Nearly one in two (48%) of UK shoppers will reply on delivery workers for last minute Christmas presents this year, according to a study by commercial motor insurance provider Zego.
According to the insurance firm, its research highlights the crucial role that delivery workers play over the festive period, but also reveals the extent to which Brits have become dependent on courier services. The study found two-thirds (66%) of respondents order more online than they did prior to Covid lockdowns.
Additionally, 44% of UK residents are currently having groceries and clothes delivered ahead of Christmas, despite high street stores being open. While deliveries of clothing, gifts and takeaways have increased the most since the onset of the pandemic, entertainment has been high on the list too with a third saying they have recently relied on delivery workers for books and electronics, such as TVs, smartphones and games consoles.
The research also found that a number of Brits turned to delivery work during the height of the pandemic, with nearly four million people taking on delivery or courier jobs. Zego predicted this trend is likely to be repeated in the run up to Christmas, with demand for delivery workers during the month of December.
Sten Saar, CEO and co-founder of Zego, said: “Delivery and courier services increased two-fold during the pandemic, playing a vital role for British people. Despite a return to normality, it is evident that people are still reliant on these services, and with Christmas just around the corner, we expect to see more drivers on the road, bringing gifts and groceries to millions of households.
“Zego is proud to insure such a large proportion of this market, powering opportunities for drivers and riders.”
Zego provides insurance to a large number of fleet businesses and serves over a third of the food delivery market in the UK. For this research, the insurtech firm surveyed 2,000 UK adults of varying demographics across the country to understand delivery habits post-Covid.
