When 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