Expedited vs Express: What’s Best for My E-Commerce Business?

Recent research by CapitalOne has underlined the importance of speedy delivery in e-commerce:

• 74% of online shoppers expect their goods to be delivered within two days of purchase
• 56% of online shoppers aged between 18 and 34 expect same-day delivery
• If shipping takes longer than two days, 63% of consumers say they’ll shop elsewhere in the future

So if you aren’t able to offer services like expedited shipping or express shipping, you’ll quickly miss out on sales and revenue. But these two terms are often confused, and it’s important to note the difference, so you can choose the right options for your business, and the expectations of your customers.

In this guide, we’ll give you all the key facts around expedited vs express shipping: how they work, the key differences, and how to work out which option is best in different cases.

Jump to:

• What is Expedited Shipping?
• What is Express Shipping?
• Expedited vs Express Shipping: What are the Key Differences?
• When Should You Use Expedited Delivery Services?
• When Should You Use Express Delivery Services?
• How Can I Save Money on Expedited Shipping and Express Shipping?
• Picking the Right Shipping Option for Your Business and Customers
• FAQs

What is Expedited Shipping?

Expedited shipping refers to a speed of delivery that is faster than a standard shipping service. The length of time an expedited shipping delivery usually takes is between two and five working days, although this can vary from one delivery provider to another, and also depends on the distance that the goods have to travel.

What is Express Shipping?

Express shipping is quicker than expedited shipping, typically delivering in only one or two business days (again, depending on destination and the offering of different delivery providers). The timeframes for delivery tend to be more fixed for express shipping.

Expedited vs Express Shipping: What are the Key Differences?

On paper, you might think that there isn’t too much difference between expedited shipping and express shipping. But there are three key distinctions that set them apart.

Delivery time

The first, and perhaps the most obvious, is delivery timeframe. Express shipping is designed to be quicker than expedited shipping and is therefore better-designed to meet customer expectations in cases where speed is the key.

Cost

The super-fast service of express shipping is reflected in its pricing: it’s naturally a more expensive option than choosing expedited shipping. The difference in price between the two options varies from one delivery provider to the next, especially with regards to the difference in timespan between them.

Guaranteed delivery periods

Because express shipping aims to deliver in a much shorter timeframe, many providers will define highly specific periods within which the goods will be delivered (sometimes as short as an hour or two). Expedited shipping is looser by comparison, with potential delivery periods of a full day or sometimes more.

When Should You Use Expedited Delivery Services?

Just because express shipping is the faster option doesn’t necessarily mean that there is no use for expedited shipping. In the context of your e-commerce operation, where your priorities need to be balanced with those of the customer, expedited shipping is preferable:

When you want fast shipping at lower cost

Expedited shipping often represents a good balance of speed and value. It provides a faster service that would be provided through standard shipping, but without the high price tag that comes with express shipping. This can help protect your profit margin if you’re offering free delivery and covering the cost yourself, or allows the customer to save if they’re paying the delivery fee.

When express shipping doesn’t serve a particular area

Express shipping doesn’t always reach into every part of the world. Some remote areas aren’t suitable for express options, and if you’re sending goods over very long distances (especially internationally), sometimes it isn’t even possible to get goods delivered same-day or next-day. In this case, expedited shipping actually represents the best possible option.

When you’re shipping goods that are large or heavy

Given the extra cost involved with express shipping, the price of delivery can really ramp up if goods are bulky in size or weigh a lot. In these cases, the gap in price between expedited vs express shipping can often be much wider, meaning that the expedited option makes more financial sense. Given the extra charges involved, customers may be more likely to go expedited in such a situation if they’re facing substantial delivery charges at their end.

When you want to limit the carbon footprint of your operations

One of the main reasons express shipping is so fast is by using air freight to transport goods from one location to another. This might please customers in terms of receiving their goods quickly, but we live in a world where consumer concerns about sustainability are high, and aviation generates large amounts of CO2 emissions. NielsenIQ research has found that 72% of consumers worldwide are willing to pay more for sustainable products, and 34% are more likely to buy products with sustainable credentials. Expedited shipping, while slower, is more likely to use transport methods like road and rail that are greener than aviation, which makes the delivery process kinder to the environment.

When Should You Use Express Delivery Services?

