12 Ecommerce Shipping Statistics to Know in 2021

Ecommerce shipping has seen an essential boost in the last decade, alongside the rise of online shopping. Since 2010, the industry saw a 48% growth in two years. Now, specialists expect it to rise with up to 28% in 2021. This doesn’t come as a surprise, considering that the $3.5 billion online shopping industry experienced a significant increase in 2020 due to land-based store closures triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the growth progresses and online shopping becomes more and more integrated into daily life, the latest ecommerce shipping statistics can help shipping companies and professionals prepare for the future. To get started, check out these 12 priceless statistics everyone in the industry should know about.

1. Over 40% of US consumers receive at least one Amazon parcel a week

According to Walker Sands, a public relations and digital marketing agency headquartered in Chicago, 41% of US consumers receive one or two Amazon parcels weekly, on average. The report highlights that the percentage is even higher for younger consumers – around 50% of respondents aged 18-25 and 57% of those aged 26-35 receive at least one parcel from Amazon weekly. For Amazon sellers, know that you have faster shipping options than those that are offered by Amazon fulfillment.

2. Free shipping persuades almost 80% of US consumers to shop online

Shipping fees are so-called “surprise fees” most shoppers hate to see in their shopping carts. Consumers hate paying them because they don’t deliver anything tangible; however, there is an easy way around them. Ecommerce owners can simply include shipping costs into each product’s retail price or set a minimum spending threshold – called a free shipping threshold – to entice consumers to close the sale by offering this key amenity.

3. Hordes of consumers are driven by same-day shipping

One of the things that still make consumers shop in land-based stores is the possibility to get the product immediately. This trend is mirrored in online shopping, with over 56% of shoppers aged 18-34 expecting same-day delivery. Not only do they expect it, but 61% of respondents are willing to pay extra for the service. Still don’t believe same-day shipping to be important? Know that more than 25% of shoppers would abandon an online cart if same-day shipping weren’t available.

4. Only 15% of US consumers are happy about delivery speed

You know now that most online shoppers want speedy access to their products, but what most online retailers fail to realize is that only 15% of US consumers declared shipping options meet their delivery speed expectations. That’s because, from those shoppers who want same-day shipping, 61% claimed they wish to receive their packages within 3 hours from placing an order, while the remaining percentage claimed most ecommerce retailers – Amazon included – fall short in meeting their expectations.

5. More than 80% of shoppers feel regular order communication is needed

If the pandemic taught us anything, it must be that everything can go terribly wrong in an instant. During the pandemic, the online shopping peak sent many shipping companies into complete chaos, resulting in many unhappy consumers having to wait longer for their packages and few online retailers answering their concerns. However, 83% of consumers expect regular communication about their purchases. The easiest way is transparency. Providing tracking information and offering updates on any shipping changes or delays can keep consumers happy.

6. Over 50% of shoppers only buy if delivery conditions are clear

Consumers expect much more than regular communication about their orders. They want all-around transparency, including crystal clear delivery terms and conditions. In a related report, 53% of respondents said they would not purchase from a retailer if they don’t know when their package will be shipped, while 54% claimed they would make repeat purchases if the retailer can predict when the package will arrive. In other words, online retailers can boost their business if they collaborate with trustworthy shipping companies.

7. High shipping charges drive shopping cart abandonment

Many studies have shown that shoppers don’t like shipping fees, but one particular study by PayPal revealed that 43% of shoppers abandon their carts if the shipping charges are too high. This trend is linked to the “surprise fees” we mentioned above, but online retailers that don’t want to provide it should still keep shipping fees low to retain customers and stop cart abandonment in its tracks.

8. Statistics on ecommerce shipping reveal that 70% of retailers are working to improve communication with customers

According to Convey, more and more online retailers are improving their communication strategies to meet consumer expectations. In fact, 70% of respondents adapt their order communication strategies to include package tracking information with their orders and enhance post-sale customer support.

9. Over 95% of consumers expect shipping issues to be resolved in transit

Nobody likes delivery delays, above all Millennials and Gen Z consumers who expect their orders to be delivered in 24 hours or less from placing an order. Package exceptions are those situations when a delivery is delayed for one reason or another. Still, according to another study by Convey, 96% of customers expect those exceptions to be resolved while in transit.

10. Almost 40% of retailers are concerned about the shipping cost and time expectations

Consumers aside, Convey also studied the retailer response to consumer expectations. The results are appalling – 38% of respondents are concerned about shipping times, specifically how quickly their customers expect orders to be delivered. Furthermore, 36% of online retailers are concerned about shipping costs and customer expectations surrounding free or low-cost shipping.

 11. Almost 25% of online shoppers would spend more to get free shipping

One way to deal with free shipping expectations is to establish a spending threshold. A survey by VWO Ecommerce includes an interesting ecommerce shipping statistic that shows that 24% of shoppers would spend more to access free shipping.

12. More than 50% of retailers claim shipping logistics are challenging

The order fulfillment, logistics, and shipping is a complex and expensive landscape for ecommerce retailers who try to manage everything on their own. More than half of the respondents – 53%, to be precise – defined shipping and order logistics as significantly challenging. Help comes from professional companies that can manage everything from order fulfillment to delivery, leaving ecommerce owners to focus on their business.

Stay On Top of Your Ship!

With so many statistics highlighting the importance of shipping and proper order logistics, it’s up to you to manage it on your own or hire professionals. Whatever you choose, keep in mind that free shipping and fast delivery are key to keeping customers happy.

Use tools like ReadyCloud Suite to keep your customers informed every step of the way. ReadyShipper X shipping software plugs right in to give you lightning-fast fulfillment times, instant customer updates and a variety of tools you can use right away to keep your brand in sight and easily manage seasonal volume spikes. Learn more here.