Delivery is a vital factor for online shoppers
A new report from PostNord has found that Europe’s online shoppers rate delivery as an increasingly important factor in their buying decisions. In a statement sent to Post&Parcel today (26 September), PostNord said: “Europeans are shopping online in increasing numbers. In the past year, 253m European consumers made online purchases to a total value of €189bn, an increase of €9bn on the previous year. Significantly, 176m of those consumers bought online from abroad, an increase of 17m in a year.£
The survey found that consumers are also becoming more demanding – especially in terms of delivery.
UK consumers – who spent €56.4bn online over the past year, accounting for 29.8% of Europe’s total spending – rate the three most important factors as delivery cost (63%), choice of delivery options (56%) and speed (52%).
“Consumers today want a range of different delivery options – and the need for updated information on the delivery status of their packages is paramount. We understand that this has made delivery an important issue in creating value for online businesses. We also know that it’s absolutely vital to be able to offer customers locally-adapted and seamless delivery arrangements,” said Karin Falkentoft, Managing Director of Direct Link Worldwide, a PostNord company offering borderless e-Commerce solutions and global distribution.
The survey also highlighted how European online shoppers differ in terms of their preferred delivery methods.
“Delivery to door is still prevalent in many European countries, but in the Nordics, Germany and France, mailbox deliveries by the mail carrier are the main preference,” said PostNord. “Delivery to a collection point is relatively unusual in most European countries, but to consumers in the Nordic region and France it is the second most-popular delivery method.”
The report also gauged the different countries’ expectations on fast deliveries. “The Dutch are the most impatient; in the Netherlands, nearly four out of ten people want their orders delivered in two days max,” said PostNord. “Nordic citizens are the most patient. They are prepared to wait for up to six days or more, but the expectation is still delivery within 3-5 days, just as in every other market.”
