Monthly Archives: June 2016

Will Staples Same-Day Delivery Work?

same day deliveryA variety of companies are getting involved with Same-Day Delivery, especially more brick-and-mortar retailers.  The latest to join in is well-known office supply retailer Staples.

Staples has officially launched “Staples Rush”, a new same-day delivery program within several major cities nationwide.  It is a store fulfillment initiative, aiming to drive an increase of online sales. The announcement comes after its’ denied merger with Office Depot, which would have given both retailers a large market share.  The strategy toward same-day delivery positions Staples for another innovative way to compete online with Amazon, Best Buy, Target and Google.  Staples’ initial roll-out will begin with parts of Boston, Dallas and Manhattan, followed by San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Houston, and Chicago.  The program will involve only product delivery, yet, copying and printing will be available in the coming months as well.

Executive vice president of supply chain and logistics Mike Bhaskaran, touted how Staples anticipates same-day delivery to positively impact it’s customer service.  “By offering a wholly-owned, same-day delivery experience, Staples is providing businesses the type of customer service they’ve come to expect from us throughout their entire transaction,” said Bhaskaran.  He went on to say, “The development process for Staples Rush is truly a collaborative and cross-functional effort that brought together different areas of expertise, including supply chain, eCommerce and merchandising, to create a valuable service for our customers.”

Faisal Masud, executive vice president of global eCommerce at Staples, also weighed in on how Staples Rush will translate into faster order fulfillment.  Faisal said, “Businesses want their online orders fulfilled faster than ever. Thanks to Staples’ unmatched omnichannel capabilities, which already include the ability to buy online and pickup in store, we will deliver the products customers need when they need them, so they can make more happen without having to wait on shipped orders.”  With the establishment of technology at a customer’s fingertips, the demand of more shopping convenience has grown.  Now, the retailer that doesn’t make the customer wait will potentially win.  This is the type of seamless omnichannel that brings success–just ask Amazon.

The e-retail leader has impressively created a sustainable same-day delivery program in 27 US cities, as well as the service is free for Prime members.  The most recent, an eleven city launch, which included Sacramento,Stockton, Fresno, Louisville, Raleigh, Cincinnati, Richmond, Tucson, Milwaukee, Nashville, and Charlotte.  These came in addition to the same-day delivery in the San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, Seattle-Tacoma, Dallas-Fort Worth, Phoenix, Indianapolis,  Tampa Bay, Baltimore, Washington DC, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Atlanta, and Orlando.  More than likely, Amazon will go nationwide, which speaks to the validity of same-day delivery evolving into more than simply a trend.

Staples is on its’ way to creating its’ own same-day delivery model, yet the question is will it work?  Of all of the components that will bring success with last-mile deliveries, one of the keys is close proximity warehousing, which Staples possesses.  Just as Macy’s, and other recent newcomers retail stores such as Best Buy, Staples has hundreds of store locations that will be used as online order fulfillment centers.  Same-day delivery is made profitable primarily by volume and distance.  Now, Staples could partner with a Same-Day Courier like 1-800 Courier to create a sound same-day delivery logistics solution that will meet the retailer’s needs.

The Dallas Courier has a national footprint and the courier expertise to not only assist start-up pilot same-day delivery programs, but also the ability to quickly adjust and expand with it.  Staples needs an established delivery company, experienced on how to make the service work.  In the upcoming months, Staples can begin to aggressively compete online, especially before the holiday season comes.

Reference: 6.15.16, www.pymnts.com, Staples Jumps Into Same-Day Delivery

Fast Delivery Driving Demand for Prime Warehouse Space

Courier ServiceIf it were possible to engage order fulfillment from a distance, then retailers would do it.  However, there is no way around having close proxy warehousing if Same-Day Delivery is going to become a staple service within your online business.  Amazon established fulfillment distribution centers strategically across the US and now providing efficient last-mile deliveries is quite easy.  Many big name retailers are aggressively pursuing to follow the same blueprint, and as a result, warehouse space demand is rapidly increasing.

Retail Dive via Bloomberg recently reported that online retail is now accounting for 20% of warehouse space.  This means that there is a more intensive effort to grow online, not just within a retailer’s physical store locations.  Also, more start-up, web-based retailers are experiencing growth, which online retail has consistently increased in recent years.  It has been forecasted that online retail would reach $500 billion by 2018.  Therefore, the warehouse space usage is in line with the numbers and shoppers are more comfortable with buying online.

The article mentioned that the renting of prime warehouse space in the US rose 9.9% last year.  It pointed out six markets that were among the nine with the biggest increases globally.  Real-estate brokerage firm CBRE conducted the research and found that Oakland, California topped the list with 29.8%, which was seen also in Northern New Jersey.  These are areas where strategic warehousing is becoming a hot commodity.

David Egan, CBRE’s head of industrial and logistics research for the Americas, discussed warehousing and the benefits of it with the Wall Street Journal earlier this month, “There are huge premiums being placed right now on being close to the consumer—speed of service, speed of delivery is a critical component of why people choose to buy from one retailer over another.  To get the goods to consumers fast, you have to get close to them.” The closer the retailer, the better their service can be geared and the greater the options can be.  With inventory a few miles away, retailers can replenish stores, correct error shipments and more, even offer same-day delivery.

