Whitepapers & Guides

The Need for Speed: Merchant Strategies for Balancing Fast Shipping with Cost Efficiency 

The push for faster shipping isn’t just a passing trend—it’s causing a fundamental shift in the eCommerce landscape.

In an era where on-demand services have become the standard, speed has become crucial for satisfying today’s customers. Convenience is now expected in every area of life, with instant access spanning across everything from streaming services to food deliveries. This also raises consumer expectations for quickness and ease in online shopping, where delivery times can make or break the customer experience (CX). 

The push for faster shipping isn’t just a passing trend—it’s causing a fundamental shift in the eCommerce landscape. A recent UPS Capital report revealed that over half of surveyed merchants expect a 30% increase in shipping volume for 2024.1 This surge underscores the market's breakneck pace, as consumers increasingly favor shopping with eCommerce retailers that deliver within two days or less. 

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The Need for Speed: Merchant Strategies for Balancing Fast Shipping with Cost Efficiency, commissioned by UPS Capital, explores strategies for navigating challenges in meeting these consumer demands: providing expedited delivery while managing rising operational costs. Topics in this report include:

  • Expedited delivery consumer expectations vs. reality
  • Mitigating expedited shipping challenges
  • Navigating the balancing act between speed and cost
  • Merchant strategies for rising operational costs
  • How to outpace the global competition

This report will equip merchants with the insights and tools to boost ROI, remain globally competitive, and enhance customer satisfaction. 

Unless otherwise noted, all statistics used herein are derived from or based on information contained in The Need for Speed: Merchant Strategies for Balancing Fast Shipping with Cost Efficiency, which is based on an independent study conducted by Dynata in October 2024 of 500 eCommerce merchants and 1,000 U.S. consumers. 

Fast Shipping, Big Costs: Uncover How Merchants Are Handling Consumers’ Speed Demands 

Download the full report to gain insights into how merchants monitor shifts and emerging trends in the post-purchase experiences and consumer expectations to remain profitable and competitive in domestic and international markets

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