There is little doubt that January will be a rollercoaster ride for retailers and delivery companies across the UK, but the latest national lockdown and new Brexit red tape at borders has not created severe delays, says home delivery expert ParcelHero.
However, it cautions that supermarket slots remain scarce in some areas, while Brexit has created new bureaucracy and costs, forcing smaller EU sellers to abandon the UK market.
Following the sudden imposition of the new lockdowns across the UK, ParcelHero says retailers and home delivery networks were braced for a massive surge in deliveries – but unlike in the first lockdown, online retailers and their delivery partners were well-prepared for the huge rise in demand.
ParcelHero’s head of consumer research, David Jinks, said: “Supermarket websites crashed on Monday evening when the lockdown was announced. This comes at a time when Brexit has increased courier costs and created the need for significant new paperwork.
“Even so, with the exception of supermarket slot availability in some areas, most couriers and retailers’ services are coping well with the changes. So far, there seems little danger of a return to March 2020’s delays and shortages.”
