"Current Status of Doorstep Delivery Service and Key Points for Implementation"

Outline

With the increasingly acute shortage of truck drivers, it is important to promote various methods of receiving parcels in order to reduce the number of redeliveries.

With respect to doorstep delivery, which is one of a variety of such methods, some consumers are concerned that utilizing such services may make the absence of residents known and increasing the risk of burglary. On the other hand, some consumers have expressed a willingness to use a doorstep delivery service in order to avoid the inconvenience of having to request a redelivery of an undelivered package (according to a questionnaire survey conducted under the Internet Monitor System of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) [conducted in December 2018]).

Therefore, METI, in cooperation with MLIT, held the fifth meeting of the Doorstep Delivery Service Conference (*), which was launched in March last year, and prepared the document titled "Current Status of Doorstep Delivery Service and Key Points for Implementation."

The "Current Status of Doorstep Delivery Service and Key Points for Implementation" mainly presents solutions to the following challenges and cases of excellent practices that have already been implemented.

1. The delivery method must fulfill the obligations of delivery service providers:
   Among the points to be considered is parcels must be delivered in accordance with the method agreed between the purchaser (consumer) and the seller (e.g., EC business operator).
2. Various points must be considered from the viewpoint of protecting consumers and reducing the risk of disputes:
   Among the points to be considered is that an explicit agreement should exist between the seller and the purchaser and between the seller and the delivery service provider with respect to the implementation of doorstep delivery and a specific delivery method.
3. A favorable method of implementing doorstep delivery at common condominium spaces must be established:
   One consideration is that it is favorable for purchasers who are condominium residents to verify the internal rules regarding the use of common condominium spaces in advance.

Utilizing the "Current Status of Doorstep Delivery Service and Key Points for Implementation" (see MLIT’s website) as a reference provides purchasers, delivery service providers and EC business operators with a sense of security about participating in the implementation of a doorstep delivery service.

• The "Current Status of Doorstep Delivery Service and Key Points for Implementation" (MLIT’s website) (in Japanese) Link

* With the purpose of preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus disease, the fifth meeting of the Doorstep Delivery Service Conference was held in the form of a paper-based meeting.

Related document

• The "Current Status of Doorstep Delivery Service and Key Points for Implementation" (in Japanese) (PDF:1,333KB)PDF
• The "Current Status of Doorstep Delivery Service and Key Points for Implementation" (Summary) (PDF:455KB)PDF

Division in Charge

Logistics Policy Planning Office, Commerce and Service Industry Policy Group, METI