Wednesday, September 15, 2010

History of courier services in a nutshell

While you are searching for a courier service company, you would be bombarded with a number of company names. In these recent times, there are many parcel service companies operating around you. But this was not the situation before the industrial age as there weren’t so many choices. However people were sending parcels and messages across large distances for many years. The delivery services were present in the past even though they took different names and methods. Technological advancements have modified the courier services with motor powered vehicles and other convenient technologies making the process more sophisticated and efficient. Such perks were not enjoyed by people in the past as they resorted to alternative measures.

Based on historical evidences, it has been found that people called as ‘runners’ were used to deliver messages or parcel over a long distance in the early civilizations. As the name suggests, such people would literally run miles, carrying messages or packages from one village to another. According to historical documents, the runners were traced during civilizations like ancient Greece and some Native American communities. In the course of time, people started using horses as a major form of transportation. That system was proved to more efficient and fast and it was been used all over the world for deliver messages. For better delivery, intricate networks of messenger routes were developed through which the riders could easily get from place to place.

There was yet another popular form of transporting messages during the olden ages. Carrier pigeons which were bred specifically to fly home over long distances were widely used. Messages were written on light paper, rolled into a tube and attached to the bird’s leg. It has been recorded that Egyptians and Persians used this method as early as 3000 years ago.

The courier service of these days makes use of motor powered vehicles and advanced technologies. Parcel delivery is done through bicycles, cars, ships, trains and also airplanes. With the use of rapid transportation methods, the couriers deliver items very quickly over vast distances. These methods are more efficient and far more reliable than any of the alternatives in the past. In a delivery company, they make use of the technologies for organizing, transporting and tracking the delivery. The tracking of the items en route is done through GPS style tracking systems. Through this method, not only the delivery would be done quickly but the progress of the transportation can be tracked.

The couriers have come a long way since the days of ‘runners’. Now with internet entering all areas, it has become all the more easily to find and book the delivery services for your use. There are many comparison websites that would help you to compare and choose some of the finest courier services companies. You can get price quotes and find a cheap courier to deliver your package with just a click of mouse. Innovative technology like online tracking systems have enabled customers to receive real time updates of their parcel. The industry is growing with companies introducing new technologies with competitive price range.

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