The Logistics Challenge of E-Commerce: Transformation or Collapse for Carriers

E-commerce in Spain continues to grow. According to forecasts by UNO Logística, the sector will experience growth of 5.4% in 2025, translating into unprecedented shipping volumes: in 2024 alone, 1.303 billion shipments were handled, an 8.6% increase from the previous year.

This expansion, while positive for the economy, places extreme pressure on carriers, who must face increasingly demanding requirements in terms of speed, flexibility, and efficiency. Spanish consumers are now less tolerant: 54% do not accept delivery delays and would switch brands if they occur, while 77% particularly value fast options tailored to their schedules. In this context, logistics is no longer a simple operational support but a strategic factor that can define the success or failure of an online business.

The last mile has become the major bottleneck. This final leg of the delivery process concentrates the greatest challenges: urban congestion, high operational costs, and consumer expectations of immediacy.

Francisco Aranda, president of UNO Logística, emphasizes that competitiveness forces investment in digitalization, route optimization, delivery grouping, and improvement of reverse logistics. Technologies such as artificial intelligence for demand forecasting or proactive incident management tools (like TDI’s Exwarning) are now essential to anticipate problems and avoid delivery failures. However, implementing these solutions requires massive investments that not all companies, especially SMEs, can afford.

Sustainability emerges as another critical axis. Transport is responsible for approximately 30% of greenhouse gas emissions in Spain, and the growing logistics activity associated with e-commerce aggravates this impact. Consumers and regulations increasingly demand decarbonizing practices: from fleet electrification to the use of sustainable packaging or route optimization to reduce kilometers.

However, this change entails high costs and technical challenges. According to a study, only 36% of buyers believe that e-commerce companies apply sufficient sustainable measures, indicating a long way to go.

Logistics costs and returns management pressure margins. For retailers, delivery cost is the main challenge (30.77%), followed by customer experience and order tracking (17.31%). Furthermore, returns are a major headache: although 53.85% of brands maintain a rate below 5%, their efficient management requires agile and costly systems. Outsourcing logistics (used by 59.62% of companies) is a common option to gain efficiency but implies relinquishing control and depending on external operators.

The regulatory framework and talent shortage complicate the landscape. The emergence of regulations like Low Emission Zones (ZBE) forces carriers to modernize fleets and adjust routes, increasing their operational costs. Additionally, the sector faces an urgent need for generational replacement.

Francisco Aranda warns of the need to promote vocational training and attract young talent to secure the future of logistics in Spain. Without a qualified workforce, it will be impossible to maintain the pace of innovation required by e-commerce.

In conclusion, Spanish carriers are at a crossroads. They must balance investment in technology and sustainability with the pressure to reduce costs and improve efficiency. Those who manage to integrate digitalization, intermodal collaboration, and circular models will not only survive but will lead the transformation of the sector.

E-commerce is no longer a passing trend; it is a structural change redefining logistics as a central element of economic competitiveness. Adaptation is not optional: it is a matter of survival.