You don’t need us to remind you what this past year has done for the acceleration of ecommerce. More demand for products, more shoppers, and a record spending power across all industries. Essential services such as local delivery became a big buzzword as the pandemic forced many businesses to adopt this new service faster than they would have in a normal year. 

Beyond the e-commerce boom, local delivery is a gamechanger for businesses across industries looking to increase revenue, reach new customers, and move a step forward in becoming more eco-friendly.  

What is local delivery  

Local delivery allows customers to purchase products online and have them delivered to their homes. This is an alternative to Shopify merchants needing major shipping couriers and usually allows the merchant to provide local delivery up to a certain maximum mile radius or to certain zip codes from their brick-and-mortar location or warehouse.  

Thanks to Shopify’s data, we can learn that “shoppers check out with a 25% higher cart size when they opt for local pickup and delivery.” If you have a seamless service that provides a great shopping experience, customers will opt-in for local delivery and continue to shop.  

Sustainability and ecommerce 

Sustainability and ecommerce haven’t quite coexisted in a way that is forward-thinking and healthy for the environment and planet. Our shopping habits have an inevitable impact on the environment whether we see the effects soon or in later years. From emitting pollution during the shipping process, through the vast amounts of plastic packaging used, to the impact of supply chains, ecommerce is not as sustainable as it can be.  

The average carbon footprint of a U.S Citizen is about 20 tons, equivalent to a car driving 50,000 miles per year. As consumers, we have an impact, whether we think about it or not. However, there are ways ecommerce brands and businesses across all industries can become more eco-friendly and move towards a more sustainable future, through the adoption of local delivery. 

According to a Nielson study, consumers are more than willing to change habits for a healthy and sustainable future. “73% of consumers are willing to change their ways to reduce the impact on the environment.” 

Ecommerce brands move to a sustainable future  

Consumers have power with their money, as shoppers are choosing independent retailers over large retail shops, choosing to spend their money locally, and choosing businesses that align with their mission and beliefs. Alternatively, ecommerce brands are becoming more aware of the environmental problems that exist as a nature of being an online business and are increasingly searching for solutions. One of those solutions is the adoption of local delivery.  

From checkout to delivery, products go through a series of steps to arrive at your doorstep. From delivery logistics to checkpoints, the goal for a business is to make local delivery seamless, simple, and fast, especially since the demand for fast shipping and delivery has now become a standard for shoppers. Through local delivery, businesses no longer have to rely on large vehicles or long-haul trailers. Thanks to technology, software, and green-focused innovations, there are many more ways products can be delivered to someone, and with these new methods, comes a reduction in CO2 emissions. 

Local delivery can be done through the use of electric vehicles, robots, drones, and trucks working efficiently with software technologies. Alternative methods in major cities are using bicycle couriers, which are increasing in popularity across Europe and in Asia, helping to enable fast deliveries from local restaurants and more. 

Through leveraging local delivery, merchants can help reduce CO2 emissions and put the customer first through offering a great service as well as a great shopping journey from beginning to end. According to the World Health Organization, air pollution levels are dangerously high in many parts of the world. The report highlights that 9 out of 10 people breathe air containing high levels of pollutants and that around “7 million people die every year from exposure to polluted air.” 

Zapiet has been helping Shopify businesses since 2015 and is its recommended solution. We have been building industry-leading pickup and shipping solutions. Our products let retailers offer outstanding flexibility and convenience to their customers, and help previously brick and mortar-only businesses harness the potential of an integrated online store. We now help power 10,000 stores in more than 150 countries – from pop-up stands to Fortune 500 brands. 

The end of a customer’s journey on your site does not really end after they click checkout. Local delivery is one of the biggest ways you as a business owner can shine for your customers, put them first and be a more sustainable and environmentally conscious brand. When looking from a global perspective, the potential to grow in ecommerce is massive, as the global ecommerce market is expected to total $4.89 trillion this year, according to Shopify. If you break down the global market down to your local community, the potential and possibilities to own your local market is there through services like, surprise, surprise – local delivery, while being good for the planet.  

Author Bio: 

Jonathan Roque is the Digital Marketing and Content Strategist for Zapiet. Jonathan is passionate about the ecommerce space and helping small and medium sized businesses grow and maximize their potential. You can follow him over at @zapiet.uk on Instagram and @zapiet on Twitter.