ASOS.com takes the lead on same day delivery

Same day delivery to retail customers has, for a while, eluded the industry. Retailers recognise the benefit of being able to offer such a service. However, the way in which to offer this cost effectively on a wider scale has, to date, proved impossible. A few retailers are offering it on a small or localised scale but ASOS was the first to offer it to the extent it has.

The key element to its success is CitySprint's infrastructure and tenacity. Speaking about SameDay home deivery at the 2009 Mail and Express Delivery Show in June Derek Weaver, Head of Operations at MetaPack said: "If anyone is going to crack this service offering it will be the same day courier industry." The gauntlet was thrown and CitySprint responded.

By utlising CitySprint's unique infrastructure, an element vital to the success of this service, ASOS.com is able to offer a same day service for delivered within, and on the outskirts of, the M25. CitySprint has an unrivalled network of 30+ ServiceCentres located throughout the UK and, therefore, the only restriction on delivery locations, are the retailer's warehouse locations as the products have to physically get from these destinations to the customer within the same day delivery window.

Since launch this new service has attracted the attention of many other retailers who are currently in discussions about offering this service to their customers. To date, and still the case for the majority of retailers, next day delivery is the 'quickest' option. However, if a shopper misses the Friday cut off time, for example, they are likely to have to wait till Tuesday before they receive their item; a time delay of 4-5 days. With CitySprint customers can opt to select a pre-defined delivery slot on the 'same day' or choose a selected day of convenience to them. With CitySprint delivery options also include weekends and Bank Holidays.

Hilton Eachus, Customer Delivery Manager, at ASOS.COM, explains their decision behind offering the same day service "Even though our customers are happy with our delivery options we are determined to constantly evolve, remaining ahead of the market and setting a precedent. We want to offer our customers as much choice as possible while maintaining the simplicity of our checkout process."

Stuart Hill, Head of Customer Logistics, at ASOS.COM goes on to explain "Over the last six months we have looked at enhancing our delivery options and going that extra mile for our customers. Our warehouse in Hemel Hempstead gives us perfect access to London and the M25 region and we wanted to utilise its location to offer a same day delivery service to our customers in the London area. CitySprint was chosen as our partner for this exciting new delivery option as they offered us a competitive price point and convenient cut off times, enabling ASOS.COM to offer our customers the choice of delivery of their goods on the same day as purchase".