6 of 10 SMEs face logistical challenges

56%, meanwhile, look to increase the use of on-demand delivery.

Six of 10 small and medium enterprises (SMEs), or 65%, currently face logistical challenges, despite the current flexible delivery solutions. 

These challenges include finding a reliable service provider and access to transparent pricing. 

According to a study conducted by Lalamove, outsourcing delivery save SMEs an average of 18% operational costs. Over half of respondents, meanwhile intend to use on-demand delivery services in the future. 

70% of respondents, on the other hand, are looking for more flexible options compared to three or four years ago. Both online and brick-and-mortar store owners agree that these options can help grow their businesses through the increase of efficiency in operations. 

"The results of this survey show that on-demand delivery service is instrumental in helping all types of SMEs improve operational efficiency and it is becoming a catalyst for business expansion by enabling SMEs to seize every opportunity to scale their business. We are seeing a growth in revenue contributed by SMEs, reflecting how on-demand delivery is increasingly helping businesses tackle logistics challenges and allocate resources in a more flexible manner,” said Gary Chow, Managing Director, Lalamove Hong Kong. 

Other figures gathered during the study include how on-demand delivery reduces operational costs by almost 20%, with 49% of respondents agreeing that not being able to offer on-demand delivery of goods could see the risk of losing customers.