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e-commerce logistics costs set to increase, says new Ti survey
来源： 编辑：编辑部 发布：2018/03/05 08:55:55
THE UK's Transport Intelligence (Ti) survey shows that e-commerce logistics costs as a proportion of sales look set to rise in the coming years, driven up by an increase in the volume of returns, a higher proportion of premium deliveries and the cost of labour.
The findings of the Ti's exclusive e-commerce logistics survey were contained within Ti's new report, Global e-commerce Logistics 2018. One hundred and eight retailers and logistics companies around the world took part in the survey which was conducted over the holiday period in 2017-18.
However, despite the cost increases the survey also found that shippers are unable or unwilling to adapt their pricing model to compensate for these pressures. For example, even though premium deliveries are the second most important cost driver, only 12 per cent of shippers said that they would be prepared to charge a higher rate for such deliveries.
This reluctance is likely to be rooted in customers' delivery expectations and in the highly competitive nature of the market. So, with retailers being increasingly forced to compete with rivals on cost and speed of delivery, it is likely that the common practice of subsidisation of shipping will continue.
The survey also looked at the factors impacting on the profit margins of last mile carriers. As well as the increasing cost of driving and warehouse staff, respondents identified deliveries to rural areas, where drop density is far smaller, as a threat to profitability.
Looking at the next five years, the main threats to logistics companies' e-commerce operations were perceived to be providing capacity in peak times as well as the challenge posed by disruptors such as Amazon and Alibaba. The increased demand for same-day delivery was also identified.
Said Ti analyst Violeta Keckarovska: "The e-commerce logistics sector faces multiple challenges as shippers and logistics companies struggle to come to terms with an ever-changing market environment. Although volumes will continue on their stellar path, our survey makes it clear that harnessing this growth to provide sustainable profitability is still the key challenge for the industry."
The findings of the Ti's exclusive e-commerce logistics survey were contained within Ti's new report, Global e-commerce Logistics 2018. One hundred and eight retailers and logistics companies around the world took part in the survey which was conducted over the holiday period in 2017-18.
However, despite the cost increases the survey also found that shippers are unable or unwilling to adapt their pricing model to compensate for these pressures. For example, even though premium deliveries are the second most important cost driver, only 12 per cent of shippers said that they would be prepared to charge a higher rate for such deliveries.
This reluctance is likely to be rooted in customers' delivery expectations and in the highly competitive nature of the market. So, with retailers being increasingly forced to compete with rivals on cost and speed of delivery, it is likely that the common practice of subsidisation of shipping will continue.
The survey also looked at the factors impacting on the profit margins of last mile carriers. As well as the increasing cost of driving and warehouse staff, respondents identified deliveries to rural areas, where drop density is far smaller, as a threat to profitability.
Looking at the next five years, the main threats to logistics companies' e-commerce operations were perceived to be providing capacity in peak times as well as the challenge posed by disruptors such as Amazon and Alibaba. The increased demand for same-day delivery was also identified.
Said Ti analyst Violeta Keckarovska: "The e-commerce logistics sector faces multiple challenges as shippers and logistics companies struggle to come to terms with an ever-changing market environment. Although volumes will continue on their stellar path, our survey makes it clear that harnessing this growth to provide sustainable profitability is still the key challenge for the industry."