Fast-delivery options drive customer growth, report finds

Harry Booth

3rd Feb 2026

Shippit’s 2026 commerce delivery report has shed light on the advantages that same or next-day deliveries can bring to e-commerce businesses, with the data showing significant growth opportunities.

The report said that retailers with fast-delivery options outperformed competitors with 3.5 to 4 per cent more orders during the 2025 Black Friday, Cyber Monday period. These delivery options are also associated with 3.5 times more spend per customer, and 35 per cent more orders, Shippit said.

“Retailers that intelligently decide where and how to fulfil each order will be able to protect margin while improving customer experience,” added Raghav Sibal, VP of Apac and MD for ANZ at Manhattan Associates.

“Delivery promises are only as strong as a retailer’s ability to execute across warehouses, stores and last-mile networks. There is a real opportunity to offer customers more meaningful delivery choices without increasing operational risk, but only if execution keeps pace with promise.”

Shippit said that the cost difference between same-day and standard delivery options has narrowed on average. Now, the average cost difference is just $7, down from $22 in 2018. 

There has also been a growing trend in local e-commerce, with the proportion of deliveries made within 15km rising once more. Shippit said this figure has risen by 10 to 15 per cent, which has led to an improvement in delivery speeds.

In 2025, Shippit said 92.3 per cent of deliveries were completed on time, up from 84.3 per cent in the year prior.

“But speed isn’t won on the road; it’s won in fulfilment,” the report added. “The gap between the average promise and actual performance is one of retail’s biggest conversion killers. 

“Retailers that improve store-based fulfilment, inventory accuracy, and establish cultural accountability will turn fast delivery into a growth engine, while those who don’t risk losing loyalty to competitors who can move faster.”