The shift comes as merchants are stepping back from competition over who can deliver within a day or even hours after an online order is placed.

While executives and investors alike are in some cases heading for the exits, well-capitalized companies in the space are plowing ahead into new markets and projects.

The U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, which provides subsidies to support green technologies in the U.S., is seen as discriminatory by the EU, South Korea and other trading partners.

By embracing multimodal options in last-mile delivery, retailers can effectively draw on an "unlimited" pool of carrier capacity, according to Matt Schultz, vice president of logistics partnerships with OneRail.

Additional workforce to handle peak season volume in the company’s distribution centers.

Visibility and reliable technology implementation solve inefficiencies in on-demand and same-day delivery, says Salman Habib, co-founder and chief executive officer of Burq.

Analytics are being used more and more in parcel shipping because the challenges brought on by the pandemic have not abated, says Jeff Lomax, senior director of product marketing at e2open.

While not opposed to the new focus on next-day parcels, the Communication Workers Union sees no justification for shifting delivery rounds from the morning toward late afternoon and early evening.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy made another attempt to quash a plan to raise about $1 billion annually for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Retailers have a fantastic opportunity to improve their competitive position using new technological tools for customer engagement. But the challenge of doing so is immense.