India’s quick-commerce gains could inform Amazon’s US and Europe strategy.

Even if one pressure eases, tariffs, oil prices, and shipping disruptions are likely to keep prices elevated.

A recent Supreme Court ruling could raise broker insurance and vetting costs, making transportation more expensive.

The retailer now offers delivery in 30 minutes or less in select US markets.

Old Navy wants to stand out for consumers with convenience, now offering same-day delivery on items including jeans, beanies, and dress shoes through DoorDash. “It’s a classic win-win,” said Nishith Rastogi, founder and CEO of Locus, a logistics tech provider recently acquired by IKEA parent company Ingka Group. “The retailer gets speed, and the platform gets density and stronger utilization across its network.”

Amazon plans to replace over 500,000 human jobs with robots as part of a major automation drive aimed at speeding up deliveries and cutting costs, according to The New York Times. After years of workforce expansion, the company is now focused on streamlining operations, with new robotic warehouses like its Shreveport, Louisiana facility already reducing staffing needs by 25%. Amazon expects to replicate this model nationwide by 2027, maintaining headcount while doubling sales by 2033. The shift toward automation is designed to boost efficiency, cut per-package costs, and reinforce Amazon’s dominance in US ecommerce through faster, cheaper fulfillment.

The milestone: Amazon recently deployed its 1 millionth robot in its fulfillment centers—a figure approaching the number of human workers at those facilities. Our take: Automation is a central element within Amazon’s relentless push to narrow the gap between click and doorstep. Fast delivery isn’t just about convenience; it transforms how consumers shop. The faster Amazon gets everyday essentials like toothpaste into customers’ hands—especially with free delivery for Prime members—the harder it becomes for other retailers to compete. That gives Amazon a durable edge as it looks to expand its share of US ecommerce sales.

The news: Walmart is testing dark stores in Dallas and Bentonville, Arkansas, as part of its broader effort to speed up deliveries, per Bloomberg. Our take: Amazon’s latest pledge to offer one- or same-day delivery in 4,000 smaller cities and rural areas by year’s end is the latest salvo in its relentless quest to raise the bar on convenience. For Walmart, keeping pace isn’t optional—it’s essential. Fortunately, Walmart has the scale and infrastructure to compete. Fast delivery isn’t just about logistics; it’s a powerful driver of customer loyalty. When shoppers know they can get essentials like toothpaste at their doorstep within hours, they’re more likely to click the buy button rather than venture out to a store.

Amazon Prime is deeply entrenched in the US, with 75% of households as members. Despite this saturation, Amazon sees growth opportunities in international markets and among underpenetrated US demographics: rural, younger, and lower-income consumers. These groups show untapped potential, said Jamil Ghani, Amazon Prime’s worldwide VP. Prime fuels Amazon’s ecosystem—members spend more by using benefits like streaming, pharmacy, Grubhub+, and free shipping. In contrast, nonmembers often spend less over time. By expanding perks and appealing to new segments, Amazon uses Prime to drive loyalty, customer lifetime value, and resilience against macroeconomic shifts.

D2C shoppers want fast delivery speed: Survey shows they are less interested in the story behind a brand and more concerned about basic operational execution.

Amazon strengthened its grip on ecommerce in 2024: The retailer warded off growing competition from Temu and Walmart by improving delivery speeds, offering deals, and enhancing Prime benefits.

Amazon to launch budget marketplace to compete with Temu, Shein: The retailer is copying their playbook—complete with cheap products and longer delivery times—to stay ahead in the ecommerce race.

Walmart’s automated warehouses enable it to do twice the work with half the staff: Those gains are creating more capacity for third-party sellers, and putting the retailer on track to hit ecommerce profitability in two years

Delivery is a critical component of ecommerce fulfillment, but accessing this opportunity requires brands and retailers to navigate a complex set of options and find ways to meet rising consumer expectations.

Large retailers are in a prime position for the final holiday push: Amazon, Target, and Walmart are poised to leverage their infrastructures to capture an outsize share of spend and retail media dollars.

“Shopping apps and marketplaces that specialize in ultralow-cost goods from China are gaining a foothold among US consumers—with broader implications for the future of ecommerce,” our analyst Sky Canaves wrote in our Chinese Ecommerce in the US report. Canaves expanded on what’s driving this retail opportunity for companies like Shein, Temu, and TikTok in the US and how it will impact the US market on a recent “Reimagining Retail” podcast episode.

Faster is better when it comes to ecommerce delivery times: Amazon and Walmart leverage automation, limiting the distance items travel to quickly get online orders to shoppers’ doors.