Category Archives: Courier Service

Carriers Announce Shipping Deadlines, Same-Day Delivery Is Another Option

When the time comes for Same-Day Delivery to impact the carrier industry, it will. Yet for now, it is only fully moving and expanding within the retail industry.  It is what companies like Amazon, Google, BestBuy, and more have all embraced, making it a viable shipping option during this holiday shopping season.  Either way, carriers are not getting their shipping time frames to be performed as fast as same-day delivery primarily.  Their focus for the holiday season is to ensure that they are accurate on and before Christmas.

The USPS, FedEx and UPS have all announced their respective shipping deadlines for retailers and shoppers to get their packages delivered by the biggest holiday of the year.  Yahoo recently talked about how FedEx, UPS and others have all made public their shipping deadlines in order for shoppers to know the shipping options that are at their disposal.  With only two weeks before Christmas, consumers are likely to prepare now and place their orders so their holiday gifts can arrive on time.  For Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, shoppers are going to be buying and shipping more than in 2015.

The article mentioned how the carrier package forecasts confirms the growth in retail will result in an increase in packages shipped this year.  FedEx expects to ship 25 million packages on peak days during the holiday season.  UPS predicts it will deliver over 700 million packages between Black Friday and New Year’s Eve, which is 14% growth from 2015.  Also, the US Postal Service expects to deliver 750 million packages this holiday season, resulting in a 12% spike up from 2015 and the carrier has guaranteed domestic deliveries by Christmas.

FedEx, UPS and the USPS shipping deadline dates are below:

FedEx
Dec. 16 — Last day to ship FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery
Dec. 19 — Last day to ship FedEx Express Saver
Dec. 21 — Last day to ship FedEx 2Day A.M and FedEx 2Day
Dec. 22 — Last day to ship FedEx Standard Overnight, FedEx Priority Overnight, and FedEx First Overnight.
Dec. 23 — FedEx Same-Day City
Dec. 25 — FedEx Same-Day and FedEx Same-Day City
Also, FedEx First Overnight, FedEx Priority Overnight, and FedEx 2Day will make deliveries on December 24th.  A $16 Saturday delivery fee will apply per package.

UPS
Dec. 19 — Last day to ship via UPS 3 Day Select to be delivered before Christmas Day (delivery on Friday, Dec. 23).
Dec. 21 — This is the last day to ship all UPS 2nd Day Air packages to be delivered before Christmas Day (delivery on Friday, Dec. 23).
Dec. 22 — Last day to ship all UPS Next Day Air packages to be delivered on Friday
Dec. 23 — This is the last day to ship all UPS 2nd Day Air packages to be delivered before Christmas Day, which must use the Saturday delivery option for delivery on Saturday, Dec. 24

USPS
Dec. 15 – Last day for USPS Retail Ground. Ground service for less-than-urgent deliveries and oversized packages.
Dec. 20 – First-Class Mail. Service for standard-sized, single-piece envelopes and small packages weighing up to 13 ounces with delivery in 3 business days or less.
Dec. 21 – Priority Mail. Domestic service in 1, 2 or 3 business days based on where the package is mailed and where it’s being sent, variety of flat-rate options.
Dec. 23 – Priority Mail Express. Fastest domestic service, guaranteed overnight scheduled delivery to most locations.  Some restrictions and exceptions apply.

FedEx does have it’s Same-Day and Fed-Ex Same-Day City according to their deadline dates will be operating.  It shows that carriers are slowly creating a competency for same-day delivery.  However, if retailers and shoppers are looking for a delivery source where fast delivery is their expertise, a viable option is a Same-Day Courier like 1-800 Courier to get their holiday packages delivered fast.  The Chicago Courier has just the right solutions for the holidays to get in-store and online orders delivered by Christmas.

Reference: 12.5.16, Yahoo Finance, Brittany Jones-Cooper, Holiday shipping deadlines for UPS, FedEx and major retailers

Same-Day Delivery Is Changing the Way Automakers Think

Automakers have not just sat back and watched Amazon utilize Same-Day Delivery for growth.  Toyota, BMW and Fiat Chrysler have all jumped into same-day delivery and seeing all of the benefits operationally the higher level of service it brings with it.

