A recent analysis by Carpathia, an e-commerce management consultancy, reveals that free delivery continues to be a relatively uncommon perk for online shoppers in Switzerland. The study examined the shipping conditions of the top 47 business-to-consumer online stores in the country (excluding Microspot, Interdiscount, eBay, and Ricardo).

Limited Free Delivery Options

The data indicates that only 17% of the analyzed stores currently offer free delivery on all orders. This figure remains largely unchanged compared to 2023. A more prevalent strategy adopted by 64% of the stores involves offering free shipping only when the order value surpasses a specific threshold. The remaining 19% of stores consistently charge for delivery, regardless of the order value.

Factors Affecting Free Delivery

Several factors could contribute to the limited availability of free delivery in the Swiss e-commerce market. These may include:

• Smaller Market Size: Compared to larger European markets, Switzerland has a relatively small population base. This could make it less cost-effective for retailers to absorb the full cost of free delivery across all orders.
• Logistics Costs: The geographical landscape of Switzerland, with its mountainous regions, could potentially complicate and increase last-mile delivery costs for online retailers.

Consumer Expectations

Despite the limited prevalence of free delivery, Swiss consumers may increasingly expect competitive shipping options as e-commerce continues to grow. Retailers that can offer efficient and cost-effective delivery solutions are likely to gain a competitive advantage in the Swiss market.

The Carpathia analysis provides a snapshot of the current state of free delivery options within the Swiss e-commerce landscape. While free shipping remains uncommon, consumer expectations and evolving market dynamics could influence future trends. DMSMatrix will continue to monitor developments in this space and provide updates as they become available. It will be interesting to observe whether Swiss online retailers adapt their shipping strategies to cater to potentially growing consumer demand for free delivery options.