Top 10 Shipping Partners in India: Pros and Cons

In India, with 30+ states and union territories, we often are met with the need to have good shipping partners that can transfer our couriers across the country.

So, here are 10 of the best shipping partners that you can trust with your parcels.

So, without any further delay, let’s begin.

Shipping partners:

1. Shiprocket

Shiprocket is one of the biggest courier platforms in India. 

In fact, when you search for courier services on Google, the first link you would come across would be Shiprocket.

As a big company and the credibility it brings to the table, it still manages to offer a lower price than many other courier services, making it exceptional and in demand.

It is also easy to use, as you can instantly open your account on it.

Pros:

- Since it compares from different sources, it often offers lower rates for bulk shipments.

- It can easily automate courier generation from e-commerce websites.

- As it uses various logistics providers for offering services, it has a wide network, which increases trustworthiness.

Cons:

- Many times, the final charges tend to exceed the shown rates due to “discrepancy fees” (e.g., dimensional weight charges), which causes misleading prices.

- It has poor customer support, as it offers no resolution for disputes and often has negative reviews and unresolved issues.

- It has a bunch of hidden costs, and many users have reported unexpected deductions from their wallet balances.

2. Pickerr

Pros:

• Since it uses AI for optimization, it offers more precise and refined services.
• It can seamlessly integrate with various popular e-commerce platforms.
  
• The dashboard and interface are user-friendly.

• It has a limited geographic reach compared to established shipping partners.
• It is still a new platform that has less market presence and brand recognition.
• It often faces scalability challenges during high-volume periods.
  

3.  ShipLite

ShipLite operates as a shipping aggregator platform that is designed to simplify shipping operations for e-commerce businesses across India.

ShipLite focuses on providing cost-effective shipping while meeting quality standards.

It offers various shipping options, including same-day, next-day, and standard delivery services across different courier partners.

Pros:

- The dashboard and interface are user-friendly.

- The shipping services it provides are quite cost-effective.

- Real-time rate comparison across different courier partners.

Cons:

- It has Limited brand recognition in the competitive logistics market.

- Customer support isn’t available 24/7.

- Since it is a smaller brand, it often experiences service reliability issues during peak periods.

4. iThink Logistics:

ithink Logistics is the strongest contender to be the best platform on this list. It is a technology-driven logistics platform that aims to revolutionize the shipping industry in India by providing intelligent logistics solutions through advanced technology, data analytics, and automation.

It serves businesses of all sizes, from startups to enterprises, with scalable solutions that adapt to changing business needs.

Their attempt to reduce RTO is great; they have 6 checkpoints to reduce it, which include:

- 3 IVR calls

- WhatsApp messages

- Text message

And then manual calls to persuade the product.

Pros:

- It focuses on a Technology-focused approach with AI and automations, which makes it more trustworthy and precise.

- Its shipping solutions can be customized to business needs.

- It has highly satisfactory customer service.

Cons:

- It has limited brand recognition among consumers.

- It lacks rural and remote area coverage.

- It faces challenges in handling high-volume operations.

5. FedEx

FedEx is a United States-based company that has been conducting significant operations in India since 1997. 

It provides many services like express delivery, ground shipping, freight services, and supply chain solutions across domestic and international markets.

Pros:

• It has an excellent tracking system with real-time updates for its customers.
• It provides premium service quality with different delivery options.
• Due to its legacy across nations, it has a strong brand reputation and customer trust worldwide.

• It has a bit more expensive pricing than its fellow competitors.
• Since it is a US company, it is more focused on international trade rather than domestic ecommerce.
• It has complex documentation requirements for certain shipments.

6. Ecom Express

It is one of India's leading logistics companies that offers specialized services like cash-on-delivery, reverse logistics, and last-mile delivery.

Ecom Express serves major e-commerce platforms, and since its foundation, it has processed billions of shipments.

Pros:

• It has advanced tracking and notification systems.
• It has great bulk order processing capabilities for high-volume sellers.
• It has competitive pricing that is specifically designed to cater to e-commerce businesses.

• It offers limited services outside the e-commerce sector.
• The service quality and delivery times can significantly vary by location.
• It has limited international shipping capabilities.

7. Shadowfax

This is an India-based logistics company that specializes in hyper-local and last-mile delivery services.

Since 2015, the company has built a technology-driven platform that connects businesses to a huge network of delivery partners.

Shadowfax primarily serves the quick commerce, food delivery, and e-commerce sectors that focus on urban markets.

Pros:

• It is a leading provider of same-day and hyperlocal delivery services.
• It has customizable, scalable solutions for businesses of different sizes.
• It has Technology-driven operations with advanced routing and optimization.

• There are fluctuating service qualities reported in various locations.
• It has higher costs for long-distance deliveries compared to traditional couriers.

8. DTDC

Desk to Desk Courier and Cargo (DTDC) is one of India's oldest, most established courier service providers.

Due to its longevity, it has built an extensive domestic network with over 12000 pin codes across India, with more than 4,000 channel partners and service centers.

Pros:

• It has an affordable pricing structure for domestic shipments.
• It offers comprehensive COD services with a reliable collection process.

• The offered services are comparatively more expensive.
• It lacks advanced tracking and notification features.

9. Tirupati

It is a regional courier service provider that operates in specific geographic regions in India.

Tirupati focuses on personalized courier services with local expertise and understanding of regional markets.

Pros:

• It has cost-effective pricing for regional and local deliveries.
• It has strong customer support.

• It has limited geographic coverage compared to the others on this list.
• It lacks advanced tracking systems and technology integration

10. Maruti Courier:

Maruti is also a regional shipping company that focuses on the local and regional markets of India.
Some of its prime services are document delivery, parcel shipping, and cargo transportation.

Pros:

• They have deep local expertise and knowledge of the covered regions.
• It is cost-effective for regional deliveries and local shipments.

• It lacks advanced technology integration and tracking systems.
• Due to its smaller-scale operations, it may face reliability and capacity issues.

Conclusion

These are the top 10 shipping companies in India, which offer various services that are based on different market needs.

As I have given you the features, pros, and cons of each one of them, the decision lies with you to select which is the best suited for your business.

I hope this helped! 

Until then, Happy Digital Learning 😍