Customers know when they are getting the best from dealerships and same-day part deliveries is proving to be the revolutionary component that will optimize service repairs for car manufacturers in the years to come.  This past August, Toyota rolled out same-day parts availability to its’ dealerships to meet real time demand for repairs.  Faster part deliveries equated to quicker turnaround times from mechanics and better efficiency.  Repair times is the dealership service area with the largest number of customer complaints.  The better the service times a dealership provides, the better overall customer service reviews.

Auto News discussed in an article how although some manufacturers like Toyota are embracing same-day services’ short and long-term potential, some don’t feel the same way.  German automaker Volkswagen is still not convinced that same-day delivery will benefit their business model.  Anu Goel, Vice President of Parts and Logistics at Volkswagen Group of America, stated in the article, “If you’ve got dealers stocking the right parts in the first place, why do you need same-day service?”

Goel has a different philosophy for getting parts fast.  His perspective is to simply ship parts faster and dealers to change what they are stocking.  His solution is the part inventory itself will create a higher operational efficiency.  To minimize costs, same-day delivery must have close-proximity warehousing; in respect to Volkswagen current seven distribution centers, the auto manufacturer would essentially have to add more of them in order for same-day delivery to work.  Volkswagen does offer next-day part delivery and it appears to be what it presently needs. According to Goel, “We are good for now.  With a 1 p.m.cutoff [for parts orders], we can make 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. delivery the next day.  Seven buildings around the country allow us to meet that commitment.”

Toyota has been involved in part same-day delivery longer than BMW and Fiat-Chrysler have.  However, they both appear to be making headway with their respective implementations.  A Same-Day Courier like 1-800 Courier can partner with an auto manufacturer and pick up parts from distribution centers and local dealerships.  The Seattle Courier can perform part exchanges between dealerships, which is another same-day solution that it has developed.  Part distribution services is another same-day solution having the courier pick up all parts from a single location and distribute them to multiple dealerships in a given radius.

Car manufacturers like BMW and Fait Chrysler US being on board with same-day part deliveries, shows that it indeed is workable and at least worth testing.  Either way, same-day delivery is shifting how we do business, establishing a level of speed and convenience that shows no signs of turning back.  More and more businesses, retailers, shoppers, and automakers will all continue to make strides toward seeing how they can generate sales and improve processes with the innovation of same-day services.

Reference: 11.21.16, www.autonews.com, Jim Henry, VW’s Goel: Same-day delivery? Not yet

Same-Day Delivery Isn’t Just for Amazon, Here Comes PetSmart

Taking on Amazon isn’t just Google, Wal-Mart, Macy’s, Best Buy, and others. Now pet retail leader PetSmart has dived into the competitive mix with offering Same-Day Delivery and more services this month as the holiday shopping season begins.

TechCrunch recently reported PetSmart has announced launching same-day delivery in several major US cities this month.  The cities will include Dallas, Houston, Philadelphia, Boston, New York City, Northern New Jersey, Yonkers, and Washington DC.  The new service will allow shoppers to buy food, litter, over-the-counter medicines, grooming supplies, bedding, toys, and treats.  PetSmart’s initiative makes sense as many retailers are making adjustments online to slow down Amazon, which has mounted a robust same-day program that spans 27 US markets nationwide.

Amazon’s Prime Now consists of big cities such as San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, Seattle-Tacoma, Dallas-Fort Worth, New York, Boston, Chicago, Indianapolis, Tampa Bay, Baltimore, Washington DC, Nashville, Raleigh, Richmond, Tucson, Atlanta, Orlando, and more.  In addition to the US, Amazon recently rolled out same-day delivery in Vancouver and Toronto.  What is making Amazon’s same-day delivery difficult to contend with is the service is free for Prime members.  This alone has compelled retailers like PetSmart to shift from traditional warehousing and focus on faster online order fulfillment.

PetSmart’s same-day service won’t be free.  It’s service fee will be $7.99, far from the cost of Amazon’s same-day delivery.  Crowdsourcing logistics provider Deliv is who PetSmart is partnering with to perform the actual deliveries in these cities.  Deliv has same-day delivery in 17 US markets, therefore, more will probably follow for PetSmart.  The more cities PetSmart can expand to, the more options it can provide its’ online customers, which is what makes last-mile delivery so attractive to today’s e-commerce consumers.

