Australians ordered over 1 billion parcels during 2020, a first for the country, according to the latest Pitney Bowes parcel shipping index.

In a year that saw bricks-and-mortar shut down for extended periods, forcing many Australians to shop online for the first time, Australia’s parcel volumes hit a new high – with an average of 40 parcels generated per person.

“The increase in parcel shipping in Australia is no surprise,” said Pitney Bowes Japan, Australia and New Zealand country manager Stephen Darracott.

“[The] index [confirmed] what our own predictions and other indicators in the market were already saying. For example, recent research from Australia Post found that Australians are buying online at unprecedented rates: a record 5.6 million Australians bought something online in August.

“[And] as we move into the peak shipping season in Australia, it will be key for organisations to explore technology platforms that offer multiple carriers.”

But the record parcel volumes have come at a cost.

Australia Post – the country’s dominant delivery partner, with 40 per cent of the market, according to Pitney Bowes – shut down e-commerce parcel pick-ups for a weekend earlier in September and is aiming to do so for another five days starting Friday, 1st October, due to the increased pressure on its network and the impact of Covid-related self-isolations.

Delivery partners and retailers are seeing online demand in line with what is usually relegated to the Christmas period, and with the actual holiday season about to start, there’s undoubtedly more pressure and delays to come.