Online deliveries expected to hit new record on Black Friday

9 November 2020, London – Online sales during the period around Black Friday and Cyber Monday are expected to increase parcel deliveries by as much as 140% this month as shoppers remain indoors during the second UK lockdown. With new lockdown measures resulting in non-essential shops closing their doors, the online shopping period is predicted to exceed the recorded number of parcels delivered during the first ‘Corona Peak’ earlier in the year by more than 20%. On average British shoppers ordered 2.9 more products during the first lockdown, which is set to skyrocket further as consumers prepare for Christmas. The latest research undertaken by Sendcloud, an e-commerce shipping platform, predicts this year’s peak shopping season to be the busiest period on record, as a result of a combination of COVID-19 restrictions and Black Friday discounts, with the number of parcels being ordered in Europe already 21% higher compared with this time last year.

Weekly growth in shipping volumes is increasing significantly from the start of November onwards, in the build-up to Singles’ Day on 11 November, with volumes expected to increase by around 76% at its peak as a result of Black Friday and Cyber Monday discounts. The company calls for consumers to be patient, taking adjusted delivery times into account, and suggests online retailers increase their logistics capacity by working with multiple shipping couriers and switching to alternative couriers if parcel networks become congested. 37% of British consumers said they would not order from an online store again if the parcel arrived later than expected, while more than two-thirds (67%) of UK consumers experienced delays during the first UK coronavirus peak. However, the pandemic has made consumers more patient, with the average maximum number of days they are willing to wait for standard delivery increasing to 6.7 days.  The company also highlighted that more than half of consumers (54%) will return bought items when they are not satisfied with them, and that the busy Christmas period will likely see that number increase. Speaking on the results, Rob van den Heuvel, CEO, Sendcloud, said: “We’re predicting demand and online sales around the Black Friday and Cyber Monday period will skyrocket as consumers gear up for Christmas and are unable to shop in high street stores. Online retailers need to prepare themselves for this busy period, and we’re advising they work with multiple couriers so that they’re able to switch to alternative shipping networks if supply chains become congested. “Such a peak has never been seen before, so both online retailers and consumers have to take into account that delivery times may take longer than expected. And, with the government calling for us to stay at home, it is important we act responsibly and help retailers, couriers and postal services to manage this peak. “Track & trace is the perfect solution to help retailers communicate clearly about the expected delivery time. By communicating clearly when customers can expect a parcel, retailers can ensure that products are delivered right at the first delivery attempt - avoiding unnecessary congestion in the parcel network and delivery points and smoothing the whole shipping process.”

About Sendcloud

Sendcloud is an all-in-one shipping platform for e-commerce businesses that want to scale. It is our mission to empower online retailers to compete by optimising the full shipping journey from checkout to returns. Our solution turns e-commerce logistics from a bottleneck into an accelerator, making shipping a competitive advantage. Founded in the Netherlands in 2012, Sendcloud has quickly become one of the fastest-growing scale-ups and leading shipping solutions in Europe, with more than 15,000 customers across the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Belgium and Austria. Customers range from small to enterprise-sized online retailers and across industries from fashion and electronics to food & drink.