To match it’s new same-day program, PetSmart has overhauled its’ website, implementing the changes that make shopping via mobile devices easy.  Online retail is the platform which more and more shoppers are using because its’ so convenient.  From the comfort of their home of coffee shop, they can capitalize on any great deal they find online and have it shipped where they need it, instead of having to go pick it up themselves.

“Our omnichannel strategy is aimed at giving pet parents options tailored to their needs and desires,” said Eran Cohen, PetSmart’s chief customer experience officer regarding the new launch.  He went on the say, “We look forward to seeing their response to the new site with its new user experience and commerce-meets-content approach, as well as to our expanded and convenient home delivery options, which capitalize on our extensive store network for same-day and scheduled delivery”.

This is what is becoming more than just a trend for retailers and businesses.  Same-day delivery allows physical store companies to give their product more of an opportunity to sell.  Just as PetSmart has partnered with Deliv, a Same-Day Courier like 1-800 Courier can do the same for any company competing with Amazon.  They offer last-mile delivery services right away.  The Washington DC Courier has the courier base and expertise to implement same-day delivery nationwide.  1-800 Courier can help PetSmart, as well as other companies, expand this holiday season and beyond.

Reference:  11.7.16, www.techcrunch.com, Sarah Perez, PetSmart takes on Amazon with launch of same-day delivery and subscriptions

$20 Billion Online Growth in Middle East

Same Day DeliveryOnline retail is forecasted to reach $500 billion by 2018 worldwide, as well as Same-Day Delivery at $987 million by 2019.  E-commerce is growing in the Middle East and expected to increase to $20 billion there this year.  It’s no reason why SOUQ.com, the Middle East’s largest online retail and marketplace platform, has announced that it will be launching same-day delivery there.

Arabian Supply Chain reported that SOUQ.com will begin offering the same-day delivery for “Fulfilled by SOUQ” (FBS) in Dubai for all online orders placed by 3pm.  It is the first e-commerce business in that region to launch this type of service, with hopes to expand throughout that area.  More than likely, the service will be established and optimized in Dubai, then SOUQ.com will implement it further.

“Our primary objective is to deliver the highest quality products and a service as efficient and quick as possible to our customers,” said Ronaldo Mouchawar, SOUQ.com CEO & Co-Founder in the article.  He also stated, “With the Fulfilled by SOUQ (FBS) program, we manage the fulfillment and logistics for third-party sellers, saving them time and money, and our home-grown logistics arm Q-Express as well as our partnership with WING.ae provide us with the most efficient delivery service in the region with real-time order tracking. We believe that our same day delivery and SOUQ delivery promise initiatives are a huge step forward in corresponding supply with customers’ demand and further making online shopping experience seamless and enjoyable.”

Mouchawar has the right strategy, shifting beyond traditional online shipping, which is what several big name retailers are doing.  In recent years, Amazon has aggressively invested and implemented same-day delivery around the world.  The e-retail leader has free same-day delivery in 27 major US markets such as the San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, Seattle-Tacoma, Dallas-Fort Worth, Boston, New York, Chicago,Indianapolis, Tampa Bay, Baltimore, Washington DC,  Orlando, Nashville, Raleigh, Richmond, Tucson, and Atlanta.  Amazon launched free same-day delivery in Toronto and Vancouver, in addition to Amazon Prime in London.  Google, Wal-Mart, Macy’s, Alibaba in China, Best Buy, and more are all on some level utilizing fast delivery.

SOUQ.com COO Wisam Daoud commented about what the service will do for their business.  He stated, “This innovative initiative is one of the region’s first- enabling customers to choose from the largest assortment of products and categories at the quickest turnaround. This landmark service will allow customers to buy their products in just a few clicks and receive their purchases just a few hours later- a testament to our constant endeavor of utilizing technology and our operational expertise to further drive the e-commerce growth in the region.”

Whether it is the Middle East or US, it is clear that retail is evolving into having omnichannels that offer seamless operations between online and physical store shopping.  1-800 Courier is a great example of how any retailer can quickly enter the market of same-day delivery and get product moving.  The Los Angeles Courier will develop a sound delivery solution and perform on-time deliveries for the convenience that retailers and their customers are looking for.

