New research from business mobility solutions provider SOTI has uncovered the trends and challenges set to reshape e-commerce and logistics in Australia in 2025.
SOTI’s latest report, The Road Ahead: Driving Digital Transformation in T&L, listed five key trends, which are:
Decrease in consumer patience
In 2025, customers are expected to demand even faster, more efficient deliveries. According to SOTI, 44 per cent of Australian consumers say they would abandon a purchase if delivery took more than two days, while 57 per cent expect the option to pick up an item ordered online the same day.
“As consumers become increasingly accustomed to rapid service, e-commerce companies face greater pressure to match that speed across every interaction,” said Michael Dyson, VP of Sales & Marketing, APAC at SOTI. “Swift and seamless delivery is evolving from a convenience to a baseline expectation.”
Focus on data protection
42 per cent of consumers already expressed concern about retailers’ ability to protect their personal information and 31 per cent feared potential data exposure. Additionally, 53 per cent of Australian transportation and logistics (T&L) workers worry about the security of customer data if mobile devices are lost or stolen.
Increased demand for real-time supply chain visibility
Consumers increasingly expect transparency from start to finish when it comes to their online orders. SOTI research noted that 77 per cent of consumers want to track their online order status in real-time, thus requiring enhanced supply chain tracking and communication to build consumer trust.
“Consumers have finite patience. They expect to see the journey of their order unfold in real time, from checkout to doorstep,” Dyson said. “By leveraging the right tools, organisations can gain a comprehensive view of metrics on real-time inventory tracking, fleet locations and delivery statuses to ensure they’re providing their customers with the best possible service.”
Device downtime to increasingly impact e-commerce organisations
SOTI research revealed that e-commerce workers lose an average of 16 hours per employee per month to mobile device issues, a decrease of almost an hour of downtime per month per employee. SOTI says this is an indication that there has been very little progress made due to the lack of seamless integration in tech.
Remote management to become a priority for driver safety
Delivery drivers face significant pressure to meet demanding schedules, and SOTI’s research highlightyed the fact that 22 per cent of drivers report feeling compelled to speed up after tech-related delays to avoid late deliveries. In 2025, it is expected that systems enabling remote troubleshooting will be critical to maintaining driver safety and keeping deliveries on track without sacrificing efficiency.
“Our findings highlight a concerning reality—drivers face pressure to ‘catch up’ on tech delays, which can put them in difficult situations on the road,” noted Dyson. “Device analytics – tracking app functionality, network connectivity and battery status – can proactively resolve device issues remotely, boosting productivity, enhancing employee wellbeing and improving customer satisfaction.”
