fit within the small-parcel frame, with a maximum width of forty centimeters.

Shipping solutions for packages provided by GLS International 

• Euro Business Parcel: Deliveries made in two to five business days across most of Europe (up to 7 days in remote destinations). Maximum individual package weight of 30 kg; maximum combined package weight of 300 kg.
• Euro Business Small Parcel: Deliveries made in two to five days across the majority of European regions (up to 7 days in remote destinations). Shipments that weigh no more than 30 kilograms and have a width of no more than 40 centimeters at their widest point.

The GLS distribution centers and package shops

GLS Parcel Shops are the locations where customers can hand in or pick up a package that will later be collected or delivered using GLS services. People who are unable to wait for a courier during normal business hours can benefit from the convenience offered by GLS Parcel Shops. Parcel Shops operated by GLS can be found all over Europe and, in the vast majority of cases, are incorporated into existing neighborhood businesses or boutiques. By operating in this manner, they are able to provide a flexible schedule along with wide availability across Europe. 

Tracking of GLS shipments 

When you book a shipping service with GLS, you will be given a GLS tracking number. This number will let you know the location of your package as well as the status of its shipment. When the package is scanned for the very first time by the courier driver, the GLS tracking number will be activated, and it will be updated each time the package is delivered to a new GLS distribution center. When you ship something internationally, you will be given a GLS international tracking number that operates in the same manner as a domestic tracking number. 

When Is It Appropriate To Use The Shipping Company GLS?

• If you require speedy international shipping, click here.
• If you want to select alternatives that will contribute to offsetting the cost of your delivery. 

When it comes to delivery within Europe, GLS is a reliable option. Using EuroBusinessParcel, you can have your products delivered to end users in as little as 24 hours.

GLS also provides its ThinkGreenService, which involves the company investing in reforestation projects that have been independently certified. This service can be reserved for four different types of packages: BusinessParcel, BusinessSmallParcel, EuroBusinessParcel, and EuroBusinessSmallParcel.

UPS provides international shipping and delivery quotes in addition to its courier services

When compared to domestic routes, UPS's prices for its Express, Expedited, and Standard courier services on international routes are, not surprisingly, higher than those on domestic routes. UPS provides guaranteed as well as day-definite delivery options for international shipments, and these options vary depending on the route you choose, the size of the shipment, and the delivery time.

When booking international deliveries through UPS, you have the option of selecting value-added services as well. You may be able to get a delivery notification, special handling, specific day collection, Saturday delivery, and a few other options, but this will vary from country to country.

In addition, UPS offers services for shipping pallets through its subsidiary, UPS Worldwide Express Freight. It is possible for companies to arrange for the delivery of palletized goods weighing more than 70 kg across Europe, the United States, Canada, and Asia; however, individual quotes will need to be requested.

Access points and parcel lockers are provided by UPS. Where can I leave my UPS package for pickup?

UPS maintains an extensive network of drop-off locations, which are also referred to as UPS Access Points lockers. During the booking process, you will have the option to either leave your UPS package at a drop-off location or pick it up from a UPS collection point. After entering both the collection address and the delivery address, the system will suggest the location that is most convenient for dropping off items. You also have the option of picking out your own UPS Access Point all on your own.

Remember that packages that weigh more than 20 kilograms or have a total size that is greater than 300 cm when measuring their length and girth combined are not permitted on UPS Access Points lockers. In addition, you will not be able to drop off the package if the declared value is greater than €3,000. 

When to Rely on the Package Delivery Service UPS

• You are looking for a premium express service that is both dependable and quick. 
• You ship goods internationally and require quick results, most notably to the United States, thanks to the extensive network that UPS maintains in their home country

UPS is a well-known brand that offers a superior level of service to its clientele all over the world. It offers quick delivery options that can get your packages exactly where they need to be in a short amount of time. If achieving this is the most important thing to you, then choose UPS as one of your possible delivery methods.

Who should I pick, if anyone?

You should now have a better understanding of how difficult it is to identify one courier service as being superior to others. It is a well-established fact that some couriers have a higher level of success in certain fields than others. 

There is nothing quite like the challenge of trying to contract multiple couriers when your primary objective is to provide the highest possible level of customer service. You will be able to provide first-rate service in every sector and for every type of product if you do things this way. 

When looking for a shipping service provider, you shouldn't limit yourself to just one option. Instead, you should make an effort to select various couriers for a particular area in order to significantly reduce the costs associated with running the business. 

In point of fact, the weight, dimensions, and final location of the goods all play a role in how the respective carriers calculate their respective tariffs. Compare different kinds of shipments, and then pick the one that suits you the best.

FAQs:

Is UPS the largest package delivery company?

UPS is the largest courier company in the world in terms of revenue, with annual revenues around US$85 billion in 2021, ahead of competitors DHL and FedEx. This figure represents 13.3% of the company's revenue in a year in which millions of people around the world spent much of the time confined to their homes as a result of coronavirus-related lockdowns. Both in terms of revenue and volume, UPS is the largest package delivery company in the world. Additionally, the company is a global leader in supply chain solutions.

Which UPS international shipping is cheapest?

UPS operates a vast network of hubs in different countries around the world. As a direct consequence of this, UPS lowers the cost of and improves the efficiency of international shipping. 

The following is a list of some of the best international shipping services that UPS has to offer, but keep in mind that the price may change depending on where you are shipping to or from:

• UPS Worldwide Saver - UPS’s affordable international option that will arrive by the end of the delivery date. 
• UPS Standard - UPS’s 1–5 day shipping service. If you need a quicker service, the UPS WorldWide® options are available. 
• UPS Worldwide Expedited - This service allows you to ship to major areas in Canada, Latin America and Europe and metro areas in Asia and the Middle East. 
• UPS Worldwide Express - Worldwide Express lets you ship to Latin America and Europe and the Middle East.

How fast is GLS shipping?

You can ship your packages virtually anywhere in the world using GLS. Deliveries to our primary markets take between twenty-four and forty-eight hours, while the standard delivery time to countries further afield is between seventy-two and ninety-six hours.

Do GLS deliver on weekends?

Through its SaturdayExpressService, GLS makes deliveries to businesses, shops, and individual customers across all of the provinces' capital cities on Saturdays.

What is important when choosing a delivery company?

It is crucial to locate a business that provides a courier delivery service that is dependable, that arrives on time, that maintains accurate documentation, and that has a customer service department that is helpful. When they interact with your customers, the employees of a professional courier company will make sure that their vehicles are clean and well-maintained, and they will treat your customers with courtesy.