FedEx Express has launched its international, day-definite e-commerce service in 14 additional countries – Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, Romania, Slovenia and Switzerland.
The service, named FedEx International Connect Plus (FICP), is now available in a total of 24 European countries with connections to 47 markets worldwide. Through FICP, businesses can ship products to online shoppers in Europe in one to three days, North America in three to four days, Asia-Pacific and the rest of the world in three to five days. With these improved connections, FedEx Express expects its service to help e-commerce sellers to grow their business in Europe and abroad.
Within the service, FedEx Delivery Manager enables sellers to send out notifications and gives shoppers the flexibility to change the day and location of deliveries to provide more visibility, control and convenience.
According to the company’s research, the retail landscape has transformed with growth in both domestic and cross border e-commerce sales through the Covid-19 pandemic. Consumer research in 40 countries worldwide found that, in 2020, 37% of e-commerce shoppers bought more cross border due to the pandemic and 28% of the consumers surveyed agreed that they will buy more online from retailers based abroad in the future. When asked about several elements of the delivery process, these consumers indicated satisfaction levels for delivery speed were lowest. In addition, the company found that 71% of consumers would pick an online retailer that offers flexible delivery options over one that doesn’t.
Wouter Roels, senior vice president of marketing international at FedEx Express Europe, said, “Worldwide e-commerce sales are expected to exceed US$5tn in 2022 and grow to over US$7tn in 2025, creating many opportunities for European businesses. With the latest extension of FICP to growth markets in eastern and northern Europe, FedEx Express is supporting businesses on their growth journeys by connecting them to more customers in global and intra-European markets.”
Brian DeCair, vice president of operations in Ireland and UK North at FedEx Express, said, “The launch of FedEx International Connect Plus in Ireland is an exciting development for e-commerce businesses who want to reach global online shoppers with speed and efficiency. Cross-border e-commerce is growing faster than domestic e-commerce and businesses are increasingly seeking more diversified, cost-effective solutions in order to meet consumers’ evolving needs and this new cross-border service, balancing speed with attractive prices, delivers just that.”
