International delivery, a huge advantage on the e-commerce market
B
ig companies have set the bar high in delivery, with next day delivery having led to Click and Collect, same-day delivery and even same-hour delivery, says a report by Pitney Bowes and WBR Digital. The challenge for retailers is that customers don’t want to pay more, so retailers must try to achieve the best possible solution.
The report highlights the findings of a research from May 2016, when 100 Heads of Operations, Heads of Logistics and Heads of E-Commerce were asked about where they stand and what they predict for the future of delivery.
Eastern Europe – an important destination
The research was developed in:
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Norway
- Sweden
- United Kingdom
For most retailers, in-country deliveries make up the majority of sales. However, internatonal sales have become increasingly important. 40% of respondents reported that between approximately a third and a half of their deliveries are international.
Western and Eastern Europe took the top spots for delivery (98% and 66% respectively), followed by America (61%) and Asia (56%). As for the provided services, 20% of retailers do not yet offer online parcel tracking and 17% do not offer any email or text updates.
From offline to online and back
It is very difficult to track the buying behaviour of consumers from online to in-store and back again, especially, in an environment where so many customer journeys begin in one channel and end in another.
Concerning the shipping/carrier options offered to consumers, the vast majority of retailers use mainstream carriers to fulfil their deliveries. Pitney Bows thinks that, from convenience to personalised service to competitive pricing, serving up a multi-carrier option serves both retailer and consumer very well. Allowing customers to select the best option for their needs helps meet expectations and drive consumer loyalty.