This is exactly what Amazon has done with their order fulfillment centers and now have 27 major cities in which it provides same-day delivery to Prime members–for free.  Eleven of those cities were established this year, including Sacramento, Stockton, Fresno, Louisville, Tucson, Milwaukee, Nashville, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Richmond, and Raleigh.  To offer this type of fast delivery for free, it was essential to have an optimal warehousing system in place.

Others will have to do the same if they want to thrive with a same-day delivery service model.  Effective warehousing must be coupled with an effective delivery operation also.  A Same-Day Courier like 1-800Courier is a viable option for retailers to partner with and establish on-time deliveries after they secure their warehouse space.  The New York Courier has the courier expertise to develop sound same-day solutions, as shoppers and online retail itself begins to demand more from them.

Reference: 5.25.16, www.retaildive.com, Daphne Howland, Report: E-commerce growth driving rush for warehouse space

Like Best Buy, Wal-Mart Dives Into Same-Day Delivery Pilot Program

same day deliveryAmazon’s fast pace of growth online has compelled more and more retailers to stay close, or get left behind.  Even the largest ones have taken note at Amazon’s position strategy to use Same-Day Delivery to capture and turn more shoppers toward buying from them online.  Best Buy did earlier this year; now, the world’s retail leader Wal-Mart has announced it is going to do the same.

Wal-Mart has officially announced that it is rolling out several same-day grocery delivery pilot programs, starting in Denver and another unidentified market this month.  It has partner with ride-hailing services Uber and Lyft to perform the actual deliveries.  The retailer  has been testing same-day grocery delivery in San Jose.  The Walmart, as well as the Sam’s Club pilot program, will cost customers a $7-$10 delivery fee, which can be purchased once they choose “same-day delivery” at online checkout.

The article mentioned that Wal-Mart also partnered with start-up delivery company Deliv to pilot a same-day delivery program at several Miami Sam’s Club stores. Deliv founder and CEO Daphne Carmeli commented in the report, “We got a call from Walmart and are pretty excited to be working with the biggest retailer in the world.  It’s amazing the effect the ‘A-word,’ Amazon, is having on the e-commerce landscape.  They have created a customer expectation of same-day delivery. It’s the new standard. If you’re selling physical goods to customers you’ve got to figure out a way to get them to customers as quickly as possible.”

Although in a different industry, a few months ago another major retailer began testing its’ own same-day delivery.  Best Buy announced in April it was launching a pilot program for the service in 13 more major metropolitan markets throughout the US.  Last year, Best Buy started testing the service in San Francisco, Washington DC and New York.  The consumer electronics industry is forecasted to go up to over $85 billion this year in US sales, and Best Buy is positioning itself to capture the majority of those sales, not Amazon.  Wal-Mart has tapped into same-day delivery so it can keep its’ physical store leverage and do the same–just with groceries.  More same-day for general merchandise may be to come.

Best Buy and Wal-Mart have Deliv in common.  The crowdsource-based delivery company partnered with Best Buy, and now Sam’s Club since March.  Best Buy has over 400 stores nationwide, which makes it easy to fulfill online orders via store locations instead of traditional warehousing.  Wal-Mart, on the other hand, has over 3,400 stores in the US–and that’s just Supercenters.  With this type of reach and volume that the retail leader has, it won’t be difficult to create a successful same-day delivery program.  It will only be a matter of can Lyft and Uber literally deliver.

A Same-Day Courier like 1-800 Courier is a delivery provider with a national footprint that utilizes a courier-based approach, servicing over 1,500 companies.  The Denver Courier has the courier expertise and technology to effectively establish a variety of same-day solutions, tailored specifically to the web-based or brick-and-mortar retailer.  1-800 Courier is a trusted on-stop source and leader for same-day delivery that retailers can turn to as online business begins to substantially rise in the years to come.

Reference: 6.3.16, www.retailingtoday.com,Dan Bethiaume, Wal-Mart taking on Amazon with same-day delivery pilot

Warehousing Becoming Key for Same-Day Delivery and Online Retail

same day deliveryIt takes a strong, complete supply chain for retailers get their product into their customers’ hands, especially when it comes to offering Same-Day Delivery.  Every aspect is critical to not only launching a prime service as this, but having the right systems in place to maintain it.  What strategy is being made known now is that warehousing within the supply chain channel is currently a valuable commodity.

Warehousing is becoming the bedrock of online retail because of same-day delivery and its’ impact.  The industry is accounting for 20% of warehouse space, according to Retail Dive via Bloomberg.  When the expected growth of online retail itself is accounted for, which is $500 billion by 2018, e-commerce is going to cause warehousing operations to not only thrive, but become even more sophisticated.

The article mentioned that the renting of prime warehouse space rose 9.9% in the US last year.  There were  six US markets among the nine total that had the biggest increases worldwide–Oakland being the highest at 29.8%, and it was also seen in Northern New Jersey, according to real-estate brokerage firm CBRE.