Reference:  11.10.16, www.arabiansupplychain.com, ASC Staff, SOUQ.com enhances logistics with same-day delivery

11% More Online Sales Growth For Holidays, Same-Day Delivery Will Expand

Same Day DeliveryAs the holiday season approaches, a boost in sales is what retailers are expecting to happen with their respective e-commerce.  One of the latest predictions from Adobe Digital Insights shows that retailers will be quite happy with the results.

Adobe conducted a survey of over 1,000 US consumers, which 31% of US consumers stated that they will start their holiday shopping before November 1st.  This is up 5% from last year.  Shoppers appear to be planning to beat the rush in more ways than one, not only in the store lines, but online as well.  More consumers are comfortable with making online purchases, coupled with technology growth via mobile devices, is driving how likely it is for e-commerce to continue to thrive.

In a recent article by Internet retailer, Adobe’s 2016 Digital Insights Shopping Predictions report says that 57 of the 61 days during the holidays will exceed $1 billion in online sales, resulting from e-commerce sales being expected to grow 11% this holiday season.  This equates to $91.6 billion, which will be an increase from $82.5 billion from last year.  It revealed that shoppers are expected to begin buying online early, which will continue after Christmas Day.  For Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday, roughly 9.2% of those online sales will occur during that time, accounting for $8.4 billion, according to the Adobe study.

“The biggest online sales days keep getting bigger,” said Becky Tasker, managing analyst with Adobe Digital Insights.  These are the days that consumers take advantage of the sales and discounts that retailers offer online to generate revenue and increase web traffic.  What is happening now is that top retailers are offering Same-Day Delivery to attract shoppers that don’t want to wait on their online orders.  Companies like Amazon, Wal-Mart, Google, Ace Hardware, Best Buy, Costco, and more have all jumped into same-day delivery to capture sales with value-added service options.

Amazon, for example, has taken Amazon Prime into several major US cities nationwide.  Amazon has free same-day delivery in 27 city markets, including the San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle-Tacoma, Dallas-Fort Worth, Indianapolis, New York, Boston, Tampa Bay, Baltimore,Washington DC, Chicago, Orlando, Nashville, Raleigh, Richmond, Tucson, Atlanta, and more.  The e-retail leader also launched free same-day delivery in Toronto and Vancouver in Canada.

During the holidays, consumers will need food items too.  Even Whole Foods has expanded same-day grocery services via the mobile grocery shopping app Instacart.  The grocery chain retailer is adding an unspecified number of markets where it will be offering same-day grocery delivery, in addition to its’ current 17 metro areas where the Instacart delivery option is being offered.

Partnering with a Same-Day Courier like 1-800 Courier can help retailers capture the holiday sales this year.  The New Jersey Courier has the courier expertise and national footprint to quickly implement same-day delivery to compete and attract shoppers to buy online from you during this season.

Reference:  10.27.16, www.internetretailer.com, Zak Stambor, Online sales will surpass $1 billion nearly every day this holiday season, Adobe predicts

Google Express Competes with Amazon Prime, Adds 13 More States

Same Day DeliveryFew retailers seem to be daring enough to take on Amazon Prime.  However, Google is not backing down and its’ recent move shows that Google Express is coming.

Earlier this month, Google launched the service in the big apple.  Now, Google has announced that it now is offering Google Express in 13 more states.  The USA Today reported how the e-retailer is gearing up for the upcoming holiday season, positioning itself to compete with Amazon in several key states, as well as several states that aren’t among the most popular areas for Same-Day Delivery.  The new US states will include Alabama, Kentucky, Utah, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Wyoming and Washington.  With same-day delivery in the southeastern region is one thing, yet having Google Express in the Midwest is another.  This could potentially be an exclusivity there that will cause shoppers to turn to Google Express.

Google is partnering with retailers like Costco, Whole Foods Market, Kohl’s, PetSmart, Road Runner Sports, Sur La Table, Fry’s, Walgreens, L’Occitane, Payless ShoeSource and Guitar Center.  Since Google’s strategy is utilizing the physical store retailers that shoppers already use, areas like the Midwest may not be a challenge after all to generate sales, especially during holiday shopping.  “At Google Express, our job is to make people’s lives easier. What we really are trying to do here is make it easier to shop from merchants you love,” Google Express General Manager Brian Elliott said in an interview with The Tennessean.

