Sendle’s Sudden Delivery Halt Exposes Risks Across the Logistics Industry
Sendle was pitched as a carbon-neutral alternative to Australia Post specialising in delivering for small businesses across the US, Australia and Canada.
Last August Post and Parcel announced a merger between Sendle, FirstMile, and ACI Logistix, creating a new entity known as FAST Group. This strategic merger was backed by Federation Asset Management. A the time the company stated the merger would “provide greater opportunity for customers and expanded delivery for partners”
Following the sudden suspension of Sendle’s services, logistics experts are warning Australian retailers that the biggest risk is not delayed parcels, but damage to brand trust. The disruption has exposed a structural weakness in eCommerce fulfilment: reliance on a single courier.
Interparcel Australia & New Zealand says the incident marks a turning point for the industry, accelerating the shift toward a Hybrid Shipping model, a strategy that allows businesses to run multiple carriers side by side to maintain continuity when one network fails.
“When a parcel doesn’t arrive, the customer doesn’t blame the courier; they blame the brand,” said Steve Zammit, CEO of Interparcel Australia & New Zealand. “This disruption didn’t create that risk. It exposed it.”
