An average of 21.1 million packages are delivered each day, according to the United States Postal Services (USPS). With package delivery seen as an essential service, it is an industry that has undergone significant growth in the past year. What are the biggest trends in delivery services to-date?
Robots For Deliveries
Around 87% of consumers want restaurants and other businesses to continue to offer safe and contactless deliveries, according to Medallia Zingle. In response, startup companies like Starship Technologies, Kiwibot, and Light Line Delivery Corp developed autonomous robots to meet the demand for more contactless deliveries. Hospitals, universities, and high-rise apartments were some of the few establishments where robots were initially tested for deliveries. As those tests were successful, robots are now seen as a viable option for package deliveries.
Same-Day And Next-Day Delivery
Roughly 87% of online shoppers say that delivery speed is a key point in deciding whether or not they’re going to patronize a business or not, so it is a fairly common thing for consumers to search “how much to overnight a package?” In fact, more consumers are seeking same-day and next-day delivery options instead of free delivery from the businesses that they buy from, according to Bizrate Insights. Right now, Amazon reigns supreme when it comes to overnight delivery, so other large couriers like DHL, UPS and FedEx are all improving their next-day options to entice more consumers to use their services.
Electric Vehicles In Fleets
When it comes to sustainability in delivery services, 74% of consumers are willing to pay more, according to Trivium Packaging. As such, the use of eclectic vehicles has spiked in the fleets of courier companies. The USPS is receiving around 500 electric vehicles to help scale back their emissions. So far, the areas that will see these EVs will be California and Washington DC, and after further study, USPS will see if the EVs can be deployed in other areas in the US. As delivery services continue to be in high demand, it is not surprising for in-industry companies to swiftly adapt to new trends. The ones mentioned above are only a few of the many trends that affect the present state of postage. The following months and the rest of the year should yield more interesting developments that should affect the delivery service industry, and consumers would be wise to pay attention.
