UPS Aims for Access Lockers to Grow E-Commerce

It comes down to UPS staying current with the changes that today's e-commerce creates. Just being able to perform traditional shipping options won't cut it alone. A versatile carrier is what UPS must become in order to provide what so many retailers and other companies require. This is what the latest move UPS appears to confirm what the shipment leader is in pursuit of doing.

Small biz trends recently reported UPS has officially launched its new Access Point Lockers. UPS initially had been piloting the locker program within nine of its' stores in Chicago since 2014. With the roll out, the carrier now has added 300 self-service package pickup lockers nationwide. This is aggressive expansion for a new delivery solution such as this. Plagued with several error shipment complaints from customers, UPS is seeking to quickly implement the locker system to establish a strong customer loyalty base now, yet especially for the fast approaching holiday season.

UPS Access Point locker program director Kalin Robinson stated in the article, “For online retailers, providing additional convenient delivery locations is one of the secrets to more shopping cart conversions, greater loyalty and happier customers. UPS Access Point lockers can be easily accessed when it fits the shopper’s schedule, giving an online retailer added value to present at checkout. The lockers enable more shoppers to enjoy the ease and simplicity of buying online." As more of its' customers desire simplicity with shopping online, so the demand grows for more retailers and carriers together to provide more simple, convenient delivery solutions.

“The increase in online shopping parallels the interest in alternate delivery locations,” Robinson added. “UPS Access Point lockers are one of the many ways that UPS is helping our customers offer consumers a great online shopping experience.” Online shoppers are desiring options, even the options that are fast. As e-commerce grows, UPS is faced with the task of supplying consumers, retailers and others with with innovative delivery methods that all of them can consistently use.

The world's largest package delivery company has even began to study Same-Day Delivery earlier this year. A strategic investment was made into Deliv, a start-up company that has created a niche similar to a Same-Day Courier, but utilizes a crowd-sourcing approach to perform its deliveries. The venture arm of UPS led a $28 million funding round for Deliv, making it clear that UPS is serious about developing value-added services. UPS also has taken a minority stake in Deliv and sits in on board meetings as well.

The UPS lockers will certainly serve as another reminder of how e-commerce has affected the way we do business. Customers are driving online retail to become as close to physical store shopping as it can be. A1Express has hundreds of companies that it provides same-day delivery for, as well as develop innovative same-day logistic solutions throughout the New York area. The New York Courier operates with the latest in courier technology that is essential for on-time and accurate deliveries.

Reference: 7.7.16, www.smallbiztrends.com, Antony Maina, UPS Lockers Serve eCommerce Customers without Delivery Address

Wal-Mart Competes With Amazon, Goes Free Trial Next-Day Delivery

Amazon may be pursuing to dominate online, yet, the largest retailer in the world has decided to flex its muscles and so the battle begins.

Wal-Mart recently launched testing of Same-Day Delivery of groceries to compete with Amazon. Now, it has made another strategic move with offering a next-day delivery shipping option of its own. Internet Retailer recently reported how Wal-Mart is aggressively going after Amazon with it new pilot program ShippingPass. It is an annual membership program that shoppers can join for only $49 compared to Amazon's $99 Prime membership fee.

With ShippingPass, members will get free next-day delivery, as well as those that have already paid their fee will receive a free additional month. Wal-Mart will also offer 30-day trial memberships to pilot program, which launched last year. On WalMart.com, A logo will be next to the product, showing shoppers the products eligible for ShippingPass.

Fernando Madeira, president and CEO of Walmart.com, commented on the service and customers' positive responses to it. “ShippingPass is about half the price of similar programs out there at just $49 a year, and customers who are using it, love it,” Madeira said. In contrast, Paula Rosenblum, managing partner at consulting and research firm RSR Research LLC, mentioned how Wal-Mart may have an issue with it. She stated, “Wal-Mart has a problem. Its sales are basically flat. It is trying all different kinds of initiatives to drive customers to its site, and get them to buy repeatedly. One of the things it’s trying is basically Prime at half the price. This sounds good on paper, but does miss out on some of the other benefits Prime members get, including content, e-books, and where available, free two-hour delivery.”

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is hoping the new free shipping with two-day delivery will turn more shoppers to WalMart.com. This translates into Wal-Mart being aggressive in regards to a big push against Amazon's growth momentum online. Amazon has not only utilized its' Prime membership plan to gain customers, but also to keep them. In Addition, the e-retailer has steadily expanded its free same-day delivery program throughout 27 major US cities, including San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, Dallas-Fort Worth, Phoenix, Indianapolis, Baltimore, Washington DC, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Atlanta, Orlando, Richmond, and more. At its' pace, Amazon will soon offer the service nationwide.

