In 2023, PetSmart began shipping some of itsonline orders from the stores themselves instead of its seven distribution centers. Just two years later, 90% of PetSmart’s shipped orders placed online or through automatic, scheduled deliveries are now fulfilled from its 1,600-plus stores.

That’s according to Greg Fancher, PetSmart’s evp and chief information technology officer who joined the pet retailer from fashion brand Express in 2023. At the Shoptalk conference in Las Vegas, he explained to Modern Retail how the company has rapidly scaled up this program while working to overhaul older systems for handling online and in-store orders. He said shipping from stores gets products to customers faster and at a lower cost.

The E-barometer 2024 Annual Report, produced by PostNord in collaboration with HUI Research, provides an in-depth analysis of the Swedish e-commerce landscape. The report is based on surveys of both consumers and businesses, offering insights into trends, growth, and future scenarios.

Key Highlights:

1. Market Performance & Growth

E-commerce returns to growth after two years of decline, with net sales reaching SEK 140 billion in 2024, marking a 5% increase from 2023​.

Immediacy and convenience are everything to the modern consumer. With 70% of customers believing that speedy and convenient deliveries matter most and 23% stating they won’t shop from the same store again after a delivery delay, customer retention and loyalty aren’t based on products and prices anymore. Delivery and logistics are the new battlefield where customer satisfaction is won or lost.

Delivery and logistics are the backbone of eCommerce, serving as the essential link between suppliers and customers. From small parcels to massive freight shipments, this industry oversees over 350 billion packages crisscrossing the globe annually while juggling the delicate balance of precision, speed, and customer expectations. 

A new year brings new developments in retail technology. As 2025 approaches, it’s time to dust off the crystal ball and gaze into the trends that will drive the retail technology industry over the next 12 months. Here is a look at how supply chain disruption, AI “co-piloting,” and automated delivery will impact the industry:

Supply chain disruption

The global supply chain has recovered from the peak disruption levels of 2020 and 2021 and continues on an uneven course of improvement, but it still does not function as smoothly as it did pre-2020. 

What do customers in transportation, delivery, and on-demand apps want? How do they want to be messaged and notified? How loyal are they, and what makes them switch apps and services to competitors? Answers to all of that and much more is now available in a new consumer research report from Singular.

Transportation, delivery, and on-demand services are among the fastest growing categories for Singular customers, and we wanted to both learn and share some insights from users and customers. So we surveyed a representative sample of American smartphone-owning consumers to ask them key questions that marketers and product managers in on-demand need to know.

As the e-commerce landscape experiences consistent growth with more options than ever for consumers to choose from, retailers are looking to enhance their brand image. Read this white paper and discover new packaging trends and strategies for e-commerce brands, how unboxing experiences impact customer satisfaction as well as the benefit better packing and packaging has on your bottom line.

Delivering a well-packed, sustainably-shipped box for the best unboxing experience has become a priority for shippers who want to increase margins and customer satisfaction. Read this white paper to learn the necessary steps to audit and benchmark your existing processes and key performance indicators, how (and why) you should improve packing and packaging efficiency as well as the value of optimizing your parcel fulfillment process and the impact on your bottom line.

The days of peak retail season are fast approaching. And as they arrive, your peak season strategies are put to the test. Have you secured enough last mile capacity? Are your operations well-oiled for peak performance? Is there time to implement a last-minute option to address an unexpected challenge? 

As peak unfolds, strategies are put to the test. There will be some tactics that overperform and some that underperform. It’s nearly impossible to plan for everything, and that’s why taking a holistic approach with a combination of solutions is necessary. By not relying on a single solution, you can fill delivery gaps. That’s exactly where UPS and Roadie come in.