Australians continue to face long wait times when they order from abroad, contrasting the immediacy that services like Amazon have conditioned shoppers to expect. By enlisting ordinary citizens to deliver packages as they go about their day, Passel hopes to help ease the pain points of e-commerce.

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?

With Amazon Key, which includes a security camera and smart lock, the retailer is asking shoppers to let couriers open their front door to drop off parcels when they’re not around. While it may streamline delivery and prevent package theft, do people want strangers entering their homes?

Roughly half of Americans have stayed home to wait for a delivery, but with people busier than ever, this requirement is causing them to think twice before ordering online. Walmart is testing a new programme that sees couriers unloading groceries into customers' fridges, even if no one is home.