Same-day delivery is the single feature that is both most wanted and most expected by online shoppers, a new study suggests.
In a study, affiliate network Awin asked 2,000 UK adults, who all shopped online, what they most wanted and what they most expected to see happen in the next five years.
Same-day delivery topped both lists. It was followed by virtual changing rooms and universal plastic-free packaging among those innovations that respondents most wanted to see. Asked which they expected to see happen in the next five years, 64% named same-day delivery, followed by drone or robot delivery (49%), basket predictions and auto re-ordering (52%), virtual changing rooms (46%), and payment using cryptocurrency (39%).
Asked what drew them to shop online, the top answers were that ‘it’s easy’ (21%), ‘I can compare prices/products across different stores quickly’ (19%) and ‘better deals to be had’ (17%). Conversely, the things Britons disliked most about shopping online were ‘slow delivery times’ (26%), ‘not being able to check sizing’ (23%) and ‘it isn’t sociable’ (16%).
When asked what would make them shop on the high street more regularly, rather than online, the most common responses were ‘more click and collect options’ (42%), ‘being able to check online what’s available in store’ (37%) and ‘better deals’ (36%).
“It is no wonder that consumers prefer shopping online, if you stack up the numerous advantages that it brings to them,” said Ian Charlesworth, UK country manager Awin. “The demand for faster delivery is not surprising, nor are the results that consumers are open for more technical innovations. As a network we have an active role in advising and connecting retailers with the latest technology innovations such as smart basket optimisation, virtual changing rooms, universal shopping carts, and many more solutions that not only make online shopping fun and easy but lets them enjoy all the benefits of a brick and mortar store without leaving the comfort of their house.”
Image courtesy of the Co-op