Marketplaces Forces
The latest UPS Pulse of the Online Shoppers Study has highlighted the growing force of the online marketplaces.
In a statement issued yesterday (11 April), UPS noted that “nearly every e-commerce shopper reported making a marketplace purchase”.
UPS added: “Online shoppers across the globe are buying from marketplaces and international retailers, relying more on digital devices and seeking alternate delivery options.
“The study – which captured the changing behaviors and preferences of online shoppers in six markets including the U.S., Asia, Europe, Canada, Mexico and Brazil – details how these behavioral shifts are driven by a desire for better prices and more choice, control and convenience.”
Alan Gershenhorn, UPS’s chief commercial officer, emphasized that retailers need to understand how consumers’ expectations are continuing rise – and how preferences will differ across the regions.
The power of the key marketplaces was one of the stand-out findings of the survey.
“Almost all online shoppers in the markets surveyed shop at marketplaces, which are third-party e-commerce sites that let multiple merchants to sell products,” said UPS. “In Mexico, 99% of shoppers reported making a marketplace purchase, compared with 98% in Asia and 96% each in Europe and Canada. The top reasons for using marketplaces are better prices and free or discounted shipping.”
Across the board, online shoppers want faster delivery – but their expectations will differ. Consumers in Asia, Mexico and Brazil, the report noted, expect to be able to place orders later in the day and still be eligible for same-day and next-day delivery.
As Post&Parcel reported earlier today, the study also found that in Asia’s fiercely competitive marketplace, online shoppers are increasingly demanding that free shipping, expedited deliveries, and customer-centric return policies are offered as the standard.
