For decades, couriers were seen as a service only for the rich. Possessing a wealth of disposable income and fancy cars, companies like DHL and FedEx dominated the industry. But now that e-commerce is becoming more popular, that’s changing.
The rise of online shopping has created markets with less demand for physical goods ordered from standard vendors; there are few items with high shipping costs or those requiring in-person delivery.
Even though online shopping is still only a fraction of overall retail sales, it’s a growing business – and people expect their items to be delivered as quickly and cheaply as possible. With the Internet, distance has become almost meaningless.
Sellers can interact with customers in other states or countries with ease. People are no longer limited by where they live, making geography much less relevant in today’s retail world.
This new way of buying goods has made courier companies come up with new ways of doing business.
Startups and new companies are entering the market with some interesting ideas, and some brilliant results. So If a customer uses a company’s own service or website, they can expect faster delivery times than if they use an independent service.
Companies know these changes are happening and that business will be changing as a result. But there is no one-size-fits-all solution, and it’s going to take a long time for the industry to settle. It’s not just about innovation, it’s about business.
Final thought?
The eCommerce market is growing by the day, and it’s changing how we all do business. We can expect things to continue evolving at a rapid pace.
But one thing is for sure: the courier industry is here to stay. Companies will continue to adapt and compete with each other as the market changes quickly.
It may take some time, but eventually, companies will figure out where they fit in with this brave new world of online retail.