We present a study on the functionality of websites of companies in the courier industry. The first such study was conducted a year ago and published in issue 1/2006 of the “Logistyka” magazine.
In 2007, in subsequent issues, we will present analogous studies of the same industries that we examined last year, which will allow us to check whether any changes have appeared on the websites, especially for the better.
In 2007, in subsequent issues, we will present analogous studies of the same industries that we examined last year, which will allow us to check whether any changes have appeared on the websites, especially for the better.
The study of courier company websites was divided into two main parts. The first one is –
as last year –
an examination of the functionality of Track&Trace systems. This year, we examined the Track&Trace systems offered by seven companies. As in 2006, we asked the companies to provide sample waybill numbers, thanks to which it would be possible to check the functionality of Track&Trace. By the time the issue went to press, we had not received responses from the companies Opek and Pocztex. The best in this ranking was –
just like a year ago –
the company DHL, which obtained the maximum number of 10 points. Right behind it were the companies TNT, UPS, DPD, and FedEx. The worst in the ranking were the companies GLS and Siódemka. Compared to last year, the results have practically not changed.
The next part of the study concerned the functionality of the websites. Here, too, no major changes were observed compared to last year, with the exception of the company UPS, which improved its contact information section. Definitely the best in this part of the study was the company DPD, which received the maximum number of points. What unfortunately has not changed is the lack of an e-mail address on the websites of most courier companies. Apart from the companies DPD, GLS, and Opek, the remaining courier companies avoid providing contact e-mail addresses on their websites. Thus, they limit the possibility for customers to establish contact with the company, forcing them to use forms that are not always convenient for them. It is puzzling whether the lack of e-mail addresses on the websites is caused by a fear of so-called spam, or whether the companies want to ensure that customers do not contact them this way. In the part of the study devoted to general functionality issues, compared to last year, unfortunately, the results have also practically not changed. In relation to last year, one of the examined aspects was changed in this part. Instead of assessing whether the font on the page is scalable, we examined whether the company logo is, in accordance with generally accepted principles of functionality, a link to the home page. Of the nine examined websites, only five maintained this principle. In this part of the study, the company FedEx definitely performed the best, obtaining the maximum number of points. The companies DHL, TNT, DPD, and UPS performed slightly worse. The company Opek performed definitely the worst, obtaining only 10% of the possible points to be earned. In my opinion, this company’s website (as it was last year) rather discourages customers from visiting it. Using it is, in fact, very difficult. The last part of the study was to check the compliance of the examined courier company websites with the standards of the W3C organization (World Wide Web Consortium –