So how restrained were you in the January Sales? I’ve been uncharacteristically good this year (apart from the second-hand mountain bike!) but new research from CollectPlus claims that half of shoppers are set to return at least one of their clothing Sale purchases for reasons ranging from delayed guilt to poor fit – highlighting the need more than ever for a smooth, effective returns process.
Such overindulgence is clear in new figures from the Royal Mail which shows that as online spend continues to rise so cost and speed of delivery remain key battlegrounds. Globally online spend – and therefore delivery volumes, also continue to rise with the latest research from Apex Insight suggesting it has risen by $40 billion in the last year alone.
Of course to deliver increased speed and ever better customer service requires investment in innovation – something we are seeing much of as the Holy Grail of delivery is sought. Many different technologies are being trialled and new research from SOTI suggests that consumers are increasingly starting to embrace the idea of new delivery methods – such as drones, robots and in-home delivery.
Another innovation in the world of online fulfilment is the emergence of on-demand warehousing. This week we have an interview with on-demand marketplace Stowga to find out more about how companies are trading their capacity to ensure it matches their business needs.
To find out the latest innovations and thinking in the world of delivery and fulfilment however you can’t afford to miss this year’s eDelivery Expo which returns to Birmingham in March. Make sure you check out the show and register now.
Image credit: Fotolia
