A recent report by the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) examines the impact of e-commerce and omnichannel retail on consumer shopping habits. The study highlights significant savings in time, money, and emissions for consumers.
The report finds that home delivery e-commerce provides substantial annual savings for consumers. Rural shoppers save nearly $1,000 each year, while urban consumers save over $500. Additionally, omnichannel options like buying online and picking up in-store offer further savings of around $150 for rural consumers and about $90 for urban shoppers annually.
The environmental benefits are also notable. If adopted widely, these shopping methods could reduce emissions equivalent to removing hundreds of thousands of cars from the road each year. This reduction is valued at over $1 billion annually.
Trevor Wagener, CCIA’s Chief Economist and Director of the Research Center, commented on the findings: “E-commerce and omnichannel options have revolutionized the shopping experience, offering consumers substantial time savings, financial benefits, and emissions reductions. These benefits are particularly large for rural consumers, who typically face higher time and travel costs to access brick-and-mortar store locations.”
