As we all know the world of freight has transformed significantly over the last few decades. It’s safe to say we’ve seen a marked increase in the availability of e-commerce and an ever-shortening journey time from origin to destination. In fact, in 2019 e-commerce contributed 693 billion GBP to the UK economy according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
But what has contributed to this rise in express freight? We take a look below…
Technological advances
From pick and pack through to delivery updates and tracking software that allows both businesses and their customers to track the journey of their goods from start to finish, advances in technology have meant that it is now faster and more efficient than ever before for retailers and their logistics partners to carry out express freight.
COVID
At the outset of the pandemic, retailers across the globe were forced to close their doors which led to a significant boom in online sales. Although shopping online had been steadily growing for quite some time, COVID seems to have accelerated this upwards trend significantly, with an astounding 26.6% of all retail sales in the UK taking place online in May 2022.
Customer expectations
As online shopping has grown, so had the expectations of customers when it comes to a speedy delivery. Research has shown that 62% of shoppers expect to find next-day delivery options when shopping online, highlighting the importance of express freight.
What makes a great logistics and express freight partner?
Express freight is only made possible with the right partner. When it comes to finding this partner, we highly recommend you look for a business with a significant level of experience from both a freight and logistics perspective. This will, importantly, include experience in the exporting process; meaning they will be able to expertly handle the process from start to finish with little to no input from you.
Of course, with over 35 years in the industry, Grace Overseas has been handling express freight and logistics on behalf of our clients for many, many years. If you would like to find out more about our services, please contact our team today on 0161 873 7304 or email enquiries@graceoverseas.com.