London, 5 December 2024 – While home delivery continues to be the first choice for most UK shoppers, out-of-home (OOH) delivery is quickly gaining ground. Consumers value OOH delivery for its sustainability and convenience, but it’s the cost savings that are truly driving shoppers to embrace parcel lockers and service points over traditional home delivery.
Research from Sendcloud reveals that 82.3% of UK shoppers still favor home delivery when given the choice. However, this preference shifts significantly when shipping costs come into play. When home delivery includes a fee and service point delivery is free, 61.7% of shoppers opt for the latter, compared to just 38.3% who are willing to pay for home delivery.
“Although sustainability and flexibility play a key role in the rise of out-of-home delivery, it’s ultimately the cost advantage that’s pushing consumers to make the switch,” says Sabi Tolou, Co-founder at Sendcloud. “Out-of-home delivery is more efficient for carriers, allowing them to deliver multiple parcels in one trip. Consumers expect those savings to be passed on to them, and this expectation is shaping their choices at checkout.”
“While cost savings are a major driver for consumers, they also represent a significant opportunity for retailers,” Tolou adds. “Shipping to parcel lockers or service points is generally more cost-effective than home delivery. By offering OOH options, e-commerce businesses can reduce their shipping costs, improve profit margins, and meet growing consumer demand for flexible delivery. It’s a win-win: retailers who prioritize OOH delivery at checkout not only satisfy their customers but also gain a competitive advantage in the future of e-commerce.”
Retailers play a pivotal role in accelerating the adoption of out-of-home delivery. According to the research, 52.3% of shoppers would opt for OOH delivery more frequently if it were offered as a standard option at checkout. This underscores the need for retailers to make OOH delivery a default choice to meet consumer demand and stay competitive.
About Sendcloud
Sendcloud is the complete shipping platform for e-commerce – enabling retailers, marketplaces, and fulfilment companies to scale their operations and deliver great shipping experiences.
Today’s consumers want to decide where, when, and how they receive an order. But meeting their needs while still making a profit is a challenge. Sendcloud solves this by centralising and automating the entire shipping process. From label printing to branded tracking updates and returns management – Sendcloud lets you own your shipping from checkout to returns.
Backed by Softbank and trusted by 25,000 companies across Europe, Sendcloud is on a mission to solve shipping globally.