On the other hand, there are certain cases where express shipping will be the way to go. These tend to be:

When speed is a higher priority than cost

If money is no object (relatively speaking) and the customer wants the item as quickly as humanly possible, then express shipping should always be on offer. Anything less is likely to leave them frustrated, disappointed, and make it more likely that they’ll take their business elsewhere in the future.

When the customer is happy to pay extra

Of course, express shipping can be expensive, and that should be factored into your considerations. But if the delivery charge on your e-commerce platform is applied at the customer’s end, then they’ll be able to see how much they’ll have to pay for express shipping before they commit. This removes any pressure on your profit margin, while maintaining customer transparency.

When you’re shipping goods that are light, small or perishable

If the goods you’re sending are relatively light and small, then express shipping can represent good value as you won’t be hit with any high weight or size charges. It’s also the better option if you’re sending something that’s time-sensitive: for example, some types of food and medical supplies might have to be chilled or frozen to be safely transported, and will need to arrive at their destination as quickly as possible so that they don’t become unsafe to use.

When you need delivery to be guaranteed within a certain timeframe

The time ranges for delivery tend to be much tighter with express delivery, which can be a real differentiator for busy customers who can’t, or don’t want to, wait at home all day for their goods to arrive. Being able to specify that goods will arrive within a timeframe of only one or two hours removes that stress and supports a better customer experience.

How Can I Save Money on Expedited Shipping and Express Shipping?

Providing expedited or express shipping can quickly become expensive, especially as your e-commerce operations scales upwards and you start sending more and more goods out each day. But it is possible to make the cost more manageable and protect your profit margin without compromising on customer satisfaction:

Bundle multiple packages together

This is something that Amazon has become particularly well-known for over the years: combining orders of multiple items into a single package. Indeed, Amazon regularly offers customers the option of choosing a slower delivery, so that items can be bundled together for reasons of cost and sustainability. Being able to put two or more items into a single package can generate substantial cost savings compared to sending each one separately and individually.

Pass the additional cost of faster shipping onto customers

Capital One has found that two-thirds of American shoppers expect free shipping on all e-commerce orders regardless of value. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t pass on the cost of expedited shipping and express shipping onto them: giving them a free standard shipping option, or faster alternatives for a fee, gives them control and transparency while also protecting your profitability.

Partner with a well-connected logistics expert

With so many different delivery options and services around, it can be difficult to know which is the best to pick, or which ones to use in different cases. Working with a third-party logistics provider (3PL) can open access to multiple delivery providers, and they will connect your expedited shipping and express shipping requirements to the most suitable service each time.

Picking the Right Shipping Option for Your Business and Customers

Ensuring the right goods are sent using the right shipping option is a key part of fulfilment and e-commerce logistics.

This is where the expert team at ILG is perfectly placed to help. Through our managed multi-carrier delivery services, you can access over 1,000 delivery services through a single platform, including a range of express and expedited services. Giving your business access to the right shipping options and a reliable stress-free delivery experience for your customers. And by storing your inventory at our fulfilment centres, we can get items on their way as soon as an order lands, so that your e-commerce business meets your customers’ expectations for speedy delivery.

To find out more on fulfilment and delivery, or to discuss your wider e-commerce inventory needs, get in touch with our team today.

FAQs

Is expedited shipping always between two and five days?

This depends entirely on the provider. Most will offer expedited shipping within this timeframe, but it’s important to check the terms and conditions of the individual provider before working with them. You should also remember that delivery tends to be measured in business days: if the period of delivery spans a weekend, or a public holiday such as Christmas, then it may take a little longer.

What happens if my package isn’t delivered in the agreed timeframe?

That depends on what’s laid out in the delivery provider’s terms and conditions. Most commonly, they will provide a refund, or credit against any future delivery requirements you may need. However, this doesn’t necessarily take care of the disruption or dissatisfaction that this might cause at the customer’s end. An external partner will be able to mitigate these risks and always use the most reliable options.

Can I mix and match expedited shipping and express shipping?

Absolutely. There’s no reason why you can’t apply different shipping options to different products, depending on which makes more business sense. It also allows you to give your customers more choice and flexibility, and allow them to make their own judgement on balancing speed and cost of delivery. A good third-party logistics provider will be able to manage this on your behalf, and use their connections to access the best-value shipping services available.