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Ever wondered what a courier does and how they do it? We look to the past and the present to find out.
It’s happened to everyone.
You buy something on eBay. You win something in a competition. Or maybe you’ve just learned a free gift is on its way as part of a subscription. And then you see that message.
“Your package will arrive by courier.”
“Courier” is a word that seems to be used everywhere, yet it’s never really explained. The closest we often get is by example. “You know, like UPS”.
Except, some examples just don’t make it clear what a courier actually does.
We thought it was worth clearing a few things up to help people better understand what a courier does, where the word “courier” came from, and how modern couriers operate.
So without further ado, let’s address the most obvious question…
What is a courier?
A courier service, to put it simply, is a company that offer special deliveries of packages and documents.
Courier services differ from the Post Office because they run independently of any nationalised service, and are therefore able to boast faster delivery times and a broader range of services.
Because couriers offer dedicated delivery services, they’re the delivery method of choice for most businesses. In fact, many companies that rely on quick deliveries for their business will use a particular courier for all their fulfilment.
For example, one company might have all their orders fulfilled by a courier service like Yodel, while another might use DPD or P2P instead.
Part of the reason many people don’t know what a courier is is that the word “courier” itself doesn’t give a great deal away. You have to look into its etymology to uncover the link.
Where did the word “courier” come from?