If not now, when would Wal-Mart join in, considering how delivery options are revolutionizing the impact of e-commerce. Amazon, Google, Macy's, and more are all showing that online business is the new store that any retailer cannot survive without. Many retailers are partnering with a Same-Day Courier like A-1 Express to develop sound same-day delivery solutions for online order fulfillment. The New York Courier has the expertise to help any retailer or online business' delivery system thrive.

Reference: 6.29.16, www.internetretailer.com, Matt Lindner, Wal-Mart offers a free trial of its Amazon Prime-like free shipping program

Look Out Same-Day Delivery, Here Comes Staples

With Same-Day Delivery on the rise with companies like Amazon and Best Buy, Staples is a close competitor, having some share in the consumer electronics market also. Its no surprise that Staples has decided to jump into offering the trendy online service option in order to increase sales and meet customer online demand.

Staples has announced that it has officially launched "Staples Rush”, a same-day delivery program within several major cities throughout the US. The announcement comes shortly after its' denied merger with Office Depot. The initial roll-out will include parts of Boston, Dallas and Manhattan. Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, and Houston will receive the service next. Staples' same-day delivery will involve only product delivery, however, copying and printing will be available in the coming months.

“By offering a wholly-owned, same-day delivery experience, Staples is providing businesses the type of customer service they’ve come to expect from us throughout their entire transaction,” said Mike Bhaskaran, Staples' executive vice president of supply chain and logistics. He went on to say, “The development process for Staples Rush is a truly a collaborative and cross-functional effort that brought together different areas of expertise, including supply chain, eCommerce and merchandising, to create a valuable service for our customers.”

Staple's is somewhat in competition with Best Buy, who announced in April this year that it will be launching a pilot same-day delivery program. The consumer electronics retail leader began testing same-day delivery in 13 more major metropolitan markets throughout the US. BestBuy jumped in deeper into the service after Amazon's announcement that it was expanding its' current free same-day delivery into 11 additional US cities. Amazon is influencing several large retailers to dive into same-day delivery or risk losing market share online.

It may not have directly turned Staple's into launching Staple Rush; however, make no mistake that there is an under-current that Amazon has created online that is leaving most retailers with no choice.

Faisal Masud, executive vice president of global eCommerce at Staples, commented in regards to the need for Staple's to offer faster order fulfillment. He stated, “Businesses want their online orders fulfilled faster than ever. Thanks to Staples’ unmatched omnichannel capabilities, which already include the ability to buy online and pickup in store, we will deliver the products customers need when they need them, so they can make more happen without having to wait on shipped orders.”

The closer in proximity a retailer is to their customers, the faster they can get those online items into their hands. Staple's is another big retailer that has the brick-and-mortar store volume to feed same-day delivery demand. Those locations will be used like traditional warehouses, able to not only fulfill online orders, but also correct them.

Staple's has hundreds of locations throughout the US, yet the key is partnering with a delivery provider that can perform on-time services and develop a profitable same-day logistics solution. Many retailers like Staple's, build their same-day delivery with a Same-Day Courier like A-1 Express that has a national footprint and courier expertise to establish a sound delivery operation. With its' experience, The Seattle Courier can assist Staple's thrive as it pursues to compete with BestBuy, Amazon and more.

Reference: 6.15.16, www.pymnts.com, Staples Jumps Into Same-Day Delivery

Wal-Mart Competes With Amazon, Launches Same-Day Pilot Program

Everyone was expecting for it to happen. Experts knew that the world's largest retailer was going to dive into Same-Day Delivery, it was only a matter of when. Now, Wal-Mart has said it's time.

Wal-Mart has announced that it will launch several same-day delivery pilot program of grocery deliveries in Denver, as well as another unidentified market this month. It will utilize Uber and Lyft ride-hailing services to perform the deliveries. Walmart currently has a pilot program of “last mile” grocery and general merchandise deliveries with Deliv in Miami, which began in March. San Jose has been a city in which the retailer has been testing same-day grocery delivery. The Walmart and Sam’s Club pilot program will cost customers a $7-$10 delivery fee at the time of purchase online once they choose “same-day delivery” at checkout.

