Same Day Delivery options remain firmly in the news as just under three weeks remain until Christmas in what promises to be the busiest year yet for online retailers. Some analysts are predicting that for the U.S. this will be the year where online shopping totals exceed traditional bricks and mortar retailing for the first time ever and those who have added same day delivery choices look to secure a piece of that growing trend.
Are eBay quietly withdrawing from the same day delivery market?
Slowly but seemingly rather quietly eBay continue to contract their same day delivery services which some observers suggest reinforces the lack of readiness and cost appreciation of same day services by the internet giant. Over the weekend eBay silently removed their eBay Now app from the iOS App Store. Prior to removal of the app mobile customers were able to shop via their mobile devices from specific nearby partner retailers to receive same day delivery for a flat $5 fee.
Amazon to test drones for same day delivery services in Cambridge, England
We recently wrote about the future of same day delivery and delivery drones, suggesting that issues with FAA approval could delay the introduction of such futuristic services in the US for an extended period of time. It appears that this hasn't dampened the optimism of the online giant as Amazon plans to test drones in Cambridge, England in the very near future.
Macy's are the latest retailer to join the same day delivery holiday race
The growing number of companies leaping into the same day delivery fray suggests that retailers specifically are worried about missing out on a piece of the consumer interest if the current ceiling for same day carrier options is higher than expected. There's every chance that the battle will see some services come and go and the deciding factor will most likely rest with the consumer adoption rates from city to city. Department store Macy's are the latest to launch a same day delivery option so we'll keep an eye on their overall expansion.
Could electric vans and drones be the future of same day delivery?
As the price of fuel continues to fall there seems to have been a similar decrease in the amount of articles about environmentally-friendly vehicles and 'green transportation'. That's most likely short-sighted as although we're currently paying the lowest amount at the pumps since 2010 I'd wager that the long term trend will continue to see fuel remain far more expensive than in years gone by. In the world of urgent freight, same day delivery and next day shipping most vehicles are not at the pinnacle of fuel efficiency but there is a push to try and change that coming out of Cincinnati courtesy of AMP Electric Vehicles.
Are Starbucks brewing a good idea with Same Day Delivery Service?
At present much of the same day delivery news is consumer-driven with products/purchases getting urgently shipped around town to specific zip codes however I'm not convinced that there's a strong need for the forthcoming addition of Starbucks same day delivery services. After all isn't one of the reasons we enjoy dropping in for a hot cup of coffee the fact it's piping hot when the barista hands it to us, or an iced coffee drink not being watered down by the time it reaches our hands.