For the growing number of shoppers driving Australia’s $20 billion e-commerce industry, having to be present to receive their goods has often added a headache to the experience. A recent study found that while 29 per cent of Aussie online shoppers make an online purchase at least every two weeks, 45 per cent abandon shopping carts due to concerns with delivery and 48 per cent admit they have not been at home to receive their goods. [1]

Now, CouriersPlease (CP) has developed options to help e-tailers and other businesses maximise the chances of a successful first-time delivery, with multiple after-hours delivery options. CP, a leading parcel delivery service used by dozens of major retailers in Australia and overseas, has delivered more than 17 million parcels annually Australia-wide and internationally, during 2016.

Flexible options that retailers can offer consumers

Research has found that 85 per cent of Australian online shoppers nominate their home as a usual delivery location, yet are unlikely to be at home for some of those deliveries.[2] Consumers who shop online through a CP-partnered retailer will automatically be provided with the option to redirect their parcel – via an email notification sent during transit – to their neighbour or other alternative address, give their courier authority to leave the parcel without a signature, or redirect their parcel delivery to a nearby POPPoint. These comprise of CP-nominated retail outlets (POPShops) such as a newsagent, petrol station or convenience store, and CP parcel lockers (POPStations). POPShops operate for extended hours, seven days a week, allowing consumers to collect parcels at a time that suits them, where it suits them. Most POPStations are accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

 

Flexibility for retailers and businesses sending parcels

With CP, online businesses will also soon be able to make returns easier for consumers by enabling consumers to lodge their returns online then drop their parcel at a POPShop after hours or on weekends, or at a POPStation at any time, as an alternative to arranging parcel pick up from the customer’s home or workplace.

 

CP CEO Mark McGinley said: “Flexible deliveries are important to the growth of the online shopping industry. In our experience, online shoppers commonly nominate their home address for deliveries knowing they won’t be home to receive them, because more often than not, they have no other choice. With the Australian online retail market worth $20.1 billion and growing[3], CP will ease the delivery process through its on demand delivery options and network of POPPoints around Australia. By the end of the year, CP will have 1000 POPPoints, and will continue to grow them. These new offerings will not only benefit online shoppers, but they will ease the burden for retailers and businesses sending products across the country and internationally.”

CouriersPlease (CP) is a leading courier and freight service that delivered more than 17 million parcels in 2016 alone. CP offers a network of POPStation (Pick/Post your Own Parcel) parcel lockers comprising more than 3500 lockers in 50 locations and more than 500 POPShop retail outlets to enable consumers and businesses to pick up or post their parcels more securely and out of hours. Owned by Singapore Post (SingPost), a leader in eCommerce logistics in the Asia Pacific and USA, CP’s international and domestic air services connect customers to over 220 countries. Visit couriersplease.com.au.