Popularity of parcel point delivery rises by 35%

Eindhoven, November 21 - If Wehkamp had its way, free home delivery would no longer be the default. Earlier this month, the webshop announced it would start charging 50 cents for home delivery while offering free shipping to pickup points instead. A smart move, since the popularity of parcel point delivery in the Netherlands grew by as much as 35% this year compared to 2022.

That's the conclusion from e-commerce shipping platform Sendcloud, based on shipping data from more than 25,000 webshops. Delivery to parcel points isn't just more efficient and better for the environment, the numbers also show it's noticeably faster for consumers.

Parcel points on the rise in the Netherlands

Around 1,295,890 parcels are shipped in the Netherlands every day. In 2022, about 27,991 of these were delivered to a parcel point each day. If the 2023 trend holds, that total will reach 37,710 parcels — almost 10,000 more per day, a sharp increase of nearly 35%. The share remains small, but it keeps growing steadily. Where barely 2% of all parcels were delivered to a parcel point in Q1 2022, that figure had climbed to nearly 3% on average by Q3 2023.

Parcel point delivery proves faster

Shipping to parcel points is more efficient on several fronts. Fewer kilometers and fewer stops are needed, which is better for the environment. It also eases the workload for parcel couriers. It's more convenient for consumers too, since they don't have to stay home. Sendcloud data also shows this delivery option is faster: while home delivery takes an average of 1.61 days, delivery to a parcel point takes 1.54. This advantage is especially clear during the busy fourth quarter, when parcel point delivery averages 1.57 days compared to 1.67 days for home delivery. A win-win, in other words!

Popular among younger generations

On average, 27% of Dutch consumers would like to see delivery to a parcel point offered as a checkout option. That's according to extensive consumer research by Sendcloud. Among millennials, that figure rises to 33%. Zooming in specifically on parcel lockers, preference among younger generations climbs even further: while 9% of consumers on average would like the option to pick up their order from a parcel locker, that rises to 11% and 13% for Gen Z and millennials respectively. Boomers show an above-average preference for classic home delivery, at 60%.

Encouraging delivery to parcel points by introducing a fee for home delivery is a smart move, according to Rob van den Heuvel, CEO and co-founder of Sendcloud: “Our data shows that consumers are increasingly choosing delivery to a parcel point. That's likely down to the convenience this delivery option offers. Parcel delivery is guaranteed 100% of the time, and it saves couriers from unnecessary doorbell-ringing. On top of that, by relying more on parcel points, we can ease pressure on the parcel network, make deliveries more sustainable, and make sure everyone gets their holiday gifts on time during this busy period. It's a win-win, since this delivery method also gives consumers more choice and flexibility.”

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.