In December 2020, around 7.2 million packages were shipped daily, according to ShipMatrix. It is clear that shipping services are highly in demand, and consumers are active participants in keeping the shipping industry busy. Consumer tastes and wants are the driving points in the world of shipping. So what are the shipping industry features that consumers want the most?
Better Shipping Speed
An estimated 45% of consumers say that delivery carriers meet their delivery speed expectations only 50% of the time, according to Deloitte. Consumers want their parcels shipped and delivered to them as soon as possible. As such, they are more likely to choose a carrier that offers consistent overnight delivery as a shipping option over free shipping options. Speedy delivery keeps a carrier highly competitive in the field where Amazon Prime currently reigns supreme in meeting customers’ satisfaction. With more retailers offering buy online and pick up in-store as an option, carriers will need to take that into account so that they may tweak their services to draw in more clients in the future.
Hassle-Free Returns
About 63% of online consumers look at the return policy before going through with a purchase, according to NCR. If the return policy’s shipping carrier is one that they have had negative experiences with before, they are more likely to not purchase the item. They will also be less likely to recommend a carrier to people they know if previous returns were mishandled or were overly complicated. Providing a hassle-free return experience for consumers is crucial if carriers want their services to be patronized more. Reviewing existing practices is a must so that they can change them accordingly to meet the desires of the market.
Sustainable Practices
57% of consumers say that they are willing to change their purchasing practices and shipping preferences in the aim to of reducing negative environmental impact. A lot of maritime ships make use of low-cost heavy fuel oil, and these contain high sulfur levels; shipping also generates roughly 2-3% of greenhouse gas emissions. The International Maritime Organization has been pushing to lower these levels to 0.5 percent — a move that environmentally conscious consumers are glad about. Shipping and delivery services must pay attention to how they are impacting the environment if they wish to obtain the patronage of eco-friendly consumers. For example, Amazon Prime have introduced “Amazon Week”: consumers can order several items throughout the week and have them shipped on the same day. Theoretically, it should lower the amount of packaging used and reduce the amount of gas used to ship items out. While the move toward sustainability in the shipping industry is slow, the important thing is that it is happening.
Much like other industries, the world of shipping will need to adjust and adapt to suit what its consumers want. For the foreseeable future, speedy shipping, seamless returns, and sustainable practices are what are highly favored. The coming years will be an interesting study in what sort of in-demand features will dominate the shipping industry and how consumers’ tastes may change.
