Once hailed as the future of e-commerce and a hallmark of next-gen last-mile logistics, same-day delivery has not yet lived up to expectations in Poland. While the concept remains an appealing marketing slogan and has found niche applications, its actual market penetration remains limited. The more traditional D+1 delivery model (next-day delivery) works exceptionally well in Poland, and same-day options have yet to gain widespread traction — primarily due to intense price sensitivity among consumers.
“Polish customers are especially cost-conscious, and their willingness to pay extra for faster delivery is still low,” an expert notes.
As a result, premium delivery services, despite being technologically and operationally feasible, haven’t taken off — largely because the market isn’t ready, both in terms of demand and supply.
Quick Commerce Hits a Bump
One of the rising global trends in e-commerce is quick commerce — ultra-fast delivery, often within an hour. While this model is gaining momentum in Western markets, it is still developing slowly in Poland. Nonetheless, the potential for growth is significant, particularly among younger consumers who increasingly value fast delivery of essentials like meals, groceries, and ready-made diet kits.
“Quick commerce is definitely a direction with promise — even if it’s still in its infancy here. The scale isn’t massive yet, but we see great potential and are investing in this segment,” says a representative of DPD Polska.
That said, quick commerce — like same-day delivery — faces real barriers in Poland. The most pressing is, again, price sensitivity.
“We’ve tested premium options like same-day delivery, but the interest was very low. Neither consumers nor retailers were ready,” explains Artur Kaleńczuk.
Customers today expect deliveries that are fast yet inexpensive — ideally free. The phrase “free delivery” still resonates more effectively than “express delivery,” especially when the latter comes at an additional cost.
Optimization Over Innovation?
In the face of mounting competition, geopolitical uncertainty, and soaring operational costs, e-commerce companies in Poland are being forced to focus on cost optimization and process efficiency.
“There’s immense price pressure, even though real costs are increasing. Even the smallest businesses now expect flexibility, personalized service, and tailored solutions — but at competitive rates,” says Kaleńczuk.
This dynamic leaves little room for implementing costly solutions the market isn’t ready to embrace. Instead, attention is turning to automation and fulfillment services, which lower unit costs and improve scalability.
“Manual packing is becoming obsolete. Anyone serious about growth must invest in automated processes,” adds the expert.
Consequently, more and more companies are outsourcing logistics as a core element of their cost strategy. Fulfillment services allow e-commerce businesses to focus on sales while delegating warehousing, packing, and returns to specialized partners.
Logistics Without Compromise
E-commerce in Poland is still expanding rapidly, but this growth is taking place under the weight of severe pricing pressure, which is significantly shaping logistics strategies. Premium services like same-day delivery and quick commerce — despite being technologically viable — have not achieved mass adoption. This is largely due to low consumer acceptance of added costs, both in the B2C and B2B sectors.
As a result, the key drivers of logistics today are not speed, but efficiency, automation, and cost optimization. The market is prioritizing fulfillment infrastructure, smart technologies, and streamlined processes — the only path to scale without pushing prices higher.
“It’s not just about keeping up — it’s about actively shaping change,” Kaleńczuk emphasizes. “Success now comes from standing out through quality — from the product offering to logistics, to customer service, and building long-term relationships. E-commerce has a bright future ahead, but it’s undergoing rapid transformation. That’s why companies need to keep investing, stay on top of tech trends, and ideally — create innovation themselves instead of just reacting to it.”
Source: ceo.com.pl – DPD Polska on the evolving Polish e-commerce logistics landscape
