A RECENT expansion has prepared the CouriersPlease network to cope well with demand during the current December quarter peak period, management say.
The business is forecasting a 35 to 50% growth in deliveries in the lead up to Christmas on top of existing volume growth.
CouriersPlease is one of Australia’s largest franchise businesses. In its 37th year, the CP network geographically covers 95% of Australia and processes an average of 120,000 parcels a day.
Between March and October, deliveries across the network grew by 80% nationally compared with the same period last year. Victoria experienced the strongest growth across the country, up 150% during the same time.
CP responded to the growth in delivery volumes by increasing its franchisee network by more than 40%, its staff by 30% and hired hundreds of extra drivers. It opened six new facilities in NSW, Queensland, WA and ACT to improve processing capabilities, and improved its technologies to minimise potential delays and enhance the delivery experience.
Additionally, CP rolled out its new driver app, CPGo. This technology provides optimum route planning and prioritisation and gives consumers visibility and control of the delivery experience.
Mark McGinley, CEO of CP, said, “CP has been extremely fortunate and privileged to continue operating as an essential service during the pandemic, to help millions of Australians access goods online while the retail sector on the ground was constrained by the pandemic”.
“We were quick to implement improvements across the business when we experienced the first spike in volumes and forecasted that the growth would continue,” Mr McGinley said.
“As a result, we feel we are in the best position we have ever been to respond to the expected exponential demand this quarter,” he said.
