Out-of-home delivery gains ground due to rising demand for flexibility

New research from Sendcloud shows the popularity of pickup points and parcel lockers

Eindhoven, October 31, 2024 – As the network of parcel lockers and pickup points continues to grow, Dutch consumers increasingly see out-of-home (OOH) delivery as an attractive alternative to home delivery. New research from Sendcloud among 1,000 Dutch people shows that the convenience and flexibility of OOH options are appreciated, especially among frequent online shoppers and in cities.

Although home delivery is still the first choice for a majority (58.2%), delivery via pickup points and parcel lockers is rapidly gaining popularity. Nearly two in five consumers (43.3%) would like to see a parcel locker as an option during checkout, and almost a third (28.7%) indicate they would also like to use pickup points. A significant increase compared to two years earlier, when 9% and 27% respectively considered these options.

Consumers who make multiple online purchases weekly – the so-called 'serial shoppers' – show a clear preference for out-of-home (OOH) delivery options. At checkout, nearly two-thirds of them prefer delivery via a pickup point (64.3%) or parcel locker (62.1%). Also in urban areas, out-of-home delivery is above average popular: half of consumers (50.4%) want the option for a pickup point, and more than a third (36.3%) appreciate the ability to choose delivery via a parcel locker.

More choices mean more convenience

Convenience proves to be the main reason for choosing delivery outside the home; nearly two-thirds (63.9%) of consumers cite this as the decisive factor. Additionally, consumers value control over their delivery experience:

• · 57.6% want the option to change the delivery location or time once the package is on its way;
• · 67.7% want to choose the delivery day and time themselves;
• · 73.9% want to decide what happens if the first delivery attempt fails.

Flexibility is essential to compete

With the rising demand for flexible delivery options, Sendcloud predicts that the popularity of out-of-home delivery will continue to increase. For retailers, offering OOH options is becoming increasingly important; a third of consumers (34.1%) already indicate that they shop elsewhere if OOH delivery is not available.

'Consumers are placing more and more value on flexibility and control over their deliveries. They want to determine where, when, and how their package arrives. The demand for flexibility is rising, and retailers that offer multiple delivery options, such as pickup points and parcel lockers, can differentiate themselves in the competitive e-commerce market. A strong alternative to home delivery is no longer a luxury, but essential to remain relevant.'

Sabi Tolou, Co-founder at Sendcloud

About Sendcloud

Sendcloud is the complete shipping platform for e-commerce – enabling retailers, marketplaces, and fulfillment companies to scale their operations and deliver great shipping experiences.

Today's consumers want to decide where, when, and how they receive an order. But meeting their needs while still making a profit is a challenge. Sendcloud solves this by centralising and automating the entire shipping process. From label printing to branded tracking updates and returns management - Sendcloud lets you own your shipping from checkout to returns.

Backed by Softbank and trusted by 25,000 companies across Europe, Sendcloud is on a mission to solve shipping globally.

Iris Delmee

Sendcloud PR Manager
iris.delmee@sendcloud.com
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