Carriers urged to collaborate 

Wall said it was imperative to understand cost to serve in an environment where competition will become more intense. 

“There are vast differences in drops per route and therefore the cost per drop. This is unsustainable. The best way forward is to collaborate or failing this, to create differentiation in delivery charges,” he urged the industry.

Wall also discussed the dominance of the big online marketplaces, which are outperforming other areas of eCommerce. He cited their use of scale to offer attractive delivery deals, but urged all retailers to adopt winning mechanisms such as loyalty programs.

“We will also see a huge growth in brands online. They are investing in a direct-to-consumer approach underlined by technology that is setting new standards. And it is a proposition that is winning market share for brands,” said Mr. Wall.

TDC Global, organised by MetaPack, took place at The Royal Lancaster Hotel in London.  Over 1,200 delegates representing the retail, brand and carrier industries enjoyed a packed agenda of presentations and debates. Presentations from industry leaders including Google, Alibaba, Amazon, eBay and Hermes highlighted the 10th anniversary of this global eCommerce event.