This type of service is going to not only benefit shoppers, but brick-and -mortar retailers as well.  Elliott also talked about in the article about utilizing its’ core competency to provide a product that will meet retailer needs.  He stated, “We think of ourselves as a technology platform because that’s what we’re really good at. We’re trying to build a platform that lots of merchants can participate in”.  More retailers are turning to same-day delivery to attract more shoppers to shop online to ultimately increase store sales.  This is exactly what Google Express does.

With the 13 new locations, as well as the roll out of Google Express in New York earlier this month, roughly 70 million people in these states, including the tri-state areas, will be able to shop online conveniently from their mobile device.  The more technology advances, the more Google Express and partnering retailers can capitalize on moving store products, therefore, if consumers don’t come to their store to shop, they’ll simply bring the store to their doorstep.

A Same-Day Courier like 1-800 Courier is a way for any retailer or business to grow online and allow the actual delivery aspect of same-day delivery to be handle by them.  The Portland Courier provides last-mile deliveries nationwide and is a viable option to gain more market share during the holiday shopping season and afterwards.  As companies like Google and Amazon grow, businesses will have to adjustment to compete in today’s e-commerce.

Reference:  10.25.16, USA Today, Lizzy Alfs and Brad Harper, Google Express adds delivery service to 13 more states

Holiday Shopping Set to Increase Delivery Sales for UPS

Same Day DeliveryWhen the holiday shopping season comes, retailers look forward to the increase in sales.  It also looks like UPS can too.

Internet Retailer recently reported that end-of-the-year sales are forecasted to increase for UPS between Thanksgiving and December 31.  UPS is expected to reach 700 million in package deliveries, which will be a 16.7% increase in comparison to about 600 million last year.  Kathleen Gutmann, senior vice president of worldwide sales and solutions, said during a call on UPS’s third quarter earnings, “The dramatic growth of online shopping and subsequent returns is expected to lift UPS package levels to a record high during this upcoming holiday period.  Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve 2016, there are two additional operating days and we expect to complete over 700 million deliveries worldwide, about 100 million more than last year.”

For the third quarter ending September 30, the carrier leader’s US average daily package volume increased 5.7% to 15.364 million packages from 14.540 million during the same time in 2015.  Also, International package volume went up by  7.5% to 2.788 million from 2.593 million last year.  Some other third quarter numbers for UPS included:

  • Total revenue rose 4.9% to $14.928 billion from $14.237 billion in the third quarter of 2015.
  • U.S. domestic revenue increased 4.8% to $9.289 billion from $8.860 billion.
  • U.S. ground shipment revenue grew 4.8% to $6.616 billion from $6.315 billion.
  • Next Day Air revenue was up 2.6% to $1.706 billion from $1.662 billion.
  • International revenue increased 2.2% to $3.024 billion from $2.959 billion.
  • Net income increased 1.0% to $1.270 billion from $1.257 billion.

Chief financial officer Richard Peretz commented on UPS business-to-business sales.  He stated, “It’s the best growth we’ve had there in five quarters.  Returns growth in e-commerce is also very strong. It’s growing in the mid-teens.”  Despite lower industrial production, business-to-business grew roughly 2% primarily due to online retail returns, which is another benefit of the new trend of Same-Day Delivery, offered by retailers to correct shipments via close proximity retail stores.

The article also discussed how  UPS’ My Choice program will be used to help manage holiday volume surges. My Choice allows consumers who sign up to choose the delivery location of their package, whether to their home or an alternate delivery site, including a UPS Access Point location.  This program currently has 30 million members worldwide, compared with 20 million last year.  It has about 8,000 Access Point locations in the US, including UPS stores, Access Point “smart” lockers, in addition to sites like convenience stores and dry cleaners.

This is just one type of service model for speed and convenience that today’s customers demand.  Many big name retailers and companies are also turning to a Same-Day Courier like 1-800 Courier to pick up and deliver online purchases from store locations during the holiday season and beyond.  The New York Courier is a viable partner for companies that will need fast deliveries, route same-day services and even replacement error shipments.

