Thursday 6 November, 2025
Thousands of Irish small businesses are facing delivery disruption after Fastway Couriers announced it has entered receivership. The collapse of the courier network has left many retailers and online sellers scrambling to find alternative delivery solutions during a critical time for the e-commerce sector.
In light of this development, Parcel2Go Ireland is urging SMEs to review their courier arrangements to mitigate the risk of missed deliveries and financial loss. According to Ashley Taylor, Director of Commercial at Parcel2Go Ireland, the recent events have highlighted the fragility of the delivery chain for local businesses.
“When a courier network fails, it doesn’t just affect parcels – it affects livelihoods,” said Ashley. “Irish SMEs have worked hard to build their online sales, and they deserve logistics partners that can support them through uncertainty. Our focus right now is on helping those businesses stay operational and protect their customers’ trust.”
The collapse of Fastway Couriers is not an isolated incident in the Irish market. In recent years, several smaller operators have faced administration, reflecting the increased cost pressures and competition across the parcel industry. This has proven to be a risky situation for many SMEs who rely on a single delivery partner, especially during busy trading periods.
The immediate consequences of a courier ceasing operations can be significant:
– Delayed or undelivered parcels, impacting revenue and customer satisfaction
– Increased costs, as businesses are forced to reroute orders at short notice
– Strain on customer service, due to refund requests and lack of tracking updates
– Reputational damage, if delays lead to negative reviews or cancelled orders
To support affected businesses, Parcel2Go Ireland has issued a short guide for switching couriers and maintaining service continuity. The recommendations include auditing all active shipments, communicating with customers about potential delays, adopting a multi-carrier solution, evaluating performance metrics, and automating bookings and tracking.
“This is not about one courier replacing another,” added Ashley. “It’s about strengthening the delivery network that supports Irish businesses every day. By taking proactive steps now, SMEs can keep goods moving and avoid long-term disruption.”
While courier failures remain uncommon, the Fastway situation underscores the importance of resilience and flexibility in Ireland’s logistics sector. For small businesses, contingency planning is now essential, not optional.
About Parcel2Go Ireland
Parcel2Go Ireland is part of the UK’s leading online parcel delivery comparison platform, connecting Irish individuals and businesses with trusted couriers across Ireland, the UK, and beyond. The platform offers transparent pricing, real-time tracking, and access to multiple delivery partners in one place.
For more information, visit www.parcel2go.com/ie/.