Omnitracs' Road Ahead blog

Here are our 5 most interesting last-mile discoveries from our consumer survey

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Rula Ifteiha
Content Specialist
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The pandemic has reshaped many things — our appreciation for toilet paper and multipurpose wipes, our perception of health and sanitation, and the way we shop.

To uncover key and relevant consumer-specific insights, we worked with Dynata, a leading market research firm and data platform, to survey 1,000 individuals in the U.S. from the ages of 18 to 65+. Our detailed questions focused on last-mile deliveries and rising consumer demands, enabling us to broaden our understanding of what's driving last-mile expectations and experiences today.

#1: 47% will continue their pandemic-driven shopping habits

That's right! Almost half of all consumers aren't looking to revert to their B.C. (Before Corona) shopping habits. Our first statistic here is perhaps one of the most eye-opening ones from the survey, as it signifies a massive and abrupt evolution in the way we shop.

Evolution, in essence, is typically far more slow-moving and far less linear. Yet, this statistic points to just how much the pandemic has propelled our habits forward in a condensed amount of time.

#2: Nearly half — approximately 49% — now use 24–48-hour delivery services at least once a month

We want to shop, we want to click, and we want to receive — all within a day or two. Our love for e-commerce and growing expectations around quick deliveries will only continue to evolve. Last-mile fleets must be ready to offer same-day and next-day delivery services to gain competitive advantages.

You can invest in a route optimization solution to account for last-minute orders and balance routes, so you can offer quick deliveries that don't break your bottom line.

#3: A whopping 65% would pay more for faster, more reliable deliveries

This may be the most surprising statistic from our consumer survey, given that many business leaders have been taught to keep prices low.

We are active participants in the era of convenience, and we'll pay for that convenience — within reason — if it makes our lives significantly more manageable. The next time you're worried about hiking up your offerings and prices a smidge, refer to this statistic.

#4: Nearly one in three consumers rely on delivery services for most of their purchases

'Most of their purchases' being the operative phrase here. If one in three of us are comfortable using delivery services for most of our purchases, what will that number look like five, ten, and twenty years from now?

We'll only grow more comfortable with deliveries, and last-mile leaders can — and should — take advantage of that market growth and find intelligent solutions that can help them keep up.

#5: 40% would like to see more environmentally friendly delivery options

A growing number of us are aligning our ethical values with our everyday behaviors, and shopping is a significant part of that.

Fleets can begin adding greener delivery options, such as electric trucks and delivery drones, to their roadmap so that consumers feel better about their shopping choices. This push for sustainability will certainly increase in the future as the emphasis on the health of our planet grows.

Last-mile leaders will need to keep up with delivery demand by utilizing last-mile solutions that digitally transform their fleet processes. With the right solutions, you'll be able to cater to customers in the last mile during the pandemic and long after. Uncover more interesting data findings from the extensive report to learn how to apply these insights to your fleet.