Reference:  10.27.16, Internet Retailer, Tracy Maple, UPS expects holiday package volume to grow more than 16%

Online Holiday Sales Expected to Grow, Great Time For Fast Deliveries

Same Day DeliveryThe holidays are almost here and retailers are getting excited about the increase in sales that are on the way.  Depending on the consumer markets, this can be a very profitable time for retailers and via the latest forecast, the numbers look it will be online.

Internet Retailers recently reported how various forecasts are coming in for this holiday season and non-store sales are projected to grow between double and quadruple the rate of total sales.  The National Retail Federation (NRF) expects for non-store sales to increase 7-10% from last year, equating to roughly $117 billion for the 2016 holiday season of November and December.  The non-store sales were described as those made primarily online that include include phone and catalog sales.  One  important note from the article was that the NRF projected last year that online sales would increase by 6-8% for last year’s holiday season.  However, online holiday sales out did those numbers, reaching 9% instead.

“All of the fundamentals are in a good place, giving strength to consumers and leading us to believe that this will be a very positive holiday season,” NRF president and CEO Matthew Shay stated in the article, optimistic about this year’s sales for retailers.  He went on to say, “This year hasn’t been perfect, starting with a long summer and unseasonably warm fall, but our forecast reflects the very realistic steady momentum of the economy and industry expectations.”  The thriving of technology and the increase of value-added services like Same-Day Delivery is also playing its’ role in offering convenient online shopping options and the comfort level of online purchasing as well.

Rod Sides, Deloitte LLP vice chairman and retail and distribution sector leader weighed in on its’ forecasts about sales online this year.  He stated, “The trend to watch is the way that online, mobile and store channels influence each other.  Large e e-commerce players and digital platforms such as Facebook and Pinterest are shaping what people think a great shopping experience is—a fast, highly-curated assortment with access to visuals, information and buying sources. Since these bigger platforms are more connected to the customer than the tradition retailer, it is important that they are part of retailers’ digital marketing campaigns this holiday season”.

He concluded with discussing the biggest competition for retailers.  Sides said, “It’s likely to be the small and midsized retailers that focus on niche products and experiences. This group has been collectively stealing share from large, traditional retailers to the tune of $200 billion in annual sales over the last five years.  The retailers that compete on differentiated products and experiences should be better positioned to outperform those who try to compete on low-price, value and convenience, or continue to rely on conventional sales events and promotions”.

Many retailers are setting themselves up to be the online store that e-shoppers will turn to for the holidays.  Amazon, Google, Wal-Mart, Macy’s, Whole Foods, BestBuy, and more have all turned to offering same-day delivery as a value-added service to increase online sales.  A Same-Day Courier like 1-800 Courier can help retailers seize the promising online sales projection by offering the convenience of delivering items to shoppers, instead of them having to get involved in the holiday rush.  The Houston Courier has the courier expertise to create sound delivery solutions nationwide.

Reference:  10.4.16, www.internetretailer, Tracy Maple, Online holiday sales head for double-digit growth

Amazon Removes Upfront Fee for Amazon Fresh

same day deliveryWhat more could Amazon do at how they continue to advance Same-Day Delivery in all of the facets of their services.  The e-retailer is making the right moves at the right time.  Now, its’ recent adjustment to AmazonFresh could be just what it needed to make more shoppers buy into it.

Amazon has announced that it will adjust its’ pricing model for AmazonFresh, as it begins an initiative to attract customers and grow sales.  The same-day grocery service, which use to be $299 per year, will now be only $14.99 per month for existing Prime members only.  This equates to $179 per year, which is a $120 difference for AmazonFresh, in addition to Prime member subscription costs of $99.  Therefore, for $279 annually, Prime members can have it all, instead of the $299 for AmazonFresh alone, which some felt was steep. The new pricing could potentially gain momentum for AmazonFresh as the holiday season begin, as well as the e-retail leader enters the new year.

The change in fee structure could be a sign that Fresh is stabilizing and poised for more aggressive expansion,” said Keith Anderson, vice president of e-commerce analytics startup company Profitero.  Anderson went on to say, “This is supported by how prominently the new fee is being promoted on Amazon’s homepage in markets where Fresh is available.”  The article mentioned that some feel the high pricing was purposefully done to limit demand, while Amazon worked out the economics of the service.  Either way, Amazon is certainly in the driver’s seat when it comes to same-day grocery delivery.

