Dutch parcel delivery in 2023: Out-of-home delivery grows in popularity

Eindhoven, February 27, 2024 - 2023 was defined by the recovery of the e-commerce industry, and was also the year parcel carriers had to contend with inflation, fuel surcharges, and staff shortages. Even so, the Dutch parcel market held up well: 80% of parcels were delivered to customers the very next day last year.

Following PostNL's figures published yesterday, Sendcloud is today sharing its own view on the Dutch parcel market. The e-commerce shipping platform analyzed shipping data from more than 25,000 webshops across Europe.

Dutch consumers spoiled by fast delivery times

Although parcel carriers were still talking about a summer 2023 delivery crunch, most parcels in the Netherlands were delivered on time this year. As many as 4 out of 5 parcels (80%) reached the customer the very next day. Consumers could count on a fast average delivery time of 1.24 days per parcel. That makes the Netherlands the model student of the class: the European average delivery time is 1.54 days, while in France, consumers wait as long as 2.32 days for their order.

Consumers increasingly choosing a parcel point

One standout trend this year is consumers' growing demand for out-of-home delivery. The number of parcels sent directly to a parcel point rose by 36% compared to 2022. While most parcels are still delivered to the door, more and more Dutch shoppers are choosing delivery to a parcel point right at checkout.

“Consumers are becoming more demanding when it comes to parcel delivery, and want to decide for themselves where, when, and how a parcel is delivered. Parcel points, and parcel lockers in particular, are a great way to meet that demand. Out-of-home delivery doesn't just offer consumers extra convenience — with a 100% delivery guarantee and less unnecessary doorbell-ringing, it's also an excellent way for carriers to optimize their operations and shrink their environmental footprint. We expect parcel points and lockers to play an increasingly prominent role in 2024,” says Sabi Tolou, CCO and co-founder at Sendcloud.

About Sendcloud

Founded in 2012, Sendcloud is the end-to-end shipping platform for e-commerce businesses. Backed by SoftBank and trusted by 25,000 companies across Europe, Sendcloud is on a mission to solve shipping globally. The platform enables retailers, marketplaces, and fulfillment companies to scale their shipping operations and deliver exceptional shipping experiences.