The growth of e-commerce is weighing too heavily on the shoulders of logistics. This is what researchers conclude in the Global e-Commerce Logistics Report 2015 report. New standards such as same-day delivery and free shipping would lead to an unsustainable situation for logistics providers.
Low profits
According to the researchers, whilst the logistics chain is benefiting from new sources of revenue due to the growth of e-commerce, it has so far struggled to turn this new revenue into profit. Author and researcher Cathy Roberson argues that logistics companies will only find things more difficult now that e-tailers are keeping a large part of their logistics in-house. “Just look at Amazon, which is going to handle the last mile itself,” says Roberson.
Click & Collect
Alternative delivery systems should ease the pressure on the logistics chain. “Consumers consider two things important when making an online purchase: being able to choose their own delivery time and low delivery charges.” According to Roberson, click and collect is a good alternative. This means the consumer does not have to wait at home on the sofa for a parcel to be delivered. What’s more, the logistics provider saves money because they no longer have to deal with a consumer who isn’t at home at a specific delivery time.
Editorial LogistiekProfs
