Shipping

Retail’s Great Balancing Act and Why Crowdsourcing is Key
March 14, 2024 at 11:59 am

Consumers want convenience, personalization and value — it’s what pushed the U.S. retail market to a record $5.13 trillion in 2023. As inflation subsides, what shoppers want and how they spend will keep playing a big role in how the market evolves. Retailers need to keep pace with a more connected, savvy and discerning customer…

No Fast Shipping? No Problem. How SMBs Can Navigate the Amazon Effect
February 27, 2024 at 2:21 pm

COVID-19 may have started the fire, but the online shopping boom is showing no signs of burning out. As consumer expectations grow alongside this blazing industry, many are placing a stronger focus on the shipping experience itself. This is why retail giants like Amazon.com are making fast and free shipping incentives table stakes, with recent…

Emerging Technologies in Last-Mile Delivery
February 7, 2024 at 9:40 am

The explosive growth in e-commerce that flowed from the COVID-19 pandemic has made last-mile delivery more important than ever in the retail industry. Companies that meet consumer expectations when it comes to last-mile delivery will be well-positioned to thrive. Meeting those expectations, however, is easier said than done, as consumers want delivery to be fast,…

Beyond the Cart: Top Trends Shaping the Delivery Experience
January 25, 2024 at 10:58 am

E-commerce brands have been through a tumultuous few years. The pandemic in 2020 brought a surge in online shopping which has never subsided. As consumers have increased their online purchases, their expectations for low cost, simple, fast and reliable delivery have also grown. Retailers are recognizing that the delivery experience can have a huge impact…

The Evolution of Same-Day Delivery: How E-Commerce Brands Are Meeting Instant Gratification Needs
January 22, 2024 at 2:32 pm

Traditional delivery methods, once the norm in e-commerce, are rapidly being replaced by a standard that prioritizes immediacy. Retail giants and small businesses alike have recognized that today's consumers expect their online purchases to arrive not in days, but hours. This seismic shift is redefining logistics, compelling companies to innovate and adapt at breakneck speeds…

Is This the Beginning of the End for Free Shipping?
January 15, 2024 at 11:49 am

Shipping, and whether or not it’s free, has been the de-facto decision maker for online shopping conversions ever since Amazon.com introduced its Prime membership in 2005. What started out as a way for non-Amazon retailers to remain competitive and to incentivize shoppers to buy more online has now become a very expensive customer expectation. In…

3 Things You Need to Know About the 2023 Holiday Shopper
November 29, 2023 at 11:24 am

After a rollercoaster year, we've arrived at the 2023 holiday season. With economic fluctuations and unpredictable shopper trends, forecasting consumer behavior is more challenging than ever before. That’s why ShipStation compiled insights from over 8,000 shoppers and businesses around the globe to help merchants understand consumers’ most up-to-date needs and how they can fulfill them…

Maximizing Peak Season Potential: Going Beyond Carrier Diversification
November 28, 2023 at 10:06 am

The digital age has fundamentally transformed the retail landscape. As we adapt to the new era dominated by e-commerce, where approximately 20 percent of all retail transactions are made online (and growing every year), it's crucial to also recognize and adapt to shifting consumer behaviors and preferences — especially during peak season. This high-stakes period…

Amazon Expands Fresh Grocery Deliveries to Non-Prime Members
November 9, 2023 at 4:49 pm

Amazon.com is making Fresh grocery deliveries available to more non-Prime members. In an update on Thursday, Amazon said that it’s expanding the offer to non-Prime subscribers in all U.S. states where Fresh orders are available for delivery and pickup. While Amazon previously only offered Fresh delivery to Prime customers, it opened up the service to non-Prime members in August.…

Unraveling the Illusion: The Hidden Costs and Dilemmas of 'Free Shipping' in E-Commerce
October 16, 2023 at 8:34 am

All of us are familiar with the phrase, "Nothing in life is free," (including lunch), but this sentiment truly resonates when examining the intricacies of free shipping in e-commerce. What if we changed the script on free shipping, viewing it not merely as a business maneuver, but instead as a catalyst for eco-conscious evolution? It…