Retailers Expand Same-Day Delivery Offerings in 2026 to Meet Consumer Demand

Same-day delivery options are expanding in 2026 as retailers seek to broaden their shipping capabilities to meet evolving customer expectations. This year has already seen a wave of announcements: FedEx introduced its SameDay Local service powered by OneRail, Amazon launched one-hour and three-hour delivery windows, and Walmart-owned Sam's Club debuted a new one-hour delivery offering. Dollar General also extended its rural same-day service, while DoorDash unveiled a fresh set of on-demand delivery partnerships with retailers including Foot Locker and Urban Outfitters.

Early indicators suggest these programs are resonating with consumers. Sam's Club reported fulfilling nearly 65,000 one-hour deliveries within less than three weeks of launch. FedEx's SameDay Local has generated interest "way beyond expectations," according to Jason Brenner, senior vice president of FedEx's digital portfolio, with both large retailers and smaller businesses expressing interest.

Whether this early momentum can be sustained remains an open question. Additional fees commonly attached to same-day shipments could be a tough sell in an increasingly price-conscious consumer environment. However, several factors are positioning same-day delivery for long-term success, according to service providers, including improved precision and reliability, operational enhancements, and the emergence of non-store-based distribution options.

Reasons to Launch Same-Day Delivery

Consumer demand for delivery options that fit any scenario is driving retailers to integrate same-day shipping into their portfolio of services, experts told Supply Chain Dive.

For Shipt, grocery orders represent the primary entry point for customers using same-day delivery, according to CEO Kamau Witherspoon. The Target-owned provider observes that many grocery customers eventually expand into ordering other items for same-day delivery. "Once they get into the ecosystem and they have experienced the convenience that we offer through delivering groceries, we see them expanding into other categories," Witherspoon said.

Delivery within hours is particularly appealing for consumers needing items urgently—such as medicine while battling a cold, ingredients for a meal, or household goods that require restocking. These categories have been key contributors to demand for Amazon's and Sam's Club's fast shipping services.

Same-day delivery also attracts customers who value a precise arrival window over the broader time ranges typical of multi-day shipping. This is especially relevant for higher-value or bulky items like televisions and furniture, where customers want to ensure they are home for delivery.

"We've always believed that visibility and being able to deliver within an expected window or on time from an ETA is almost as important, if not more important, than speed," said Dennis Moon, COO of Roadie, a UPS-owned same-day delivery provider. "And we talk to our customers about that all the time, and they agree."

Roadie's volume has continued to rise amid these trends, Moon said, and other operators report similar results. Amazon delivered nearly 70% more items on the same day they were ordered in 2025 compared with the prior year. DoorDash reported that it attracted more new consumers to its U.S. grocery and retail categories in Q4 2025 than in any previous quarter, with unit economics in both categories expected to turn positive in the second half of this year.

Implementing Same-Day Delivery: Obstacles and Tips

For retailers looking to launch or grow same-day delivery, adequate demand is only part of the equation. Large-scale retailers like Walmart can run successful fast shipping programs because they have a wide range of products available at many stores close to end customers, making delivery from those locations more cost-efficient, according to John McClymont, principal of supply chain consultancy Operational Innovations. "That's one thing most people won't have—that infrastructure when it comes to a retail level," he said.

Operational strains can compound as delivery times shorten. Retailers pushing fast delivery must ensure that the time store employees spend prepping orders does not constrain in-store operations or the customer experience, McClymont said. Otherwise, investments are needed within stores to handle high order volumes at speed. "There's definitely a friction point where the orders become too high, that it starts taking too much away from your existing staff," he added.

Improved inventory positioning and more effective utilization of in-store space for online orders are helping retailers execute same-day delivery more effectively, according to Roadie's Moon. However, faster shipping options don't always have to be linked to a retail store or add to employees' workloads.

"That's one thing most people won't have—that infrastructure when it comes to a retail level."

— John McClymont, Principal at Operational Innovations

For example, FedEx SameDay Local also offers delivery from micro fulfillment centers, according to FedEx's Brenner. Similarly, last year, DoorDash launched DashMart Fulfillment Services, through which the company handles stocking, packing, fulfillment and delivery for retailers via its network of DashMart locations. Roadie's RoadieXD service utilizes cross-docks for same-day delivery.

"We can't expect every customer, every retailer, to have 30,000 SKUs in a single location," Moon said. "But what if we could give that opportunity, that you get same-day delivery on 30,000 SKUs, it just comes from a different distribution point?"

Regardless of which distribution site fulfills a same-day delivery, constant communication between the retailer and delivery provider is critical to preventing small operational hurdles from escalating into larger issues, according to Moon. He also advised retailers to display fast shipping options more prominently during the order process, so shoppers don't default to competitors like Amazon that have a built-in reputation for speedy delivery. "We need to work with them on getting that out in the front, and that's been a bit of a challenge," Moon said.