ZedifyvsRoyalMail:acarriercomparison

In the age of online shopping and fast-paced deliveries, choosing the right courier service can make a significant difference in receiving packages promptly and reliably. However, weighing up carrier options is a big time investment. It tends to be easier to compare things when they’re side-by-side.

There’s always the obvious things to consider, such as:

Are your goods on the bigger side i.e. sofas and bookcases?
Do you deliver smaller goods into mainly dense urban areas?

But there may be some not so obvious ones to consider too:

Do your customers value sustainability; is it integral to your brand, or not?
Do you want to find a novel way to advertise, or do you prefer an iconic carrier rocking up at the door?
Two popular options in the UK market are Royal Mail and Zedify, each offering distinct advantages for various delivery needs. Let’s take a closer look at how these two services compare.

Royal Mail: The time-honored tradition

• History and reputation

Royal Mail holds a special place in British history, with roots tracing back to the 16th century. It’s the UK’s designated universal postal service provider, handling letters and parcels across the country. The brand’s iconic red postboxes and vans are instantly recognisable symbols of the British postal service, which was set up to provide a universal solution for transporting parcels and letters nationwide.

• Coverage

One of Royal Mail’s strengths lies in its extensive reach. With thousands of post offices nationwide, it’s a convenient option for both senders and recipients, particularly in more rural areas.

• Services

Royal Mail offers a range of services tailored to different needs. From standard mail delivery to next-day and tracked options, customers can choose the level of speed and tracking they require. Additionally, they provide international shipping services, making it a go-to for sending parcels abroad.

• Reliability

Being the established postal service of the UK, Royal Mail has a reputation for reliability. While delays can occur, especially during peak times and during strikes, they have time-honoured systems in place to ensure packages reach their destinations.

• Cost

We’re not privy to the cost of Royal Mail services (for businesses) – this will vary based on factors like size, weight, and speed of delivery. Generally though, we know that it offers competitive rates, especially for standard and economy services.

Zedify: The 21st century option built with sustainability at its core

• Focus on sustainability

Zedify takes a unique approach to deliveries by embodying sustainability at its core. We prioritise environmentally friendly modes of transport like cargo bikes, reducing carbon emissions associated with traditional delivery methods by doing so. 95% of our fleet is made up by electric cargo bikes, many of which we manufacture in-house, re-using old electric car batteries to do so. The circular economy is at the heart of what we do.

• Urban delivery specialists

We don’t deliver internationally, and we can’t access remote areas (as it would be inefficient and unsuitable for cargo bikes to travel to them). However, Zedify is particularly well-suited for urban areas, where congestion and pollution are rife. Our fleet of cargo bikes can navigate city streets more efficiently, offering same day, next day and chosen day delivery services to a range of businesses. We operate across the UK, and are based as far north as Edinburgh and as far south as Plymouth.

• Partnerships and collaboration

Unlike Royal Mail’s centralised structure, Zedify operates through a network of local depots; each with their own ‘microhub’ on the outskirts of a city. This model allows for more personalised services and closer relationships with businesses, making it a preferred choice for small-scale retailers, local councils and independent shops, as well as those bigger, national clients.

• Technology integration

Operating from 2018 onwards means that technology has always been crucial to Zedify’s mission. Zedify leverages in-house built tech for efficient route planning and tracking as well as ‘off the shelf’ solutions to simplify the everyday for our clients. End-customers can track their deliveries in real-time, offering transparency, peace of mind and reduced customer service tickets for businesses.

• Price

No need for fossil fuels or expensive vans = more competitive pricing for our clients.