Fulfillment Still an Issue for Retailers During COVID-19 Demand Spikes, Says Report

Fulfillment remains a sticking point for retailers due to COVID-19 demand spikes, reported Digital Commerce 360 Research Tuesday. Online sales in Q2 jumped 44% year on year, while FedEx and UPS package volume grew more than 50%, it said. Some retailers are still struggling with fulfillment, while others added curbside pickup, shipping from stores and alternatives. Sixty percent of consumers say they would buy from a retailer that ships faster if the price is the same, and 71% of the top 1,000 retailers offer some type of free shipping. About 100 of top 500 retailers added curbside pickup between January and August. Sixty-three percent of consumers look for unconditional free shipping.