In European e-commerce, understanding and catering to local customer preferences is crucial for success. Consumer expectations around convenience and delivery options vary significantly across the continent. For example, in Poland, parcel lockers are preferred, while in Germany, home delivery remains the top choice. Zalando's research into ideal customer delivery across Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Italy highlights that offering control—such as the ability to choose a delivery date—is more attractive to customers than simply offering fast delivery. As sustainability in the fashion industry becomes increasingly important, customers are also prioritizing eco-friendly delivery options. Alongside these preferences for scheduled delivery times and flexibility in rebooking, sustainability has become a significant factor for shoppers.
Piloting courier service in Switzerland
To better meet these diverse expectations, Zalando has initiated a pilot project in collaboration with notime, a subsidiary of Schweizerische Post. This innovative program is being tested in the greater Zurich area, offering Zalando customers enhanced control and flexibility over their deliveries.
The pilot allows selected customers to choose a 90-minute delivery window, ensuring that parcels arrive when they are most likely to be home. This service not only enhances convenience, since customers can track their deliveries in real-time but also aligns with the growing demand for precision and reliability in deliveries.
For our Swiss customers, a specific delivery time is at least as important as fast delivery. We are therefore looking forward to testing the pilot together with our partners notime and Schweizerische Post and gaining valuable experience in Switzerland to further improve the shopping experience for our Zalando customers.
This project is an important step towards understanding and responding to the unique needs of customers in different markets, offering insights that could shape the future of e-commerce logistics across Europe.
Zalando has initiated a pilot project in collaboration with notime, a subsidiary of Schweizerische Post.
Accelerating decarbonisation through industry collaboration
While meeting customer expectations is vital, Zalando is equally committed to driving sustainability in the fashion industry by addressing the environmental impact of its operations. Transportation accounts for the largest share of Zalando’s logistics emissions. Decarbonising the way we ship goods is a huge industry challenge and requires collaboration and innovation across all parts of the value chain. To achieve its Net-Zero ambition, Zalando recognises the need to continuously monitor the development of technologies and market trends in logistics decarbonisation.
Zalando’s commitment to sustainability in the fashion industry has led to join the Smart Freight Centre (SFC), a globally recognised organisation dedicated to promoting sustainable freight transportation. By becoming part of the SFC, Zalando is engaging with other industry leaders to develop and implement strategies aimed at reducing emissions and improving the efficiency of freight transport.
Collaborating with industry leaders is key to our strategy. By joining SFC, we become part of a network that drives efficient decarbonisation strategies, helping us reach our common goals faster. Global challenges demand collective action
A forward-thinking approach to e-commerce logistics
As Zalando continues to innovate in both customer service and sustainability, the company is setting a new standard for e-commerce logistics in Europe. The Swiss pilot project and the partnership with Smart Freight Centre are just two examples of how Zalando is proactively addressing the diverse needs of its customers while also taking responsibility for its environmental impact.
By combining customer-centric solutions with a commitment to sustainability in the fashion industry, Zalando is not only enhancing the shopping experience but also contributing to a more sustainable future for the entire industry.
