Overseas deliveries from the UK to double by 2017

The number of overseas deliveries that are being dispatched from the United Kingdom could double within three years, a new study shows. And the total numbers of orders dispatched by retailers in the UK may reaches the 1 billion milestone mark next year.

This is apparent from the IMRG MetaPack UK Delivery Index. This study forecasts that the expected 161 million orders poster cross-border this year may rise to 384 millions in 2017, if cross-border sales in the UK continue to grow as they did this year. The forecast was increased last month, as the e-Retail Sales Index from IMRG and Capgemini recorded a growth of 17% year-on-year, and even a 20% excluding travel. Sales in the first quarter of 2014 also grew 17% compared to the same period last year.

Cross-borders sales will continue to grow
“It is a testament to UK retailers that so many orders are coming from overseas, and we think these numbers will continue to rise”, says Andrew Starkey, Head of e-Logistics at IMRG. “Within the UK the growth in orders is underpinned by the quality of delivery provided by our carriers with 95% of deliveries were made (or attempted) on time last month.” He emphasizes that, although the company already said that the UK retail is emerging from the economic doldrums, it looks like “we could see some major milestones reaches in the next few years.”

According to Angela O’Connell, Marketing and Strategy Director at MetaPack, the data provides a great indicator of improving national economic health overall. “What’s also encouraging is how the quality of service experienced by consumers is improving with the best ‘on time’ delivery or attempted delivery performance of the year so far.”

9 in 10 orders meet consumers’ expectations
She thinks online retailers will continue to want to improve customer experience through giving their customers more and better delivery options. Failed – or carded – attempted delivery was slightly up (4.39% up from 4.20%), but the overall the trend is positive and more than 90% of orders delivered by the UK’s carriers met consumers’ expectations.