STUTTGART, Germany-A century ago, it wasn't unusual for households, even middle class households, to have servants. The number has declined precipitously due to technology, rendering hired help a luxury.
Need dinner fixed? Pull out your smartphone and request a prepared meal kit from any number of companies such as Blue Apron or HelloFresh. The meal's pre-measured ingredients come to your door; all you do is assemble them and cook. And why run to a store for a few household items when so many companies will deliver them to your door? Never mind sending the maid or driving yourself to the store, the store comes to you.
This has had a major impact on the shipping industry, which is growing as much as 10 percent annually according to McKinsey. In developing countries, such as India, growth is more than 100 percent.
"The biggest issue is, especially these days, is that there is not enough capacity out there to deliver the parcels to the customers," said Volker Mornhinweg, head of Mercedes-Benz Vans.
Compounding this growth is the need for instant gratification. Almost 25 percent of consumers will pay more for same-day delivery, according to McKinsey's report. This share is expected to increase given that more than 30 percent of younger consumers choose same-day delivery instead of regular delivery. But while consumers want quick delivery, only 2 percent are willing to pay enough to make instant delivery viable. This makes the final part of delivery, known as the last mile, a crucial part of the delivery. It also accounts more than 50 percent of delivery cost.
This logistical challenge is being tackled by one of e-commerce's key suppliers: Mercedes-Benz, which builds the full-size Sprinter van.
The automaker's forthcoming line of redesigned Sprinter vans, first introduced in the United States in 1995 and updated in 2010, are evolving into more than transportation as connectivity is integrated for the first time. Company officials see the new vans becoming an essential tool in a company's IT infrastructure. Mornhinweg characterizes the third-generation Sprinters as "a unique, holistic transport solution: a completely networked van as part of the Internet of Things."