E-Commerce

Global E-Commerce Market

The total size of the e-commerce global market  was estimated to be worth around €400bn in 2010 and about half of which represent physical goods, meaning that the potential e-commerce market for posts was around €200bn.   Projected growth for 2015 estimates that the figure will have risen to €586bn so the importance of this issue to the posts in the immediate future and longer term is obvious.

The e-commerce market is still maturing; the swift pace of change is affecting sales channels, customer interaction and delivery products for both retailers and posts.   The majority of goods bought online delivered by postal operators are carried within postal mail services – items up to 2kg. The division between packets, parcels and express are postal operational delivery network definitions, but such structures do not necessarily reflect the delivery needs and preferences of consumers, who look for the right level of delivery service at the cheapest price.

Implications for Postal Sector

E-commerce used to be predominately domestic, but growing consumer confidence in online shopping is translating increased cross-border shopping for goods that are cheaper or unavailable at home. There is a clear requirement for postal operators to align e-commerce services to consumer requirements. In an increasingly global e-commerce market this will require solutions that provide low-cost delivery with basic and standardised tracking. Another challenge will be the application of customs charges and delivery duty paid issues – which IPC is addressing through its Easy Returns Solution which is gaining ever more participation from its member posts.