UPS Saturday deliveries are being introduced in the UK and seven other European countries (Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Spain and Poland).
What’s particularly encouraging is that the new UPS Saturday deliveries offer businesses of all sizes, particularly smaller online retailers, a reliable and cost-effective option to reach their customers at the weekend. Often new services of this type are only accessible by larger retailers so for the UPS Saturday deliveries to be available to smaller online sellers is a big plus.
“According to the IMRG Capgemini Online Retail Index, retail ecommerce 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. UPS has introduced Saturday deliveries so that British businesses shipping with UPS can now deliver six days a week to their customers, allowing them to meet increased demand and ensure a positive delivery experience.”
– Mark Vale, President, UK, Ireland and the Nordics, UPS
While weekend deliveries normally come with a surcharge, UPS Saturday deliveries make them the only carrier consistently offering a Saturday delivery option at the normal weekday cost when shipping to one of more than 17,000 UPS Access Point locations in Europe’s top eight ecommerce markets. UPS Access Point locations are local businesses, such as convenience stores with extended evening and weekend hours, giving customers the flexibility to pick up their parcels when it suits their schedule. The new service complements existing UPS Express Saturday deliveries, which now benefit from a pre-noon delivery.
“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 ecommerce markets.”
– Lou Rivieccio, president, UPS Europe
