The e-commerce turnover reached approximately 150 billion euros in France in 2022. It’s now challenging for merchants to ignore this trend. But how can you deliver your packages while minimizing your costs and environmental impact?
If the trend had already begun, the COVID-19 crisis has only accelerated it: regardless of the sector, consumers now expect to be able to have their packages delivered. To their homes, of course, but also to pick-up points. This is an option that you now have every interest in offering to your customers.
Cost Savings with Pick-Up Points
The first advantage of pick-up point delivery is its lower cost compared to home delivery. Yes, with pick-up points, there is no “last mile” to cover to reach the customer’s home, and no failed delivery attempts due to absence. The carrier collects the parcels from you in one go, and then they are distributed by zones and delivered to different partner locations. As a result, fewer steps in the delivery process and therefore fewer service providers. Another advantage of this method is that you know with certainty that your packages have arrived at their destination. There can be no disputes from your customers!
Eco-Friendly Delivery with Pick-Up Points
A package, one destination… In addition to being costly, home delivery is also very polluting. In France, this famous “last mile,” which separates the delivery personnel from the customer’s home, represents 20% of road traffic and 25% of greenhouse gas emissions.
Pick-up points, on the other hand, eliminate many trips and significantly reduce CO2 emissions. Ideal for reducing your business’s carbon footprint and strengthening its eco-friendly image. Keep in mind that an increasing number of consumers, especially among the younger generation, are becoming more environmentally conscious…
Convenience of Pick-Up Points
However, the considerations are not just economic and environmental. If pick-up point delivery has already convinced 64% of French consumers, it’s also because it saves them time. There’s no need to visit a store or wait for the delivery person at home. Since partner locations are numerous, served by La Poste, Mondial Relay, DPD, GLS, or Relais Colis, consumers often need to travel just a few hundred meters to pick up their purchases at a time that suits them.
So, home delivery or pick-up points? Consumers are becoming increasingly demanding. Give them as many choices as possible to increase your chances of satisfying them. And in any case, be sure to package your products well to prevent breakage.