KUALA LUMPUR, May 3 — A new study by Shopee Express has found that around 1,317 Malaysian couriers are committed to building robust relationships with their local communities.

The Shopee Express’ 2023 Expressing Local Love study, which was conducted between March 9 and March 31 this year found that 87 per cent of courier respondents strive to provide trustworthy nationwide delivery services.

This includes engaging with people from diverse cultures as well as developing a deeper understanding of the areas they operate in.

The remaining 13 per cent of respondents believe that their work contributes to the growth of local businesses by enabling the businesses to expand their market reach and creating new job opportunities.

The study also found that 80 per cent of couriers deliver at least 80 parcels on a daily basis while the rest handle smaller numbers of parcels due to other commitments.

The elderly and disadvantaged communities are amongst those who have greatly benefited from these courier services.

Meanwhile, 80 per cent of the surveyed couriers prioritise their customers’ needs by considering factors such as urgency, location and timing while the other 20 per cent took into account their own capabilities on the feasibility of delivering parcels such as the parcel size, weight and order received.

When asked what they enjoyed the most working as a Shopee Express courier, 56 per cent of respondents admitted to have enjoyed the job’s flexibility and breaks as couriers can schedule their work trips at their own convenience which allows them to maintain their standard of living.

Twenty five per cent valued the opportunity to take ownership of their successes and hard work and the other 19 per cent valued the teamwork and training courses provided to them.

The survey also touched on the most important qualities a delivery courier should have and 80 per cent of them identified honesty and reliability as crucial as they were responsible for delivering parcels safely, on time and securely to customers.

The other 20 per cent felt that having a positive mindset and ample knowledge were also essential to being a delivery courier.

The study also found that eight out of 10 couriers have pushed through bad weather and remote areas to deliver their parcels while other couriers remembered playing a role in making someone feel valued by delivering for special occasions.

Thirty four per cent of the respondents agreed that being a Shopee Express courier has impacted their lives- their work has contributed to their time management skills where they learned to prioritise their tasks effectively.

Twenty seven per cent admitted that their work has allowed them to provide support to their families while 23 per cent learned about the importance of being accountable in delivering parcels.

The remaining 16 per cent admitted that they felt a sense of purpose in life through their work and saw opportunities for career advancement.

Shopee Express’ head Cheah Lee Sun expressed her gratitude towards their couriers for their tireless efforts in making their deliveries on time and in building strong connections with their customers.

"As the backbone of our business, we are here listening to their needs and accommodating them as much as we can.

"This is just one of the ways we provide a better peace of mind not just to our couriers, but also to our customers who rely on us to deliver their parcels with utmost care and efficiency.

"We are happy to see that many of them have a better understanding of how to communicate with customers, build rapport, and become more skilled over time in managing a consistent stream of work and balancing personal responsibilities,” Cheah said.