Consumers are starting to embrace new forms of delivery such as drones and autonomous vehicles, according to a new survey from SOTI.
It found that 60% said they would be very or somewhat comfortable with new shipping methods offered by retailers, including drones (29%), autonomous vehicles (28%) and in-home delivery methods (33%).
The results come from a wider survey of U.S. consumers shopping habits both online and in-store. It found that 76% of consumers indicated they have a better in-store experience when retail sales associates are armed with technology and 67% use mobile technology to save time.
Carl Rodrigues, CEO and president, SOTI, said that retailers have to embrace innovation – both instore and when it comes to delivery. “The in-store technology experience is no longer in its infancy and if retailers aren’t utilising these innovations, they are putting themselves at a competitive disadvantage.”
“While companies are trying to innovate the way packages are delivered, there is still a whopping 40% of consumers that have yet to embrace these innovations within the supply chain. This indicates that it is incumbent upon innovative retailers to develop consumer trust and familiarize their customer base with the benefits of these new delivery methods,” he said.
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