Busiest Christmas for Deliveries Offers Challenge to Couriers Says Shiply
Released on: December 14, 2011, 10:11 am
Author:
Shiply Limited
Industry: Transportation / Logistics
An unprecedented number of online sales this holiday season
could provide a considerable logistical challenge according to online
transport marketplace Shiply. Making sure that everyone gets their
gifts on time will demand a substantial effort on the part of couriers and delivery services.
The week ending December 9 saw a 15% rise on the same period last year with similar
increases reported of the first 39 days of the holiday season according to comScore.
Sales on “Cyber Monday” and “Black Friday” rose more than 20% compared to 2010.
The coming week tends to be the busiest for online shopping, “Green Monday” coined
by eBay often ranks among the top spending days. However new trends such as free
shipping days (the last day before Christmas where free delivery can be guaranteed
to reach before the 25th) may be challenging for the highest spend.
An unparalleled number of parcels have caused Royal Mail to hire thousands of
temporary staff to cope with increased demand over December and potentially January,
to deal with the sales. But with the postal service operating at a loss and facing
job cuts, online retailers often rely on independent couriers and man and van services to provide
affordable delivery, but some delivery companies are already struggling to keep up
with demands of four million parcels to be delivered every day.
Robert Matthams, Managing Director of Shiply (www.shiply.com) the online transport
marketplace with a network of more than 40,000 transport and removal companies, gives his
opinion on the current trends in online shopping and the challenges faced by
delivery services.
“Last year’s inclement weather caused a lot of high street closures which led people
to turn to online shopping, but because of the snow many deliveries were delayed
causing a lot of frustration.
Online shopping is easier and more accessible now and with the growth of mobile
transactions and improved security, many people who wouldn’t have shopped online
before are now doing so. I doubt we’ll see anything but growth in the future.
November/December is always a busy period for deliveries and I hope that couriers
have learned from past experiences that there’s a huge surge in demand at this time
of year and made contingencies to cope with it. The government has promised to
better cope with any snow this year and have more salt and new gritters to treat
roads. So I would say that people can have more confidence in their deliveries or
moving goods this year, but I would also advise that customers don’t leave it to the
last minute”
-###-
Founded in 2008, Shiply.com matches people needing to move goods with transport
companies going there anyway. Over 25% of lorries run completely empty of cargo and
over 50% run only part-full. By enabling consumers and businesses to make use of
this spare capacity, Shiply.com dramatically cuts down on CO2 emissions, increases
the profitability of transport companies and saves the consumer up to 75%.
For further information, contact:
Shiply Limited
Floor 3,
207 Regent Street
London
W1B 3HH
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