Black Friday is predicted to generate an extra 210,000 van deliveries in the UK.
Figures from consultancy BearingPoint show there will be an estimated 30m orders as a result of the promotion, generating in excess of £1.5bn in online sales – up 12% on 2017.
While almost a third of orders will be click and collect, an additional 17m orders for home delivery, compared to an average day, will drive the additional van deliveries.
“Retailers and their third-party logistics providers will need to cope with an increase of over five times their usual daily home delivery volumes,” said BearingPoint.
The firm said that around 20% (6m) of online orders, worth £300m, would be returned following Black Friday.
Stuart Higgins, partner at BearingPoint, said: “Black Friday places a huge logistical challenge on retailers, with massive incremental volume peaks on the day itself combining with a returns surge just as retailers are managing the subsequent Christmas peak.
“This could explain why more retailers than ever this year are moving away from Black Friday as a single day event and instead spreading promotional activity over several weeks leading up to Black Friday to smooth demand and costs.”
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