Australia Post’s new next-day delivery service, Australia Post Metro, is the post’s first new delivery service in recent years and will provide eligible retailers and their customers with greater speed and certainty when they shop online.
The service has launched in metropolitan Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, and is planned to be expanded to new metropolitan areas over the coming months. Currently it is being offered to select retailers, with more coming on board over the coming weeks and months.
The service is a direct response to changing consumer needs, with data suggesting that 68% of online shoppers are likely to abandon their shopping cart if they deem the delivery method too slow.
Paul Graham, Australia Post Group chief executive officer and managing director, said the flexibility and reliability that next-day delivery offers customers was becoming increasingly important, as the desire for fast fulfilment continues to grip consumers and one in every three retail dollars is projected to be spent online in the next 10 years.
“We’ve been listening to our customers, and know they expect more certainty, simplicity and speed when ordering online. The Australia Post Metro service raises the bar for customers, prioritizing next day delivery in metropolitan areas.
“To support this new service and ensure we meet the next-day delivery offering we have simplified our back-end systems to quickly identify the Australia Post Metro service orders, prioritizing them for next-day delivery. We have also been working with our retailers to ensure their distribution centres are set up to prioritize Australia Post Metro service orders.”
Michelle Rowland, Minister for Communications, welcomed the new Australia Post Metro service as a boon for Australian consumers and retailers alike: “As more Australians embrace the digital economy, it is essential postal services keep pace with their demands. Next-day delivery is a win-win for both retailers and consumers. It’s pleasing to see Australia Post launching this new Australia Post Metro product, and I look forward to seeing it expanded following the current trial.”