Amazon Same-Day Delivery is faster than ever, delivering over 9 billion orders in 2024, but Walmart is closing the gap with expanded store-fulfilled coverage.
Online shoppers expect fast delivery—80% want same-day shipping, and many are willing to pay extra for it. Retailers that fall behind risk losing customers.
Amazon has long led the fast-shipping race, but Walmart is catching up fast. In Q4, Walmart expanded same-day delivery to 93% of U.S. households, while Amazon fulfilled over 9 billion same-day or next-day orders in 2024.
Both companies are making major logistics investments—Amazon is expanding same-day delivery sites, and Walmart is using geospatial technology to boost coverage. But how exactly are they reshaping the industry? Read on to find out.
Amazon same-day delivery leads the industry with its $9B Milestone
Amazon continues to set the pace in same-day delivery, reinforcing its dominance in e-commerce logistics. In 2024, the company delivered more than 9 billion orders worldwide within a day or less, marking its fastest speeds ever, according to Retail Dive.
Nearly 60% of Prime orders in the top 60 U.S. metro areas now arrive the same or next day, a significant jump from 50% in mid-2023, as featured in Supply Chain Digest.
This rapid growth stems from Amazon’s heavy investment in logistics, with the company expanding its same-day delivery sites by more than 60% last year. Now covering over 140 metro areas, these facilities allow Amazon to fulfill orders at unprecedented speeds, giving it a significant edge over competitors.
Amazon Prime membership remains a key driver of its success. In the U.S., Prime members saved an average of $500 on delivery fees in 2024—nearly four times the cost of an annual subscription. This reinforces Amazon’s strategy of not only accelerating shipping times but also emphasizing the value of Prime to customers.
Amazon Same-Day Delivery on selected areas only?
However, the company has faced challenges. One article from The Washington Post stated that a lawsuit from Washington, D.C.’s attorney general alleged that Amazon withdrew fast delivery services from underserved communities east of the Anacostia River. Amazon has denied these claims, citing adjustments were made to ensure driver safety.
Walmart same-day delivery, taking aim at Amazon’s lead
Walmart is rapidly closing the gap with Amazon in the battle for same-day delivery dominance, a Supply Chain Dive article wrote. The retail giant announced that it now reaches 93% of U.S. households with same-day delivery, a major leap from just over 80% in late 2023.
This expansion underscores Walmart’s growing strength in e-commerce fulfillment, powered by advanced technology and an extensive store network. Unlike Amazon, which relies on massive fulfillment centers, Walmart is leveraging its thousands of physical stores to speed up deliveries.
The company has optimized its “catchment areas” using geospatial technology, enabling more precise delivery coverage. This strategy helped Walmart extend its regular delivery services to 12 million additional households in early 2024.
CEO Doug McMillon emphasized the company’s focus on serving customers “how they want to be served in the moment,” a strategy that is fueling its growth. As Walmart expands its fast delivery capabilities, it is also seeing a rise in membership engagement—membership income jumped 16% year over year, with net sales increasing by 4%. These gains, reported on The Street, highlight Walmart’s push to compete with Amazon by combining low prices with faster, more accessible delivery options.
OnTrac"97% of consumers call faster delivery critical to their purchasing decisions."
Demand for faster shipping is surging. More than 30% of Walmart’s orders include an express delivery fee for speeds of three hours or less, with that number spiking to 77% on Christmas Eve.
Walmart’s ability to use local stores as fulfillment hubs gives it a unique advantage, allowing drivers to serve multiple homes in a single trip—cutting delivery costs by 20% per order. As Amazon continues to invest billions in its same-day network, Walmart’s aggressive expansion signals that the e-commerce giant may finally have a true competitor in the ultra-fast delivery race.
Retail giants battle for same-day delivery supremacy
Amazon, Walmart, and other major retailers are competing to dominate the booming same-day delivery market, which hit $7.2 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $26.1 billion by 2032, according to Global News Wire.
Rising consumer demand for speed and convenience is driving massive investments in logistics. Amazon expanded same-day prescription delivery on March 26, 2024, while Walmart now serves 93% of U.S. households with rapid shipping. Meanwhile, FedEx launched FDX, an e-commerce platform to streamline fulfillment.
As online shopping grows, retailers are racing to enhance delivery speeds, knowing that fast shipping is now a key competitive edge.
Contimod"More than 25% of shoppers would abandon a cart online if same-day shipping wasn’t available."
Why retail giants are investing in Speed
Consumer demand is driving the industry forward (Data: Capital One Shopping)
- 41% of consumers are willing to pay more for same-day delivery; 23% would pay extra for delivery within 3 hours.
- 80% of shoppers expect retailers to offer same-day delivery, with 30% expecting it for free.
- 68% of shoppers are more likely to buy online if same-day delivery is available.
- 26% of consumers have abandoned a purchase due to a lack of same-day shipping.
Fast Shipping is Now a Competitive Edge
- 51% of online retailers offer same-day delivery.
- Consumers are 91.8% more likely to choose Amazon for same-day delivery over brick-and-mortar retailers.
- 50% of shoppers value free same-day shipping more than in-store or curbside pickup.
Market Growth and Projections
- U.S. Market: $9.25B in 2024 → $13.5B by 2030
- Global Market: $14.9B in 2024 → $82.9B by 2033
- U.S. Same-Day Deliveries: 2018: 227M → 2024: 2.58B → 2026 (Projected): 5.8B.
How Amazon Sellers can win with smart fulfillment
Consumers expect speed, and as an Amazon seller, meeting those expectations can set you apart. Whether using FBA, Seller Fulfilled Prime (SFP), or a hybrid approach, optimizing logistics is key to reducing costs while maintaining fast delivery.
- Leverage strategic warehouse locations to minimize shipping times and costs.
- Meet Seller Fulfilled Prime (SFP) requirements to keep the Prime badge while controlling fulfillment.
- Optimize inventory management to streamline operations across multiple sales channels.
Watch this video our Amazon agency published on YouTube about streamlining Amazon logistics and fulfillment
