Zedify: “The last mile is rife with inefficiency and high costs”

The opportunity for cycling to expand its customer base beyond leisure enthusiasts and into the corporate world remains a potent one. Not least because half of retail businesses in the UK are losing customers due to a poor delivery experience, according to data from Zedify covering the last mile delivery sector.

250 retailers, with a minimum revenue of £10.5 million in the UK, took part in a Zedify survey which found 45% are finding it hard to meet delivery times, 44% are struggling with customer communication and 39% are finding increased shipping costs a real problem.

57% of UK retail companies are, however, committed to investing in more sustainably delivery options. 32% want to work with eco-friendly carriers, 30% are looking for more eco-friendly packaging and 25% plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The majority of retail businesses have sustainability targets in place for deliveries and a whopping 46% plan to use cargo bike delivery.

Rob King, CEO and co- founder of Zedify, commented: “The last mile is rife with inefficiency, high costs and environmentally unsound solutions and our research demonstrates just how much retailers are struggling with it, so much so they are losing customers as a result. This shows just how pivotal the delivery experience is for retailers when it comes to customer loyalty.

“But it’s also encouraging to see how many are looking to engage in more sustainable business practices with a focus on delivery. By investing in super low-carbon delivery options such as cargo bikes over vans, electric or otherwise, not only can retailers make massive carbon savings per delivery, they can ensure more accurate delivery times and a more pleasant doorstep experience, thereby improving the customer experience as a whole.

“Being sustainable is not just good for the planet, it is good for customer retention and happiness, which translates to growth.”

For full access to the data, please visit: https://www.zedify.co.uk/download-the-impact-of-parcel-deliveries-on-uk-retail-success/

Zedify picked up a key logistics award at the end of last year.

Image by Rudy and Peter Skitterians from Pixabay