We use cookies to provide you with a better experience. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.
  • INDUSTRY PRESS ROOM
  • SUBMISSIONS
  • MEDIA FILE
  • Create Account
  • Sign In
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Free Newsletters
  • MAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Digital Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletters
  • STRATEGY
  • GLOBAL
  • LOGISTICS
  • MANUFACTURING
  • PROCUREMENT
  • VIDEO
    • News & Exclusives
    • Viewer Contributed
    • CSCMP EDGE 2022 Startup Alley
    • Upload your video
  • PODCAST ETC
    • Podcast
    • White Papers
    • Webcasts
    • Events
    • Blogs
      • Reflections
      • SCQ Forum
    • Mobile Apps
  • MAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Digital Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletters
  • STRATEGY
  • GLOBAL
  • LOGISTICS
  • MANUFACTURING
  • PROCUREMENT
  • VIDEO
    • News & Exclusives
    • Viewer Contributed
    • CSCMP EDGE 2022 Startup Alley
    • Upload your video
  • PODCAST ETC
    • Podcast
    • White Papers
    • Webcasts
    • Events
    • Blogs
      • Reflections
      • SCQ Forum
    • Mobile Apps
Home » Report: Nearly half of SMBs will increase shipping spend in 2020
Forward Thinking

Report: Nearly half of SMBs will increase shipping spend in 2020

December 19, 2019
Supply Chain Quarterly Staff
No Comments

Nearly half of small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) will increase their shipping spend in 2020, according to a study of SMB logistics and procurement decision makers, released Wednesday.

The "2020 SMB Shipping Strategies Report" surveyed more than 500 decision makers between November 22 and December 4, and was conducted by online shipping marketplace uShip in conjunction with third-party research firm YouGov. The survey highlights the growing importance of shipping and logistics in the SMB sector and underscores the influence of big-box retailers' strategies on their smaller counterparts, the researchers said.

According to the study results, 47% of SMBs said they will increase their shipping spend in 2020 compared to 2019. In addition, a quarter of respondents said the logistics strategies of large retailers such as Amazon and Walmart are influencing how their company thinks about shipping, and 27% said those strategies are affecting how their customers think about shipping.

"The decisions of small and mid-sized business owners are being heavily influenced by the rise of big-box retailers like Amazon,"  uShip CEO Kris Lamb said in a statement announcing the survey results. "So, SMBs are beginning to rethink how they invest their shipping and logistics dollars. Our hope is that these insights convey the pressure being felt across the industry and to think about new ways to incorporate supply chain and logistics strategies into their business."

The survey also asked where SMBs are investing their shipping and logistics dollars: in personnel or technology? Twenty percent of SMB decision makers said they would rather invest in the right logistics team over technology, while nearly 30% said they plan to make new technology a priority. Just 14% of SMB decision makers said that investing in new technology is too expensive; 17% said they prefer to invest in alternatives to the traditional shipping options of UPS, FedEx, XPO Logistics, and freight brokers.

The survey also found that SMBs struggle when it comes to finding the best shipping options for large, bulky, or fragile items. The researchers said that: 

  • 17% don't trust fragile items to arrive safely or unbroken.
  • 15% can't find a reliable carrier to ship oversized and bulky items. 
  • 12% can't find an affordable shipping solution.
  • 11% don't know where to find alternative shipping options to organizations such as UPS, XPO Logistics, and freight brokers.
Logistics Strategy
    • Related Articles

      Report: Supply chain problems affecting nearly half of small businesses

      Survey: nearly half of online shoppers would choose a package delivery firm with electric vehicles

      Sea container imports expected to grow 4.9 percent in first half of 2018, NRF-Hackett report says

    Recent Articles by Supply Chain Quarterly Staff

    Manufacturing firms bemoan interest rates, talent shortage

    Median ransomware payment doubles to $26,000, Verizon says

    Schneider says California site can charge 32 battery-powered trucks at once

    You must login or register in order to post a comment.

    Report Abusive Comment

    Most Popular Articles

    • Report: Sagging freight stats show that trucking sector is returning to its historic mean

    • Survey: parcel delivery drivers are frustrated by using their own smartphones for work

    • Heavy transport across two continents

    • Survey: most Americans unaware that truckers face shortage of parking spaces

    • Supply chain executives not yet seeing expected results from technology investments

    Featured Video

    Household goods customs broker thumb

    Household Goods Customs Broker

    Viewer Contributed
    Household Goods Customs Broker :Gallagher Transport International is a highly experienced customs broker specializing in household goods, providing efficient and cost-effective customs clearance services while ensuring compliance with all necessary regulations. Our Services Include: Importing & Exporting...

    FEATURED WHITE PAPERS

    • Three layers of forklift safety: Promoting operating best practices

    • The Complete Guide to Automated Packaging

    • Five tips for parcel success in 2023

    • Guide to Pallet Rack Safety

    View More

    Subscribe to Supply Chain Quarterly

    Get Your Subscription
    • SUBSCRIBE
    • E-NEWSLETTERS
    • ADVERTISING
    • CUSTOMER CARE
    • CONTACT
    • ABOUT
    • STAFF
    • PRIVACY POLICY

    Copyright ©2023. All Rights ReservedDesign, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing