Another report this week that shows how size really does matter when it comes to delivery. The report, from DS Smith, showed that more than a third of retailers are shipping products in boxes that are twice the size needed. It’s been a common gripe of Amazon customers amongst others and the retail giant is working hard to grapple with the problem – to the point that sometimes goods will arrive with no packaging at all! But it’s a serious issue for all retailers – not only frustrating customers but having both environmental and cost implications for their businesses as a result. It’s an issue that has to be tackled.
Getting the packaging and experience right is crucial for the subscription box market since its business model is based on regular repeat purchases, meaning that it can’t afford to make mistakes with its customers. A new report from the Royal Mail suggests that the UK subscription box market could be worth a whopping £1 billion by 2022 and would see around 65.3 million parcels delivered a year.
For those not in to pick up their parcel – or who get frustrated at having to wait at busy click and collect desks comes news that Asda is launching its second click and collect parcel tower in the UK. The new facility – which lets customers collect their parcels in a matter of seconds – will be part of a multi-million pound revamp of the company’s store near Cribbs Causeway in Bristol.
Keeping a track on not only where packages are but also their condition is IOT company Hanhaa. The company provides trackers that monitor a range of conditions of parcels as well as their location and has just announced the opening of a new US fulfilment hub in Chicago which will deal with the collection and redistribution of the trackers.
Also in the US we have news of FedEx expanding its ground operations to a six-day week. Although the company has long operated a six or seven-day week over peak the US network will now run on a six-day basis year round.
Back in the UK we have news of Lidl’s expansion. The company has announced plans for its 17th regional distribution centre in the UK – even though it already has a pipeline of four more that it has already announced and is to open. The news comes on the back of Lidl’s continued expansion in the UK.
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