2026: Speed, smarter delivery and global growth – What’s next for Australian brands?

Peak Season 2025 broke online shopping records yet again, proving that consumer expectations aren’t just shifting - they’re accelerating.

Key points

  • Peak season 2025 broke records, and 2026 is set to accelerate even further.
  • Speed is now a baseline expectation – optimising delivery experience is critical.
  • Smarter, sustainable solutions like Parcel Lockers and carbon-neutral shipping are shaping the future.

As we step into 2026, three leading Australian brands - FactoryX, LSKD and Orbitkey, share what’s next: faster delivery, smarter logistics and global ambition.

And our January 2026 Quarterly eCommerce Update (PDF 442kB) backs them up with insights that every retailer needs to prepare for the year ahead.

Speed is everything

If there’s one theme that unites these brands, it’s speed. Nicole, Art Director from FactoryX puts it bluntly.  “Look, it’s no surprise. Speed is everything. People are expecting faster and faster deliveries.”

Murilo, Operations Manager of LSKD, echoes the sentiment “For our community, a speedy delivery is not only important, it’s an expectation at this point.”

And Alex, Co-founder of Orbitkey agrees, “In a mature eCommerce environment like Australia, customers expect fast delivery. For a premium product like us, working with AusPost to ensure we offer express shipping completes that customer experience.”

Delivery speed remains the top driver of customer satisfaction. Retailers who optimise fulfilment and embrace express options will win loyalty in 2026.

Personalisation meets global ambition

Nicole from FactoryX sees 2026 as the year of smarter and more targeted campaigns. “We want to shift away from duplicated content across markets. Instead, we’re going to invest in more personalised campaigns.”

This isn’t just about marketing; it’s about building relevance while scaling globally. Our quarterly insights show that brands combining personalisation with international fulfilment strategies are best positioned for growth.

Smarter, sustainable choices

Convenience and responsibility go hand in hand. Murilo predicts Parcel Lockers will become essential, “As cities get bigger and denser, we expect that service is just going to be a necessity.”

And sustainability is no longer optional, “There’s a really exciting movement towards repurposing products to reduce environmental impact. It’s just another way we can reduce our footprint and give our products a second life.”

The takeaway

2026 will be defined by speed, smarter delivery and sustainability, underpinned by personalisation and global growth. Australian brands aren’t just keeping pace with global trends, they’re setting them.

For retailers, the imperative is clear: embrace innovation, listen to your community and leverage insights from our January 2026 Quarterly eCommerce Update (PDF 442kB) to stay ahead in a market where convenience, responsibility and growth move together.

Ready to stay ahead?

Download the January 2026 Quarterly eCommerce Update now and discover actionable insights to prepare for your next big sales season.