The article mentioned that Wal-Mart appears to be partnering with start-up delivery company Deliv for its' same-day delivery pilot program. Deliv founder and CEO Daphne Carmeli stated, “We got a call from Walmart and are pretty excited to be working with the biggest retailer in the world. It’s amazing the effect the ‘A-word,’ Amazon, is having on the e-commerce landscape. They have created a customer expectation of same-day delivery. It’s the new standard. If you’re selling physical goods to customers you’ve got to figure out a way to get them to customers as quickly as possible.”

In recent years, Amazon has been intensely focused on same-day delivery. Based on its frequent expansion, it is clear the e-retail leader's vision is to offer the service nationwide. Amazon added 11 major US cities to its' same-day delivery program. Those new additional US cities included Sacramento, Fresno, Stockton, Louisville, Raleigh, Cincinnati, Richmond, Tucson, Milwaukee, Nashville, and Charlotte. Prior to that, Amazon's same-day delivery involved San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle-Tacoma, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Diego, Indianapolis, Phoenix, Tampa Bay, Baltimore, Washington DC, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Orlando, and Atlanta as well. Therefore, the retailer has same-day delivery in 27 cities total.

What makes Amazon's same-day delivery very competitive is that it is free for Prime members. For all online orders over $35, its' members get the service free within participating cities, which more than likely there will be more cities to come this year. The holiday season is becoming more and more opportunistic for physical and web-based retailers to create sales growth. Amazon, Wal-Mart, Macy's, BestBuy, and more will continue to position themselves aggressively with same-day delivery in the coming months.

With offering last-mile deliveries, most retailers outsource to a company that can perform the actual service for them. Wal-Mart could partner with a Same-Day Courier like A-1 Express to pick up and deliver from their physical stores. The Chicago Courier has the courier expertise and the national footprint to expand with like-sized retailers like Wal-Mart. Just any delivery provider won't due for the robust operation and demand that Wal-Mart has. A-1 Express is suited for Wal-Mart and can help establish an optimal same-day solution.

Reference: 6.3.16, www.retailingtoday.com,Dan Bethauime, Wal-Mart taking on Amazon with same-day delivery pilot

Warehouse Industry Growing because of Same-Day Delivery

Warehousing is what retailers have come to grips as a vital part of having success with Same-Day Delivery. This is something Amazon had in mind when it strategically planted state-of-the-art order fulfillment centers throughout the US. As a result, the e-retail leader is driving a trend online with fast delivery that must have close proximity warehousing to work. Now, more retailers are renting warehouse space and the numbers show it.

Retail Dive reported via Bloomberg that online retail is now accounting for 20% of warehouse space. Also, the renting of prime warehouse space in the US rose 9.9% last year. It pointed out six markets that were among the nine with the biggest increases worldwide. Oakland topped the increases with 29.8%, which was seen also in Northern New Jersey, according to real-estate brokerage firm CBRE.

David Egan, CBRE’s head of industrial and logistics research for the Americas, told the Wall Street Journal earlier this month, “There are huge premiums being placed right now on being close to the consumer—speed of service, speed of delivery is a critical component of why people choose to buy from one retailer over another. To get the goods to consumers fast, you have to get close to them.”

Amazon is driving the surge in warehousing within the retail industry resulting from same-day delivery expansion. The retailer leader launched 11 more major US cities to its' free same-day delivery program. Those new cities included Sacramento, Stockton, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Fresno, Louisville, Tucson, Milwaukee, Nashville, Raleigh, and Richmond. With a total of 27 service cities, Amazon is on pace to eventually provide same-day delivery nationwide, solely enabled by its distribution systems and warehousing.

Centrally-located warehousing won't due when it comes to same-day delivery. This use to be the model for distribution until the weigh in of e-commerce and the ability to scale operations fast. Online retail is projected to reach $500 billion by 2018, which means there will be a heavy emphasis on how close can a retailer get their products to customer markets. Brick-and-mortar retailers use their store locations as warehouses and partner with a Same-Day Courier like A-1 Express to fulfill online order deliveries. With a New Jersey Courier that has a national footprint and leading courier technology like this, it helps retailers create the competitive advantage they need.

When demand spikes upward in specific markets, a retailer can quickly implement a same-day delivery solution there. With last-mile deliveries, just having a solid warehousing system in place isn't enough. It has to be coupled with online order fulfillment supply chain to get customer purchases to their front door. Indeed, same-day delivery is expected to reach $987 million by 2019, which will result in the inevitable growth to be seized by a company. The one with the right delivery outfit will be the one that keeps the business. Google, Amazon, Whole Foods, Macy's, and more have jumped into offering a fast delivery option and others should do the same.

Reference: 5.25.16, www.retaildive.com,Daphne Howland, Report: E-commerce growth driving rush for warehouse space