MetaPack, a provider of e-commerce delivery technology, has predicted that UK parcel carriers will perform better over the 2015 peak season compared with 2014, despite anticipated record parcel volumes. This will predominantly be due to a shift in retailers’ strategies, which will result in deliveries being offered and managed over longer time periods.
The company has said that challenging next-day delivery offers of previous years will be replaced by a more measured approach and a number of tailored promotions. For example, prioritized delivery may only be offered to customers signed up to premier services or will be clearly available as a ‘one-day-only’ offer. In addition, three or even five-day arrangements will have the effect of leveling-out the process from initial order through to final delivery.
Kees de Vos, chief product officer at MetaPack, said, “We can see already that retailers have adopted new strategies and are putting in place mechanisms that will help to spread the delivery load over a much longer period of time. This will avoid the unnecessary pressure on logistics and courier services immediately following Black Friday and the Christmas/Boxing Day sales. Retailers know that delivery is a vital part of their offer to customers and that it is absolutely essential to meet their delivery promises, so we doubt that all will be offering next day delivery, for example, on Black Friday.
“This will allow retailers to ensure the supply chain has more breathing space to manage the process efficiently. Both retailers and carriers are all too aware that the peak period promises huge opportunities and huge challenges in equal measure and are already collaborating closely to provide consumers with a wide range of flexible choices without compromising on the quality of delivery services during this critical time.”
MetaPack will be tracking the performance of the top nine UK carriers over the peak period and will log their performance anonymously on its Carrier Performance Heat Map. To view the heat map click here.
November 12, 2015