FedEx Express (FedEx) says it has strengthened its network and e-commerce capabilities in preparation for yet another busy shopping season in the Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa (AMEA) region.
The world’s largest express transportation company noted that the e-commerce boom accelerated by COVID-19 is expected to continue.
Global online spending is estimated to increase by 11% year-on-year to US$ 910 billion during the upcoming holiday season. In the Middle East and Africa, 22% of consumers are ready to shop online during peak shopping event.
“It’s never too early to plan ahead – shop early and ship early. This is especially true this upcoming holiday season with record-breaking shipping volumes on the horizon. In fact, nearly half (48%) of consumers worldwide plan to start their holiday shopping early this year, including 21% who had already started shopping in September,” said Kawal Preet, president, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa (AMEA) region, FedEx Express.
“At FedEx, we are gearing up our efforts to help e-tailers win the e-commerce race while navigating the complex supply chain landscape. With our expanded network, improved service reliability and suite of e-commerce solutions, businesses including e-tailers now have the right tools at the right moment to delight their customers through fast, flexible, cost-efficient, and seamless deliveries this festive season.”
With the exponential growth of e-commerce and the soaring shipping volumes associated with it, FedEx expects the 2021 peak season to meet or exceed the unprecedented 2020 holiday season. Supply chain challenges, including ocean freight, are also adding to the demand for air cargo capacity as businesses replenish stock levels in time for the peak shopping season.
In the AMEA region, FedEx says it has taken steps including workforce additions, facility expansions, network optimisation, and innovative e-commerce solutions to meet the needs of consumers.