UPS supports e-commerce growth with weekday-cost Saturday deliveries in Europe

UPS has launched a service enabling deliveries on Saturdays at it’s top European e-commerce markets: the UK, Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Spain and Poland.

The new delivery service enables customers to receive packages on Saturdays, at one of UPS’s 17,000 Access Points in Europe, at the same cost of a weekday delivery.

“UPS Access Point locations are local businesses, such as neighbourhood convenience stores with extended evening and weekend hours, giving customers the flexibility to pick up their parcels when it suits their schedule,” the company explained in a statement. “The new service complements existing UPS Express Saturday deliveries, which now benefit from a pre-noon delivery.”

Mark Vale, president, UK, Ireland and the Nordics at UPS, commented: “According to the IMRG Capgemini Online Retail Index, retail e-commerce sales in the UK grew nearly 33% in May as customers turned to online shopping during the lockdown.

“Traditional delivery options limited to Monday through Friday no longer fit our customers’ expectations.”

Lou Rivieccio, president, UPS Europe, added: “The pandemic has accelerated the growth of e-commerce, with online retail sales in Europe growing by more than 60% at the height of lockdowns in mid-April.

“Introducing Saturday deliveries for UPS Standard is one way that we’re helping businesses adjust to the new environment, by offering them the services they need to meet their customers’ expectations.

“Online retailers can now benefit from cross-border Saturday deliveries with UPS, reaching about 80% of the population in eight key European e-commerce markets.”

UPS said it has recently invested $2bn in enhancing its network in Europe, enabling it to provide businesses faster and more efficient solutions to its customers in 220 countries and territories.