THE cost of shipping is the number one challenge for ecommerce today, reports Wisconsin's Supply and Demand Chain Executive.

Nearly 47 per cent of consumers will spend a minimum amount to get free shipping.

Forty-two per cent of consumers say their willingness to shop with a retailer again if a package is lost depends on how the issue is resolved.

Sixty per cent of consumers surveyed declared they do at least half their shopping online, compared with 41 per cent the previous year, while 61 per cent prefer to purchase online when given the choice.

Fewer merchants are offering universal free shipping this year versus the previous year when 22 per cent did, and 18 per cent offered it most of the time.

Ten per cent of online shoppers wanted same or next-day delivery in 2022, down from 18 per cent in 2021 and 21 per cent of merchants say supply chain disruptions are regularly impacting shipping operations vs 38 per cent in 2021.

Sixty-eight per cent of ecommerce merchants are utilising two to four carriers.

(Shipping Gazette)