Companies in five key European markets are intending to grow their last-mile logistics footprint to meet the continued shift towards e-commerce retail, according to a new survey undertaken by Mileway.
The survey of 600 small to large businesses that rent commercial property located in or around large urban areas in the UK, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Sweden, found 98% of respondents now sell online compared with 82% when Mileway undertook a similar survey in August 2021, with just over three quarters (77%) of the companies surveyed saying they intend to increase the amount of last-mile space they rent – up from 60% in August 2021.
Emmanuel Van der Stichele, chief executive officer at Mileway, said: “Having a good understanding of what our customers require enables Mileway to provide superior service, and we frequently talk to our broad customer base which covers many sectors and is located all over Europe.
“However, surveying a large number of our customers like this, allows us to see trends at scale. The results clearly show that the shift to online has continued over the last 18 months, even as Europe has re-opened following the end of Covid-based restrictions.
“Not only have we seen a significant increase in the proportion of businesses selling online, even after restrictions ended, but more businesses than ever see e-commerce as a key component of their strategy. This is continuing to drive demand for high-quality, well-located properties near urban hubs.”
