The improvement in cross-border delivery services is helping drive confidence among online retailers and shoppers, a survey commissioned by Hermes has shown.
Its annual Parcel Deliveries Usage and Attitude Survey, which questioned 2,000 UK consumers and a further 2,000 in France and Germany, revealed that there is growing confidence in regards online shopping deliveries, particularly international deliveries.
Three quarters of respondents stated that the delivery services used by retailers are “improving all the time”.
Although home delivery was rated the most attractive delivery option by those surveyed, UK-based consumers seemed more inclined to pay more for premium delivery methods like same-day delivery. The survey found that UK respondents were happy to pay £4.60 for their online order to be delivered on the same day, which was 80% higher than the amount French shoppers said they would pay.
Hermes UK CEO Carole Woodhead: “The research shows that the online shopping industry continues to grow at a prolific pace and consumer confidence has rocketed and I am pleased to see that investment in good delivery options has played a key role in this.
"It presents online retailers with a huge opportunity to continue to expand their customer base and increase revenue.”
The survey also found that 84% of UK-based consumers have bought something from an overseas retailer online. However, half of those who said they had not bought from an overseas retailer said high delivery charges was the reason. Hermes suggested more needs to be done to drive down the price of international delivery.
The operator has invested heavily in improving its B2C delivery options over the last couple of years, with the introduction of Sunday deliveries, Hermes ParcelShops, and the option of locker deliveries in partnership with ByBox. Earlier this year it also revealed plans to increase its home delivery reach into 35 countries across Europe by 2016.