Following the successful launch of its International Connect Plus (FICP) service in January, FedEx says it has expanded access to its day-definite e-commerce delivery service, which is now available in the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Austria, Sweden, Belgium and the Netherlands.
FedEx notes that the way consumers shop is changing every day and rapidly transforming the retail landscape. Research shows that 49% of shoppers will shop online more frequently once the Covid-19 outbreak is over. Online spending is projected to go up globally by 14% to €2.96tn this calendar year, and because of this significant uptake in e-commerce, FedEx is reshaping its product portfolio for e-commerce customers.
By offering customers access to a larger suite of e-commerce services, FedEx says FICP will support European businesses on their growth journeys by connecting them to more customers in global and intra-European markets. Expanding its European e-commerce capabilities is also a key pillar of FedEx’s European growth strategy.
Using FICP, the company says that online businesses will be able to offer their buyers an additional international shipping option at competitive prices. FICP allows e-commerce businesses to reach online shoppers in Europe in two to four days, North America in three days and Asia-Pacific in three to five days.
The new service comes with the certainty of FedEx’s international, day-definite delivery service, coupled with the company’s customs clearance expertise. Other supporting capabilities include tracking, sending out notifications to receivers, and the flexibility to change delivery options via FedEx Delivery Manager, which provides shoppers with greater visibility, control and convenience over their online orders.
“Since launching in Italy and the UK earlier this year, FedEx International Connect Plus has proven popular with e-commerce businesses and consumers looking to strike a balance between speed of delivery and value for money,” said Wouter Roels, SVP, international marketing at FedEx Express Europe. “As part of our European growth strategy, our aim is to offer our customers a suite of shipping solutions that are easily accessible and match their specific delivery needs.”
FICP is currently available in 240 trade lanes out of Europe. FedEx is working to expand FICP to more than 600 lanes, which means over 150 intra-European and 200 intercontinental lanes are expected to be added before the end of 2021.