SPOTLIGHT ON LOGISTICS
PACKED WITH POTENTIAL One Aussie industry that has thrived through the pandemic has been logistics. With in-built resilience, this fundamental service has also benefited from the mega boom in online shopping.
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he upward trajectory of e-commerce has shifted dramatically. A report by management consultancy Accenture, Finding Value in Disruption, reveals that consumers who before the pandemic shopped online for one in 20 of their purchases are now buying one in six items through e-commerce. The authors write, “Post and parcel organisations must respond quickly to the changes that retail is experiencing and offer services that meet their needs, or risk losing out on market share.” Innovation and flexibility has been core to the franchised chains that operate within this sector. At Pack & Send, for instance, the $5.2 million invested in technology before the pandemic proved a strong foundation for the network’s record growth. “Essentially, the market has accelerated throughout 2020–21 to meet our existing strategy,” says Nicholas Woodward, country manager.
“The evolution of the Pack & Send business model, incorporating our innovative proprietary technology, together with the increased demand for e-commerce to fulfilment, has seen record sales and enabled nine franchisees since July 2020 to commence and fulfil their multi-unit franchise business goals.” Looking ahead, the forecast is that fewer than 25 per cent of businesses will revert back to pre-pandemic models. The coronavirus report suggested a clear majority will move online – remodelling their supply chains to rely on third-party companies, like Pack & Send, to fulfil customer deliveries. “Commerce and consumer behaviour has forever changed because of Covid-19 and that is playing to the strengths of Pack & Send, with its national network of service centres and shipping technology capabilities,” says Nicholas. In fact Accenture predicts that by 2023, more than 50 per cent of all e-commerce purchases will be delivered from local inventory. “A consequence of this growing trend is that a large proportion of Pack & Send ser-
NOV/JAN 2021-2022 | 44 | WWW.FRANCHISEBUSINESS.COM.AU
