Imagine you’re in 19th-century London. 1883 to be precise. Carl Benz has yet to invent what we know as a ‘car’ these days. The monopoly of the railways in delivering parcels is going to end soon. But you’re still not aware of these developments. Instead, you hear the clip-clop of horse carts. You are looking out the window eagerly waiting for your parcel to arrive. Little do you know that the very face of London delivery service is about to change in a few years.
The origin of parcel delivery in the UK
Let’s go back to the 16th century. Because that’s far we’d have to look to trace the history of parcel and courier services delivery in the UK. It was in 1516 that Henry VII created the post of ‘Master of the Posts’. It’s a cool name, to be honest! Now the Master of the Posts is known as the Postmaster General. But this service was only limited to posts and not to the masses.
In 1635, the Royal Mail was established by King Charles I. This was a significant milestone in postal delivery. An organised network of sending and receiving letters was set up. Goods delivery was still reliant upon the disorganised stagecoach service.
The turning point in parcel delivery
Parcel London delivery service saw the light of day In August 1883 when Royal Mail came to an arrangement with the Railways. They set up the first organised parcel delivery service and it came with a full rejig of the existing postal network. The postal routes were rearranged and postal workers were equipped with carts and tricycles to deliver parcels quickly.
The scenario of parcel and courier delivery now
Royal Mail operated with a monopoly until things changed in 2006. The postal regulator PostComm ended the Royal Mail’s singular hold on the market and new players started to arrive. London delivery service got a major boost when private enterprises emerged on the scene. These companies were hungry for success and they started working with new vigour to deliver goods as quickly as possible. Competition became intense and within two decades the CEP (Courier, Express, and Parcel) market has grown to become a behemoth.
The rise and rise of the CEP market
You can’t help but admire the growth of the CEP market. It has covered an incredible journey so far. From taking days to reach a location within the country to same-day delivery service, we have come a long way. Even international deliveries happen at great speeds. Deliveries from the UK to the US happen the very next day. Parcels reach the Asian and Pacific countries in 2-3 business days. All of this owes to the phenomenal rise of the CEP market.
So it’s no wonder that the market has grown by leaps and bounds. Mordor Intelligence report pegs the CEP market in the UK at $US 17 billion in 2024. It could touch the $21 billion mark in 2030. The growth in the B2C segment is particularly worth mentioning. This segment is going to grow at a rate of 4.35% in the next 6 years. Interestingly, this growth rate is the fastest among all the segments.
The data clearly shows that more and more businesses are feeling the need for good courier services in the country.
Factors that changed the face of courier delivery service
It’s fascinating to see the CEP market growing at such astonishing speeds. So, let’s find out what are the factors facilitating its rise. Here are the factors that have taken the CEP delivery services to new heights:
1. Motor vehicles:
The shift from horse-drawn stagecoaches to motor vehicles in the 20th century made the delivery fast and safe. What used to take days to reach the desired location now only took a few hours. The stagecoaches were prone to robberies and took much longer when the climate was harsh.
2. GPS technology:
The next major leap in London delivery service came when GPS tech became available to the public. With the help of smartphones and satellite navigation, it became much easier to track locations and packages. It brought a new precision in service delivery hitherto unseen before.
3. Online orders:
Speaking of smartphones and their integration with the internet, the next phase in CEP services was online orders. Most businesses operate online these days and you can order things directly from their portals. The automation has streamlined the whole process and deliveries have thus become swift.
4. London’s growth:
Last but not least is the development in the city of London itself. The city has expanded and the road infrastructure is one of the best in the world. The pressure of population and traffic congestion issues aside, the connectivity in London is good enough to facilitate rapid movement of goods.
Key Takeaway
It’s exciting to see the five-century-long journey of courier service in the UK. Its evolution is worth studying. It was a snail-paced, horse cart-driven service in the 19th century. Now it’s a fast-paced same-day London delivery service in the 21st century. The rapid changes in technology and the advent of internet and drone technology have made courier services viable and attractive to businesses and consumers alike.
