The Rapid Rise of On-Demand Delivery: Europe Quick E-Commerce (Quick Commerce) Market will grow at highest pace owing to increasing consumer demand for hyperlocal deliveries
The Europe quick commerce market has experienced strong growth in recent years driven by increased adoption of on-demand delivery services and benefits such as convenience, affordability and speed. Quick commerce enables customers to order groceries and everyday essentials through mobile applications with delivery promised within one hour. Rising adoption of smartphones and high-speed internet along with busy lifestyles have boosted demand for fast delivery of items. Quick commerce retailers maintain dense micro-fulfillment centers for efficient sorting and packing of items close to customers to ensure superfast deliveries.
The Global Europe quick e-commerce (quick commerce) market is estimated to be valued at US$ 5.59 Bn in 2024 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 12% over the forecast period 2024 to 2030.
Key Takeaways
Key players operating in the Europe quick commerce market are Motorola Solutions, ABB, Everbridge, Hexagon, IBM, General Electric, Siemens, Honeywell, Huawei, Cisco, Microsoft, Rockwell Collins, Saab, Ericsson, Harris Corporation, Motorola Solutions, NEC Corporation, Lockheed Martin, TCS, Atos. Quick commerce retailers are investing heavily in expanding their fulfillment centers and partnering with local merchants to scale up their hyperlocal delivery capabilities to cater to the growing demand from customers. Technological advancements such as AI-powered inventory management and robotic automations have enabled quick commerce players to promise deliveries under 30 minutes and scale operations successfully.
Market Trends
Consolidation: The Europe Quick Commerce Market has witnessed significant consolidation over the past two years as large retail and technology companies have acquired prominent quick commerce startups to gain first mover advantage. For example, Turkey-based Getir was acquired by UK-based supermarket major J Sainsbury plc in 2022.
Sustainability: Quick commerce companies are strengthening their sustainability credentials by partnering with electric vehicle fleet operators, utilizing reusable packaging and optimizing delivery routes to reduce environmental impact of fast deliveries. This is a key trend among consumers in Europe and helps brands gain market share.
Market Opportunities
Dark Stores: Quick commerce companies are setting up dense networks of 'dark stores' which are micro-fulfillment centers located in high density residential and commercial areas for streamlined inventory management and order assembly. This offers huge growth potential.
New Categories: While groceries and essentials dominate currently, market opportunity exists in expanding product categories to include fresh foods, electronics, medicines, books etc. to provide a one-stop delivery experience. Partnerships could help capture this opportunity.
Impact of COVID-19 on Europe Quick E-Commerce (Quick Commerce) Market
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly accelerated the growth of the quick e-commerce market in Europe. Lockdowns and social distancing measures imposed restrictions on physical shopping, boosting the demand for contactless delivery of goods. Grocery and essential items emerged as the top categories purchased through quick delivery channels. Players in the region expanded their fleet capacities and invested in dense distribution networks to cater to the surge in order volumes during the peak pandemic period. Post lockdowns as well, consumer preference for quick online shopping of daily necessities, food, and medicines has remained elevated even as physical stores reopened. Companies are leveraging data analytics to optimize delivery routes, reduce times further. However, labor shortages and high operating costs continue to pose challenges. Sustained partnerships between retailers and quick commerce platforms will be crucial to capture the ongoing market opportunity.
Key Geographical Regions for Europe Quick E-Commerce (Quick Commerce) Market
In terms of value, Western Europe accounted for the major share of the Europe quick e-commerce market in 2024 led by countries such as Germany, France and the UK. Dense urban conglomerations, high smartphone and internet penetration coupled with rising demand for instant deliveries from metro areas have centered growth here. Meanwhile, Eastern Europe has emerged as the fastest growing regional market and is expected to witness a CAGR of over 15% during the forecast period. Countries like Poland experience a combination of rising incomes, growing digital adoption and underserved needs of Tier 1 cities, priming the region for quick commerce business models and sustained investments.
Impact of COVID-19 on Geographical Regions for Europe Quick E-Commerce (Quick Commerce) Market
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has varied across different geographical regions in Europe. Western European countries that were early virus hotspots such as Italy, Spain and the UK saw a massive surge in demand for quick delivery of groceries and other daily essentials as lockdowns were imposed. This helped accelerate market adoption in major metropolitan markets. Meanwhile, countries in Eastern Europe that witnessed outbreaks later benefited from being able to study best practices rolled out elsewhere and swiftly launched hyperlocal quick commerce initiatives to serve communities during lockdowns. As vaccination rates increase regionally post the third wave, growth trajectories are also stabilizing with regional players expanding into new high-density suburbs and smaller cities.
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