Trial shoppers in San Jose, California can order their groceries through an app and have them delivered to their door by self-driving vehicle company AutoX. While many people have an inherent distrust of AI-powered passenger vehicles, could ‘last mile’ delivery be a logical application of this technology?

E-commerce has made it simple to order almost anything at any time – but physically getting what you’ve bought isn’t always so convenient. How are retailers coping with the growing demand for same-day and one-hour delivery? And is speed the only thing that matters to shoppers?

According to a survey by SOTI, six-in-ten Australians consider quick delivery times the most important factor when shopping online. However, most Aussies are not willing to pay for a faster service – instead, they expect levels of extreme convenience as service, by default.

In June 2018 eBay is launching its membership service, eBay Plus, in Australia. The retail platform is hoping that the convenience of the service – including unlimited deliveries and returns – might persuade those who often abandon their shopping cart to spend more online.