In 2015, UK parcel delivery was worth an estimated £8.3bn, with online shopping and seasonal discounting contributing to a thriving industry. Carriers such as Royal Mail, Hermes, UK Mail and Yodel expect to handle more than £2bn of web orders during peak promotional times - that's a rise of over 30% from 2014-15.

With such growth in demand, the likelihood of a failed or damaged delivery is on the rise, with the national postal service recording a 37% rise in complaints between 2010-11. This delivery uncertainty can have high cost implications for businesses who regularly mail products and important documents.

There are many ways businesses can protect themselves from the cost implications of losing parcels in the post. A certificate of postage has been standard practice for businesses who regularly use the mail system for many years - although this only proves that the product has been posted, not that the customer has received it. As the seller is responsible for getting the item to the customer, proof of delivery offers much more protection – read more about this in our blog.

By using proof of delivery, not only can the customer track their purchase, it also gives the seller certainty that the customer has received it – thanks to a signature or scanned barcode. This means businesses can protect themselves against any lost item claims and the associated refunds.

As proof of delivery services and compensation processes differ between UK carriers, we've done the comparisons for you.