International online deliveries could double by 2017
The number of overseas deliveries despatched from the UK could double within three years, according to the latest IMRG MetaPack UK Delivery Index.
An expected 161 million orders posted cross-border this year may rise to 384 million in 2017 if current trends continue. The total number of orders despatched by retailers in the UK is expected to top one billion next year, and reach around 1.3 billion in 2017.
Andrew Starkey, head of e-Logistics at IMRG, said: “It is a testament to UK retailers that so many orders are coming from overseas, and we think these numbers will continue to rise. Within the UK the growth in orders is underpinned by the quality of delivery provided by our carriers, with 95% of deliveries being made or attempted on time last month.
“We have already said that UK e-retail is emerging from the economic doldrums, but it looks like we could see some major milestones reached in the next few years.”
Angela O’Connell, marketing and strategy director at MetaPack, added: “Our unique data shows that online retail continues to grow in line with last month’s forecast, and again provides a great indicator of improving national economic health overall. What’s also encouraging is how the quality of service experienced by consumers is improving, with the best on-time delivery or attempted delivery performance of the year so far.
“This is happening as the industry absorbs the changes in online consumer rights, and bodes well for how retailers will continue to want to improve customer experience through offering a wider range of better delivery choices. Over the next few months we will be watching the data to see how new delivery choices like Sunday delivery services are reflected in the index.”
Following the slight drop in on-time delivery that was seen in April (92.62%), May recovered to deliver the highest level of performance so far this year (94.61%), which is also up on the same period last year.
Even though failed – or carded – attempted delivery was slightly up, the overall trend is positive and more than 90% of orders delivered by the UK’s carriers met consumers’ expectations.