CBRE’s head of industrial and logistics research for the Americas, David Egan, told the Wall Street Journal earlier this month, “There are huge premiums being placed right now on being close to the consumer—speed of service, speed of delivery is a critical component of why people choose to buy from one retailer over another.  To get the goods to consumers fast, you have to get close to them.” Close-proximity warehousing adds value to retailers, especially with replacement deliveries, error shipments and even routing services for business-to-business customers.

Warehousing has been what Amazon already had envisioned years ago before same-day delivery became in such a high demand.  The e-retail leader strategically planted multiple order fulfillment centers in close proximity to major US cities, prepping it for the boom in e-commerce to come.  Now, last-mile deliveries have become almost effortless for Amazon, establishing 27 major US city markets in which it provides free same-day delivery.  Eleven of them were added this year, which included Sacramento, Stockton, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Fresno, Louisville, Tucson, Milwaukee, Nashville, Raleigh, and Richmond. The nationwide same-day delivery coverage is inevitable by Amazon, and other nationwide retailers are aggressively in pursuit.

Because of the entrance of same-day delivery, e-retailers and brick-and-mortar stores won’t be able to keep pace with the traditional, centrally-located warehousing systems.  E-commerce has created a market at the fingertip of shoppers and online fulfillment must be just as close. Even the emergence of tablets, smartphones and tech gadgets has resulted in convenience, as well as a heightened retail competition. Price is not the only thing that matters.  Shoppers want service.

Once the warehousing is in place, it is of matter of who can get their product consistently in the hands of customers on time. Physical store and web-based retailers Same-Day Courier like 1-800 Courier to fulfill online order deliveries from their warehouses.  The Sacramento Courier has the courier expertise and technology to develop an optimal same-day solution, whether locally or nationwide. Just like Amazon, retailers can build a same-day delivery program customers trust and will remain loyal to buy from them.

Reference: 5.25.16, www.retaildive.com,Daphne Howland, Report: E-commerce growth driving rush for warehouse space

Shopify Partners with Postmates For Same-Day Delivery

same day deliveryWhen a retailer decides to dive into Same-Day Delivery, among the first things they consider is what delivery company can they trust.  Once a fast service like this is tested and implemented, reliability and consistently is the key to avoid any breakdowns.  Same-day delivery is just what it is–an online purchase brought to a shopper’s front door as fast as they ordered it.  The delivery demand and expectations are high for both the retailer and the end customer.  Error and late deliveries can cause loyal customers to turn somewhere else for their online orders.

Shopify has decided to jump into the same-day delivery race and has chosen its’ partner to help establish itself as a competitor within the industry.  The storefront software provider has partnered with Postmates to offer asame-day delivery in around 200 cities nationwide.  This is an enormous amount of cities to implement at once, however, they are all within Postmates’ current coverage areas.  The delivery company also mentioned that it has plans to expand, even moving beyond the US borders into Europe, starting in the United Kingdom.

In a recent blog by Shopify, The company will enable its’ thousands of merchant customers to offer to their end customers same-day delivery within as little as an hour.  Many big name retailers that provide same-day delivery, have this high-level option available also, namely Amazon’s Prime Now.  This position Shopify merchants to compete for the online business segment that needs their items quickly.  It is a convenient service to be able to offer and more shoppers have become very comfortable with it.

Online retail is forecasted to reach  $500 billion by 2018.  Same-day delivery is expected to reach $987 million by 2019 as well.  This equates to companies like Google, Amazon, BestBuy, Target, Macy’s, Whole Foods, Ace Hardware, UPS, and more are involved at some level of same-day delivery to capitalize on the growing online market.  For example, Amazon added 11 more major US cities to its’ current same-day delivery program, which is free for Prime members.  Sacramento, Stockton, Cincinnati, Fresno, Louisville, Tucson, Milwaukee, Nashville, Raleigh, Richmond, and Charlotte are among that number and it is likely going to increase by year’s end.   The largest e-retailer has 27 total cities now, with it becoming a nationwide program at the door.

Shopify and Postmates have both been aggressive at gaining ground with same-day delivery.  To attract its’ merchants into pushing the service, Shopify offered $50 in free Postmates deliveries through May 3rd and 5th last week.  The e-commerce provider gains more than 100,000 e-retail clients per year, and with these high numbers, Shopify should be very competitive within the market quickly.  On the other hand Postmates has decided to compete with Amazon and offer a subscription membership program itself.

Postmates Plus unlimited gives subscribers free same-day delivery for all orders of $30 or more for $9.99 per month.  Postmates has customers that include some 3,000 stores and services in the US.  A Same-Day Courier like 1-800 Courier is a viable partner for nationwide retailers that need a reliable delivery provider that can develop sound same-day solutions.  The Dallas Courier has hundreds of partners that it successfully executes same-day delivery programs for and helps their online business grow.

Reference: 5.3.16, www.shopify.com, Shawn French, Now Shopify Merchants Can Offer Their Customers Same-day Delivery Through Postmates