UNPACKING FAST FULFILLMENT AND DELIVERY
As same-day delivery becomes the norm, businesses harness supply chain visibility, strategic inventory placement, and AI to master the intricate balance between expedited fulfillment and shipping and ever- tightening customer expectations. BY KAREN KROLL T he old de nition of expedited shipping was simple. “Pay a premium to move faster,” says Manish Chowdhary, founder and CEO of Cahoot, a peer-to-peer ful llment network. Today, expedited shipping isn’t just For many companies, the ability to speed shipments to their destinations is essential to keeping customers satis ed, especially in the business-to-consumer sector. A
recent OnTrac study found that more than 80% of consumers had paid for expedited shipping at least once in the previous six months, says Vijay Ramachandran, vice president, marketing, product strategy and marketplaces for OnTrac. More than one- third had sought weekend delivery, the survey found. Ongoing trade tensions and geopolitical disruptions also are forcing shippers to rethink their supply chains. This includes the use of expedited shipping.
about speed, although that remains key. It also involves leveraging intelligence, strategically designed distribution networks, and technology solutions that can help determine how best to distribute inventory and route shipments, among other capabilities. Together, these tools can enable shippers to expedite their cargo as quickly and as cost-effectively as possible.
November 2025 • Inbound Logistics 33
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