Technology has changed the way parcels have been delivered in the past and is set to change how they will be delivered in the future, furthermore according to websites like https://www.rmhbangor.org/4-kinds-of-businesses-that-are-flourishing/ the courier business is one of the main sectors that is flourishing nowadays. There is a lot of ways in which parcel delivery has changed over the years, and as we progress with technology, it looks like there is no chance of that slowing down for anyone. This also includes the new technology KIOSK locker stations that are in shopping centers and stores for people to access so they can pick up their parcels efficiently without giving their home address, which suits a lot of people. This article will explore why at every stage the parcel business has been revolutionized.
Vehicles
In terms of the word “van”, the first records of one transporting any goods dates to 1829, although a “caravan” is described with the same meaning dates as far back as the 1670s. In modern times, Mercedes-Benz are credited with inventing the first van vehicle. That is one that could take heavy loads, for which they recognized the need. Nowadays, these types of vehicles are more commonly known as a “Heavy Goods Vehicle”, with suitable hgv insurance needed to ensure that you’re driving legally, as well as having the relevant protection should you need it. This mode of transport has certainly paved the way for how quantities of parcels, which can often be large, are delivered, and therefore revolutionized parcel delivery in that respect. Businesses also recognize how important the drivers of these vehicles are too, and may even invest in something like some of the best DOT compliance software to make sure that they are driving safely and efficiently, as they would be expected to.
Faster modes of transport, though, have not necessarily resulted in faster delivery, as a Victorian Christmas postcard appearing on an internet auction site can reveal that despite a Christmas card having been posted late on Christmas Eve, it still arrived on Christmas Day. It was not until 1960 in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and 1965 in Scotland, that the General Post Office stopped this Christmas Day delivery. Having said that, delivery is not necessarily about speed, more about when somebody wants something to be delivered, assuming it is not on Christmas Day.
The courier service was invented by Jim Cassey, who called his business Big Four Carrier. He was to start courier services in Seattle, USA, in 1907. This company, for which he borrowed $100 from a friend to start up, is today known as UPS. The courier services which have been set up in the UK since have been in direct competition with the Royal Mail, who have competed by extending, through Parcelforce, the various time frame and insurance options that they provide in relation to delivering parcels. Parcels weighing over 2kg in every case now need to go by Royal Mail’s Parcelforce service or an alternative courier. Founded in 1990, and based in the UK, Parcelforce are now a worldwide logistics and courier service. It has built-up a network of international partners to help it to deliver its parcels.
Sat Nav
To follow a postman’s route is to arrive somewhere in the shortest time possible. Technology has now made this possible, too, through satellite navigation systems which can be attached to vehicles or mobile phones. Sat Nav has become a courier’s ally in respect of delivering parcels. Just by knowing the postcode, drivers unfamiliar with an area can find their way to the remotest of locations, or thereabouts.
Research can reveal that, in the UK, there are almost 1.8 million postcodes in use, with each one covering an average of some 15 properties, but in some cases between 1 and 100 properties. These postcodes can be programmed into navigation systems to provide a map or vocal guidance that takes a user to within doors of their required destination. It is becoming harder to find oneself lost, whether a delivery driver or someone going on a long walk to improve their fitness.
Drones
Drones will now deliver parcels because Amazon Prime Air is set to run a service that will deliver packages of up to 5 pounds within 30 minutes using small drones. These delivery drones will use between 4 and 8 propellors and have rechargeable batteries to provide thrust. The packages can be attached underneath the drone’s body. The drones will be operated remotely, or autonomously, by operators who will potentially be overseeing multiple drones all at once. As this kind of service takes off, it will no doubt become a cheaper, as well as a more convenient option, for households and businesses to have their parcels delivered. A family will not have to, in theory, even be in, if the items can be dropped safely, and softly hopefully, within the confines of a secure walled garden.
So, with advancements in transport, navigation, and ariel possibilities, there has been much to revolutionize the parcel delivery business. The above 3 all provide reasons as to why the increased need for parcel delivery is being more than met by increasingly inventive ways.