Another comment in the article was by Anderson regarding what the move means for Amazon in the future ahead.  He stated, “This positions Fresh much more favorably.  An incremental, annual $199, paid up front, was unprecedented and a huge hurdle for mainstream households to commit to, even if Prime members skew to affluence.”  Usually low upfront fees for a valued-added service like fast delivery is much more attractive to shoppers.  This is why most retailers offer very affordable costs and then compensate by the sale volume they receive.

One example is what Wal-Mart has decided to do with subscription fees for its new ShippingPass service.  In July, Wal-Mart began piloting the program, offering free shipping with two-day delivery to draw in shoppers, in addition to its’ low annual fee of $49.  This is specifically designed to aggressive compete with Amazon, being half the price of Prime at $99.  Customers are able to get the same products they can buy from Amazon such as clothing, electronics, health products, and more via Walmart.com.  The online items with the ShippingPass logo next are eligible for the service.

A lot of retailers are taking note from not only what Amazon is doing, but how the retailer is doing it.  For same-day delivery, one viable option is to partner with a Same-Day Courier like 1-800 Courier to implement the service in major US cities and better compete online.  The San Francisco Courier has the courier technology and expertise to quickly create same-day logistic solutions for any retailer delivering groceries, online products and more.

Reference: 10.7.16, www.recode.net, Jason Del Rey, Amazon finally just proved it’s very serious about grocery delivery

Google Going to New York with Same-Day Delivery

same day deliveryAmazon has been making heavy strides with utilizing Same-Day Delivery to meet the trending online shopping demand.  It is to the point that many big name web-based and brick-and-mortar retailers are find they have no choice but to follow suit or get left behind.  This is exactly what Google is doing and its’ latest strategic move is showing that the e-retailer has a plan to capture more market share of its’ own.

Fox 5 News in New York recently reported how Google has launched its’ own same-day delivery service–Google Express.  The new service will allow shoppers to order from major retailers like Costco, Kohl’s, Whole Foods, and PetSmart.  These are some of the biggest names in retail that are in hot pursuit of Amazon also. If shoppers are desiring convenience, instead of increasing sales by attracting them to come shop at the store, Google and the major retailers will bring the online products to them–right to their front door.

The report discussed how nearly 70 million people in over a dozen states in the US, including the tri-state areas, will have the ability to easily order online from their smartphones.  This means there will be a lot of volume, which is one of the mean essentials for same-day delivery to work.  For example, a prime retailer like Whole Foods, which already offers same-day delivery in some major US cities like Atlanta, will only strengthened its’ customer loyalty base, as it expands together with Google in New York.

“Google Express is a number of items you can order via Google and Google Express and have it delivered in under an hour,” commented online shopping expert Michelle Madhok in the article.  Shopper will be able to pay either a per-order fee or an annual fee, which Google  Express subscribers will pay $95 a year, versus Amazon Prime’s $99.  Madholk went on to say, “Depending on the item, some will take a little longer, but you can click ‘get this today”.  The roll out makes sense for Google to expand in New York right before the holiday shopping season begins.  It is one of the prime cities in the US to capture end-of-the year sales for retailers, as Google can potentially team up with physical store retailers to move store product via omnichannel initiatives.

Google’s biggest competitor Amazon has had a lot of momentum, aggressively establishing same-day delivery within major US cities nationwide.  Thus far, Amazon has free same-day delivery in a total of 27 city markets, including the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle-Tacoma, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Diego, Indianapolis, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Boston, Tampa Bay, Baltimore,Washington DC, Chicago, Orlando, Atlanta, Nashville, Raleigh, Richmond, Tucson, Charlotte, and more.  To affirm how much pace Amazon has in their growth, its’ latest expansion just announced was launching free same-day delivery in Toronto and Vancouver.

To catch up with Amazon, companies like Google, Wal-Mart, Macy’s, and more are partnering with a Same-Day Courier like 1-800 Courier to develop same-day solutions in order to grow online.  The New York Courier has a national footprint and can perform the actual deliveries for any retailer within major US cities.

Reference: 9.28.16, Fox 5 New York, Jennifer Lahmers, Google Express delivery service debuts in New York