Consumer survey reveals love/hate relationship with Amazon
U.S. consumers have a love/hate relationship with e-commerce giant Amazon.com, with nearly a quarter saying
they buy at least 50% of their goods from Amazon despite
having negative feelings about the company’s impact on the
retail industry and the environment,
according to a survey by logistics technology firm Convey.
The Austin, Texas-based company surveyed 2,000 U.S. consumers
and found that one in four has negative feelings about the e-commerce
behemoth and that two out of three
would consider abandoning Amazon
if it weren’t for the free shipping. The
survey also found that package theft
remains consumers’ greatest concern when it comes to
delivery.
Other key survey findings include:
b Fast and free shipping is far and away the top reason
people shop at Amazon, selected by 80% of respondents.
b Some 25% said they would not use Amazon at all if they
had to pay for shipping, and four in 10 (39%) said they
were unsure—meaning that close to two-thirds (64%) of
shoppers would consider buying elsewhere if free shipping
were not offered.
b Consumers are slightly more flexible when it comes
to delivery speed, with more than
half (55%) saying they would still use
Amazon if orders arrived in three to
four days, as long as shipping was free.
By contrast, just 12% said order arrival
within one to two days is essential for
them to continue using Amazon.
“Retailers know that the delivery
experience is a critical piece of the
e-commerce puzzle, and this survey
proves just how important it really
is,” Kirsten Newbold-Knipp, Convey’s chief growth officer,
said in a release. “This study shows how a positive delivery
experience translates into loyalty and sales—and can even
overcome negative perceptions about a brand. In 2020,
retailers need to pay careful attention to delivery—not just
speed and cost, but also keeping their shipping promises
and proactively communicating along the way.” n
Fortna, an automation, engineering services, and software
company, has acquired Pierau Unternehmensberatung
GmbH (Pierau Planung), a European provider of supply chain and logistics design, consulting, and project
management services. Pierau Planung’s management
team will join Fortna following the transaction and will
continue to serve the company’s European region. …
Commercial Warehousing Inc. has rebranded as CWI
Logistics. The company says the name change reflects
its expansion into contract warehouse operations, transportation, and packaging. … Supply chain services company A&R Logistics has acquired Plantgistix Holdings,
a provider of packaging, warehousing, and full-scale
export services for the plastic resin industry. … Kion
Group AG has opened a production facility in Pune,
Maharashtra, India. The company will manufacture diesel and electric forklifts as well as battery-powered lift
trucks and reach trucks in the ultra-modern plant, which
includes three assembly lines along with a paint shop,
parts warehouse, and R&D center. … Quest Solution
Inc. has changed its corporate name to Omniq Corp. to
better reflect its evolved business, which now includes
artificial intelligence-based computer vision solutions.
… TREW, a provider of automated material handling
solutions for integrators and end-users, has launched a
new website, trewautomation.com, that highlights dif-
ferent approaches to delivering smart solutions for cli-
ents. … AxleHire, a company specializing in technology
and logistics innovation for the last-mile economy, has
acquired Covet Shipping, a full-service shipping company
that serves New York City. … Freight forwarder Flexport
has opened its first Canadian office in Vancouver, B.C.
The new office provides Flexport customers with access
to the vast Canadian import and export market as well
as local expertise in freight forwarding and customs
brokerage. … A delegation of Georgia state, county,
and municipal representatives joined officials from
OmniTrax, The Broe Group, and A&R Logistics Inc. to
mark the opening of the Savannah Gateway Industrial
Hub and commencement of construction on lead-tenant
A&R Logistics’ global export facility. … AIT Worldwide
Logistics has joined the International Refrigerated
Transportation Association arm of the Global Cold Chain
Alliance, a platform for communication, networking,
and education for each link of the cold chain. … The
Institute of Risk Management (IRM) has added a new
Supply Chain Risk Management Certificate to its portfo-
lio of qualifications.
SHORT TAKES
