Parcel delivery company Hermes is stepping up its focus on the online market with real time tracking, and plans for extended deadlines as well as evening deliveries.
The company has reported growth of 7.7 per cent for the first half of 2010, but as the offline market continues to decline it is taking steps to bump up its online offering using a recent survey to inform its plans.
The survey, carried out by SharpFocus, canvassed 1,000 internet shoppers, and found that cost, specified delivery days and real time parcel tracking were the most important factors.
83 per cent of respondents thought that being able to specify the day of their delivery was quite, or very important, while only 51 per cent felt the same about guaranteed next day delivery.
Commercial director Jon Tobbell said it had been surprised to find that so many people, 79 per cent, considered real time tracking to be important.
In response to this survey, Hermes has introduced real time tracking as well as a stated day service. It also plans to extend deadlines for next day delivery orders and to introduce evening deliveries and deliveries to stores in 2011.
