Are Faster Deliveries Making Us Impatient?

Only a decade ago, we consider 5-7 business days a reasonable wait for an online delivery. Fast forward to the current situation, same-day, next-day, one-click. We've never had to wait less for anything, but somehow, we're more impatient than we have ever been. 



The Rise of “Now” Culture

With companies like Amazon Prime, Blinkit, Zepto, and Uber eats promising same-day or even 10-minute deliveries, “fast” has been completely redefined. In 2024, over 65% of online shoppers globally expected delivery within two days or less. And in places like India, hyperlocal delivery platforms are scaling faster than ever, optimising routes with AI and drones. 

According to McKinsey (2023), 41% of consumers in urban India expect delivery in under 30 minutes for essentials.

The logistics behind this speed are intense, hyperlocal warehouses, real-time inventory tracking, and an expanding gig economy workforce.

But while companies are racing to be faster, we’re becoming... less patient.


How Fast Delivery Is Rewiring Our Brains

Behavioral economists suggest that instant deliveries trigger dopamine cycles, similar to those seen in social media usage. The more we get used to immediate gratification, the harder it becomes to tolerate delay, not just in delivery, but in life: texting, streaming, learning. There’s actually science behind this. Psychologists call it “instant gratification conditioning.” 

A 2022 Harvard Business Review study found that consumer satisfaction dropped by 23% when delivery times increased from 2 hours to 24 hours. 


The Hidden Cost of Speed

All of this speed isn’t magic. It comes at a cost. Delivery workers are put under immense pressure to meet insane timelines. There’s more packaging waste. More emissions. More burnout. And ironically, sometimes, less satisfaction. Because when we get what we want too fast, we don’t appreciate it as much.

Some brands are trying something new, offering slower delivery options in exchange for discounts or carbon points. Others are encouraging mindful consumption. But for us, as individuals, maybe it’s about recognizing the pattern. 

For example: Amazon’s “No Rush” shipping option offers gift cards in exchange for slower deliveries and Flipkart’s “Green Delivery” pilot allows users to choose a bundled delivery day to reduce carbon impact.


Instant delivery is here to stay, but it’s also changing us. From reshaping supply chains to rewiring how we perceive time, this evolution in logistics has widespread consequences.

The key isn’t to stop progress, but to understand it. And maybe, sometimes, to press pause.

- Palak Bhandari- 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Does Workwear Influence Work Culture?

Image
It is very fascinating looking at how so many of the fashion trends today revolve around corporate work wear, blazers, button downs and even ties.  We have seen this workwear dominate recent runway collections: 33% of Bottega Veneta’s collection, 35% of Alexander McQueen’s, and 32% of Michael Kors’. Does all this workwear actually make us want to work? The Rise of Workwear Fashion The increase of structured business wear in high fashion is no coincidence. It’s pretty interesting that just as companies are pushing for employees to return to the office, corporate-style fashion is making a huge comeback.  When looking back at the past, fashion and the economy have always been linked, corporate-inspired fashion tends to comeback during periods of economic recovery. The 1980s, a time of booming financial markets, saw the rise of power dressing—sharp suits, shoulder pads, and statement blazers. Similarly, after the 2008 financial crisis, brands leaned into minimalist, tailored ...
Read more

The Economics of Sudden Wealth

Image
It’s the dream to many, right? Winning the lottery, getting an instant multi-million-dollar payout, quitting your job, and living a life of luxury. But what if I told you that bascialy almost, 70% of lottery winners go broke within five years? Instead of financial freedom, many winners find themselves bankrupt, stressed, and sometimes even worse off than before.   What’s really going on here? Is it just wild spending, or is there more to it? Let’s break it down.  The Shock of Sudden Wealth   Winning the lottery sounds like the ultimate glow-up, but it can actually mess with your life—fast. Sudden wealth syndrome  is when someone gets a huge amount of money out of nowhere and struggles to deal with it. Think of it like this: your lifestyle jumps up way faster than your money knowledge. That combo = disaster. Economists also talk about  MPC (Marginal Propensity to Consume) —aka how much of every extra dollar someone spends instead of saving. Lottery winners u...
Read more

The Rise of Microtransactions in Gaming: Are We Paying More Than We Realize?

Image
 Gaming, once a simple and immersive escape from the mundane, has evolved into an arena where players can easily spend hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. With microtransactions now entrenched in the gaming industry, it’s no longer just about playing the game—it’s about purchasing digital goods, unlocking special features, and leveling up in ways that were once unimaginable. But are we, as players, paying more than we realize? The Explosion of Microtransactions Microtransactions in gaming are not exactly a new phenomenon, but their growth over the past decade has been staggering. From Fortnite’s battle passes to loot boxes in FIFA and Overwatch, microtransactions have shifted from an optional feature to a core component of game monetization. This isn't just a passing trend—it's a powerful business strategy. The staggering numbers back it up.  EA’s   FIFA  series, for example, generates more revenue from microtransactions than from the actual sale of the game itse...
Read more