In the first week of May alone, Australia saw 109% growth in online transactions in comparison to the same time last year.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused online sales to skyrocket, and new data reveals online retailers are dropping off 39% of customer parcels to after-hours collection networks, rather than post offices, to cope with the demand and to avoid queues.
Data comes from courier start-up Sendle, which is in partnership with Australian parcel collection point network Hubbed, to offer its retail customers a more flexible and ‘available’ parcel drop-off network.
Hubbed enables carriers such as Sendle, TOLL, DHL, TNT and CouriersPlease – to offer greater delivery choice and flexibility for their customers.
After-hours collection points are available at BP service stations, 7-Eleven stores, newsagents and pharmacies – many open 24 hours, seven days a week.
Since Sendle partnered with Hubbed in 2018, it has utilised more than 600 of its parcel drop-off sites and witnessed significant growth in after-hours parcel collection volumes.
“The March 2020 spike is a result of the COVID-19 bricks to clicks phenomenon where consumers are purchasing online rather than in-store,” says Hubbed Founder and CEO, David McLean.
“Many small businesses are working overtime to fulfil orders, so it really helps when they can organise dispatch and delivery both after hours and on weekends. Most of the locations within the Hubbed network are queue-free, which makes it a safer option. And Sendle also has contactless delivery at this time.”
Mr McLean concludes, “Ultimately, Hubbed provides convenience. Retailers and other businesses can drop parcels at nearby locations that have good parking, no queues and are open after hours, with most 7-Eleven stores or BP service stations open 24/7.”