Retailers and logistics service providers face pressure as consumers rethink holiday strategies for fast and free shipping
Blue Yonder, the AI company for supply chain, unveiled the findings of its 2025 Global Consumer Holiday Shipping Survey, which offers a comprehensive look at how consumers are reimagining their holiday shopping and shipping strategies. The survey polled consumers across Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), France, Germany, the Middle East, the U.K., and the U.S. A key finding revealed that while over half (53%) of the surveyed consumers expect packages to arrive within two to four days, only one-third (34%) are very confident about the delivery date. As a result, 78% of respondents purchasing gifts for people outside of their household are planning to shop at least three to four weeks in advance. The survey also found that many consumers are willing to explore alternative shipping methods to reduce costs, delivery time and environmental impact.
“The shipping and logistics industry has faced a variety of challenges this year, and our 2025 Global Consumer Holiday Shipping Survey reveals how these disruptions are reshaping consumer behaviors,” said Ann Marie Jonkman, Vice President, Global Industry Strategies, Blue Yonder. “Consumers across regions and generations are entering the holiday season with higher expectations around speed, affordability and sustainability. These shifting priorities could have major impacts on retailers and logistics service providers as we enter peak season—with the potential to influence year-end sales performance significantly.”
Key findings from Blue Yonder’s 2025 Global Consumer Holiday Shipping Survey include:
High expectations for fast shipping but low confidence in delivery timelines
- Fast standard shipping: Over half (53%) of respondents expect packages with standard shipping to arrive within two to four days of placing an online order. This sentiment is most common among respondents in Germany (64%), the U.K. (61%), France (57%), the Middle East (54%), compared to less than half in the U.S. (47%) and ANZ (36%).
- Lack of confidence: While expectations for fast shipping are high, just over one-third (34%) are very confident that they will receive their packages by the expected delivery date. Across regions, respondents from the Middle East (51%) were the most likely to express the highest confidence about timely package delivery, compared to those in the U.S. (37%), Germany (31%), ANZ (30%), France (30%) and the U.K. (26%).
- Padding delivery timeframes for non-household purchases: Of those planning to purchase gifts for people outside of their household, more than three quarters (78%) of respondents plan to make their holiday gift purchases at least three to four weeks in advance, reflecting a strategy to ensure timely delivery. Among age groups, Gen Z (48%), Gen X (45%) and Millennials (44%) plan to order gifts 3-4 weeks in advance, whereas close to half of Baby Boomers (49%) will plan to order gifts more than a month in advance.
Cost-conscious consumers rethink shipping strategies for speed and sustainability
- Direct shipping gifts from retailers: 86% of consumers prefer to ship gifts for those outside of their households directly from retailers, with the strongest preference in the Middle East (94%), followed by France (90%), the U.S. (86%), Germany (86%), ANZ (81%), and the U.K. (80%). Gen Z and Millennials significantly favor direct shipping (91%) over Gen X (83%) and Baby Boomers (76%).
- Unwillingness to pay for expedited shipping: Many respondents in the U.K. (43%) and the U.S. (40%) aren’t willing to pay any additional cost for expedited shipping, compared to those in ANZ (32%), Germany (28%), France (24%) and the Middle East (11%). This trend is also seen across generations, with almost half of Baby Boomers (49%) expressing unwillingness to pay any additional cost, followed by Gen X (34%), Millennials (22%) and Gen Z (15%).
- Willingness to use in-store and locker pickup for free and fast delivery: More than half (53%) of respondents are willing to use in-store pickup to receive their online purchases faster, followed by locker pickup (42%). These are also the top two alternative methods for consumers seeking free shipping, with 49% of respondents willing to utilize in-store pickup and 38% opting for locker pickup.
- Bundling purchases for sustainability: 56% are willing to bundle purchases to minimize the environmental impact of shipping, while 34% are open to slower shipping options to reduce emissions. Additionally, 23% are willing to pay a fee for carbon offsets. Notably, one-third of respondents in the Middle East were willing to pay the small fee, compared to those in France (29%), Germany (26%), ANZ (19%), the U.K. (17%) and the U.S. (17%).
“These findings underscore a pivotal shift in consumer behaviors and delivery expectations this holiday season,” Jonkman added. “Retailers and logistics service providers must prove their reliability and agility, not just promise it. AI-powered supply chain solutions offer a path forward, enabling companies to optimize their logistics operations to meet rising demands and deliver a better customer experience.”
