What Rapid Parcel does

Rapid Parcel is a UK-based courier comparison and booking platform that aggregates rates from multiple international carrier partners, enabling customers to obtain delivery quotes and book parcel services through a single self-service website. The platform supports domestic UK delivery, same-day and pallet services, European delivery, and international delivery to over 25,000 destinations across the Americas, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Australasia. Supporting infrastructure includes a mobile-optimized booking site (Mobisite), online parcel tracking, SMS and email notifications, optional shipment protection up to £2,000, and 33 physical drop-off points located at major UK railway stations and airport terminals. The company is operated by Excess Baggage (Airports) Limited, a private limited company registered in England and Wales (company number 4767735), headquartered at 2 Provident Industrial Estate, Pump Lane, Hayes, UB3 3NE.

The technology stack centers on a price comparison engine, a six-step online booking workflow, parcel tracking, and a mobile-accessible interface, with payment processing handled through WorldPay. The platform does not expose a public API, SDK, or native mobile application, and there are no disclosed AI/ML capabilities, patents, or proprietary algorithms beyond the comparison and booking logic. Distribution is hybrid: digital self-serve via the website and Mobisite is supplemented by the physical drop-off network and a UK-wide collection service with guaranteed pickup before 5:30pm. Marketing relies on the website as the primary acquisition channel, supported by a blog covering customs guidance and shipping news, and a legacy Google+ social presence.

Revenue is generated primarily through transaction fees or commissions earned on bookings placed through the platform with carrier partners, supplemented by corporate account services that offer preferential rates, bulk upload, and corporate credit facilities to qualifying businesses. Pricing is pay-as-you-go and quote-based, with sample express deliveries priced from £46.20–£74.10 per parcel depending on lane and speed. No revenue figures, headcount, funding rounds, or institutional investors are disclosed; the company operates as a privately held subsidiary of the Excess Baggage Group with no public listing.

Name

Rapid Parcel

Legal name

Excess Baggage (Airports) Limited

Website

https://rapidparcel.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Rapid Parcel is a UK-based courier comparison and booking platform operated by Excess Baggage (Airports) Limited, aggregating multiple carrier partners for parcel delivery to over 25,000 destinations worldwide, serving individual consumers, tourists, and business shippers via its website, mobile site, and 33 UK drop-off points.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Parcel Delivery Services

NAICS

Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Couriers and Express Delivery Services (4921), Couriers and Express Delivery Services (49211)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Air Courier Services (4513), Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210)

akta.pro primary industry

International Express / Time-Definite Small Parcel (TLAAANAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Economy / Deferred Small Parcel (TLAAANAC), Local Document & Small Parcel On‑Demand Courier (TLAAADAA)

Keywords

• Parcel delivery services
• Courier comparison platform
• International shipping
• Parcel booking aggregator
• Logistics services

Headquarters

HQ city

Hayes

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Transaction/Booking Commission: Rapid Parcel acts as an intermediary between customers and courier companies. Revenue is generated through bookings made on the platform, likely earning commissions or transaction fees from carrier partners for each shipment booked through the website.
2. Corporate Account Services: Free business accounts with optional corporate credit facilities and dedicated support services for regular business shippers

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Rapid Parcel operates a courier comparison and booking platform that aggregates rates from multiple international courier partners, allowing customers to obtain quotes, book, and track parcel deliveries from the United Kingdom to domestic, European, and international destinations. The company supplements this online platform with 33 physical drop-off points across major UK railway stations and airport terminals, UK-wide collection from any accessible address, optional shipment protection up to £2,000, packaging materials for purchase, and enhanced business accounts with corporate credit facilities and bulk upload capabilities.

Product overview

Rapid Parcel operates a courier comparison and booking platform for parcel delivery services in the UK and internationally. The core offering is a comparison engine that aggregates rates from multiple courier partner companies, allowing customers to search, compare, and book delivery services through a unified online interface. The platform connects to over 25,000 destinations globally and offers services across several categories: UK domestic delivery (standard and same-day), European delivery, and international delivery to Americas, Asia, Africa, Middle East, and Australasia. Supporting products include mobile booking via Mobisite, parcel tracking, optional shipment protection coverage, and a network of 33 physical drop-off points at UK railway stations and airports. Business customers can access enhanced accounts with bulk upload capabilities, dedicated support, and corporate credit facilities. The platform also provides packaging materials for purchase and supplementary tools such as volumetric weight calculators and customs guidance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Rapid Parcel Courier Comparison and Booking Platform

Quantifiable outcome

• Next-day delivery available to all major US cities
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Parcel2Go: UK-based courier comparison and booking platform that aggregates multiple carrier rates for domestic and international parcel delivery. Closest direct competitor to Rapid Parcel in terms of business model, target customers, and UK-centric comparison positioning.
• Eurosender: European-based logistics marketplace for parcel, pallet, and freight shipments with an instant quoting/booking engine. Comparable aggregator/intermediary model with a similar SMB and individual customer focus and cross-border emphasis.
• Packlink: European parcel-shipping comparison and booking platform serving both consumers and SMEs across multiple countries. Closely comparable aggregator model with broader European footprint than Rapid Parcel's UK-centric base.
• ParcelHero: UK parcel comparison and booking platform serving both individual and business customers with international and domestic delivery via partner carriers. Operates a similar aggregator/intermediary model with a focus on UK-to-international lanes.
• Parcel Monkey: UK-based parcel broker and price-comparison site offering international courier services from multiple carriers. Directly comparable business model to Rapid Parcel, targeting both consumers and small businesses shipping parcels overseas.
• ShipStation (Stamps.com): Multi-carrier shipping software for online retailers and SMBs that aggregates rates, automates label printing, and integrates with marketplaces/ecommerce platforms. Comparable multi-carrier shipping aggregation concept but at higher automation/SaaS maturity than Rapid Parcel.
• MyParcelDelivery: UK-headquartered courier comparison service offering international parcel delivery via multiple carrier partners. Comparable target market (UK-based individual and SMB shippers) and identical price-comparison/booking model.

Broad incumbents

• DHL Express: Global integrator providing international express parcel services with direct online booking. A likely carrier partner for Rapid Parcel and a broad incumbent whose direct-to-customer offering competes with the comparison-engine value proposition.
• Royal Mail / Parcelforce: UK's designated universal postal operator and a major domestic and international parcel carrier. Represents both a potential partner and a broad incumbent that offers direct booking, threatening Rapid Parcel's comparison/aggregation value proposition.

Emerging players

• Pirate Ship: US-based shipping aggregator offering discounted USPS and UPS rates with a streamlined online interface. Comparable aggregator business model for SMB/individual shippers, though geographically focused on the US rather than the UK.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rapid Parcel