Last-Mile Deliveries: Meeting Consumer Expectations

0:00Global online retail sales are set to top $4.3 trillion next year. Merchants are under huge pressure to speed up last-mile deliveries while cutting costs and boosting transparency. A new report highlights how 85% of merchants feel out of control due to demands for quicker shipping, with 42% facing, big disruptions. Consumer expectations have shifted fast. Nearly a third of shoppers now put delivery speed ahead of price or selection when choosing where to buy. That's even stronger among younger folks, with 51% of Gen Z, prioritizing it over 15% of baby boomers. Plus, 44% want to tweak their shipping options, and 84% say they'd shop more with brands that let them. Delivery problems hit brands hard. 98% of merchants agree it shapes their reputation. Top consumer drives include lay packages at 38%, unsafe drop-offs at 37%, and poor tracking at 34%. Most shoppers check reviews first, and unresolved issues make a quarter-swear offer peed

1:03buys. Social commerce is growing on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, but trust lags. Just 19% feel confident about the deliveries from there, and 39% have never tried it. Even millennials and Gen Z show hesitation, despite more openness. Merchants who tackle these last-mile risks, with better tracking and options, can rebuild trust and loyalty in this booming market. That's the story for today. Toronto News Today Driven by AI