UPS and FedEx are expected to deliver the holiday shipping on time this year, as customers’ purchasing patterns have changed. For the first time after the pandemic, US customers are choosing in-store purchases over online shopping. UPS, FedEx, and other delivery companies are prepping for the holiday season, 2.2 billion deliveries and returns are anticipated between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve.
The delivery and parcel companies have claimed that they are prepared for high delivery numbers daily, increasing their capacity to 120 million parcels in a day. According to Shipmatrix, the demand for daily packages is just going to be 106 million packages in a day.
USPS Gears Up for a Smooth Holiday Shipping Season
The U.S. Postal Service is ready to deliver parcels in the holiday season. Dr. Joshua Colin, USPS Chief Retail and Delivery Officer and Executive Vice President said, “Thanks to the substantial progress we have made under the Delivering for America plan, we are ready and confident to handle the holiday surge, Our ability to move packages and mail throughout our network has never been stronger. USPS continues to be the most affordable and reliable way to ship packages and mail this holiday season and year-round.”
USPS took several major steps before the holiday season to make the delivery process more convenient and fast. To expand the daily packaging capacity, the USPS revitalized 83 sorting and delivery centers and revamped a network of around 19,000 delivery units.
The parcel company also added 506 package sorting machines to increase the rate of accurate and reliable sorting. USPS also hired 7,500 employees just for the holiday season, which generates seasonal employment. Lower prices are one of the unique features of USPS, which allows it to stand out in the market.
UPS’s Strategy for a Smooth Holiday Shipping Season
UPS’s CEO Carol Tome said in October that companies have lowered their delivery forecast amid the short shopping season. This year, Thanksgiving occurred in late November which is not usual leaving less time for customers to do shopping. He believes that customers will be more inclined towards in-store shopping, which will decrease the anticipated count of online deliveries.
However, even after all these anticipations, UPS has taken all the necessary measures to cope with delivery during the holiday season.
How FedEx is Preparing to Meet Holiday Shipping Demands in 2024?
FedEx is geared up to deliver parcels during the peak holiday season. The delivery company is prepared to provide a seamless experience to the customers and to avoid any delays. FedEx has a world-class team of 500,000 members, with the capacity to process 16 million packages daily.
Brie Carriere, FedEx Executive vice president and Chief customer officer said, “FedEx has been gearing up all year for the peak holiday season, and we’re committed to making it easy, fast, and affordable for our customers, consumers will inevitably feel the holiday rush due to five fewer shopping days between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, and we’re prepared to give our customers more peace of mind with enhanced visibility and accuracy in estimated delivery times.”
As holiday shopping shifts back to in-store purchases, both UPS and FedEx have stepped up their operations to ensure timely and reliable deliveries. With new strategies, increased capacity, and the addition of seasonal staff, customers can feel confident in receiving their parcels on time. As businesses and customers prepare for the holiday rush, the improvements made by delivery companies, including USPS, are a win for everyone—making the season smooth for everyone, including men who can now enjoy hassle-free gift shopping and fast deliveries.
