Major parcel carriers have prioritized small package deliveries as increased demand for consumer deliverables has outstripped their capacity to deliver larger parcels. John Hagi, AIT Worldwide Logistics’ director of residential delivery and special services, expects this trend will continue through peak season and into next year.
“Our customers are telling us that they’re re-evaluating their supply chain decisions,” Hagi said. “Parcel carriers today are focused more on margins than market share.”
2020 has been a challenging year for commercial white glove delivery in the B2B (business-to-business) sector as employees at many companies continue to work remotely. But trends are likely to change. For example, Hagi says there will be more opportunities for B2B white glove delivery of medical and dental equipment in 2021 as patients feel it’s safer to resume in-person visits with doctors and dentists.
Hagi also suggests that white glove B2B dwarfs the B2C (business-to-consumer) segment and he foresees a rise in demand for B2B services as more companies embrace work-from-home configurations for their workforces. He added that white glove services may help companies improve onboarding for remote employees with turnkey solutions.
“Six months to a year ago, work-from-home really wasn’t that popular with companies.” Hagi said. “The pandemic forced that hand.”
Hagi added that the challenge now becomes how companies can make the onboarding experience great by helping new hires feel connected with their employers. He believes this can be achieved with in-home delivery and assembly of remote office workspace elements and technology requirements.
“It really builds a strong relationship between employees and their employers,” Hagi said.
